One of the most interesting attractions in London for tourists is the Horniman Aquarium, located in the basement of the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.

The museum was the brainchild of Frederick John Horniman, a Victorian era tea trader and naturalist, who collected specimens from all over the world and opened part of his house to the public so they could view all the wonders, too. Eventually his collection grew to be so vast that he had a building constructed to house it permanently, and in 1901 this became the Horniman Museum.

The museum is open to the public seven days a week, and in keeping with Mr. Horniman’s wishes when he gave the museum and grounds to the people of London, admission is free.

The museum has displayed exhibits of sea life in its aquarium since 1903, back when seawater had to be brought in by train from Brighton.

A £1.5m renovation project was completed in 2006, and this has brought the Horniman Aquarium into the 21st century with style.

The largest tank at the aquarium contains 14,000 litres of water and weighs over fourteen tons.

There are more than 150 varieties of plants and animals on display at the aquarium.

One area in the aquarium showcases a typical parlour aquarium from Victorian times and another area has an exhibit depicting a British pond and the teeming array of plants and animals that make up this ecosystem.

There is a very large tank with simulated ocean currents that houses a tremendous jellyfish exhibit, and another area is a display of British seashore marine life and a realistic North Devon Rockpool that even has wave surges and shellfish. There are also exhibits of a Fijian Coral Reef, a South American Rainforest, and a Mangrove Swamp.

One particular mission of the aquarium is to raise awareness about the interconnected nature of our marine ecosystems and the perils that they face from humans such as over development and pollution.

Many attractions in London for tourists promise a lot, but the Horniman Aquarium delivers.

Visiting Horniman Aquarium

Horniman Museum, 100 Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ

Telephone: 020 8699 1872

Opening Times

Open daily 10:30 to 17:30

Ticket Prices

Free

Photo courtesy: fotologic

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