Skip to content

Horniman Museum: Overstuffed walrus exhibit closes for renovation

Horniman Museum walrusHorniman Museum
The overstuffed walrus has become a Forest Hill mascot

The Horniman Museum's famously overstuffed walrus will be out of the public eye for two years due to renovation works.

The Natural History Gallery of the museum in Forest Hill, south-east London, is undergoing the redevelopment as part of its Nature + Love project.

The gallery's balcony will be shut from Monday, while the room itself will fully close to visitors on 4 March meaning the walrus will not be on show.

The work will be completed in 2026.

The Horniman's walrus, which lacks a walrus's characteristic wrinkles and skin folds as a result of Victorian taxidermists overfilling him, is based in the centre of the Natural History Gallery.

Horniman Museum Horniman Museum walrusHorniman Museum
Victorian taxidermists did not know it was meant to have wrinkles so they overstuffed the marine mammal

The gallery refurbishment will see the displays in the room change to focus on the impact of humans on the planet.

The museum has reassured walrus fans that the specimen will remain in the centre of the room when the gallery reopens.

The museum has said the Nature + Love project is aimed at making the venue more inclusive and accessible, while also improving its environmental sustainability, with changes also taking place in parts of its gardens.

Nick Merriman, the museum's chief executive and director of content, previously said the work would create "three new and exciting destinations for visitors", while also "fostering the next generation's love and care for the natural world".

The rest of the museum and its gardens will remain open as the works are carried out.

Presentational grey line

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]