Hands on Base

Back to Around the Horniman
See events
Explore thousands of real Museum objects in our Handling Collection by touching, wearing and discovering them for yourself.

The Hands on Base is home to our Handling Collection. The Handling Collection of 3,500 objects is an invaluable resource. The Formal Learning, Community Engagement and Volunteering teams enable visitors to form their own connections with objects.

The Hands on Base is currently closed to the public, apart from booked school workshops, opportunities for your community group, and selected events.

The general public can access objects from the Handling Collection on our Touch Tables in the Museum’s galleries.

Touch tables are run by Engage Volunteers, Tuesday to Saturday between 10.30am–12.45pm and 1.30pm–3.45pm. Times may vary.

Find out more about volunteering with our Handling Collection or becoming an Engage Volunteer.

Find out about accessing the Handling Collection.

 

Horniman Hands on Base
The Hands on Base, Joel Knight
A girl is trying on jewelry in the Hands On Base
Trying on other costumes and accessories, Laura Mtungwazi
Horniman staff showing objects to handle
Showing objects to visitors in the Hands on Base, Sarah Shevlin
A boy holding a puppet
Getting up close with Horniman objects, Laura Mtungwazi
Two boys are playing on a wooden xylophone
Playing and making music, Megan Taylor