Browse by borough
Discover the history of all 32 London boroughs and the City of London through our objects, stories and blogs.
Barking & Dagenham
Greyhound racing, 16th-century witch trials and the 1960s Ford machinists’ strike
Barnet
Highway robbery, a 15th-century battlefield and the treasured Hampstead Heath
Bexley
Links to the Gunpowder Plot and Peasants’ Revolt, and home to arguably the world’s most beautiful sewage works
Brent
Brent’s locals can boast of Wembley Stadium, and almost 150 languages between them
Bromley
London’s largest borough was once home to Charles Darwin, and the relocated Crystal Palace
Camden
Best known for its market and music scene, Camden has room for the British Museum too
City of London
Where it all began, courtesy of the Romans, nearly 2,000 years ago
City of Westminster
Home to the Houses of Parliament, Chinatown and London’s theatreland
Croydon
As well as giving us Stormzy, this borough gave Britain its first international airport
Ealing
The borough where entertainment history collides with suburbia – and some striking architectural landmarks
Enfield
An arms factory, Adele and the world’s first ATM
Greenwich
A historic military and maritime hub by the river
Hackney
Where warehouses and workshops have become studios, galleries, cafes and clubs
Hammersmith & Fulham
A 16th-century palace, an imposing Victorian prison and a glorious suspension bridge
Haringey
In the 19th century, Haringey welcomed Alexandra Palace and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Harrow
Harrow’s famous school opened in 1572, while Kodak set up a factory here in 1891
Havering
Havering’s past includes a Bronze Age hoard and a Tube-driven transformation to suburbia
Hillingdon
The borough of Heathrow, and Uxbridge’s Second World War air force station
Hounslow
A borough whose history takes in aristocratic wealth, dangerous highwaymen and rock’n’roll royalty
Islington
Shaped by waterways, elegant squares and distinctive council estates, Islington is home to cultural icons and radical thinkers
Kensington & Chelsea
London’s smallest borough packs a big punch with tourist draws like Portobello Road and several world-renowned museums
Kingston upon Thames
This royal borough’s coat of arms shows three salmon – a sign of its ancient connection to the river
Lambeth
Culture, industry, a historic cricket ground – Lambeth bears the imprint of many diverse influences
Lewisham
Taking in areas like New Cross and Sydenham, Lewisham is home to beautiful gardens as well as sites of rebellion and protest
Merton
An outer London borough with a history of textiles, tobacco and, most famously, tennis
Newham
A borough shaped by Thameside industry – and the London 2012 Olympics
Redbridge
One of London’s greenest boroughs, where 40% is open space
Richmond upon Thames
Famous for its beautiful parks, miles of Thames waterfront and royal connections
Southwark
An amazing snapshot of London’s history that spans Roman ruins and the gleaming Shard skyscraper
Sutton
A story of ancient villages swallowed by suburbia
Tower Hamlets
The heart of London’s East End whose story dates back to Roman times
Waltham Forest
A borough with a reputation for wildlife, creativity and top-tier footballers
Wandsworth
Where you’ll find the iconic Battersea Power Station and some of south London’s best-known green spaces