London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
All stories
When London was swept up in balloon mania
Balloon ascents were all the rage in the late 1700s and 1800s
Mary I & the Smithfield martyrs
This Tudor queen burned Protestants at the stake for their religious beliefs
The 900-year history of St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Caring for London on the same Smithfield spot since 1123
A history of Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
Home to London’s oldest scientific zoo and outdoor theatre
London’s Millennium Bridge
After opening with a wobble, this sleek footbridge has become a fixture in its dramatic setting
Kenric: London’s long-running lesbian social group
Meet-ups and connections since 1965
Why were charity wristbands so popular in the noughties?
When the ultimate fashion accessory was a silicone statement bracelet bought for £1
Anna Maria Garthwaite: Spitalfields silk designer
Her naturalistic floral designs were the height of silk fashion in the mid-1700s
Gay’s The Word: Britain’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop
A central London haven that’s weathered many storms over the years
The dissolution of London’s monasteries
Henry VIII’s reforms forever upended London’s religious life and land ownership
A microcosm of Georgian London
Rudolph Ackermann’s collection of prints lets us peek inside the city’s buildings in the early 1800s
Henry Mayhew brings Victorian London to life
His spectacular survey preserved the experiences and voices of street workers in the 19th century
