London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
All stories
Who are the Cockneys?
An introduction to London’s world-famous working-class culture
Kensington Gardens: Royal history meets magical adventure
Peter Pan and Prince Albert rub shoulders with artists in this royal patch of green
Golders Green Crematorium: A London first
This Barnet building helped win widespread acceptance for cremations in Britain
How Asian ayahs and amahs arrived in London
These nannies were some of the first Asian women to visit London in the 18th century
The shadowy dock scenes of Gustave Doré
Romanticised illustrations that conjure up the sweat, clamour and clank of the 19th-century London riverside
Hyde Park: Where London gathers to celebrate & protest
There’s history at every turn at the home of Speakers’ Corner and the Serpentine
Portobello Market: London’s largest antiques market
London’s famous street market for antiques, fashion, food and quirky finds
London’s iconic red telephone boxes
On our streets since the 1920s, these charming structures have become a symbol of Britain
The Gordon Riots: A revolution in the making
In 1780, soldiers killed hundreds of anti-Catholic, anti-authority rioters
Queen Caroline: A royal drama staged in London
The estranged wife of George IV won Londoners’ hearts as the king tried to divorce her
Peggy Jones: Mudlarking for survival
This mudlark earned her living, and some infamy, scavenging coal along the filthy River Thames
A pint-sized guide to London’s historic breweries
London-brewed beer once quenched the thirst of the city and far beyond
Ridley Road Market: Fighting fascism & gentrification
Nothing’s managed to stop diverse Dalston’s beating heart
London’s first South Asian MPs
As calls for Indian independence grew, three Indian MPs won seats in the UK Parliament
London’s catastrophic fires
Whether caused by rebellion or war, neglect or accident, fires have scorched a dark mark on our city
The Sidney Street siege: An East End shootout
A tale of revolutionaries, murder and Winston Churchill
The Battle of Barnet: North London’s bloodiest morning
Thousands fought in this key battle of the medieval Wars of the Roses
