My London Story

‘My London Story’ captures the diverse experiences of London's children through engaging theatre and workshops, enriching the museum's collection with their unique perspectives on identity and belonging.

‘My London Story’ is a three-year Arts Council England-funded initiative that aims to capture a snapshot of the diverse lived experiences of London’s children. Recognising the importance of better representing children in the museum’s collection, the project explores children’s sense of identity and belonging by collecting material directly from primary and secondary school pupils from every London borough. This will inform future displays and programmes.

  • Four children in school uniforms work on an arts and crafts project at a classroom table with various colorful materials.

    Lewisham children designing their perfect London during a creative workshop.

Enriching the London Collection

The museum’s collection – the London Collection – already includes objects and oral history recordings that relate to childhood in the city’s past. However, this material has typically been collected from adults reflecting on when they were children. My London Story values the experiences and memories of children equally to those of adults, and for the first time at the museum, we’re collecting directly from children at scale.

“My London Story values the experiences and memories of children equally to those of adults”

We are also prioritising engaging children from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in our collection, such as those from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities, those with experience of economic deprivation, those at risk of academic underachievement, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and care-experienced children.

Building on previous projects

My London Story builds on a successful pilot project run in 2022–2023, thanks to support from the Kusuma Trust. This involved nine secondary schools and collected over 30 video interviews of children talking about their lives and relationships with London.

Our work has been informed by research with 1,500 pupils that was carried out between October 2023 and February 2024, exploring their thoughts and feelings about London and its future.

  • Three students in school uniforms are performing on stage in front of an audience of seated children. The background features a red curtain.

    A performance of ‘Museum of Me’ by London Bubble Theatre, which looks at London today, exploring diversity through food, family, friends, culture and sports.

  • Four students in school uniforms stand in front of a building, three with arms crossed and one making a hand gesture.

    Pupils from a school in Newham after participating in My London Story.

Working with schools across London

Through projects in primary or secondary schools in every London borough, My London Story is engaging over 5,000 10- and 13-year-olds in interactive theatre shows and creative workshops exploring the concepts of identity and belonging. The work of 1,000 children participating in workshops will be used to create a unique digital artwork that we hope to add to the London Collection. Creative studio Ray Interactive have been commissioned to design and create the digital artwork.

In addition, the lives of 100 children will be explored in more detail, capturing the child’s story in the child’s voice, and drawing on a wide range of material from video interviews, diary extracts and photographs in special places, to donated personal possessions and social media posts.

“The lives of 100 children will be explored in more detail, capturing the child’s story in the child’s voice”

London Museum has partnered with London Bubble Theatre, a professional theatre company, to introduce My London Story through an interactive theatre performance.

Participating schools will be invited to take part in organised activities and explore London’s history at London Museum.

  • Two children in a classroom setting share a moment while drawing on paper. They sit at a table together, surrounded by art supplies and other children working on their own projects in the background.

    Tower Hamlets schoolchildren making ‘identity tiles’ at London Museum Docklands.

What’s the impact of the project?

We hope that all children taking part in My London Story will find it a rewarding experience that enables them to think about themselves, their peers and London in new ways. It will also provide a chance to develop their critical thinking, communication, creativity and other valuable skills.

For the museum, the project is providing new insights into the lives of the city’s children today. It will help us ensure that their experiences and voices are central to how we tell the story of London’s past, present and future.

What’s next?

After completing successful pilot projects in Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Newham, we are continuing to recruit schools across the city to take part in My London Story.

Other Collections Projects