Blogs-And-Stories

Crime & Legislation
Crime & Legislation

The Kray Twins: Notorious east London gangsters

Dangerous and famous in the Swinging Sixties

From our experts
From our experts

Librarian’s pick: Queer history books to read

Four books on LGBTQ+ history from the museum’s library that you should read, if you haven’t already

From our experts
From our experts

The Backstreet: London’s iconic men-only leather bar

For 37 years, The Backstreet was an iconic part of London’s leather and gay bar scene

From our experts
From our experts

From prison to parliament: Suffragettes & Holloway

Delve into the history of Holloway prison, and the stories of the Suffragettes imprisoned there

Architecture & Home
Architecture & Home

The Festival of Britain 1951

A nation-wide event with London at its heart, the Festival aimed to boost Britain’s post-war blues

From our experts
From our experts

J Smythe: The WWII navigator & his Windrush story

By any measure, Johnny Smythe led an extraordinary life

From our experts
From our experts

East London and the popularity of gospel choirs

How have gospel choirs from east London contributed to the UK’s musical soundscape?

From our experts
From our experts

First World War and the British Red Cross: War art with a difference

How artists documented the British Red Cross’ WWI relief efforts through powerful artworks

Collections
Collections

Brixton 1981 to BLM: Reflections on Black uprisings

The changing nature of uprisings in Brixton, from 1981 to 2020

From our experts
From our experts

Suffragette Christabel Pankhurst & her ‘militant’ strategy

Interview: Often maligned by historians, feminist and Suffragette Christabel Pankhurst’s story needs much exploration

Collections
Collections

British-Bangladeshis & the East End rag trade: A personal story

How Asma Begum’s parents travelled from Bangladesh in the 1960s to build a life in London’s East End

Art & Design
Art & Design

The candid street photography of Margaret Monck

Capturing the energy of 1930s Londoners

Art & Design
Art & Design

Henry Grant photographed London from every angle

Countless London stories in black and white

From our experts
From our experts

How Moss Bros transformed with London’s fashion industry

Moss Bros is one of the longest-surviving Jewish-founded firms in London fashion

Rights & Activism
Rights & Activism

Christabel Pankhurst: Suffragette leader

An inspiring leader whose radical tactics intensified women’s fight for the vote

From our experts
From our experts

Why fashion manufacturing moved away from London

From the 1940s onwards, here’s why many London-based fashion makers struggled to retain their base in the capital

Rights & Activism
Rights & Activism

Kitty Marion: Actor & Suffragette

Battling for the vote with fire and hunger strikes

Fashion & Style
Fashion & Style

How Mary Quant revolutionised 1960s fashion

This champion of super short hemlines influenced how a generation dressed