Social History
Penny toys, vintage vehicles, quirky packaging and more offer a delightfully nostalgic glimpse into the London’s everyday life
Blogs-And-Stories

Chicken Curries & Johnny Cakes: The diversity of Caribbean food
Two Londoners of Caribbean heritage share their culinary perspectives

The inspiring story behind North London United
North London United is a football project for young people born with Down syndrome

Foo Ying’s cheongsams: From India to London
Four traditional Chinese cheongsams tell the story of a family’s journey to London


Suffragette teddy bears: WWI & women’s rights
What’s your favourite object connected to women’s history? One of ours is a Bow Bear

Notting Hill Carnival: Memories, roots and rhythms
Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, Wendy Shearer shares her memories of the Notting Hill Carnival

Who are the Krios of Sierra Leone?
Explore the rich history of Sierra Leone's Krio community, their cultural fusion and notable contributions

The religious history of Smithfield
Smithfield boasts of a rich monastic history dating back over a millennium

The thrill of being a London Olympics volunteer
Four Londoners share the significance of contributing their bit to the London 2012 Olympic Games

London’s ancient animal artefacts
Archaeological finds of animal materials offer insights into London’s rich history

London’s public executions
Hung, drawn and quartered. Beheaded, boiled or burned

What does it mean to be Black in Britain today?
British-Nigerian artist Caroline Chinakwe shares the inspiration behind her two artworks on display at London Museum Docklands

The Great Stink of 1858
A smell so incredibly awful it demanded a modern sewer solution

Stanley Green: The protein man of Oxford Street
Protein was the problem for this solo campaigner – a regular London sight for 25 years

Easter egg hunting at London Museum
What happens when we go Easter egg hunting across the museum’s 7-million-strong collection?

Valentine's love tokens: From bent coins to whale’s tooth
Discover the romantic history behind love tokens like bent coins, lovespoons and whale’s teeth

It's a sign: BSL on a 19th-century child's mug
What can fragments of a 19th-century child’s mug tell us about the history of British Sign Language?

Women’s toilets & the fight for the right to work
What can a toilet roll tell us about the history of women’s access to work and leisure?