London stories

London’s most famous, most deadly terrier

For this Punjabi royal, winning women’s vote was worth breaking the law

The German bombing campaign which rained down death and destruction on London

Embroidery, crocheting, making dresses for toy dolls: Victoria was one crafty Queen

A window into life in the capital from the 1950s

These city kids created their own outdoor playgrounds with scooters, skipping ropes and songs

London’s thriving restaurant scene has roots in these hedonistic spaces of music and entertainment

One of the most successful sopranos of the 1800s, Patti gained fame, wealth and a castle in Wales

This pioneering touring dance company made the capital their home in the early 1900s

A Russian-born star who took the world by storm in the early 1900s

Grimaldi’s extraordinary physical comedy changed the pantomime forever – but it came at a price

With its bold advertising and top customer service, Selfridges brought American glamour to the capital

A groundbreaking public attraction on an almost unheard-of scale

An influential photographer whose work spanned documentary images and Surrealist portraits

A leading lady on the London stage in the early 1900s

Until the 1800s, the Westbourne flowed through the countryside and could safely quench your thirst

Flowing under Mayfair and Buckingham Palace, the Tyburn shaped some of London’s wealthiest areas

Lambeth’s famous hidden river was once the source of colourful London myths – and frequent flooding