London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
All stories
The Victoria Cross found in the Thames
When a mudlark recovered Britain’s prestigious medal for valour
Charles Dickens’ ‘Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi’
The Victorian author charts the turbulent life of a beloved London clown
How London’s alternative currencies made change
In the past and present, Londoners have experimented with different forms of money
The City of London’s last lollipop lady
And the history of London’s traffic stoppers
The marriage of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert
A royal story of love – and loss
The London 2012 Olympics
A dreamlike opening ceremony. A successful haul of golds. And an area of east London transformed
Clapham Junction Station: One of Britain’s busiest
Don’t let the name fool you – this major transport hub isn’t in Clapham
Sex Pistols: London’s resident punk rebels
The punk pioneers who defined a generation
The Grenfell Tower fire
This 2017 blaze killed 72 people – a preventable tragedy which triggered calls for justice
Limehouse: London’s first Chinatown
The Chinese communities who lived in this pocket of the East End
Ignatius Sancho: Writer & early Black voter
After gaining his freedom, this 18th-century writer became one of the first Black voters in Britain
Masquerades in London’s pleasure gardens
Put on your finest costume and join revellers on London’s fashionable 18th-century dancefloors
Heaven: London’s gay superclub
A pioneering LGBTQ+ ultradisco and a home of UK queer rave subculture
Joseph Merrick: 'The Elephant Man'
The life of a Victorian Whitechapel resident made famous because of his physical disabilities
What were penny toys?
These colourful toys were sold on the streets by some of London’s poorest citizens
The history of the BBC
The world-famous BBC made its first radio broadcast from London over 100 years ago
