London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
All stories
Quirky Victorian Valentine’s Day cards
A stuffed canary on a card? A lobster in love? The Victorians had curious ways of showing romance
Why are these Victorian Christmas cards so weird?
Musical cats. Violent clowns. Friendly flies. Greetings cards looked a little different in the 1800s
Ballets Russes costumes
This ballet company had a trailblazing look – and even collaborated with artists like Picasso
A brief history of Punch & Judy puppet shows
Punch and his ill-treated wife Judy have entertained Londoners for centuries
A Spanish view of the Great Fire of London
A 1666 report shows the fire made international news
The Roman amphitheatre in central London
Gladiators did battle at the Guildhall nearly 2,000 years ago
The pioneering pottery of the Martin Brothers
Sea monster matchstick holders, giant bird tobacco jars, misshapen stoneware vases
Jewels of the Cheapside Hoard
An emerald watch, a salamander brooch and a cornelian squirrel
Teddy boys: Britain’s first youth subculture
Sporting long jackets and quiffs, the Teds were born in London
Meet the mods, a sharply dressed London subculture
Photographs from a stylish, scooter-riding 1960s scene
Photographs of Stratford before the 2012 Olympics
The communities and industries that called the Olympic Park site their home
The Kray Twins: Notorious east London gangsters
Dangerous and famous in the Swinging Sixties
David Garrick: A theatre sensation
This innovative 18th-century actor had an influence on all aspects of British theatre
The first London Olympics, 1908
Featuring marathon misfortune, contentious judging and a brand new Olympic sport
The long reign of Queen Victoria
Ruling for 63 years, Victoria witnessed rapid changes in British society, culture and industry
Pageantry and protest at Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee
Marking 25 years as monarch in 1977, the queen’s jubilee was met with celebration and discontent
