London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
All stories

fabric: A nightclub for a new millennium
How a Victorian meat warehouse in Smithfield became one of London’s leading venues

London’s Tudor & Stuart buildings
Survivors of the Great Fire of London and buildings that rose from the ashes

Building a Victorian underground railway
Henry Flather’s photos of the Metropolitan District Railway show a transport revolution in action


Steve McQueen: Putting London on screen
This Oscar-winning west Londoner has made vital films about London’s people and history

The Metropolitan Police: From 1829 to today
Two hundred years of policing London


What was the 1911 Suffragette Women’s Coronation Procession?
Could an enormous march get the new king to support women’s right to vote?

Why did Suffragettes go on hunger strike?
Imprisoned for militant action, some Suffragettes went to extreme lengths to continue their protest

The 1918 election: When women first voted
The first general election after the First World War saw huge changes in who could vote

London’s Georgian-era architecture
18th-century survivals inspired by the ancient world

Frost fairs: Festivities on a frozen River Thames
Trading, feasting and entertainment on ice


Stormzy: A grime change-maker
This Croydon-born cultural titan has used his enormous success to challenge inequality

Collecting cash at Shakespeare’s plays
Tudor and Stuart theatres may have relied on these single-use money pots

Summer style at Wimbledon 1960
Bob Collins’ photos of London’s famous tennis tournament

London Dock
The Wapping drop-off point for wine, tobacco, spices and ivory between 1805 and 1968