London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
Ridley Road Market: Fighting fascism & gentrification
Nothing’s managed to stop diverse Dalston’s beating heart
What was the Wyatt rebellion of 1554?
An army of thousands descended on London to protest Mary I’s marriage plans
May Day protests in post-war London
Marching for world peace and workers’ rights on a historic day of activism
Anti-nuclear protests in dangerous times
Huge crowds gathered in London from the 1950s onwards to call for a ban on nuclear weapons
What was the Winter of Discontent, 1978–1979?
A widespread strike movement during one of the coldest winters of the century
Sunil Gupta’s photo-collages protested Section 28
This 1988 series challenged homophobic government legislation through photography and poetry
The People’s Vote marches against Brexit
After the UK voted to exit the European Union in 2016, hundreds of thousands called for a second referendum
Stop the War 2003: London’s largest ever protest
In 2003, more than a million people marched through the capital to protest against the UK’s war in Iraq
How the Peasants’ Revolt rocked medieval London
In the summer of 1381, a popular rebellion led by Wat Tyler threatened to topple the ruling elite
Occupy London: Looking back at the 2011 protests
In the wake of the global financial crisis, anti-capitalist protesters set up a camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral
The Grunwick strike, 1976–1978
One of the defining industrial disputes of the 1970s happened in a north-west London suburb
How London Pride began
And the campaign for LGBTQ+ rights gained momentum in the 1970s
Protesting Margaret Thatcher
The Iron Lady’s time as prime minister sparked resistance and protest that filled London’s streets
