London stories
Explore the stories of the world's greatest city and uncover the hidden treasures of our collections.
The Rhinebeck Panorama: A game-changing view
Found in a barrel in 1941, this vast panorama shows the awesome spread of London in 1806
The sinking of the Princess Alice
Catastrophe struck on the River Thames in 1878 when a cargo ship collided with a tourist boat
Vikings in London
Two centuries of Viking raids and conquest left London a radically changed place
Post-war photographs of the working River Thames
Sandra Flett’s snapshot of trade and industry on London’s liquid highway
London’s whaling trade: Blubber & baleen
Whether sporting a corset or reading by lamplight, Londoners once relied on the products of whaling
The River Thames
Dive into stories about the key waterway that shaped – and has been shaped by – London
Frost fairs: Festivities on a frozen River Thames
Trading, feasting and entertainment on ice
Collecting cash at Shakespeare’s plays
Tudor and Stuart theatres may have relied on these single-use money pots
London Dock
The Wapping drop-off point for wine, tobacco, spices and ivory between 1805 and 1968
London’s famous bridges
Bridges have helped Londoners cross the Thames for 2,000 years – here's the best of them
Twickenham’s Eel Pie Island
This little island had a thriving rhythm and blues scene – where the Rolling Stones were residents
Take a tour along the River Thames in the 1930s
An atmospheric trip through lost London riverscapes
Hammersmith Bridge
It’s survived three bombs – and a struggle to keep it standing
The Victoria Cross found in the Thames
When a mudlark recovered Britain’s prestigious medal for valour
