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

The many lives of Sadler’s Wells
This north London dance centre has seen many highs and lows over the past 300 years

The comic operas of Gilbert & Sullivan
The writer-composer pair behind the hottest shows in Victorian London

London’s stars of the stage & screen
The actors, singers, dancers and entertainers who’ve taken the city by storm

The outdoor theatres of Tudor London
Late 16th-century London was Shakespeare’s playground, where theatre thrived on open-air stages

Charles Dickens’ ‘Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi’
The Victorian author charts the turbulent life of a beloved London clown

Joseph Grimaldi: King of the clowns
Grimaldi’s extraordinary physical comedy changed the pantomime forever – but it came at a price

Gertie Millar: An Edwardian musical comedy icon
A leading lady on the London stage in the early 1900s

David Garrick: A theatre sensation
This innovative 18th-century actor had an influence on all aspects of British theatre

The London life of William Shakespeare
The work of this celebrated English playwright has strong roots in the capital