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History of London

London has a history dating back over 2,000 years. During this time, it has grown to become one of the most significant financial and cultural capitals in the world. It has experienced plague, devastating fire, civil war, aerial bombardment, terrorist attacks, and widespread rioting. The City of London is its historic core and today is its primary financial district, though it now represents a tiny part of the wider metropolis of Greater London. Header image: Shutterstock.com

A photograph of the Pride Parade at London Pride 2023 on the 1st July 2023

The history of Pride in London
A large barge situated at Walbrook Wharf next to the River Thames

The hidden legacy of London's lost rivers
A large drumming group at Notting Hill Carnival

The History of Notting Hill Carnival
Cartoon from 1858 depicting Death rowing through the River Thames

The Great Stink: London's unbearable summer of 1858
A photograph of the Elizabeth Clock Tower, taken on the 29 January 2022

Big Ben goes into operation in London
A 1632 oil painting titled "View of London Bridge" by Claude de Jongh, showing Old London Bridge

London Bridge: Connecting the capital's past with its present
St Paul's Cathedral at sunset

5 facts about St Paul's Cathedral that you need to know
Buckingham Palace

WW2: The Blitz Hits

A colourised photo showing the first mass German air raid on London (7th September 1940), during WW2

WW2 - Rebuilding London
A modern map showing Silvertown, East London

History of London: The WW1 1917 Silvertown Explosion
A photograph of The Tower of London, officially titled His Majesty's Royal Palace

Tower of London
The famous entrance sign of The Ritz in Mayfair, London

The Ritz and Luxury Living
A modern day London Underground train approaching a station platform

The Railway Age

A modern day street sign for Bread Street, London

The Guilds and Livery Companies
A painting by Josepha Jane Battlehooke depicting The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London
A drawing of Crystal Palace and the Great Exhibition of 1851

The Great Exhibition
A photograph of London with a colourful psychedelic design

Swinging 60s - Capital of Cool
A modern day wayfinding sign for Southwark Cathedral

Southwark - Brothels and Bear-Baiting
The view of the House of Parliament from Queens Walk promenade

Sir Joseph Bazalgette and London's Sewers
A modern day aerial photograph of London and the River Thames

Sir Hugh Myddleton's New River Supply
A CGI rendering of a plague doctor

Samuel Pepys and the 1665 Plague
A statue of Roman Emperor Trajan in front of the remains of London Wall

Roman London
A photograph showing the remains of London's old Roman city walls

Rise and Fall of Roman London
A modern road sign for Vauxhall, London, UK

Pleasure Gardens
A modern day road sign for the M1 motorway

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
An aerial view of modern day London suburbs

Metro-Land and London's Suburbs
A modern photograph of the Royal Exchange in the City of London, UK

London's Royal Exchange
A stock photo of two cups of coffee with the view of St Paul's Cathedral in the background

London's Coffee Houses