A history of feminism through 5 finds
From Suffragette to Women’s Libber, lesbian activists to intersectional feminists, the archives at Bishopsgate Institute are full of fearless women who’ve take up the feminist cause since 1900.Read more
View ArticleA brief history of the British mosque
Buildings used, adapted or built by Muslim communities have become an established part of our diverse urban fabric.Read more
View ArticleHow to do… archaeological conservation
An archaeological excavation can result in a huge amount of artefacts being excavated. But what does conservation involve?Read more
View Article250 years of circus
It’s London, Easter Monday, 1768. Showman Philip Astley and his wife Patty, a trick rider, draw out a ring and fill it with astonishing acts.Read more
View Article6 historic sites to look out for during Notting Hill Carnival
It’s the 69th Notting Hill Carnival this weekend and the streets of Kensington and Chelsea will be full of Soca music, steel pan bands, sizzling Caribbean food stalls and an array of dazzling costumes...
View Article6 Poems to ponder on National Poetry Day
From William Wordsworth to Stevie Smith, generations of English poets have been inspired by place.Read more
View ArticleA spotter’s guide to Post-Modern architecture
Post-Modernism in architecture was an international phenomenon, which can be defined by its relationship to the Modern Movement.Read more
View Article5 unusual endings for London’s Thames bridges
There has been a crossing at the site of London Bridge almost as long as there has been a city of London; Saxon crossings, Roman crossings, the fabled medieval crossing of 1209 brimming with buildings,...
View Article7 Treasures of the Thames Estuary
The Thames Estuary has been the traditional entry point for imports and exports, both human and material, for centuries. Read more
View ArticleThe story of London’s sewer system
Hidden beneath the city streets lie 2,000 kilometres of brick tunnels that take raw sewage direct from our homes, along with 130 kilometres of interconnecting main sewers the size of railway...
View ArticlePharaohs & sphinxes from Lancaster to Penzance: ‘Egypt in England’, the new...
This exhibition does what it says on the tin, really. It’s about Egypt – in England. So, what does that involve? Well, it includes: an Ancient Egyptian god with a power drill; sheep grazing on the roof...
View ArticleWoolwich: from barracks & dockyards to cinemas & churches – the latest volume...
This month sees the publication of the 48th volume of the Survey of London, the leading reference publication on the history of the capital and its buildings. The Survey, founded in 1894, now gives us...
View Article5 Places That Tell the Story of Kensington and Chelsea
Once a predominantly rural area, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was officially created in 1965 and over time has evolved into one of London’s most diverse and historic neighbourhoods.Read...
View ArticleTop 5 blogs of 2019
In case you missed them, here are our most-read blogs of 2019. Thanks for following, we’ll be back with more great reads in the new year.Read more
View Article10 Hidden Creatures You Might Have Missed in London
London’s extraordinary sculpted creatures - great and small, historic and modern - are hiding in plain sight; easy to miss when the city is full of the bustle of human activity.Read more
View Article13 Architectural Details That Reveal London’s Working History
London is full of visual clues about its rich past. These handsomely rendered architectural details are easy to miss, often hidden away or located high up on buildings.
View Article5 Buildings That Survived the Great Fire of London
On 2 September 1666, a catastrophic fire began to consume the City of London within its defensive walls.
View ArticleLifting the Curtain: Theatre Then and Now
British theatre originated in the medieval era, with a strongly religious influence.
View ArticleThe Great British Pantomime
Every Christmas, Brits flock to the theatres for pantomime season. But the great British panto is neither solely British, nor technically a pantomime.
View ArticleThe Story of the Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a government-sponsored nationwide exhibition celebrating and promoting Britain’s excellence in design, technology, industry, architecture, science and the arts.
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