Middlesex, south-midland county of England, bounded N. by Herts, E. by Essex, W. by Bucks, and S. by the river Thames, which separates the county from Surrey; greatest length, NE. to SW., 24 miles; greatest breadth, N. to S., 18 miles; area, 181,317 acres; population 2,920,485. Excepting Rutland, this is the smallest of the English counties; but as it contains the greater part of London, its population is second only to Lancashire, which has the highest position in point of numbers. It is the metropolitan county of England. The appearance of the country is generally flat, with slight elevations on the Herts border and in the N. suburbs of London. The Thames, and its affluents the Colne, Lea, and Brent, are the only rivers, although there are several smaller streams in the county Middlesex is likewise traversed by the Grand Junction, Paddington, and Regent Canals, also by the New River, an artificial watercourse constructed in the reign of James I in connection with the water supply of the metropolis. The London clay forms the greater part of the soil, so that it is generally poor for farming operations except in some places on the banks of the Thames. Farming is carried on with much spirit, and with scientific attention. A large number of market-gardens, in connection with the metropolitan supplies are to be found in the county. The county comprises 6 hundreds, 222 parishes, the parliamentary boroughs of London City, Bethnal Green, Chelsea, Finsbury, Fulham, Hackney, Hammersmith, Hampstead, Islington, Kensington, Marylebone, Paddington, St Pancras, Shoreditch, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster. It is mostly in the diocese of London.
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
Note: Greater London consists of most of Middlesex, along with parts of Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire (and the former County of London).
18 Stafford Terrace
18 Stafford Terrace
London W8 7BH
020 7602 3316
www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/museums.aspx
In 1874 Edward Linley Sambourne married Marion Herapath, the daughter of a wealthy stockbroker. Helped by Marion’s father, the couple paid £2,000 for an 89-year lease on 18 Stafford Terrace. A hidden gem in the heart of London, remarkably well-preserved and complete with its original interior decoration and contents.
2 Willow Road – National Trust
2 Willow Road, Hampstead
London NW3 1TH
020 7435 6166
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/2-willow-road
The architect Erno Goldfinger designed and built this unique Modernist house as his family home in 1939. The central house of a terrace of three, it is one of Britain’s most important examples of Modernist architecture.
Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum
St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street
London W2 1NY
020 7886 6528
Founded in 1993, the museum features Fleming’s laboratory restored to its condition in 1928 when he discovered penicillin in that very room.
Collections: Material relating to Alexander Fleming, penicillin, antibiotics, 20th-century microbiology/ bacteriology and St Mary’s Hospital.
Alexander Kerensky Museum
2nd Floor, 145-157 St.John Street
London EC1V 4PY
Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (1881-1970) was the last President of Russia before the Bolshevik coup d’état of October 1917.
All Hallows by the Tower
Byward Street
London EC3R 5BJ
020 7481 2928
All Hallows By The Tower church was founded in 675 AD and, throughout London’s history, has played a key part in almost every important event. A Roman pavement, Saxon stonework, Mediaeval paintings and statues, and the glorious Grinling Gibbons font cover are all on show.
Anaesthesia Heritage Centre
21 Portland Place
London W1B 1PY
020 7631 1560
All the collections (museum, library and archive) relate to the history of anaesthesia, pain relief and resuscitation and celebrate the people who helped the specialty to develop.
Apsley House – English Heritage
Apsley House
London W1J 7NT
020 7499 5676
Apsley House, home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, is one of the capital’s finest residences. Famously known as No.1 London, it was designed and built by Robert Adam between 1771-1778.
Archives for London
c/o London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road
London EC1R 0HB
020 7332 3816
Archives for London is the independent voice for archives in the Capital. We are a membership organisation for people who use and work with historic documents, films and photographs in or about London. AfL brings together people who are passionate about archives of the UK’s capital city to sharing news and ideas and different perspectives on how archives can benefit and contribute to all our lives.
Arsenal Football Club Museum
Arsenal Museum, Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park
London N5 1BU
0207 704 4504
www.arsenal.com/history/the-arsenal-museum
The spectacular Arsenal museum at Emirates Stadium is now open in the Northern Triangle Building. Arsenal supporters can still expect their favourite exhibitions, including Michael Thomas’ boots from Anfield ‘89 and Charlie George’s FA Final Cup shirt from 1971, along with a whole array of newly donated memorabilia.
Bank of England Museum
Bartholomew Lane
London EC2R 8AH
020 7601 5545
www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 to its role in today’s economy. Ineractive programmes with graphics and video help explain its many and varied roles.
Banqueting House
Whitehall
London SW1A 2ER
0844 482 7777
www.hrp.org.uk
Walk in the footsteps of a dazzling company of courtiers who once danced, drank and partied beneath the magnificent Rubens painted ceiling. This revolutionary building was created for court entertainments, but is probably most famous for the execution of Charles I in 1649.
Baring Archive, The
60 London Wall
London EC2M 5TQ
020 7767 6021
The Baring Archive is one of the finest archives of a financial institution anywhere in the world. It contains material from the establishment in 1762 of the London merchant house of John & Francis Baring & Co, later known as Baring Brothers, through to the firm’s acquisition by ING in 1995. The documents illustrate the range of Barings’ business activities.
Barking & Dagenham Archives & Local Studies Centre
Archives and Local Studies Centre, Valence House Museum, Becontree Avenue
Dagenham RM8 3HT
020 8227 2033
We collect, preserve and make available historical records, photographs and films on Barking and Dagenham and its people. They inspire an understanding of our rich history, pride in the borough and contribute to the development of cultural identity.
Barnet Local Studies & Archives
80 Daws Lane
London NW7 4SL
020 8959 6657
The centre holds the records of the Borough of Barnet and its predecessors for the areas of Barnet, Edgware, Finchley Golders Green and Hendon. Explore the history of this huge Borough covering 8,663 hectares and a population of 314,564.
Barts Pathology Museum
3rd Floor, Robin Brook Centre, West Smithfield
London EC1A 7BE
020 7882 8766
www.facebook.com/BartsPathologyMuseum
Opened in 1879 by The Prince of Wales (who later became Edward VII), the Pathology Museum is a vast space made up of 3 mezzanine levels each around 8 metres high, all linked by a beautiful spiral staircase. It contains some 5000 anatomical specimens, including forensic and historical examples, as well as corresponding archive information.
BBC Heritage Collections
c/o BBC Heritage, Room B027, Main Block, Television Centre, Wood Lane
London W12 7RJ
www.bbc.co.uk/heritage
The BBC heritage collection is a fascinating collection of arts, artefacts and historic technology from the earliest days of the BBC up to the present. We currently have items from the collection on loan to the National Media Museum in Bradford.
Ben Uri Gallery & Museum
108a Boundary Road
London NW8 0RH
020 7604 3991
benuri.org.uk
Ben Uri is an Art Museum and educational charity, founded in July 1915 in Whitechapel, East London. Known as ‘The Art Museum for Everyone’ the museum collection and programming both focus on the universal themes of Art, Identity and Migration.
Collections: The collection is internationally recognised and encompasses over 1300 works, principally from the start of the 20th century, by some 385 artists originating from 35 different countries.
Benjamin Franklin House
36 Craven Street
London WC2N 5NF
0207 839 2006
Home to Benjamin Franklin between 1757 and 1775, 36 Craven Street is the location where the famous US statesman conducted numerous important experiments such as measuring the effects of the Gulf Stream, exploring Daylight Saving Time and inventing bi-focal lenses.
Bentley Priory Museum
Mansion House Drive
Stanmore HA7 3FB
020 8950 5526
Famous for its pivotal role as the Headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain in 1940 a trust has been set up to ensure that Bentley Priory is retained as a permanent living memorial to those who served in the Royal Air Force and fought in the Battle. The Bentley Priory Museum is situated within a beautiful Georgian mansion, which was once home to John James Hamilton, the first Marquess of Abercorn who employed Sir John Soane to make various structural additions to the house which still stand today.
Berkshire & Westminster Dragoons Museum
Cavalry House, Duke of Yorks HQ, Kings Road, Chelsea
London SW3 4SC
020 8856 7995
The Westminster Dragoons have a long and distinguished history. That history is recorded mainly in privately-published books and pamphlets with only limited circulation.
Bevis Marks Synagogue
Bevis Marks
London EC3A 5DQ
020 7626 1274
Situated in a secluded courtyard, Britain’s oldest synagogue was opened in 1701 to serve the Spanish & Portuguese Jews’ Congregation. Today it is one of the best-preserved houses of worship of its period still in regular use.
Bishopsgate Institute
230 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 4QH
020 7392 9200
Bishopsgate Institute is based in a beautiful Grade II* listed building in central London. Since 1895, we have provided an independent meeting place for people with shared interests to learn about a vast array of subjects. Explore our world-renowned collections on London history, labour and socialist history, freethought and humanism, co-operation, and protest and campaigning.
Black Cultural Archives
1 Othello Close
London SE11 4RE
020 7582 8516
Founded in 1981, Black Cultural Archives began collecting materials which would seek to redress the historical imbalance of the representation of Black people in Britain. Our reference library currently contains around 6,000 books and independently published literature. We have also recently acquired the Runnymede Collection Library which is one of the most important libraries on race relations in the country.
Brent Archives
Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road
Willesden Green NW10 2SF
020 8937 3541
www.brent.gov.uk/archives
Brent Archives holds collections related to the London Borough of Brent and its residents. We hold the records of Brent Council and its predecessors, including council minutes and building plans, as well as historical maps and street directories, electoral registers, school records, and an extensive collection of old photographs and postcards.
Brent Museum
Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road, Willesden Green
London NW10 2SF
020 8937 3600
www.brent.gov.uk/heritage.nsf
The collection consist of objects relating to the local Brent area and the communities who live there. The museum is encouraging all people from the many diverse communities in Brent to donate a part of their history, either through objects or oral history, to ensure that they make their mark and history known to future generations.
British Airways Speedbird Heritage Centre
Waterside, PO Box 365
Harmondsworth UB7 0GB
0208 562 5777
British Airways Speedbird Heritage Centre’s collection has existed since the formation of British Airways. It was formed to preserve the records and artefacts of British Airways predecessor companies BOAC, BEA, BSAA and the pre-war Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd.
Collections: The Collection comprises an extensive document archive recording the formation, development and operations of the above companies and British Airways as well as memorabilia and artefacts. Over 130 uniforms from the 1930s to the present day are preserved as well as a large collection of aircraft models and pictures. An historically important collection of thousands of photographs is also available as well as probably the most complete set of aviation posters in the UK.
British Dental Association Museum
British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street
London W1G 8YS
020 7563 4549
The British Dental Association (BDA) Museum has one of the largest collections of dental heritage in the UK telling the story of how dentistry has developed from a marketplace spectacle to the complex procedures and treatment of today.
Collections: The collections of the BDA Dental Museum comprise over 30,000 objects, archives and images relating to the history of dentistry in the UK, and is of international importance.
British Music Experience
The O2, Peninsula Square
London SE10 0DX
020 8463 2000
www.britishmusicexperience.com
The British Music Experience is the new national museum of popular music. It opened at The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula in March 2009 and fills a void by acting as a cultural provider and giving people the opportunity to both learn and celebrate the history of British popular music.
British Optical Association Museum
The College of Optometrists, 42 Craven Street
London WC2N 5NG
020 7766 4353
www.college-optometrists.org/museum
Now in its second century, The British Optical Association Museum, founded 1901, is a collection comprising over 13,000 outstanding items of ophthalmic and optical interest, covering the history of opticians and vision aids. The museum was entrusted to the care of the College of Optometrists in 1980 and continues to be recognised as the oldest and one of the best specialist optical collections in the world.
Collections: The collection includes over 2000 pairs of spectacles, from the 17th century through to the 21st, as well as historic examples of other optical devices and aids to vision including scissor spectacles, folding eyeglasses, pince-nez, lorgnettes, magnifiers, quizzing glasses and monocles.
British Postal Museum & Archive, The
Freeling House, Phoenix Place
London WC1X 0DL
020 7239 2570
The British Postal Museum & Archive cares for the visual, written and physical records of over 400 years of postal development. We are responsible for managing The Royal Mail Archive on behalf of Royal Mail Group plc.
Collections: The archives relate to the operation, policy, development and social impact of the British Post Office from 1636 to the present day.
Bromley Local Studies Library & Archives
Bromley Central Library, High Street
Bromley BR1 1EX
020 8461 7170
The Local Studies Library in Bromley Central Library offers resources going back hundreds of years, on topics related to the London Borough of Bromley and its environs. It has specialist collections on The Crystal Palace, Walter de la Mare and HG Wells.
Bromley Museum
The Priory, Church Hill
Orpington BR6 0HH
01689 873826
Bromley Museum is situated in the Orpington Priory, an important historic building set in attractive gardens. Throughout the year the museum holds a number of temporary exhibitions and events.
Brooking Collection of Period Architectural Detail, University of Greenwich
University of Greenwich, 30 Park Row
London SE10 9LS
020 8331 9309
www.gre.ac.uk/schools/a-and-c
The University of Greenwich houses a proportion of the Brooking Collection of Period Architectural Detail at the Avery Hill Campus near Eltham, London SE9. This is not open to the public but is accessible through CPD short courses.
Bruce Castle Museum
Lordship Lane
London N17 8NU
020 8808 8772
Bruce Castle is a Grade I listed 16th century manor house in 20 acres of parkland. William Compton – a member of Henry VIII’s court – built the oldest surviving parts of the building. Since then the building has been modified several times by new owners including the Coleraine family.
Brunel Museum
Brunel Engine House, Railway Avenue
London SE16 4LF
0207 231 3840
Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s first and last projects are on the River Thames. The Thames Tunnel with his father Sir Marc Brunel is now an International Landmark Site and the oldest section of tunnel in the London Underground.
Collections: An exhibition in the restored Engine House tells the story of the men who worked in the dark, dodging flames and showered with raw sewage every day. Watercolours, peep-shows, engravings, and models, explain this epic feat of engineering.
Brunel University Archives
Brunel University, Kingston Lane
Uxbridge UB8 3PH
The University Archives chart the history of Brunel University from Acton Technical College in 1928 through Brunel College of Technology in 1957 and finally to Brunel University in 1966 and the merger with West London Institute for Higher Education in 1995. The holdings include Council and Senate and other University committee minutes and papers, student administrative papers, annual reports, prospectuses, photographs, and staff and student magazines.
BT Archives
Holborn Telephone Exchange, 268-270 High Holborn
London WC1V 7EE
020 7440 4220
BT Archives preserves the historical information of British Telecommunications plc and its predecessors from the early part of the 19th century up to the present day, effectively the history of telecommunications services in the United Kingdom and from the UK to overseas.
Collections: Near complete set of telephone directories for the whole country produced not only by BT, but also by its predecessors.
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
020 7766 7300
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837. It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the 18th century by the Dukes of Buckingham.
Building Exploratory, The
8 Orsman Road
London N1 5QJ
020 7729 2011
www.buildingexploratory.org.uk
Exhibition charts the development of London, with a special focus on Hackney. Takes in ideas of finding sense of place, different housing styles and their implications, and how events such as bomb damage have shaped our built environment.
Camden Local Studies & Archives
Holborn Library, 32-38 Theobalds Road
London WC1X 8PA
020 7974 6342
Whether you are tracing the history of a building, undertaking a GCSE project, discovering the history of your family or just interested in the local history of the area where you live, the Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre is the place to start. The centre contains about 180,000 items on the history of the borough and we aim to keep anything that helps reflect life in Camden past and present.
Cannizaro Park
Cannizaro Park, West Side Common, Wimbledon
London SW19 4UE
020 8946 7349
The grounds of Cannizaro House have become a public park – and perhaps the best public example of a the type of large garden which London mansions had in the 19th century. It has a ‘formal garden’, with excellent summer bedding, a pool and a woodland garden.
Carew Manor Dovecote
Church Road
Beddington SM6 7NH
020 8770 4781
There has been a dovecote at Carew Manor from late medieval times which stood in Pigeon House Meadow, to the east of the present site. It was probably demolished and replaced by the existing large octagonal brick building between 1707 and 1727, when the first Baronet, Sir Nicholas Carew, reorganised the grounds around the house.
Collections: Inside is a Roman Coffin on the ground floor which was found in the 1930s when a pipe trench was dug on the east side of Church Road just south of the churchyard. Tours of the Dovecote include a visit to Carew Manor Great Hall, with its late medieval arch-braced hammer-beam roof, listed Grade 1; and a tour of the Manor’s cellars with a visible chalk and flint construction dating to earlier houses on this site.
Carlyle’s House – National Trust
24 Cheyne Row, Chelsea
London SW3 5HL
020 7352 7087
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carlyles-house
A classic Queen Anne house, this was the home of the writer Thomas Carlyle from 1834 until his death in 1881. A tall townhouse in Cheyne Row, close to the River Thames, Carlyle’s House was built in 1708 as part of a terrace of London homes.
Carshalton Water Tower & Historic Garden Trust
West Street
Carshalton SM5 3PN
020 8669 1546
www.carshaltonwatertower.co.uk
The Water Tower is a unique Grade II-listed early 18th century garden building, sited in the grounds of Carshalton House in Surrey. As the name suggests, this contained a water-powered pump, which supplied water to Carshalton House and the fountains in its garden. However, the building was and is much more than this as it contains a suite of rooms such as the Saloon, the Orangery and a splendid early 18th century bathroom with tile-lined plunge bath.
Cartoon Museum
35 Little Russell Street
London WC1A 2HH
0207 580 8155
The Cartoon Museum exhibits the very finest examples of British cartoons, caricature, and comic art from the 18th century to the present day. There is also a shop, an archive and a reference library.
Charles Dickens Museum
48 Doughty Street
London WC1N 2LX
020 7405 2127
Number 48 Doughty Street is the only remaining London home of eminent Victorian author Charles Dickens. Dickens described the terraced Georgian dwelling as ‘my house in town’ and resided here from 1837 until 1839 with his wife and young family.
Collections: The collection ranges from paintings by well-known Victorian artists such as Maclise and Frith to manuscripts, personal items, memorabilia and reconstructed rooms.
Charlton Library
Charlton Road, Greenwich
London SE7 8RE
0208-319-2525
Charlton House is regarded as the best-preserved ambitious Jacobean house in Greater London. It was built in 1607-12 of red brick with stone dressing, and has an ‘E’-plan layout.
Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Road
London SW3 4HS
020 7352 5646
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Situated in the heart of Chelsea, this ‘secret Garden’ is a centre of education, beauty and relaxation. Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, it continues to research the properties, origins and conservation of over 5000 species.
Collections: The Garden holds approximately 5000 taxa, the collection concentrates on medicinal plants and those of ethnobotanical interest, as well as rare and endangered species. We also grow plants named or introduced by people associated with the Garden’s history.
Chiswick House & Gardens Trust
Chiswick House and Gardens
London W4 2RP
020 8742 3905
www.chgt.org.uk
Chiswick House is a pioneering example of neoclassical architecture inspired by ancient Rome. It was designed by the third Earl of Burlington, 1694-1753.
Chocolate Museum, The
187 Ferndale Road, Brixton
London SW9 8BA
07723 434235
www.TheChocolateMuseum.co.uk
The Chocolate Museum’s mission is to inspire a passion for learning about quality chocolate and its history both in Britain and worldwide. Britain, one of the three largest consumer of chocolate in the world, is indeed where solid chocolate was invented, and the first country to give chocolate to its army: chocolate helped sailors and soldiers from the 1780s to World War I and II.
Collections: Our collection encompasses a range of objects and memorabillia acquired over many years from different merchants and collectors. Our oldest artefact dates back to the 18th century.
Churchill War Rooms
Clive Steps, King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AQ
020 7930 6961
www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
Visit Churchill War Rooms to discover the original Cabinet War Rooms, the wartime bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the Blitz. Explore the historic rooms to experience the secret history that lives on underground.
Cinema Museum
The Master’s House, 2 Dugard Way, off Renfrew Road
London SE11 4TH
020 7840 2200
The Cinema Museum is a charitable organisation founded in 1986. The content of The Cinema Museum ranges from items relating to film production to film exhibition and the experience of cinema going.
City of Westminster Archives Centre
10 St Ann’s Street
London SW1P 2DE
020 7641 5180
www.westminster.gov.uk/archives
Westminster Archives Centre is a vast source of information on family, local, business and community history. Our local government records date back to 1460 and we have extensive collections of visual material, including over 60,000 prints and photographs. Special collections include the William Blake Collection and a Theatre Collection. The centre holds archives of Liberty & Co, Jaeger, and Gillow.
Clarence House
London SW1A 1AA
020 7766 7303
www.royal.gov.uk/output/page2262.asp
Clarence House, which stands beside St James’s Palace, was built between 1825 and 1827 to the designs of John Nash for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence, who resided there as King William IV from 1830 until 1837. During its history, the house has been altered, reflecting the changes in occupancy over nearly two centuries.
Clockmakers’ Museum, The
Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury
London EC2P 2EJ
020 7332 1865
The museum was founded in 1813 and is the oldest collection specifically of clocks, watches and marine timekeepers in the world. It has been open to the public (free) since 1873.
Constance Howard Resource & Research Centre in Textiles
Visual Arts Department, Goldsmiths College, University of London, High Street, New Cross
London SE14 6NW
020 7717 2210
www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/constance-howard
The orginal collection was formed in the 1980s and reflected the pedagogic principals of Constance Howard and Audrey Walker, two former Heads of Textiles at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Collections: The contents of the material archive is an eclectic, international treasure trove of textiles which are extraordinarily rich in breadth and diversity, ranging from full-scale quilts to tiny fragments of embroidery and lace. There is a special archive of techno-fabrics from Nuno in Japan and donations by ex-graduates from the 1980s and 1990s.
Corps of Army Music Museum
Kneller Hall
Twickenham TW7 2DU
020 8744 8635
www.army.mod.uk/music/23294.aspx
The Corps of Army Music Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of British military music.
Crossness Pumping Station
Thames Water Crossness Works, Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood
London SE2
020 8311 3711
The Crossness Pumping Station was built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette as part of Victorian London’s urgently needed main sewerage system.
Croydon Airport Visitor Centre
Airport House, Purley Way
Croydon CR0 0XZ
www.croydonairportsociety.org.uk
Built in 1928, it’s official title was Air Port of London, Croydon. This was the UK’s international airport through the 1920s and 30s. Exhibition space includes displays located in the world’s oldest Air Traffic Control Tower in Airport House. Features include interactive display, exhibits and visual images charting the history of Croydon Airport from World War I airfield, London’s international airport, Battle of Britain airfield and closure in 1959.
Croydon Local Studies Library
Local Studies Library, Level 3, Central Library, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street
Croydon CR9 1ET
020 8726 6900
We collect books, photographs, maps, newspapers and other items that are of value in the study of the past, present and future of Croydon.
Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society Museum
Chipstead Valley Primary School
Coulsdon CR5 3BW
020 8668 6909
The Croydon Natural history & Scientific Society was founded in 1870, as The Croydon Microscopical Club, to encourage the study of the sciences, local history and archaeology of the Croydon area. The museum is a small collection of archives dealing with the society, open for research by appointment with the curator only.
Crystal Palace Museum
Anerley Hill
London SE19 2BA
020 8676 0700
www.crystalpalacemuseum.org.uk
The history of the Crystal Palace is kept alive by the Crystal Palace Museum which tells the story of the Hyde Park and Sydenham Crystal Palaces. With photographs and displays of documents, handbills and ceramics.
Cuming Museum
The Old Town Hall, 151 Walworth Road
London SE17 1RY
020 75252332
www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum
The Cuming Museum is temporarily closed following the fire at Walworth Road Town Hall in 2013. The museum’s onsite services remain temporarily suspended. See the website for details of online exhibitions.
Collections: The Cuming Museum comprises the worldwide and local collections of the Cuming family as well as local and social history collected by the borough during the 20th century. We also care for an extensive art collection.
Cutty Sark
King William Walk, Greenwich
London SE10 9HT
020 8858 2698
www.rmg.co.uk
The existing collections consist principally of the 1869 composite clipper ship Cutty Sark, and her contents. In addition the Trust possesses a collections of artefacts relating to the ship and her history, designers, builders, owners, crews, cargoes, the clipper ship genre, the Merchant Navy and Robert Burns.
De Morgan Centre, The
38 West Hill
London SW18 1RX
020 8871 1144
The De Morgan Foundation owns a large collection of the work of the Victorian ceramic artist William De Morgan and his wife, the painter Evelyn De Morgan. The ceramics collection includes vases, tiles and panels.
Dennis Severs’ House
18 Folgate Street
London E1 6BX
020 7247 4013
www.dennissevershouse.co.uk
Dennis Severs was an artist who lived in the house in much the same way as its occupants in the 18th century would have done. He used his visitors’ imagination as his canvas while they are taken on an historical tour around the house.
Design Museum
28 Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
020 7403 6933
The Design Museum is one of the world’s leading museums of modern and contemporary design. Since its foundation in 1989, the museum has become the cultural champion of UK design and won international acclaim for exhibitions of modern design history and contemporary design innovation.
Dilston Grove
Southwest Corner of Southwark Park
London SE16 2UA
020 7237 1230
Dilston Grove is the former Clare College Mission Church on the Southwest corner of Southwark Park and is Grade II listed. Designed by architects Sir John Simpson and Maxwell Ayrton, it was built in 1911 and is one of the earliest examples of poured concrete construction. Today, Dilston Grove represents London’s only large-scale raw space regularly available to artists.
Dorich House Museum
Kingston University, 67 Kingston Vale
London SW15 3RN
0208 417 5515
Dorich House was the studio, gallery and home of the sculptor Dora Gordine (1895-1991) and her husband the Hon. Richard Hare (1907-1966), a Professor of Russian Literature. Dorich House holds the largest single collection of Gordine’s bronze and plaster sculptures, as well as many of her paintings and drawings. The Russian art collection includes icons, paintings, ceramics, glassware, metalwork, folk art and furniture dating from the early 18th century to the early 20th century. The archive consists of photographs, architectural drawings, press cuttings, books, correspondence and taped interviews.
Dr Johnson’s House
17 Gough Square
London EC4A 3DE
020 7353 3745
Dr Johnson’s House is a charming 300-year-old townhouse, nestled amongst a maze of courts and alleys in the historic City of London. Samuel Johnson, the writer and wit, lived and worked here in the middle of the eighteenth century, compiling his great Dictionary of the English Language in the Garret. Today, the house is open to the public with a collection relating to Johnson, a research library, restored interiors and a wealth of original features.
Ealing Local History Centre
103 Ealing Broadway Centre (first floor), The Broadway
London W5 5JY
020 8825 8194
Are you working on a school project? Did your family come from Ealing? Did any famous people live in Ealing? What is the story of that interesting building you pass every day? If you are looking for the answers to these questions, then Ealing Library is a good place to start. We have a wide range of local history resources and can offer you help and advice on researching local and family history.
East of London Family History Society
46 Brights Avenue
Rainham RM13 9NW
The society’s geographic area of interest is that part of Greater London, north of the Thames, east of the old City of London gates of Aldgate and Bishopsgate, and through the modern day London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Barking and Dagenham through Redbridge to the edge of Metropolitan Essex at Havering.
Eastbury Manor House – National Trust
Eastbury Square, Barking
London IG11 9SN
0208 227 2946
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/eastbury-manor-house
Welcome to Eastbury Manor House, a beautiful Grade 1 listed Tudor mansion. It is owned by the National Trust and managed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Eltham Palace – English Heritage
London SE9 5QE
020 8294 2548
Immerse yourself in 1930s Art Deco decadence at Eltham Palace, one of the most enchanting visitor attractions in London. Built by the wealthy Courtauld family next to the remains of Eltham Palace, childhood home of Henry VIII, it’s among the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in England. The stunning entrance hall, marvellous panelled dining room, luxurious bathroom, and the magnificent medieval Great Hall, are just some of the highlights.
Emery Walker Trust
7 Hammersmith Terrace
London W6 9TS
020 8741 4104
No 7 Hammersmith Terrace is a tall terraced house on the River Thames at Hammersmith in west London. Its sober Georgian exterior hides a secret – the decoration and furnishings preserved as they were in the lifetime of the printer Emery Walker (1851-1933), a great friend and mentor to William Morris.
Enfield Local Studies Library & Archive
Thomas Hardy House (1st floor), 39 London Road
Enfield EN2 6DS
0208 379 2724
Enfield Library and Museum service has a dedicated Local Studies Library and archive at Thomas Hardy House in Enfield Town. Archive material includes records relating to the three former local authorities of Edmonton, Enfield and Southgate.
Enfield Museum
Dugdale Centre, Thomas Hardy House, 39 London Road
Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6DS
020 8379 1469
www.enfield.gov.uk/museum
Enfield Museum Service aims to reflect the history and cultural diversity of Enfield through advancing an understanding of our collective past and shared future. It is responsible for the care, display and interpretation of collections through temporary exhibitions and events, which aim to make the collections accessible to all the people of Enfield.
Faber Archive
The Archive, Faber and Faber Ltd, Bloomsbury House, 74-77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
www.faber.co.uk/faqs
With a distinguished history stretching back to the mid-1920s, and featuring many of the greatest literary and artistic figures of the 20th century, Faber and Faber has preserved a unique publishing archive. This is still an integral part of the company, and is used to support new editions, but is a great potential resource for anyone interested to learn more about the firm and its great authors.
Fan Museum, The
12 Grooms Hill, Greenwich
London SE10 8ER
020 8305 1441
The Fan Museum is the only museum in the UK entirely dedicated to the subject. The museum is housed in two early Georgian townhouses in the heart of Maritime Greenwich.
Fashion & Textile Museum
83 Bermondsey Street
London SE1 3XF
020 7407 8664
The Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM) lies at the heart of the Fashion quarter of London’s artistic Bermondsey Village. A remarkable building designed by Mexican architect, Ricardo Legoretta, the FTM is now a part of Newham College and is being redeveloped as an up to the minute education, exhibition and visitor centre for contemporary fashion, textiles and jewellery.
Fenton House & Garden – National Trust
Windmill Hill, Hampstead
London NW3 6SP
020 7435 3471
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fenton-house
Handsome 17th century merchant’s house with delightful walled garden with fine displays of roses, an orchard and a working kitchen garden. The house has connections with the actress Mrs Jordan and the painter William Nicholson.
Collections: The Benton Fletcher collection of early keyboard instruments, most of which are in working order; an outstanding collection of porcelain; 17th century needlework pictures and Georgian furniture.
Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum
Firepower, Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal
London SE18 6ST
020 8855 7755
The museum tells the story of the Gunners – the 2.5 million men and women of the Royal Artillery, the part they have played in history and their role in today’s British Army. Tales of extraordinary heroism and endeavour are presented alongside explanations the technological and scientific advances driven by the development of artillery from Roman times to the present day.
Fitzroy House
37 Fitzroy Street
London W1T 6DX
0207 255 2422
Fitzroy House is an original 1791 building imitating the designs of Robert Adam, the famous Georgian period architect who along with his brother designed Fitzroy Square. The house is one of the last remaining structures on the block that retains its original external architecture and now shows the life and work of L Ron Hubbard. Steeped in nostalgic memorabilia, Fitzroy House will take you on a trip down memory lane, with its faithfully restored communications office equipment including Adler typewriters, Grundig tape recorder and a Western Union Telefax.
Flanders Fields Memorial Garden
Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks,, United Kingdom
Bird Cage Walk SW1E 6HQ
020 7125 0519
The Flanders Fields Memorial Garden is an initiative of the Guards Museum, in conjunction with Flanders House in London, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in the UK.
Florence Nightingale Museum
2 Lambeth Palace Road, South Bank
London SE1 7EW
020 7620 0374
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
Discover the woman behind the legend. It includes artefacts owned or used by Florence Nightingale, including her pet owl Athena and the medicine chest she took with her to the Crimea.
Forty Hall & Estate
Forty Hill
Enfield EN2 9HA
020 8363 8196
www.fortyhallestate.co.uk
A trip to Forty Hall & Estate is a memorable day out for all of the family. Forty Hall is a Grade 1 listed Jacobean Manor House, nestled in leafy Enfield and set amidst pleasure gardens, ancient royal parkland, majestic trees, lakes and watercourses. Our permanent exhibition tells the story of Forty Hall & Estate throughout the ages and looks at the life and times of Sir Nicholas Rainton and life in the 17th century.
Foundling Museum, The
40 Brunswick Square
London WC1N 1AZ
020 7841 3600
The Foundling Museum explores the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and first public art gallery, established in 1739 by the philanthropist Captain Thomas Coram.
Collections: Poignant social history gallery telling the story of London’s first home for abandoned children, including personal histories, artefacts, photographs and recordings; London’s first art gallery featuring works by Hogarth, Rysbrack, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Roubiliac, Hudson, Ramsay and Wilson; Fine 18th-century, Rococo and Georgian interiors; and Gerald Cook Handel collection of Handel memorabilia.
Freud Museum London
20 Maresfield Gardens
London NW3 5SX
020 7435 2002
Listed house in Hampstead where Sigmund Freud and his family lived after fleeing the Nazis in 1938.
Collections: Sigmund Freud’s large collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Oriental antiquities and his library. His study with the psychoanalytic couch preserve his working environment.
Fulham Palace
Bishop’s Avenue
London SW6 6EA
020 7736 3233
Fulham Palace is a truly remarkable place. For centuries, this Grade I Listed building, situated in extensive grounds by the River Thames, was a country residence of the Bishops of London.
Collections: Includes paintings, textiles, books and artefacts illuminating daily life of the Bishops of London, their families and local workers, in and around Fulham Palace over the centuries. Strong social history collection reflects local culture, trades and everyday life.
Fusilier Museum London, The
RRF, HM Tower of London
London EC3N 4AB
0203 166 6912
The Fusilier Museum tells the story of a British army regiment, formed at the Tower of London in 1685 by King James II. The museum is housed in a building originally built as army Officers’ quarters. The building still houses the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers’ Regimental Headquarters and the Officers’ Mess, which is used for formal dinners and ceremonial occasions.
Galton Collection, UCL
Galton Collection, University College London, Wolfson House, 4 Stephenson Way
London NW1 2HE
020 7679 2647
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/galton
The Galton Collection comprises the scientific instruments, papers, and personal memorabilia left to University College London on the death of Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911). Galton set up a Eugenics Laboratory at UCL, and is chiefly remembered for inventing fingerprinting, and for his work in eugenics, statistics, biometry, composite photography, and meteorology.
Collections: The collection contains Galton’s fingerprinting kits, craniometers, numerous other measuring instruments, his desk, bookcase, bust, curios from his travels as a young man, his personal possessions, and research papers.
Garden Museum
5 Lambeth Palace Road
London SE1 7LB
020 7401 8865
The Garden Museum explores and celebrates British gardens and gardening through its collection, temporary exhibitions, events, symposia and garden. Whether you are an enthusiastic amateur gardener, more of a specialist or someone with a passion for museums, history or even architecture the museum has something for you. Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, opposite the Houses of Parliament, the museum has a spectacular home in the former St Mary-at-Lambeth Parish Church, which itself its steeped in history and has some interesting stories to tell. For example, the tomb of the John Tradescants, gardeners to Charles I and adventurous plant hunters, can be found in the museum Garden.
Geffrye Museum of the Home, The
136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch
London E2 8EA
020 7739 9893
The Geffrye explores the home from 1600 to the present day, focusing on the urban living rooms and gardens of the English middle classes. Our collections show how homes have been used and furnished over the past 400 years, reflecting changes in society and behaviour as well as style, fashion and taste. A series of period rooms lead visitors on a walk through time from 17th century oak furniture and panelling, past muted Georgian elegance and eclectic Victorian style, to 20th century modernity and contemporary living. These rooms are complemented by a sequence of period gardens and an award-winning walled herb garden which illustrate the role of the garden in home life (open April – October).
Geology Collections, University College London
Geology Rock Room, Room 4, First Floor, South Wing, University College London, Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
020 7679 7900
www.geology.museum.ucl.ac.uk
The Geology Collection contains a wealth of rocks, minerals and fossils collected from all over the world during the 150 year history of the department.
Collections: Primarily a teaching and research resource, some of the 40,000 specimens are on display to the public. One of the highlights is the Johnston-Lavis volcanological collection of minerals, rocks, photographs and gouaches collected from 1880- 1912. The collection also contains the NASA archive of thousands of images housed in the new Planetary Science suite, and the internationally important micropalaeontological collections.
George Padmore Institute
76 Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park
London N4 3EN
020 7272 8915
www.georgepadmoreinstitute.org
The GPI is an archive, educational research and information centre housing materials relating to the black community of Caribbean, African and Asian descent, in Britain and continental Europe.
Gilwell Park
Bury Road
London E4 7QW
0845 300 1818
scouts.org.uk
Gilwell Park, the Headquerters of the UK Scout Association has three areas of intrest for the visitor. Gilwell is a large wooded campsite and activity centre that has many historical Scouting artefacts distributed around the site. Scouting visitors can visit these sites using a self guided tour and map.
Golden Hinde Living History Museum
The Golden Hinde, St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street
London SE1 9DE
020 7403 0123
www.goldenhinde.co.uk
The Golden Hinde is a full scale reconstruction of the notorious 16th century warship in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580. Now berthed in St Mary Overie Dock, near Southwark cathedral, the Golden Hinde is a living history museum offering the opportunity to see what life as a 16th century sailor would have really been like.
Goldsmiths’ Company, The
Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane
London EC2V 6BN
020 7606 7010
www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk
The Goldsmiths’ Company is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London with its roots in the trade guilds of the Middle Ages. The collection of archives (dating from the 14th century), books, journals, negatives and slides is a most valuable resource enjoyed by historians, students, designers and picture researchers. It is available, by appointment, to members of the Company and the general public interested in the subjects of silver, jewellery, regalia, assaying and hallmarking.
Government Art Collection
Queens Yard, 179a Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7PA
020 7211 2425
Works of art from the collection are displayed in British Government buildings both in the United Kingdom and around the world.
Collections: Dating from 1898, the Government Art Collection now holds approximately 12,000 works of art by British artists in a variety of media, including paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, textiles and video works, from the 16th century to the present day.
Grant Museum of Zoology
UCL Rockefeller Building, 21 University Street
London WC1E 6DE
020 3108 2052
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/zoology
Dating back to 1828, the museum houses a diverse natural history collection covering the whole of the animal kingdom. Retaining an air of the avid Victorian collector, the museum contains cases packed full of skeletons, mounted animals and specimens preserved in fluid.
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia with Museum
Moscow Road, Bayswater
London W2 4LQ
020 7229 7260
The Greek Orthodox Church of St Sophia in Bayswater opened a small museum in its crypt in 2006. It shows various treasures donated to the cathedral by wealthy 19th century patrons, as well as a rotating display of material from the archives of the Greek community in London, stretching back to the 18th century.
Greenwich Heritage Centre
Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
London SE18 6ST
020 8854 2452
The Heritage Centre brings together the former Borough Museum and Local History Library to offer a wealth of information and fascinating displays about the history of Greenwich.
Collections: A free exhibition, ‘Inside the Arsenal’ tells the amazing story of the Royal Arsenal and the surrounding area through the lives of the people who lived and worked there.
Guardian News & Media Archive
Kings Place, 90 York Way
London N1 9GU
020 3353 3304
www.guardian.co.uk/gnm-archive
The GNM Archive preserves and promotes the histories and values of the Guardian and Observer newspapers by collecting and making accessible archive material that provides an accurate and comprehensive history of the papers. It holds the Guardian Archive, the Observer Archive and personal collections of journalists, cartoonists and photographers associated with the papers.
Guards Museum
Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk
London SW1E 6HQ
020 7414 3271
The museum contains a wealth of information and artefacts relating to the five regiments of Foot Guards namely Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards. Along with the two regiments of Household Cavalry they make up Her Majesty’s Household Division and enjoy the treasured privilege of guarding The Sovereign and the Royal Palaces.
Guildhall Art Gallery
Guildhall Yard
London EC2V 5AE
020 7332 3700
www.guildhallartgallery.cityoflondon.gov.uk
The collections are mainly comprised of British works of art. Included are fascinating views of London & London life from the 16th century to the present day, & Victorian paintings & sculpture including well-known Pre-Raphaelite works.
Guildhall Library
Aldermanbury
London EC2V 7HH
020 7332 1868
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhalllibrary
Guildhall Library, the library of London history, holds the world’s largest collection of material devoted to a single city. With titles from the 13th century to the present day, it tells the remarkable story of 2,000 years of life in the capital and covers all aspects of life in London, past and present. Our free temporary exhibitions focus on the library’s collections and the history of London, from the history of the City Livery Companies to Shakespeare and the Great Plague.
Gunnersbury Park & Museum
Gunnersbury Park, Pope’s Lane, Acton
London W3 8LQ
020 8992 1612
The local history museum for the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow, housed in a Grade II* listed mansion which was the home of the first English Rothschilds.
Hackney Archives
2nd floor, Dalston CLR James Library and, Dalston Square
London E8 3BQ
020 8356 8925
www.hackney.gov.uk/archives
Hackney Archives looks after the archives of the London Borough of Hackney – the administrative records of the borough council and its predecessors back to 1700, together with the records of organisations and individuals with links to the area of the modern London borough.
Hackney Museum
Technology and Learning Centre, 1 Reading Lane, Hackney
London E8 1GQ
020 8356 2509
www.hackney.gov.uk/hackneymuseum
This exciting museum explores the reasons why people have moved to Hackney from all over the world for more than 1000 years. The museum displays include objects, interactives, computer programmes and the stories of real people.
Hall-Carpenter Archives
Archives Division, Library of the London School of Economics & Political Science, 10 Portugal Street
London WC2A 2HD
020 7955 7223
The Hall-Carpenter Archives (HCA) founded in 1982 are the largest source for the study of gay activism in Britain which followed the publication of the Wolfenden Report in 1958.
Collections: Archives of gay organisations and activists, and a periodicals collection which includes complete runs of most British and Irish gay serials including Gay News and Capital Gay, and many newsletters from lesbian and gay groups throughout the UK.
Ham House & Garden – National Trust
Ham Street
Richmond-upon-Thames TW10 7RS
020 8940 1950
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house
Ham House, set on the banks of the river Thames near Richmond, is perhaps the most remarkable Stuart House in the country. Built in 1610 and enlarged in the 1670s by the influential Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale, Ham was a centre for court intrigue throughout most of the 17th century.
Hammersmith & Fulham Archives & Local History Centre
The Lilla Huset, 191 Talgarth Road
London W6 8BJ
020 8741 5159
The work of the archives covers the history of the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. We are particularly concerned with its administrative history but our collection illustrates other aspects too.
Hampstead Museum – Burgh House
Hampstead Museum, Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead
London NW3 1LT
020 7431 0144
Burgh House is a grade I listed house built in 1703/4. The Hampstead Museum is incorporated in the House on the first floor and offers permanent displays on Hampstead history.
Collections: Permanent displays on the history of Hampstead; John Constable, Helen Allingham and on the Isokon flats and furniture.
Handel House Museum
25 Brook Street, Mayfair
London W1K 4HB
020 7495 1685
Handel House Museum at 25 Brook Street, London was home to the great baroque composer George Frideric Handel. He lived here from 1723 until his death in 1759, and composed some of the greatest music in history.
Collections: Portraits of Handel and his contemporaries, early Georgian furniture, musical instruments, manuscripts.
Haringey Archive Service
Archivist, Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane
London N17 8NU
020 8808 8772
The service holds the archives and the local history library and collections of the borough of Haringey.
Harrow Civic Centre Reference Library
Civic Centre Reference Library, P.O. Box 4, Civic Centre, Station Road
Harrow HA1 2XY
020 8424 1055
If you are tracing your family history, researching the history of a building, or just have an interest in the local area, please come in and use our resources.
Harrow Museum & Heritage Centre
Headstone Manor, Pinner View
Harrow, Middlesex HA2 6PX
020 8861 2626
Harrow Museum was founded in 1986. It is located in the historic buildings and grounds of Headstone Manor.
Headstone Manor Museum
Headstone Manor, Pinner View
Harrow HA2 6PX
020 9963 6720
www.harrow.gov.uk/museum
Headstone Manor Museum is a complex of four historic buildings set in beautiful grounds, including the medieval moat. Entry is free to this tranquil oasis hidden away in the middle of a London suburb.
Highgate Cemetery
Swains Lane
London N6 6PJ
020 8341 1834
Highgate Cemetery is a haven of beauty and tranquillity, a place of peace and contemplation where a romantic profusion of trees, memorials and wildlife flourish in the heart of London. The East Cemetery is where Karl Marx is buried. Visitors may roam freely on this side, but there is an entrance charge. Admission to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only.
Hillingdon Family History Society
20 Moreland Drive
Gerrards Cross SL9 8BB
01753 885602
www.hfhs.co.uk
Hillingdon Family History Society was founded in 1988 and exists to promote and encourage family history, local history and genealogy. We are affiliated to the Federation of Family History Societies.
Hillingdon Local Studies, Archives & Museum Service
Central Library, 14-16 High Street
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1HD
01895 250 702
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/history
Hillingdon Local Studies, Archives and Museum Service exists to: take care of the Borough’s collections of historic material, help local people find out about their heritage, promote responsible care for all historic items, old and new, and work for the establishment of a Borough Museum in Hillingdon. The Service is Hillingdon’s museum and records service.
HMS Belfast
The Queen’s Walk
London SE1 2JH
020 7940 6300
www.iwm.org.uk
Explore HMS Belfast’s nine decks to discover the stories of life on board this warship during Arctic convoys, D-Day and beyond. Imagine sleeping in one of the tightly packed hammocks during duties in Arctic waters, or being stationed deep in the bowels of the ship when she opened fire in support of Allied troops on D-Day.
Hogarth’s House
Hogarth Lane, Great West Road
London W4 2QN
020 8994 6757
www.hounslow.info/arts/hogarthshouse/index.htm
Hogarth’s House, built around 1700, was the country home of the great painter, engraver and satirist William Hogarth (1697-1764) from 1749 until his death. Hogarth’s House holds an extensive collection of the artist’s 18th century prints, of which a selection will always be on display and a set of his engraving plates. The panelled rooms also house some replica pieces of 18th century furniture.
Honeywood Museum
Honeywood Walk
Carshalton SM5 3NX
020 8770 4297
Honeywood is a fine late Victorian and Edwardian house, incorporating part of an earlier 17th century building, overlooking the picturesque town ponds.
Collections: Displays tell the history of the people of the Borough of Sutton from the days of early settlement to the present, including Tudor life, the mills and country houses linked to the River Wandle, the Victorian and Edwardian eras and the Second World War. Period rooms include the Edwardian Billiards Room with its original fixtures and fittings.
Honourable Artillery Company
Armoury House, City Road
London EC1Y 2BQ
020 7382 1537
www.hac.org.uk
The Honourable Artillery Company’s private museum is now open to members of the HAC. Members of the general public may be able to visit by appointment only.
Honourable Company of Master Mariners, The
HQS Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment
London WC2R 2PN
020 7836 8179
www.hcmm.org.uk/
The Honourable Company of Master Mariners is a City of London Livery Company open to British and Commonwealth Master Mariners from the Merchant and Royal Navies. Its livery hall is the ship HQS Wellington, on board which exhibitions periodically are staged.
Horniman Museum & Gardens
100 London Road, Forest Hill
London SE23 3PQ
020 8699 1872
www.horniman.ac.uk
The Horniman has a unique range of exhibitions, events and activities which illustrate the cultural and natural world. Our collections of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments provide the inspiration for our programme of permanent and temporary exhibitions and events and activities.
House Mill
Three Mill Lane
London E3 3DU
0208 980 4626
The House Mill was built in 1776 as a timber framed building with a brick facade. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1804. The House Mill is a grade 1 listed 18th century tidal mill set in a beautiful riverside location in the heart of London’s East End. It is the largest existing tidal mill in the world.
House of Illustration
2 Granary Square, King’s Cross
London N1C 4BH
020 7936 1280
www.houseofillustration.org.uk
The House of Illustration is the place to see past and present illustration, both British and international. It will be the world’s first centre dedicated to the art of illustration in all its forms. Our aim is to put illustration centre stage and give it the attention it deserves, revealing the creative processes behind illustration and the way in which it impacts on our daily lives.
Household Cavalry Museum
Horseguards Parade, Whitehall
London SW1A 2AX
020 7414 2392
www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk
The Household Cavalry Museum is a living museum about real people doing a real job in a real place. You can see troopers working with horses in the original 18th century stables and hear first hand accounts of their rigorous and demanding training. The experience comes alive with compelling personal stories, interactive displays and stunning rare objects – many on public display for the first time.
Houses of Parliament
London SW1A 0AA
020 7219 4496
www.parliament.uk
The Palace of Westminster is the home of the UK’s Houses of Parliament, including the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Parliament is responsible for making and changing the laws of the United Kingdom and checking the work of the Government. he Parliamentary Archives provides access to the archives of the House of Lords, the House of Commons and to other records relating to Parliament. We also provide a records management service for both Houses of Parliament.
HQS Wellington & the Wellington Trust
HQS Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment,
London WC2R 2PN
020 7836 8179
Launched in 1934, the HQS Wellington is the last surviving member of the Royal Navy’s Grimsby class of sloops. After 4 years of duty in the South Pacific, the ship served with distinction in the Second World War.
Collections: Historic charts, silver and gold, ship models, paintings and maritime artefacts.
Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons
Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 35-43 Lincoln
London WC2A 3PE
020 7869 6560
The Hunterian Museum collections, brought together over four centuries by a cast of colourful characters including John Hunter (1728-1793), are a fascinating mix of comparative anatomy and pathology specimens; complete skeletons, bones, skulls and teeth; dried preparations, corrosion casts and wax teaching models; historical surgical and dental instruments together with modern surgical instruments and technologies; as well as paintings, drawings and sculpture.
Inns of Court & City Yeomanry Museum
10 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn
London WC2A 3TG
020 7405 8112
www.iccy.org.uk/museum.html
A small collection housed in a classical George II building (1760 approx) in Lincoln’s Inn recording the most unusual history of the regiment and its predecessor units going back to 1584 when the members, all lawyers, were formed to defend London against the threat of a Spanish invasion. Subsequently members took part in the English Civil War and the defence of the City during the Gordon Riots.
Island History Trust
Dockland Settlement, 197 East Ferry Road
London E14 3BA
020 7987 6041
The Island History Trust is a community history project dedicated to recording and preserving the history of the Isle of Dogs and the people who live there. The Isle of Dogs lies in a loop in the River Thames in the East End of London between Limehouse and Blackwall, opposite Greenwich on the South Bank.
Islington Local History Centre & Museum
245 St John Street, Islington
London EC1V 4NB
020 7527 2837
The New Islington Museum opened its doors in May 2008. Using its collection it explores the boroughs history through a number of exciting ways.
Collections: Islington Museum.
IWM London (part of Imperial War Museums)
Lambeth Road
London SE1 6HZ
020 7416 5000
www.iwm.org.uk
IWM London tells the stories of those whose lives have been shaped by war through the depth, breadth and impact of our Galleries, displays and events. Our new First World War Galleries tell the story of the war – how it started, why it continued and its global impact – through the lives of those who experienced it.
Collections: 20th century collections, include: art, documents, film and video archive, printed books, photograph archive, sound archive, exhibits and firearms.
Jewel Tower – English Heritage
Abingdon Street, Westminster
London SW1P 3JX
020 7222 2219
The Jewel Tower dates back over 700 years and is an intriguing visitor attraction in the heart of Westminster. It was built around 1365 to house Edward III’s treasures and was known as the ‘King’s Privy Wardrobe’.
Jewish East End Celebration Society – JEECS
Jewish East End Celebration Society, 85- 87 Bayham Street
London NW1 0AG
Our aim is to increase awareness of the history and culture of London’s Jewish East End, to preserve what remains and record what has now gone. Our magazine – The Cable – contains a wealth of articles and photos that will interest all who wish to rediscover the rich history of our immigrant forefathers. We organise walks, talks, film shows and more to celebrate the Jewish story.
Jewish Military Museum
Shield House, Harmony Way, (off Victoria Road), Hendon
London NW4 2BX
020 8202 2323
www.thejmm.org.uk/home
Illustrating British Jewry’s contribution to the Armed Forces of the Crown from the Crimea to the present day. The museum commemorates the contribution made by British and other Jewish men and women over the last two centuries who have taken part in the various military struggles, though it inevitably focuses on the two world wars. The museum receives memorabilia donated by veterans and their families.
Jewish Museum London
Jewish Museum, Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, Camden Town
London NW1 7NB
020 7284 7384
The Jewish Museum London celebrates Jewish life and cultural diversity. The collections held by The Jewish Museum are unique in the UK for their rich representation of items of Judaica, in particular with an English provenance.
John Wesley’s House & the Museum of Methodism
Wesley’s Chapel, 49 City Road
London EC1Y 1AU
020 7253 2262
Step back into 18th century London with a visit to Wesley’s House. Discover the day-to-day running of a small Georgian town house.Built by Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in 1779, he lived here the last eleven winters of his life, when not touring to visit and preach to his Methodist societies round the country.
Keats House
Keats Grove, Hampstead
London NW3 2RR
020 7332 3868
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/keats
Keats House is where the poet John Keats (1795-1821) lived from 1818 to 1820. Here he wrote some of his best known poetry, including ‘Ode to a Nightingale’.
Collections: The Keats House Collection consists of books, manuscripts, letters, prints, paintings and artefacts relating to the life of the poet John Keats (1795-1821), his circle and the English Romantic movement. The Keats House Collection, including the Keats Memorial Library, is currently available for consultation by appointment only.
Kelmscott House
26 Upper Mall, Hammersmith
London W6 9TA
020 8741 3735
Kelmscott House was William Morris’s home from 1878-96 and is close to the premises of his Kelmscott Press, founded in 1890.
Kempton Park Pumping Station & Steam Museum
Kempton Park Waterworks, Snakey Lane
Hanworth, Middlesex TW13 6XH
01932 765328
Home of the world’s largest operating triple expansion steam engine.
Kensington & Chelsea Local Studies
Kensington Central Library, Phillimore Walk
London W8 7RX
020 7361 3010
The Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies collection is housed at Kensington Central Library. It contains all the borough’s material on the history of both Kensington and Chelsea, including books, newspapers, illustrations (these include prints, photographs, paintings and drawings: we also hold a large collection of maps including Ordnance Survey, parish and general maps of London), census returns, electoral registers, manuscripts, ephemera and other archive material.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
London W8 4PX
0844 482 7777
www.hrp.org.uk
Kensington Palace is not a traditional heritage experience – our approach is tradition with a twist, and we apply this to the four routes that your ticket includes: Victoria Revealed – an exhibition exploring the life and reign of one of the palace’s most famous residents Queen Victoria, in her own words; the King’s State Apartments which tell the grand stories of the Hanoverian court; the Queen’s State Apartments which has a more modern and theatrical display to tell the story of William and Mary through to George I; and Fashion Rules: Dresses from the collections of HM The Queen, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Kenwood House – English Heritage
London NW3 7JR
020 8348 1286
Set in splendid grounds beside Hampstead Heath, this outstanding neoclassical house holds one of the most important collections of paintings ever given to the nation. Works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough all hang against a backdrop of sumptuous rooms.
Kew Palace & Queen Charlotte’s Cottage
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Richmond TW9 3AB
0870 751 5179
www.hrp.org.uk
Step into this tiny doll’s house of a palace and sense the joys and sorrows of past royal lives in intimate detail, as King George III and his family come to life.
Kingston Local History Room
Room 46, North Kingston Centre, Richmond Road
Kingston upon Thames KT2 5PE
020 8547 6738
The Kingston Museum and Heritage Service manages the museum, the Local History Room and our archives.
Kingston Museum & Heritage Service
Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way
Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PS
020 8547 6460
www.kingston.gov.uk/museums
Kingston Museum was built in 1904. The museum has three permanent galleries: Ancient Origins, Town of Kings (telling the story of the Borough from Saxon times) and Eadweard Muybridge. There is also an art gallery for special exhibitions.
Kirkaldy Testing Museum, The
99 Southwark Street
London SE1 0JF
020 7828 0401
A museum which preserves a unique Victorian Materials Testing Machine in working order in the premises built to house it. It tells the story of the Kirkaldy family who ran the business for almost 100 years and the wider history of materials testing. The museum occupies the ground floor and basement of 99 Southwark Streeet.
Lambeth Archives
Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road
London SE5 9QY
020 7926 6076
www.lambeth.gov.uk/places/lambeth-archives
Lambeth Archives is the borough’s record office and local history library and is open to the public, free of charge. Whether you want to trace a house history, discover the origins of your neighbourhood, trace your family history, or look at the records of Lambeth Council staff will guide and assist you through our collections of historical material.
Lambeth Palace Library
Lambeth Palace Road
London SE1 7JU
020 7898 1400
Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the principal library and record office for the history of the Church of England. The Library focuses on ecclesiastical history, but its rich collections are important for an immense variety of topics from the history of art and architecture to colonial and Commonwealth history, and for innumerable aspects of English social, political and economic history.
Lea Valley Experience Museum Project, The
10 South Access Road, Walthamstow
London E17 8AX
0208 531 2897
www.leavalleyexperience.co.uk
TThe concept of the museum is based around the industrial transport achievements of the Lea Valley Corridor since the 1800s, and the coming of the railways to the valley. We currently have a collection of many types of artefacts both large and small.
Leighton House Museum
12 Holland Park Road
London W14 8LZ
020 7602 3316
www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/museums.aspx
Leighton House Museum is the former studio-house of the great Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). Located on the edge of London’s Holland Park, the house is one of the most extraordinary buildings of the 19th century.
Lesbian & Gay Newsmedia Archive
LAGNA, Bishopsgate Library, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 4QH
020 7392 9270
LAGNA consists primarily of a collection of 200,000 press cuttings covering all aspects of lesbian and gay life from the 1930s to the present. The Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive is open to anyone with an interest in lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender history.
Lewisham Heritage
199-201 Lewisham High Street
London SE13 6LG
020 8314 8501
Lewisham Heritage is responsible for the archives, local history, museum and art collections of the London Borough of Lewisham. The Local History and Archives Centre holds historic materials for the borough of Lewisham and is situated in Lewisham Library.
Liberal Democrat History Group
54 Midmoor Road
London SW12 0EN
020 8673 8101
The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of topics relating to the histories of the British Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, the Liberal Party and the SDP, and of liberalism more broadly.
Library & Museum of Freemasonry, The
Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street
London WC2B 5AZ
020 7395 9257
www.freemasonry.london.museum
One of the finest publicly available collections of Masonic material in the world. The collections illustrate the international, social and ethnic diversity of the membership including royalty, public figures, scientists and writers as well as the many millions of members from all walks of life. The museum contains an extensive collection of objects with Masonic decoration including pottery and porcelain, glassware, silver, furniture and clocks, jewels and regalia.
Lindley Library – Royal Horticultural Society, The
80 Vincent Square
London SW1P 2PE
020 7821 3050
The RHS Lindley Libraries are the largest visual and written resource on horticulture in the world. Collections, including books, art, photographs, and archives span 500 years of Britain’s gardening history.
Little Holland House
40 Beeches Avenue
Carshalton SM5 3LW
020 8770 4781
The former home of artist, designer and craftsman Frank Dickinson (1874-1961). Designed and built by Dickinson between 1902-04, the Grade II* listed interior was created entirely by him, inspired by the ideals of Ruskin, Carlyle & Morris, in an eclectic mix of Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Glasgow School style.
Local Studies, Richmond upon Thames
Old Town Hall, Whittaker Avenue
Richmond TW9 1TP
020 8734 3309
www.richmond.gov.uk/local_studies_collection
Archive for London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
London Canal Museum
12-13 New Wharf Road, King’s Cross
London N1 9RT
020 7713 0836
London Canal Museum tells the story of London’s canals, their people, cargoes, and the horses which pulled their boats.
Collections: Centrepiece is the narrowboat Coronis with a reconstructed cabin into which visitors can step, listening to the sound of a family having their meal and discussing their lives. Our collection includes ‘roses and castles’ canal art and other decorative art, lifting, handling and weighing equipment for cargo, horse care equipment, and the working Bantam IV tug which is moored outside.
London Film Museum
1st Floor, Riverside Building, County Hall
London SE1 7PB
020 7202 7040
Here at the London Film Museum we celebrate all aspects of the British Film Industry. Since we started in 2008 we have been collecting and displaying items both historical and contemporary from major films.
London Fire Brigade Museum
Winchester House, 94a Southwark Bridge Rd
London SE1 0EG
020 7587 2894
Visit our museum in Southwark and see how firefighting has developed over the last 340 years. It holds a wealth of information and exhibits depicting the history of firefighting in London from the Great Fire of London in 1666 to the present day.
London Metropolitan Archives
40 Northampton Road
London EC1R 0HB
020 7332 3820
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma
LMA holds archives about the administrative, social and family history of London. Over 105km of shelving store records of schools, churches, hospitals, businesses, local government and much more.
London Motor Museum
3 Nestles Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex
London UB3 4SB
07894 495817
www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk
The London Motor Museum is the only custom car museum in Europe and home to a unique collection of privately owned American and European classic cars of the automobile era ranging from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The London Motor Museum has a fantastic collection of over 100 classic and custom cars, including hot rods, film cars like the Batmobile, Delorean (Back To The Future), a signed Ford Torino (Starsky and Hutch) and a range of beautiful cars from the 1930s to the present day, creating a unique blend of classic and custom cars which are unique and breathtakingly stunning.
London Motorcycle Museum
Ravenor Farm, Oldfield Lane South
Greenford, Middlesex UB6 9LB
0208 575 6644
www.london-motorcycle-museum.org
The LMM – London’s only motorcycle museum – is the capital’s friendly focus for Britain’s biking history and heritage. We have some 80 machines and other exhibits on permanent display.
London Museum of Water & Steam
Green Dragon Lane
London TW8 0EN
020 8568 4757
Housed in a Grade I listed water pumping station built in the 19th century to supply Londoners with water, the museum is recognised as the most important historic site of the water industry in Britain. The museum’s architecture ranges from late Georgian to Italianate with a thriving community of artists housed in the site’s external workshop buildings. There is also an excellent ‘Water for Life’ gallery which describes the provision of water to London from Roman times to the present day.
London Pearly Kings & Queens Society
London
www.pearlysociety.co.uk
The London tradition of the Pearly Kings and Queens began in 1875, by a small lad named Henry Croft. The Pearly tradition has survived for over 125 years and hopefully it will continue for many more to come. We still have a few families who can be traced back to the original generation of Pearlies.
London Sewing Machine Museum, The
308 Balham High Road
London SW17 7AA
020 8682 7916
Approximately 600 sewing machines on display including Queen Victoria’s and Charlie Chaplin’s sewing machines.
London South Bank University Archives Centre
London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road
London SE1 0AA
www.lsbu.ac.uk/archives
An archive service holding the corporate and historic records of London South Bank University and its predecessor bodies. The University Archives Centre collects and makes accessible the institutional archives of London South Bank University (LSBU) and its amalgamated institutions.
Collections: We hold material tracing LSBU’s history from its foundation as the Borough Polytechnic Institute in 1892 to the present day.
London Transport Museum
Covent Garden Piazza
London WC2E 7BB
020 7565 7299
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Lively new galleries tell the story of London’s transport system and how it shaped the lives of people living and working in London. The Design for Travel gallery showcases original artworks and advertising posters.
London, Westminster & Middlesex Family History Society
57 Belvedere Way, Kenton
Harrow HA3 9XQ
020 8204 5470
The society’s area now comprises the City of London, the City of Westminster and the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow and Islington, together with parts of Ealing and Hillingdon. We aim to bring together all those family historians with ancestors in the area or who live in the area.
Magic Circle Museum at the Centre for the Magic Arts
Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way
London NW1 2HD
0845 006 2500
www.magiccirclevenue.co.uk/venue/TheMuseum.htm
Priceless treasures that bring the history of mystery vividly to life. Accompanied by expert guides, you’ll see the actual handcuffs used by Harry Houdini and the props used by HRH Prince Charles when he took his examination to become a member of The Inner Magic Circle. Learn how the great illusionist, Chung Ling Soo was shot dead during a performance an 1918. Discover how the British army used a famous magician to make the Suez Canal invisible to enemy bombers in 1941 and, if you look very closely, you might even see how a rabbit appears in a top hat.
Magna Carta Trust
c/o Govnet Communications 22 Long Acre
London WC2E 9LY
Magna Carta Trust’s 800th Commemoration Committee.
Marble Hill House – English Heritage
Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2NL
020 8892 5115
A magnificent Palladian villa set within lush riverside grounds. Visitors to Marble Hill House can catch a glimpse of the lavish entertaining that took place here, in these extravagantly gilded rooms, when it served as the Thames-side retreat for Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II.
Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust
9 Avondale Park Gardens
London W11 4PR
Mast is a charitable company whose aim is to investigate our maritime past through archaeology, research, study and dissemination.
Markfield Beam Engine & Museum
Markfield Road, South Tottenham
London N15 4RB
01707 873628
The Markfield Beam Engine and Museum is located in a Victorian Engine House which has in situ the original Beam Pumping Engine and was part of the original Tottenham Sewage Works. The site has recently been landscaped, the engine renovated and the engine restored to steam operation.
Marylebone Cricket Club Museum
Marylebone Cricket Club, Lord’s Cricket Ground
London NW8 8QN
020 72891611
The oldest sports museum in the world, the MCC is housed by the most famous cricket ground in the world, Lord’s.
Collections: From the original Ashes urn, kit used by the greatest players in the history of the sport to a changing gallery of cricket portraits.
Metropolitan Police Historical Collection
Empress State Building Lillie Road
Fulham SW6 1TR
020 7161 1234
www.met.police.uk/history
The Collection has a display of historical artefacts relating to the history of the Metropolitan Police. This includes old records, uniforms, truncheons, and equipment.
Monument, The
Monument Street
London EC3R 8AH
0207 626 2717
The Monument stands at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill in the City of London. It was built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London (1666) and to celebrate the rebuilding of the City.
Museum No 1, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond TW9 3AB
020 8332 5655
Located within Kew Gardens, Museum No 1 houses the Plants+People exhibition. This shows the many fascinating ways in which we depend on plants, including products from the Amazon to Australia; the artistry of Japanese papers and lacquerware; plant-based medicines like quinine and vincristine that helped revolutionise human healthcare; and examples of the raw materials that make our music and feed, clothe and invigorate us.
Museum of Asian Music
Bradford Road
London W3 7SP
020 8742 9911
www.amc.org.uk/museum
The museum of Asian Music is an innovative learning resource with a busy calendar of recitals, events and exhibitions. Opened by the Prince of Wales in 2008, the museum offers an interactive way to discover the diversity of Asian music in a hands-on environment.
Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising
111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill
London W11 1QT
020 7908 0880
200 years of consumer culture, reflected through packaging design, brand development, poster and TV advertising from the collection of Robert Opie. Over 12,000 items including toys, magazines, branded goods, social ephemera, postcards and fashions.
Museum of Croydon
Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street
Croydon CR9 1ET
020 8253 1022
The museum of Croydon is built on the fascinating objects and stories of the people who have lived, loved and worked in Croydon. The displays cover the history of Croydon from 1800 to the present day, with changing exhibitions in our Croydon NOW area and temporary exhibition gallery.
Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture – MoDA
Middlesex University, 9 Boulevard Drive, Beaufort Park
Colindale NW9 5HF
020 8411 5244
www.moda.mdx.ac.uk
The museum of Domestic Design & Architecture’s (MoDA) collections are available online, on tour and on request. The collections include wallpapers, textiles, designs, books, catalogues and magazines from the late 19th to the late 20th century.
Collections: The Silver Studio collection at MoDA is a Designated Collection of national importance. This is the archive of one of Britain’s leading commercial design studios active between 1880 and 1963, and comprises over 40,000 designs on paper, samples, pattern books and an archive of the Studio’s letters, diaries, visual reference material, trade cards and other printed ephemera.
Museum of Immigration & Diversity, The
19 Princelet Street
London E1 6QH
020 7247 5352
The exhibition ‘suitcases and Sanctuary’, made largely by local schoolchildren, is a genuinely innovative celebration of immigration housed in a magical Grade II* listed building that combines a remarkable unrestored 1719 Huguenot master silk weaver’s house with a rare Victorian synagogue illuminated by a pastel coloured stained glass ceiling. The complementary exhibition ‘Leave to Remain’ by 3 refugee artists takes a wry look at asylum in today’s Britain.
Museum of London
London Wall
London EC2Y 5HN
020 7001 9844
The Museum of London charts the history of the capital and its people from the prehistoric period to the present day. Its galleries and exhibitions make sensitive use of both traditional and modern interactive techniques, and the museum has long been committed to educational and outreach services.
Museum of London Docklands
No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road
London E14 4AL
020 7001 9844
www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands
From Roman settlement to the development of Canary Wharf, this 200 year old warehouse reveals the long history of the capital as a port through stories of trade, migration and commerce.
Collections: The collection consists of objects reflecting the social history of the Thames and London’s port, including archaeological finds, works of art, scale models, contemporary tools and many miscellaneous items that would have been traded through the port. Collections also include the Sainsbury Archive, a collection of documents, artefacts and photographs relating to the history of the food retailing company founded by John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury in 1869.
Museum of Richmond
Old Town Hall, Whittaker Avenue
Richmond TW9 1TP
020 8332 1141
The museum of Richmond celebrates the rich and diverse social heritage of the borough of Richmond which has been a centre of fashion, the arts and the intellect for centuries. The intimate display spans from the prehistoric times to the present day.
Museum of Soho (mosoho)
St Anne’s Tower, 55 Dean Street
London W1D 6AF
The museum was started c1990 by a group of amateurs, keen to preserve any material relating to the history of Soho. Initially, it was hoped that a traditional museum could be established,but we have gradually come round to the idea that a ‘virtual’ museum would actually be more feasible. We now have a large interactive touch-screen situated in Sherwood St where you can access illustrations, galleries and articles about Soho from the street.
Museum of the Order of St John
St John’s Gate, St John’s Lane
London EC1M 4DA
020 7324 4005
The Museum of the Order of St John tells a unique and fascinating story — the story of the Order of St John — from its origins in 11th century Jerusalem, through to its role today with St John Ambulance and the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.
Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
1 Lambeth High Street
London SE1 7JN
020 7572 2210
www.rpharms.com/about-pharmacy/our-museum.asp
The museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society was founded in 1842, as a scientific collection of materia medica for use by pharmacy students in the society’s school of pharmacy. It only began to collect historical material in the 1930s.
Collections: The 45,000 objects in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s collections cover all aspects of British pharmacy history, from traditional dispensing equipment to ‘Lambeth delftware’ drug storage jars, and from proprietary (brandname) medicines to medical caricatures.
Musical Museum, The
The Musical Museum, 399 High Street
Brentford TW8 0DU
020 8560 8108
www.musicalmuseum.co.uk
The Musical Museum contains one of the world’s foremost collections of self-playing musical instruments. From the tiniest of clockwork music boxes to the ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ the collection embraces an impressive and comphrehensive array of sophisticated reproducing pianos, orchestrions, orchestrelles, residence organs and violin players.
Myddelton House Gardens
Bulls Cross
Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9HG
Created by E.A. Bowles (1865-1954), Myddelton House Gardens have been refurbished and offer an impressive range of flora, fauna and historical artefacts.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD
020 7942 5000
www.nhm.ac.uk
Dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems, creepy crawlies – as a visitor to The Natural History Museum you will be amazed by the diversity of our natural world. The Natural History Museum is home to the nation’s finest collections of natural history specimens and is one of the UK’s top visitor attractions. The museum’s collection now runs to 70 million plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, fossils, rocks and minerals – many of which are displayed through its fascinating exhibitions and more than you could ever see in one day.
Newham Archives & Local Studies Library
Stratford Library, Stratford
London E15 1EL
020 3373 6881
London Borough of Newham’s Heritage & Archives service’s aims are to preserve, promote and interpret the rich diversity of the heritage of Newham, and make it accessible to all.
Old Operating Theatre Museum
9A St Thomas’ Street
London SE1 9RY
020 7188 2679
Hidden in the roof of a church, a 300-year old herb garret houses Britain’s only surviving 19th century operating theatre. This museum, one of London’s most intriguing historical interiors, contains the Operating Theatre, in use between 1821 and 1862 in the days before anaesthetic and antiseptic surgery.
Collections: The museum has a diverse collection of medical, surgical and herbal objects, including amputation sets, bloodletting instruments, pharmaceutical jars, and nursing and obstetric instruments and items.
Old Royal Naval College
King William Walk
Greenwich SE10 9NN
020 8269 4799
Welcome to the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC), Sir Christopher Wren’s twin-domed riverside masterpiece and one of London’s most famous landmarks. The ORNC is open daily and is a breathtaking place to visit – whether you have an hour or a day. The iconic buildings stand on the site of Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII’s favourite royal residence and include the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre, Painted Hall and Chapel.
Old Speech Room Gallery, Harrow School
Church Hill, Harrow on the Hill
London HA1 3HP
020 8872 8205
www.harrowschool.org.uk/default.aspx?id=97
The Old Speech Room was built in 1819-21 as a chamber in which to encourage public speaking. It was converted into a gallery by Alan Irvine in 1976 as a repository for the School’s varied and distinguished collection of antiquities and fine art.
Collections: The collections comprise Egyptian and Greek antiquities, English watercolours, Modern British paintings, some sculpture, printed books and natural history. There is also a set of Stuart Devlin’s parcel gilt Easter eggs, designed in the tradition of Fabergé.
On the Record
123a Paulet Road
London SE5 9HW
07583 656 338
We are a small, not for profit cooperative Community Interest Company. We work to uncover untold stories, using oral history, digital storytelling and heritage projects.
Orleans House Gallery
Riverside
Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3DJ
020 8831 6000
Orleans House has a rich and vibrant history, from the baroque Octagon room, which was designed by renowned architect James Gibbs, to a main gallery which hosts five temporary exhibitions each year – ranging from the historical to the contemporary.
Collections: Orleans House Gallery looks after the prestigious Richmond Borough Art Collection. The collection of over 2,700 paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, photographs and objects primarily comprises local topographical views of the Twickenham and Richmond riverside, dating from the late 18th century to the present day.
Osterley Park & House – National Trust
Jersey Road, Isleworth
Osterley, Middlesex TW7 4RB
020 8232 5050
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park
Surrounded by gardens, park and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London. Once described by Horace Walpole as ‘the palace of palaces’, Osterley was created in the late 18th century by architect and designer Robert Adam for the Child family to entertain and impress their friends and clients. Today the house is presented as it would have looked in the 1780s; enter the house as the family’s guests would have via the impressive stone steps leading up to the portico. Stroll through the colourful formal gardens, transformed during our six year long project from an overgrown wilderness back to their 18th century grandeur of herbaceous borders, roses and ornamental vegetables beds.
Our Democratic Heritage
B142 Paul Robeson House 1 Penton Rise
Greater London WC1X 9EH
07712 833909
www.odh.org.uk
Our charity aims to strengthen the popular celebration of democratic heritage in the British cultural mainstream. While the history of the monarchy is a highly visible part of our cultural memory, democratic history is significantly less so, and ODH believes that it is important to recognize those who did so much to create the freedoms we enjoy today.
Parliamentary Archives
Houses of Parliament
London SW1A 0PW
0207 219 3074
www.parliament.uk/archives
Parliamentary records are at the heart of our democracy. They have embodied our liberties, rights and responsibilities for over five hundred years.
Collections: The Parliamentary Archives holds several million historical records relating to Parliament, dating from 1497 to present day. These include: Records of the House of Commons and House of Lords, including Acts of Parliament, Journals, Committee papers, papers laid before both Houses, and plans of roads, railways, canals and other public works desposited in relation to private bills; other collections relating to Parliament; private political papers, including those of David Lloyd George, Andrew Bonar Law and Lord Beaverbrook; records about the Palace of Westminster.
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
University College London, Malet Place
London WC1E 6BT
020 7679 2884
www.petrie.ucl.ac.uk
The Petrie Museum houses an estimated 80,000 objects, making it one of the greatest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology in the world. It illustrates life in the Nile Valley from prehistory through the time of the pharaohs, the Ptolemaic, Roman and Coptic periods to the Islamic period. It is largely based on the artefact collections gathered by the pioneering archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie on his many excavations, and includes his own detailed documentation.
Pollock’s Toy Museum
1 Scala Street
London W1P 1LT
020 7636 3452
www.pollocksmuseum.co.uk
Pollock’s Toy Museum occupies two houses joined together in the heart of Fitzrovia, one 18th century, one 19th; the rooms are small and connected by narrow winding staircases. The whole place exudes atmosphere and evocations of those special times of childhood.
Poverest Road Bath House & Anglo-Saxon Cemetery
Poverest Road
Orpington BR5 2DH
01689 873826
The bath-house is situated in Poverest Road, Orpington and was excavated between 1971 and 1975. It consists of three rooms, the walls of which stand up to 600mm high. Used from about AD270 to AD400 it probably served a small settlement or farm complex that extended southwards towards Fordcroft Road.
Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great
West Smithfield
London EC1A 9DS
020 7606 5171
The ancient Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great was founded by a courtier of Henry I (son of William the Conqueror). It is a stunning example of Norman architecture which has survived the numerous transformations and upheavals London has undergone over the past 900 years, including the Great Fire and the air raids of two world wars.
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge
Rangers Road, Chingford
London E4 7QH
020 8529 6681
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge is a unique timber-framed Tudor hunt standing built by Henry VIII in 1543. It has magnificent views of Epping Forest from its upper floors and permanent displays in its Tudor kitchen.
Queen Square Library, Archive & Museum
UCL Institute of Neurology, 1st floor, 23 Queen Square
London WC1N 3BG
020 3448 4709
www.queensquare.org.uk/archives
The Queen Square Archive and Museum collections are housed in and managed by the Queen Square Library. They comprise the archives belonging to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) and those of UCL Institute of Neurology (IoN).
Ragged School Museum
46-50 Copperfield Road
London E3 4RR
020 8980 6405
The award-winning Museum is housed in three Victorian canalside warehouses, converted by Dr Barnardo into a ragged school. Visitors to the museum today can take a journey through the history of the region as well as experience what it was like to be taught over one hundred years ago by ‘stepping back in time’ to the atmospheric recreated Victorian classroom.
Reminiscence Centre, The
11 Blackheath Village, Blackheath
London SE3 9LA
020 8318 9105
www.age-exchange.org.uk/htm/reminiscence.htm
The Reminiscence Centre in Blackheath, south-east London, is our base. Opened in 1987, the centre is visited by over 30,000 visitors each year.
Collections: On the other side of our brass handled door, visitors find a 1930s shop full of authentic articles which can be handled freely and which are highly effective memory triggers. We also display many fascinating objects and documents from the first half of the 20th century, including hats and dresses, a wind-up gramophone and large collection of records, a Victorian kitchen range and wartime memorabilia, such as gas masks and ration books.
RIBA Library Photographs Collection
66 Portland Place
London W1B 1AD
020 7307 3684
The Royal Institute of British Architects is the UK body for architecture and the architectural profession, supporting 40,500 members worldwide through training, publications and events, and setting standards for architectural education in the UK and overseas. The RIBA Trust manages the RIBA’s cultural assets and activities including a collection of over four million items in the British Architectural Library and an extensive programme of awards, talks, exhibitions and education events.
Richmond Local Studies Collection
Local Studies, Old Town Hall, Whittaker Ave
Richmond TW9 1TP
020 8734 3309
www.richmond.gov.uk/local_studies_collection
The Local Studies Collection is based at the Old Town Hall, Richmond and provides access to material relating to the history of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It contains the collections previously held by the former boroughs of Barnes, Richmond and Twickenham.
Rose Theatre
56 Park Street
London SE1 9AR
020 7902 1500
Built in 1587 by Philip Henslowe, the Rose was the first theatre on London’s Bankside. In 1989 its remains were discovered and partially excavated amidst a blaze of international press coverage.
Royal Academy of Music Museum
Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road
London NW1 5HT
020 7873 7373
www.ram.ac.uk/museum
The museum displays material from the Academy’s world renowned collection of instruments, manuscripts, objects and images. An integral part of Academy life, the museum regularly hosts exhibitions and events including daily live demonstrations on our historic pianos. We welcome all members of the public, students and families. The Royal Academy of Music is Britain’s senior conservatoire, founded in 1822.
Collections: The collections contain early printed and manuscript music and books dating from the 16th century to the present day.
Royal Air Force Museum
Grahame Park Way, Colindale
London NW9 5LL
020 8205 2266
Wing your way over to a wonderful collection of aircraft, interactives, medals, uniforms, film shows and memorabilia on display and trace the story of the RAF and aviation itself. Visit the awe-inspiring sound and light show that takes you back in time to the Battle of Britain.
Royal Armouries at HM Tower of London
HM Tower of London
London EC3N 4AB
020 7488 5658
The Royal Armouries is located in the White Tower, the central keep of the Tower of London, which is its historical home. The Armouries is one of the ancient institutions of the Tower of London. Its origins may be traced back to the working armoury of the medieval kings of England. The first recorded paying visitor to the Armouries was in 1545 when a visiting foreign dignitary viewed the personal armoury of Henry VIII in the White Tower. The Restoration of Charles II in 1660 saw the establishment of two permanent public displays: the Line of Kings and the Spanish Armoury. All these displays can still be seen in the White Tower, along with more modern weapons and armours.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Kew Gardens
Richmond TW9 3AB
020 8332 5655
Explore glasshouses, landscapes and 250 years of history at the world’s most famous garden. Climb to the treetops on the Xstrata Treetop Walkway, delve into rainforest inside the iconic Palm House or discover more on a guided tour.
Royal College of Music Museum of Instruments
Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BS
020 7591 4346
www.rcm.ac.uk/visit/museum
The RCM Museum is full of musical treasures dating from the 15th century onwards. On display you will find highlights from the collection of over 1,000 instruments including the anonymous clavicytherium, believed to be the earliest surviving stringed keyboard instrument, remarkable and unfamiliar instruments such as the contrabassophon, division viol and serpent, plus trombones owned and played by Elgar and Holst. Alongside these are some of the most significant portraits from the RCM collection, including oil paintings of Haydn, Boyce and Farinelli, as well as manuscripts, early printed edition, photographs, letters and many other objects from the Library and Special Collections.
Royal College of Nursing Library & Heritage Centre
20 Cavendish Square
London W1G 0RN
0345 337 3368
The Royal College of Nursing Library and Heritage Centre is home to Europe’s largest nursing specific collection of materials. In 2013 we opened an exciting new space which includes publicly accessible exhibitions, a cafe and a shop within the Library space. Also publicly accessible is a new space celebrating our Nursing History Collection – enabling visitors to browse nursing history texts, access some of our historic printed collection and to browse smaller exhibitions curated with the RCN History of Nursing Society.
Collections: The Collection dates mainly from the 1850s onwards, though some earlier items are held. It comprehensively collects English language materials, focusing on nursing in the UK: .
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
27 Sussex Place, Regent’s Park
London NW1 4RG
020 7772 6385
The College museum comprises a unique collection of obstetric, midwifery, surgical and gynaecological instruments and artefacts spanning over four hundred years. This collection has been built up from a series of gifts and acquisitions since the foundation of the College. 500 Years: The Birth of Modern Obstetrics and Gynaecology is a semi-permanent exhibition of objects, together with items from the library and archive collections, which has been mounted in the Education Centre of the College.
Royal College of Physicians
11 St Andrews Place, Regent’s Park
London NW1 4LE
0203 075 1543
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/museum-and-garden
The Royal College of Physicians is the oldest medical college in England. Since our foundation by royal charter of Henry VIII in 1518, the RCP has built up magnificent collections of books, manuscripts, portraits, silver, and medical artefacts. Visit us to experience extraordinary historical and ceremonial spaces set inside a radically modern building created by Sir Denys Lasdun in 1964.
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Trust
The RCVS Trust, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AF
020 7202 0741
The Trust’s principal aims are to provide and maintain a library, to encourage education and training in veterinary medicine at all professional levels, and to promote veterinary research.
Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust
Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal Woolwich
Greenwich
020 8854 2452
www.greenwichheritage.org/site
At Greenwich Heritage Centre you can find out about the fascinating history of Royal Borough of Greenwich, from earliest times to the present day. Whether you are researching your family history or want to know more about an area, our friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff can help you make the most of your visit. With Charlton House, Greenwich Heritage Centre is part of Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust.
Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Road
London SW3 4SR
020 7881 5246
www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk
The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded in 1682 by King Charles 11 as a home for old or wounded soldiers. The King was inspired by Louis XIV’s ‘Hotel des Invalides’ in Paris and wanted to create an equally splendid home for his veteran soldiers.
Collections: Pictures, documents and artefacts relating to the history of The Royal Hospital. Medals and other items left by In-Pensioners.
Royal Institution, The
The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, Mayfair
London W1S 4BS
020 7409 2992
For over 200 years, the RI has been ‘diffusing science for the common purposes of life’.
Collections: Includes the original apparatus and papers of many of those who have researched, lectured and lived at the Royal Institution including Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, John Tyndall, James Dewar, William Bragg, Lawrence Bragg and George Porter. The collection also includes important collections of iconographical material in various media, scientific instruments, as well as a large administrative archive, covering all aspects of the work of the Royal Institution.
Royal London Hospital Archives & Museum
Church of St Augustine with St Philip, Newark Street
London E1 1BB
020 7377 7000
The museum is located in the former crypt of a fine, late 19th century, early English style church, designed by Arthur Cawston, which has been extensively restored. The building also accommodates the Library of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at Whitechapel.
Royal Mews, The
Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1A 1AA
020 7766 7302
The Royal Mews houses the State vehicles, both horse-drawn carriages and motor cars, used for coronations, State Visits, royal weddings, the State Opening of Parliament and official engagements. Visitors can see the Gold State Coach which was last used during The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 to carry Her Majesty and Prince Philip to the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Royal Museums Greenwich
Park Row
Greenwich SE10 9NF
020 8858 4422
www.rmg.co.uk
Royal Museums Greenwich comprises of three linked sites: the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the 17th-century Queen’s House. Set among the beautiful scenery and architecture of Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, Royal Museums Greenwich incorporates the world’s largest maritime museum, the Prime Meridian of the world and London’s only planetarium.
Royal Parks, The
The Old Police House, Hyde Park
London W2 2UH
020 7298 2000
Millions of Londoners and tourists visit the eight Royal Parks for free each year. The 5,000 acres of historic parkland provide unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and healthy living in the heart of the capital.
Salvation Army International Heritage Centre
William Booth College
London SE5 8BQ
020 7326 7800
www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/heritage
The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre tells the story of The Salvation Army from its origins in the 1860s to the present, both in the UK and overseas. The Heritage Centre includes a library, archive and museum.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage
70 Cowcross Street
London EC1M 6EJ
020 7253 3500
SAVE has been campaigning for historic buildings since its formation in 1975 by a group of architects, journalists and planners. SAVE is a strong, independent voice in conservation, free to respond rapidly to emergencies and to speak out loud for the historic environment.
Science Museum
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2DD
0870 870 4868
Where else can you find life-changing objects from Stephenson’s Rocket to the Apollo 10 command module, take in a science show, catch an immersive 3D movie, enjoy the thrills of a special effects simulator, introduce children to science with fun, hands-on interactives and encounter the past, present and future of technology in seven floors of galleries? At the Science Museum you can find all this and more..
Collections: The Science Museum has over 300,000 objects in its care, with particular strengths in the history of western science, technology and medicine since 1700. It has been uniquely placed to acquire objects recording the Industrial Revolution, and now holds unrivalled collections in this area. Medical artefacts from all periods and cultures also form an important part of its holdings.
Shakespeare’s Globe
21 New Globe Walk, Bankside
London SE1 9DT
0207 902 1500
Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare’s Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare’s work and the playhouse for which he wrote, through the performance and education. Together, the Globe Theatre Company, Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition and Globe Education seek to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance through three central and inter-dependent activities: 1) The faithfully reconstructed Globe Theatre hosts an extensive exhibition about Shakespeare and the theatre of his day. 2) Producing excellent performances through productions of stimulating classic and new plays at the Globe Theatre.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
221B Baker Street
London NW1 6XE
0207 224 3688
www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John H. Watson lived at 221b Baker Street between 1881-1904, according to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The house is protected by the government due to its ‘special architectural and historical interest’, while the 1st floor study overlooking Baker Street is still faithfully maintained for posterity as it was kept in Victorian times.
Sikorski Museum
20 Princes Gate
London SW7 1PT
020 7589 9249
www.sikorskimuseum.co.uk
The Sikorski Museum was established at the end of World War II by the exiled Polish community in London who did not wish to return home to a Russian controlled homeland. The exhibition consists of 10,000 military objects, and the Enigma Ciphering Machine which was cracked by Polish mathematicians. Exhibits are marked in Polish, but for non-Polish speakers there is an English language tour.
Sir John Soane’s Museum
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London WC2A 3BP
020 7405 2107
The architect Sir John Soane’s house, museum and library at No. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields has been a public museum since the early 19th century.
Collections: Sir John Soane’s Museum comprises his collections and personal effects, acquired between the 1780s and his death in 1837. The museum’s collections contain many important works of art and antiquities, including Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress and An Election, Canaletto’s Riva degli Schiavoni looking West, the alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I, 30,000 architectural drawings, 6,857 historical volumes, 252 historical architectural models as well as important examples of furniture and decorative arts.
Society of Antiquaries of London
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
London W1J 0BE
020 7479 7080
www.sal.org.uk
The society of Antiquaries of London is charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with ‘the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries’. It celebrated its Tercentenary in 2007. The society’s 2,900 Fellows include many distinguished archaeologists and art and architectural historians.
Somerset House
Strand
London WC2R 1LA
020 7845 4600
Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. During summer months a ‘grove’ of 55 fountains dance in the courtyard, and in winter you can skate on London’s favourite outdoor ice rink.
Southside House
3-4 Woodhayes Road, Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon
London SW19 4RJ
020 8946 7643
Southside House, on Wimbledon Common, was rebuilt by Robert Pennington in the William & Mary style, after the Great Plague of London in 1665. One of the oldest houses in Greater London, it is still used as a private residence by descendants of the Pennington family, and the house remains largely unchanged.
Collections: Behind the long facade are the old rooms, still with much of the furniture that Pennington brought here. The house also has connections with Anne Boleyn, Frederick Prince of Wales, Marie Antoinette, Admiral Lord Nelson, Lady Hamilton and Lord Byron.
Southwark Cathedral Education Centre
Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge
London SE1 9DA
020 7367 6715
The Cathedral lies on the South Bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge on a site occupied by a Church for over one thousand years. The main structure of today’s church was built between 1220 and 1420.
Collections: The Cathedral does not have either an archivist or an archive department although our Visitors’ Officer is willing to receive any enquiries of a more general nature relating to the Cathedral and its history to assist you in your researches. We would be delighted to receive copies of old guidebooks, articles, photographs and prints relating to the Cathedral although please write giving details of items held before despatching them to us. If you are interested in searching our parish records please note that they are held at London Metropolitan Archives.
Southwark Council Libraries, Arts & Heritage Service
Environment Department, Libraries, Arts and Heritage Division, Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street
London SE1
020 7525 2169
Southwark Council is responsible for the Cuming Museum, Southwark Local History Library and Archive, Kingswood House, the grade 2 listed house near Sydenham and currently cares for the now-closed Livesey Museum.
Southwark Local History Library
John Harvard Library, 211 Borough High Street
London SE1 1JA
020 7525 0232
Southwark’s range of historical experience is a story vividly told through surviving documents. We have gathered these historical sources at Southwark Local History Library and Archive along with information on changes in Southwark today.
Spelthorne Museum
1 Elmsleigh Road
Staines, Middlesex TW18 4PN
01784 461804
Woolly mammoths tusks from the Ice Age, tools from the Stone Age, a large collection of Roman artefacts, a 1738 fire engine and Victorian memorabilia – Spelthorne Museum has the whole history of this area.
Spencer House
27 St James Place
London W14 9DT
0207 499 8620
www.spencerhouse.co.uk
From its conception, Spencer House was recognised as one of the most ambitious aristocratic town houses ever built in London and is, today, the city’s only great 18th-century private palace to survive intact. Spencer House was built in 1756-66 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-97). Situated in the heart of St James’s, Spencer House is a short distance from St James’s Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, and has a splendid terrace and garden with magnificent views of Green Park.
SS Robin, The
SS Robin, 2D/2E Royal Victoria Place
London E14 1UQ
020 7998 1343
SS Robin is a precious diamond, a national treasure and one of London’s best kept secrets. She’s the world’s oldest complete steamship and the last of her type in the world.
Collections: SS Robin Gallery seeks to challenge perceptions by illustrating and exploring our lives and planet through extraordinary documentary images.
St Bartholomew’s Hospital Archives & Museum
North Wing, St Bartholomew
London EC1A 7BE
020 3465 5798
www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/bartsmuseum
Set in the historic North Wing of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the museum tells the story of this renowned institution, celebrates its achievements and explains its place in history. A video relates the foundation of the hospital and life-size models bring the history of Barts to life.
St Bride Foundation
Bride Lane, Fleet Street
London EC4Y 8EQ
020 7353 3331
sbf.org.uk
In 1891, St Bride Foundation was established to provide a social, cultural and recreational centre for London’s Fleet Street and its burgeoning print and publishing trade. Now, this historic site is a living and breathing community once again, with new projects, facilities and programmes expanding its central mission: to excite and inspire. At the heart of the Foundation is an unparalleled library of print, media, communications and design, believed to be the largest in the world – but its remit is becoming even more broad and exciting.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Churchyard
London EC4M 8AD
020 7236 4128
www.stpauls.co.uk
A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604AD, a constant reminder to this great commercial centre of the importance of the spiritual side of life. The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
Stephens Collection
Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley
London N3 3QE
www.london-northwest.com/sites/Stephens
The Stephens Collection aims to show aspects of the life of Henry Stephens; the history of the Stephens Ink Company; the history of Avenue House; the development of writing.
Strawberry Hill
268 Waldegrave Road
Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 4ST
0208 744 1241
www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk
Created by Horace Walpole in the 18th century, Strawberry Hill is internationally famous as Britain’s finest example of Georgian Gothic revival architecture. It also inspired the first gothic novel The castle of Otranto.
Sutton Archives
Central Library, St Nicholas Way
Sutton SM1 1EA
020 8770 4747
Sutton Local Studies & Archives Service holds primary and secondary records relating to the London Borough of Sutton and its predecessor authorities, local people, organisations and businesses.
Sutton House – National Trust
2 & 4 Homerton High Street, Hackney
London E9 6JQ
020 8986 2264
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-house
Built in 1535 by Sir Ralph Sadleir, Principal Secretary of State to Henry VIII, Sutton House is the oldest brick house in East London. Surviving for over 450 years, Sutton House is fascinating for its visible layers of change – from the original Tudor linenfold panelling and stone fireplaces, through the 17th-century painted staircase, to the Victorian Study and the more recent squatter’s mural painted during the 1980s.
Syon House & Park
Syon Park
Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8JF
020 8560 0881
www.syonpark.co.uk
Syon Park has been home to the family The Duke of Northumberland for over four hundred years and still owned and looked after by them. It is full of beauty and magnificence, of great paintings and furniture, with perhaps the finest Robert Adam interior in the country. Surrounded by its own parkland, with Kew Gardens across the Thames, it is hard to believe that Syon is barely 10 miles from central London.
Thames Discovery Programme
LAARC, Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Road
London N1 7ED
0207 566 9310
When the tide is out, the Thames is the longest open-air archaeological site in London, and much of the foreshore is freely accessible to the public. The Thames Discovery Programme is a community archaeology project designed to monitor the exposed archaeological sites of the inter-tidal area of the Thames with volunteer support.
Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust
London
The Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust’s goal is to revive the shipbuilding and wider manufacturing heritage of east London. The charity aims to do this primarily through the restoration of a number of Thames Ironworks-made lifeboats close to the place where they were originally built over 100 years ago, creating employment and new skills for apprentices in the process.
Thomas Layton Memorial & Museum Trust
CIP, Treaty Centre, High Street
Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 1ES
0845 456 2800
The Trust celebrates the legacy of Thomas Layton, who lived in Brentford, Middlesex, between 1826 and 1911. He was committed to Brentford and served on various local bodies for over 45 years, helping to develop many new buildings and services for the growing town. Thomas Layton was also an avid collector of books, prints, maps and archaeological artefacts.
Tower Bridge
London SE1 2UP
020 7403 3761
Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognisable bridges in the World. At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy breath-taking views from the high-level Walkways and learn about the history of the Bridge and how it was built.
Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives
Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, 277 Bancroft Road
London E1 4DQ
020 7364 1290
Tower Hamlets local history library and archives covers the area of the present-day London Borough of Tower Hamlets; the original East End of London which, until 1965, comprised of the Boroughs of Bethnal Green, Poplar and Stepney. If you are interested in a building in the borough, tracing your ancestors who lived here, doing a school or college project on some aspect of the borough or are just feeling nostalgic, we may well be able to help you.
Tower of London
The Tower of London
London EC3N 4AB
0203 166 6654
www.hrp.org.uk
The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults and ravens strut the grounds. The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7, is one of the world’s most famous fortresses, and one of Britain’s most visited historic sites.
Collections: The Tower of London has been home to the Crown Jewels since the 14th century and the Jewel House is an essential part of any visit to the Tower today. Marvel at some of the world’s largest and most historic diamonds set in the regalia used to crown the sovereigns of England. The Martin Tower houses a special exhibition, Crowns & Diamonds: the making of the Crown Jewels, which explains the evolution of British crowns and the role that diamonds played in their decoration.
TUC Library Collections
Learning Centre, London Metropolitan University, North Campus, 236-250 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PP
London N7 6PP
020 7133 2260
The TUC Library Collections, established in 1922 for the use of the Trades Union Congress and affiliated trade unions, moved to the London Metropolitan University in 1996. They are a major research resource for the study of all aspects of trade unions, lifelong learning and people at work.
Collections: The Collections hold books, pamphlets, periodicals and ephemera relating to political and labour history from the mid 19th century to the present day. There are also archival collections, the largest of which is the Workers’ Educational Association Library and Archive.
Turner’s House, Twickenham
40 Sandycoombe Road
Twickenham TW1 2LR
It’s been a well-kept secret that Britain’s greatest landscape painter, JMW Turner, designed his own house in Twickenham 200 years ago, as a country retreat for himself and his father.
Collections: As part of his bequest to Turner’s House Trust Prof. Harold Livermore left a large collection of watercolours, prints, drawings – and a few oil paintings – which are of great value in interpreting Turner’s own work and contemporary art and literature.
Twickenham Museum, The
25 The Embankment
Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3DU
020 8408 0070
The history centre for Twickenham, Whitton, Teddington and the Hamptons. These villages, situated by the River Thames to the south-west of London, have a rich history going back thousands of years.
Two Temple Place
2 Temple Place
London WC2R 3BD
020 7836 3715
Two Temple Place is one of London’s architectural gems, an extraordinary late Victorian mansion built by William Waldorf Astor on Embankment. The house is owned by registered charity, The Bulldog Trust and supports the charitable activities of the Trust through exhibitions and events hosted in the building. It also provides a unique setting for both corporate and private events, from weddings to conferences.
UCL Art Museum
South Cloisters, University College London, Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
020 7679 2540
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/uclart
Over 10,000 works of art make up the collections of UCL Art Museum, from the 1500s to the present day. Works separated by centuries are linked by a desire to experiment with new materials, theories, and reproduction techniques in order to produce new meanings, share ideas and inspire.
Collections: The College Art Collections contains over 10,000 objects including paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from 1490 – present. Founded in 1847 when sculpture models by the neo-classical artist John Flaxman were given to UCL.
UCL, Institute of Archaeology
31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY
London WC1H 0PY
020 7679 7495
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/archaeology
The Institute of Archaeology houses fine teaching and reference collections. They include prehistoric ceramics and stone artefacts from many parts of the world as well as collections of Classical Greek and Roman ceramics.
UCL Library Special Collections
c/o National Archives, Kew
Richmond TW9 4DU
www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll
UCL Library Special Collections is one of the foremost university collections of manuscripts, archives and rare books in the UK. It includes fine collections of medieval manuscripts and early printed books, notably from the CK Ogden Collection and Graves Library, as well as significant holdings of 18th century works, and highly important 19th and 20th century collections of personal papers, archival material, and literature, covering a vast range of subject areas, notably Latin American archives, Jewish collections and the George Orwell Archive.
University College London Museums & Collections
University College London, Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
020 7679 2000
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums
UCL is the first university to be established in England after Oxford and Cambridge. It was also the first to admit students regardless of class, race, gender or religion.
Collections: UCL is home to four museums and eleven collections. These were gathered and developed from the 1820s to assist UCL’s academic staff in their teaching and research.
Untold London
c/o The Museum of London
London online
Join us as we hunt through London’s museums, galleries and archives for the hidden histories of a multicultural city.
V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road
Bethnal Green E2 9PA
020 8983 5200
Welcoming over 400,000 visitors through its doors every year, the V&A Museum of Childhood in London’s Bethnal Green houses the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection of childhood-related objects and artefacts, from the 1600s to the present day. The collection features toys – including dolls, dolls’ houses, puppets and teddy bears – games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography.
Vestry House Museum
Vestry Road
London E17 9NH
020 8496 4391
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/vestry-house
Only a few minutes walk from Walthamstow’s busy shopping centre, Vestry House Museum is waiting to unlock the story of the people of Waltham Forest. The museum is housed in Walthamstow’s original workhouse, built in 1730 as a home for local paupers.
Collections: As well as having a large social history collection of objects, the museum holds approximately 80,000 historic photographs of the Borough, is the home for the Local Studies Library and also houses the Borough Archives.
Valence House Museum
Becontree Avenue
Dagenham RM8 3HT
020 8227 2034
Valence House is a Medieval and later timber-framed and partially moated building situated in parkland.
Collections: The collection includes items from Prehistoric to modern times representing the lives of the inhabitants of the Essex parishes of Barking and Dagenham. The display areas include a reconstruction council 1945 living room and kitchen, a Victorian Servants Parlour of the 1890s and a Barking chemists shop.
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, South Kensington
London SW7 2RL
020 7942 2211
www.vam.ac.uk
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is the world’s greatest museum of art and design.
Collections: The Victoria and Albert Museum’s collections span two thousand years of art in virtually every medium, from many parts of the world, and visitors to the museum encounter a treasure house of amazing and beautiful objects.
Wallace Collection
Hertford House, Manchester Square
London W1U 3BN
020 7563 9551
The Wallace Collection is a national museum which displays the wonderful works of art collected in the 18th and 19th centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess. It was bequeathed to the British nation by Sir Richard’s widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897. Displayed at Hertford House, the main London townhouse of its former owners, the Wallace Collection presents its outstanding collections in a sumptuous but approachable manner which is an essential part of its charm. It is probably best known for its paintings by artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Hals (The Laughing Cavalier) and Velázquez and for its superb collections of 18th-century French paintings, porcelain, furniture and gold boxes, probably the best to be found anywhere outside France. But there are also splendid medieval and Renaissance objects, including Limoges enamels, maiolica, glass and bronzes, as well as the finest array of princely arms and armour in Britain, featuring both European and Oriental objects.
Waltham Forest Archives & Local Studies Library
Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, Walthamstow
London E17 9NH
020 8496 4381
We can help you if you are interested in researching the following: your family history; the history of your house or street; the development of the local area and local communities; subjects for a school project or for academic research.
Wandsworth Heritage Service
Battersea Library, 265 Lavender Hill
London SW11 1JB
020 7223 2334
www.better.org.uk/libraries/areas/wandsworth
Archives and local history service for Wandsworth.
Wandsworth Museum
38 West Hill, Wandsworth,
London SW18 1RX
020 8870 6060
www.wandsworthmuseum.co.uk
The Wandsworth Museum houses exhibitions and objects that tell the story of the region we know today as the Borough of Wandsworth, from 25,000 years ago to the present day. Throughout its history, people from all over the world have made their homes in Wandsworth. Take a walk through the centuries and uncover how they lived their lives and how your own story links you to this rich legacy. Wandsworth Museum is a private charity and as such receives no direct support from any governmental funding bodies to operate its facilities.
Wellcome Collection
183 Euston Road, London
London NW1 2BE
020 7611 2222
Wellcome Collection is the free visitor destination for the incurably curious. Located at 183 Euston Road, London, it explores the connections between medicine, life and art in the past, present and future.
Wellcome Library
183 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE
020 7611 8722
The Wellcome Library is one of the world’s greatest collections of books, manuscripts, pictures and films around the meaning and history of medicine from the earliest times to the present day.
Wellington Arch – English Heritage
London W1J 7JZ
020 7930 2726
The neoclassical arch, England’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe, was first erected in 1826 as a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace. From 1846, it was topped with a huge equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington but a major road widening of Piccadilly in 1882, due to the increasing demands of Victorian traffic, was used as an excuse to remove the oversized statue to Aldershot.
West Ham United Football Club Museum
Boleyn Ground
London E13 9AZ
020 85482700
The official museum of the history of the West Ham United Football Club from Thames Ironworks roots to the Premier League.
Collections: Memorabilia and photographs from the early days right up to the present, including the Champions Collection of medals, caps and shirts worn and won by England’s World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
West Middlesex Family History Society
1 Camellia Place, Whitton
Twickenham TW2 7HZ
West Middlesex Family History Society aims to encourage and assist those involved in the study of family history and genealogy in the western part of the ancient English county of Middlesex.
Westminster Abbey
20 Dean’s Yard Westminster
London SW1P 3PA
020 7222 5152
Westminster Abbey is one of the world’s great churches, with a history stretching back over a thousand years. A royal church from its first beginnings, it still has the shrine of its principal founder, the Anglo-Saxon king and saint, Edward the Confessor, at the heart of the building.
Westminster Cathedral
42 Francis Street
London SW1P 1QW
020 7798 9055
www.westminstercathedral.org.uk
Westminster Cathedral is one of the greatest secrets of London; people heading down Victoria Street on the well-trodden route to more famous sites are astonished to come across a piazza opening up the view to an extraordinary facade of towers, balconies and domes. The architecture of Westminster Cathedral certainly sets it apart from other London landmarks. It was designed in the Early Christian Byzantine style by the Victorian architect John Francis Bentley.
White Lodge Museum & Ballet Resource Centre
The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, Richmond Park
London TW10 5HR
020 8392 8440, option 7
www.royalballetschool.org.uk/the-school/museum
White Lodge Museum and Ballet Resource Centre is the first dedicated ballet museum in the UK. It is housed within White Lodge – a Grade I listed building, which is now the home of The Royal Ballet Lower School.
Whitehall
1 Malden Road
Cheam Village SM3 8QD
020 8643 1236
www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1909
An attractive weather-boarded house in the heart of the Cheam Village conservation area. Whitehall has stood on this site since about 1500, and opened to the public in 1978.
Collections: Discover 500 years of living history; original timbering with wattle and daub plus carpenter’s marks visible on roof structure; inglenook fireplace with cooking pots, baking oven and ashpit; medieval Cheam Pottery display – story of Henry VIIIs nearby Nonsuch Palace; learn about the Killick family who lived here for over 250 years; furnished Victorian schoolmaster’s study bedroom; rear garden with medieval well.
Wiener Library, The
29 Russell Square
London WC1B 5DP
020 7636 7247
www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust & Genocide is one of the world’s leading and most extensive archives on the Holocaust and Nazi era. The Library’s unique collection of over one million items includes published and unpublished works, press cuttings, photographs and eyewitness testimony.
William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park, Forest Road
London E17 4PP
020 8496 4390
The William Morris Gallery is the only public gallery devoted to the life and legacy of William Morris: designer, craftsman, socialist.
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, Museum Building, The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Church Road, Wimbledon
London SW19 5AE
020 8946 6131
The collection dates from 1555, and is widely seen as the world’s greatest tennis collection open to the public. New items are added each year from the current Champions.
Wimbledon Society Museum of Local History
22 Ridgeway, Wimbledon
London SW19 4QN
0208 296 9914
A small intimate museum in which you’re shown, in pictures, words and objects, the three thousand year history of Wimbledon. The staff you’ll meet are friendly local people who are proud of our history and will gladly help you in any way they can.
Wimbledon Windmill Museum
Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common
London SW19 5NR
020 8947 2825
Wimbledon Windmill Museum is a museum of windmills housed in the windmill on Wimbledon Common. It depicts the history of windmills and milling using working models and the machinery and tools of the trade, with hands-on milling for children. In the entrance to the museum is a diorama showing how the windmill was built, with some of the early types of tools used in its construction.
Winston Churchill’s Britain At War Experience
Churchill House, 64 – 66 Tooley Street, London Bridge
London SE1 2TF
020 7403 3171
www.britainatwar.co.uk
Britain at War Experience offers a glimpse of what life was like for the civilians in war-torn Britain during WW2. This is a unique museum of interest to all ages, featuring evacuation, rationing, shelters, weddings, bomb disposal, gasmasks and a walk through the London Blitz.
World Rugby Museum & Twickenham Stadium Tours
Twickenham Stadium, Rugby Road
Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1DZ
020 8892 8877
There is nowhere in England more important to rugby union than Twickenham Stadium. Home to England Rugby and the World Rugby Museum (WRM) – this is the ultimate experience for the rugby enthusiast. The World Rugby Museum gives a unique insight into this magnificent sport. People of all ages and nationalities can follow the history of the game from its origins in Rugby School to the present day.