This web exhibition use artefacts and images drawn from our rich collections to display London's vibrant and diverse history. Here you will find a taster of some of the more provocative and compelling aspects of life in the capital.

Children have always played a part in London's daily life. Click here for images of London children's pastimes and experiences.

Like every great city London has its dark side. The following examples represent a tiny fraction of the city's gruesome past.

Fire, war and changing tastes have made London's skyline rise and fall. The following images show the evidence of these sometimes traumatic changes.

Throughout its history, London has been a centre of entertainment. Click here for a glimpse of what drew the crowds over the centuries.

Today traffic in the capital flows more slowly than it did in the horse-drawn Victorian era 100 years ago. The following images give a taste of Londoners' transport from prehistoric times to the 1920s.

Millions of people of many races and beliefs have lived and worked in London over the centuries. Click here for a glimpse of just six of them.