London before London

This new gallery tells the story of the Thames Valley and the people who lived here from 450,000BC to the coming of the Romans in AD50. During this time, the climate changed dramatically, but the valley and people's lives were constantly dominated by the great River Thames.

London before London is a rich gallery containing not only objects and information but also video, animation, sound, objects to touch, interactive exhibits, models, reconstructions, maps, diagrams and an IT area. Visitors will learn about people's lives at the time, where they lived, what their beliefs were and some of the important technologies they invented. Tamesibuga, an Iron Age woman, brings it all to life for pre-booked school groups with a fascinating new gallery drama.

National Curriculum themes support the KS2 Geography syllabus, including the local area, village settlers, weather around the world, investigating rivers, and passport to the world. The gallery can also help students to ask geographical questions, use secondary sources including maps and plans, collect, record and analyse evidence and use geographical vocabulary to communicate.

London before London has a free online Teachers resource to support the KS2 Geography curriculum.

For more online information see the gallery web site.

	Gallery images
	The gallery entrance with specially created film going back in time half a million years Enlarge image Tracks the changing environment and introduces some spectacular animals Enlarge image The 'Landscape wall' evokes the changing landscape with beautiful photographs and plans Enlarge image 'Carving out a home' features the reconstructed face of the Shepperton woman Enlarge image The blue-lit 'River wall' runs throughout the gallery, putting each plinth in context Enlarge image 'Moving beyond the valley' one of the chronological plinths that tell the story of the gallery Enlarge image