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    Discover London Through History

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    A lead alloy curse associated image Roman

    Victims of the dark arts in Roman London

    Learn about Londinium’s deepest grooves, digging up the victims of dark magic and deadly curses.

    Belsize-Park-Lisa-Randisi-discover-image.jpg Londoners

    Hackney caught on camera

    How can experimental photography teach us more about our communities? A Museum of London project in Hackney offers beautiful reflections of how Londoners see their home.

    Havering Hoard selection of objects associated image Behind the scenes

    Havering Hoard: Why so many axes?

    Discover why the inconspicuous axe was such an important tool during the Bronze Age.

    'Police out of Brixton' leaflet, 1981 associated image Black History

    From Brixton 1981 to BLM 2020: reflections on Black uprisings

    Exploring the ‘Brixton Riots’ oral history collection to discuss contemporary experiences of London uprisings against racism.

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War, Plague & Fire

1550s-1660s

People's City gallery

1850s - 1940s

Permanent galleries

Expanding City

1670s-1850s

Discover a city rebuilding itself after the Great Fire

After the Great Fire, London soon became the world’s largest city and Britain’s biggest manufacturing centre. Not every Londoner enjoyed this prosperity. Those who became bankrupt ended up in debtors' prisons.

Please note, the recreation of Vauxhall Pleasure Garden and the Debtor's cell are temporarily closed.

  • The remarkable wooden walls of the cell reveal the graffiti of the prisoners.
  • Inside the Pleasure Gardens of the Museum of London.
  • This detailed bird
  • The Corporation of London presented this bejewelled honorary sword to Admiral Lord Nelson in 1800.
  • The wallpapers, fabrics and furniture of this dolls’ house show the lifestyle of a wealthy family.
  • expanding-gallery-dress.jpg
  • ec7-to-be-renamed.jpg
  • This heavy iron clad oak door comes from the inner courtyard where the prisoners exercised.
  • This painting depicts  soldiers boarding a ship at Gravesend destined to fight in the First Indian War of Independence, or Indian
  • ec11-to-be-renamed.jpg

Not to be missed on your visit

View slideshow

The remarkable wooden walls of the cell reveal the graffiti of the prisoners.

Wellclose Square debtors' cell, c.1750 (Temporarily closed)

People who owed money were imprisoned here until they could repay their debts. The remarkable wooden walls of the cell reveal the graffiti of the prisoners. Temporarily closed.

Inside the Pleasure Gardens of the Museum of London.

A new recreation of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens (Temporarily closed)

In early 2018 we redressed our Pleasure Gardens display with new costumes and exhibits. Step inside a vanished world of glamour and fashion. Temporarily closed.

This detailed bird's-eye view of London looks west over the city.

Rhinebeck panorama of London, c.1806

This detailed bird's-eye view of London looks west over the city.

The Corporation of London presented this bejewelled honorary sword to Admiral Lord Nelson in 1800.

Nelson’s sword of honour, 1798

The Corporation of London presented this bejewelled honorary sword to Admiral Lord Nelson in 1800.

The wallpapers, fabrics and furniture of this dolls’ house show the lifestyle of a wealthy family.

The Blackett dolls’ house, c.1760

The wallpapers, fabrics and furniture of this dolls’ house show the lifestyle of a wealthy family.

expanding-gallery-dress.jpg

Dress on display in the Expanding City gallery

ID: 33.91a-c

ec7-to-be-renamed.jpg

Learn about London high society

This display features fans and duelling pistols - objects used by the nobility and gentry of London, whose luxurious lifestyle was occasionally mixed with lethal duels of honour.

This heavy iron clad oak door comes from the inner courtyard where the prisoners exercised.

Newgate prison door, c.1780

This heavy iron clad oak door comes from the inner courtyard where the prisoners exercised.

This painting depicts  soldiers boarding a ship at Gravesend destined to fight in the First Indian War of Independence, or Indian 'Mutiny'.

Painting Eastward Ho! August 1857, Henry Nelson O’Neill

This painting depicts soldiers boarding a ship at Gravesend destined to fight in the First Indian War of Independence. Purchased with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund.

ec11-to-be-renamed.jpg

Uncover the history beneath your feet

Underfloor displays showcase the everyday history of London recorded in recorded in objects found during excavations, from pots and bottles to bones and silver.

Gallery access

The gallery is open during the museum's normal hours:

11.30am - 3.30pm (Mon-Fri) & 10am-6pm (Sat & Sun)

The gallery is on the lower ground floor and can be accessed by lift.

Free entry, timed ticket

Expanding City also of interest

Wedding gifts from the marriage of Queen Victoria and Albert.

Royal weddings through London's history

When a member of the royal family gets married, it's always a big occasion.

Find out more

Late Georgian print.

Discover London's Pleasure Gardens

Read our series about how Georgian Londoners partied the night away.

Read now

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Update from the Museum of London

Following the recent Government announcement of a national lockdown, the Museum of London and the Museum of London Docklands will continue to be closed to the public.

The health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and community is of utmost importance to us and we will closely review the advice from the Government and Public Health England as to when we can reopen.

While the museum buildings may be closed, we’re still open online with loads of content to keep you entertained. Check our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @MuseumOfLondon for all the latest news. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!