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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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People's City gallery

1850s - 1940s

The London 2012 Olympic Cauldron

2012 Olympics

Permanent galleries

World City

1950s – today

Revolutions in technology, fashion, and culture have transformed London

The postwar generation led London's multicultural revolution, followed by the punk movement in the 1970s. By the 1980s many of London’s traditional industries had closed down, even as new technologies transformed everyday life. Now 21st century London is known for its diversity and modern industry.

  • Swimming trunks worn by Tom Daley in the London 2012 Olympics.
  • Case illustrating London fashions of the 1960s.
  • Dress created by fashion collective the Fool, displaying faces of the Beatles.
  • Gates of the Firestone Factory on display in the World City gallery.
  • Cover of book Because They Know Not: a Powerful Story on the Colour Problem, 1950s.
  • Children look at the Bill and Ben Flowerpot Men puppets on display in the World City gallery.
  • Punk outfit worn by Marian Williams in the 1970s.
  • Tom Hunter
  • Vespa scooter on display at the Museum of London.
  • Capital Concerns interactive in the World City gallery.

Not to be missed on your visit

View slideshow

Swimming trunks worn by Tom Daley in the London 2012 Olympics.

Tom Daley's swimming trunks from the 2012 London Olympics

These Adidas Team GB swimming trunks were used by Tom Daley during the 2012 Olympics. The Union Jack-based design is by Stella McCartney.

Case illustrating London fashions of the 1960s.

London's fashion revolution

This case displays the changes that swept London style in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dress created by fashion collective the Fool, displaying faces of the Beatles.

Beatles dress

This cotton dress, emblazoned with the faces of the Fab Four, was available from C&A, a high street clothing shop. It testifies to the way young Londoners embraced the new music and fashions of the 'swinging sixties'.

Gates of the Firestone Factory on display in the World City gallery.

Bronze gates from the Firestone tyre factory, 1929

The Firestone factory closed in November 1979 with the loss of 1,500 jobs.

Cover of book Because They Know Not: a Powerful Story on the Colour Problem, 1950s.

Cover of 'Because They Know Not: a powerful story on the colour problem', 1959

This novel by Alvin Gladstone Bennett tackles the issues raised by West Indian migration to Britain in the 1950's, and was inspired by the author's own experiences.

Children look at the Bill and Ben Flowerpot Men puppets on display in the World City gallery.

Visit our children's corner

These Bill & Ben string puppets were used in the children’s television programme ‘The Flowerpot Men’, part of the BBC's 'Watch With Mother' series, 1952.

Punk outfit worn by Marian Williams in the 1970s.

Outfit worn by Marian Williams, a singer in a punk band, 1982

The mohair sweater was bought at Camden Market and the bondage trousers and studded t-shirt were from Kensington Market.

Tom Hunter's scale model of two London streets, known as the

The Ghetto, 1994

Designed by artist Tom Hunter, this 3D photographic model exactly recreates, in miniature, two streets in Hackney, condemned as a 'ghetto' by the Hackney Gazette in 1994.

Vespa scooter on display at the Museum of London.

Vespa scooter

This Douglas Vespa 125cc motor scooter was one of the symbols of the youth revolution that swept through London in the 1950's and 60's.

Capital Concerns interactive in the World City gallery.

Experience the Capital Concerns interactive

Learn what Londoners think and worry about by using this interactive. A digital river Thames runs through the gallery, carrying icons representing the major issues of the city.

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

World City also of interest

Holloway prison opened in 1852 as the City of London House of Correction. In 1902 it became a female-only prison. This bell hung in the courtyard of the original Gothic prison, demolished in the 1970s. All prisoners, including Suffragettes, would have been familiar with the daily ringing of the bell to summon them to work and exercise in the yard.

Collecting for London

Our free display looks at the museum's latest acquisitions

Plan your visit

On display in Beyond Documentary.

Beyond Documentary

See the city through our free display of cutting-edge photography

Plan your visit

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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!