Archives on Show

The London Archives is a free public archive focusing on the history of London, from 1067 to the present day. We preserve and share millions of historical manuscripts, maps, photographs, books which tell the story of the city. You can find us in central London in Clerkenwell, close to Farringdon Station.It's free to visit and use the archives and many of our exhibitions and events are free to attend. The London Archives is funded and managed by the City of London Corporation. We reopened as The London Archives in August 2024 and were previously known as London Metropolitan Archives.Find us in leafy Clerkenwell, close to Farringdon and Angel tubes, where we look after a vast and unique collection of manuscripts, maps, photos, books and films that tell the story of London, right back to 1067. If you haven't visited an archive before, we're a bit like a library or museum, but with millions of unique historical documents waiting to be explored; you choose what we want to see and we put the history of London in your hands. Not everyone has time to research though, so our exhibitions and events program delves into the archives and presents the fascinating history of the capital for you to enjoy. We're open to everyone, whether you’re visiting an exhibition, joining a history talk or tracing your family history. Browse our program and start discovering London's history today.