London Travel Guide > Attractions > Museums > Museum of London

Museum of London

by Barbara Ballard

The Museum of London is one of the largest and most comprehensive city museums in the world. It covers ˝ million years of mankind's history, embracing every aspect of London's life in 14 galleries. Artifacts and images are used to tell the story of the city.

The Museum's exhibits are arranged in chronological order from prehistoric times to the present. There's a relief map of the Thames valley, models of Old St Paul's and the White Tower in William the Conqueror's time. An AV presentation tells the story of the Great Fire in 1666 and the World War II Blitz.

Galleries include London Children with details from Punch and Judy shows to WW II gas masks designed especially for children. In Macabre London, visitors will find Roman skulls, information on the Great Plague, the Great Stone Gate that held spikes for the display of dismembered criminals, a reconstruction of Newgate Prison, and more.

Changing London investigates the centuries of change to the city and its landmarks-St Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, traffic jams-that have made the city what it is today. London Entertains covers the entertainment industry from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to the Nottinghill Carnival.

Stone Age boats, the 1757 Lord Mayor's State Coach still used in the annual Lord Mayor's show, railway stations and other aspects of transport are part of the London Transport gallery. Famous Londoners from Dick Whittington to Queen Elizabeth I to Charles Dickens are portrayed in their own gallery.

In December 2001, a new gallery opens at the museum. Called World City, it illustrates the history of London from the French Revolution in 1789 to World War I in 1914. This important era in the city's growth saw it rise from under one million to over seven million people. Many objects from the museum's collections that have never been seen will be on show.

An extension of the museum will be opening in the spring of 2002 in the Docklands. Called the Museum in Docklands, it tells the story of the Thames River, the port and people involved, and encompasses historical and present day information.

There are special, changing exhibitions throughout the year that cover the gamut from historical information to present day arts. One celebrates the Festivals of Britain. Performances and special events are also presented.

The Museum is noted for its urban history collections which number more than 1˝ million objects. They range from the prehistoric through Roman, Saxon, and medieval times to the present day. Costume and decorative arts, oral history, photographs, paintings, and actual objects tell the history. Toys, clothing, watches, weapons, ceramics, coins, glassware, and other accruements of civilization make up these objects. There is a large collection of Roman samian ware and metal work. Marble sculptures from the Temple of Mithras were part of the Roman materials uncovered in various building excavations in the city and form part of the collection.

For anyone interested in London's fascinating past, the Museum of London is a definitive resource not to be missed.

Text © Barbara Ballard