London History Courses & Guided Walks

This one day course looks at a period that fundamentally shaped London as a city, from the laying out of a new town within the old Roman city wall, through the rapid growth of the 11—13th centuries, the impacts of the Black Death, and its subsequent revival.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Since the City opened up its river path, the lesser known north bank of the Thames between Blackfriars and Cannon Street stations and beyond provides fabulous views of Bankside and on the City side you discover a hidden monument to Shakespeare, several historic Livery Halls, colourful mosaics at an ancient landing place, an art nouveau decorated pub, a famous boys’ school and more!

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Explore London's places of protest and discover the stories of radicals, agitators and campaigners who fought for social justice, equal rights and better lives for all from the 1790s to the 1930s.

A series of virtual guided tours.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

London has been shaped by war, conflict and unrest. Its buildings, monuments and even street names reflect our

embattled past. These illustrated lectures examine London's wartime legacy from mediaeval fortifications to the War on Terror.

London guide: Eleanor Jackson.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

London was shaped by its architects, engineers, bricklayers, navies etc. These lectures will examine London’s

buildings and the men (and women) who worked throughout history to create this eclectic and wonderful city.

London guide: Eleanor Jackson.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

London’s superb collections of visual representations of War show how conflict affects people, politics & places. Hostilities have destroyed, but also inspired, influenced & impacted the attitudes of Londoners & artists.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

During this six-week course, we will explore aspects of Charles Booth’s landmark survey ‘Life & Labour of the People in London’, published in 17 volumes between 1889 and 1903.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

London has been muse, magnet and mecca to writers for 400 years, home to Shakespeare's successes, Dickens'

dramas and Wilde's witticisms. Each week we will explore, virtually, a different London neighbourhood &

investigate its literary connections.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

In this course we explore the archaeological evidence used to uncover some of the hidden secrets of significant designed gardens in London and close by, which has led to the attractive restoration of some of the parks and gardens enjoyed today.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Londoners have never taken themselves too seriously & delight in making fun of themselves. This course examines the cultural history of satire in the city from the 18thC to today, from Dr Johnson to Steve Bell & beyond.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

On this course we will explore some of the exciting archaeological discoveries in the London Borough of Southwark: a borough full of great history and of strategic importance.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

A look at the spectacular rise and fall of Londinium from c. AD 47 to its abandonment in c. AD 457.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

This is a virtual walk. In 1878 the symbolic entrance to the City of London from Westminster, Temple Bar was taken down to allow greater traffic flow into the City. It was replaced by the Temple Bar Monument, a more subtle marker into the City. In this virtual walk we trace the history of Fleet Street and the institutions and professions that the street is symnominous with and take a survey of the architecture and monuments of this conservation area. The walk ends at the entrance of Paternoster Square, where in 2004 the former, restored Temple Bar was re installed as its gateway.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Covering the early 19th century to the early 20th century, we will examine the history of the East End, and we will analyse how it was portrayed in works of fiction.

This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.