What was the impact of plague, fire, revolution and war on the lives of Londoners? Find out how the capital's inhabitants rebuilt, survived and thrived in the aftermath of these disasters.
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How did London survive the catastrophes of the 1660s? The city grew and spread, population revived and new buildings served a wide range of purposes. We shall consider how all this impacted on London and Londoners.
What will we cover?
Restoration, plague, fire
Rebuilding and new building
The Huguenots
Leisure and pleasure: theatre, coffee houses, pleasure gardens
Schools and almshouses
The birth of modern banking and commerce.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Place events and characters into a coherent chronological framework
Identify key features of the `new’ London
Recognise ways of taking personal interests further.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an `introductory` course and does not assume any previous study or reading although you will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course and to participate fully in discussions. You will gain more from the course, in terms of enjoyment and learning, if you are able and willing to do some supplementary reading. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully, in class discussion and debate.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Classes will be taught through a mixture of illustrated lectures and discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No, however, please bring a pen and paper for any notes you would like to take. Books and resources will be recommended throughout the course.
Mike is an experienced historian and educator with a deep passion for London’s rich and varied past. For many years at the City Lit he has taught a highly popular London history cycle. The cycle spans the city's journey from the Norman Conquest to the 21st century. In addition to his teaching at City Lit, Mike serves as a senior lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London, specializing in the social history of early modern London. His extensive research has led to numerous publications, particularly on the history of London's guilds. Before joining Birkbeck, Mike worked as a research officer at the Centre for Metropolitan History at the Institute of Historical Research. Recently, his focus has shifted to 20th-century social history, including an in-depth study of the RMT transport union. Currently, he is delving into the history of the British New Left.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/london-1660-17143031231London 1660-1714https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/london-1945-1979-hlw251.jpg279279GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/London history & walks22851177117811841228511771178<p>What was the impact of plague, fire, revolution and war on the lives of Londoners? Find out how the capital's inhabitants rebuilt, survived and thrived in the aftermath of these disasters.</p>003031078London 1660-1714279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/london-1945-1979-hlw251.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLW59279279London 1660-1714223181279Mike Berlinlondon-1660-1714/hlw59-2627<p>What was the impact of plague, fire, revolution and war on the lives of Londoners? Find out how the capital's inhabitants rebuilt, survived and thrived in the aftermath of these disasters.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>How did London survive the catastrophes of the 1660s? The city grew and spread, population revived and new buildings served a wide range of purposes. We shall consider how all this impacted on London and Londoners.</p><p>What was the impact of plague, fire, revolution and war on the lives of Londoners? Find out how the capital's inhabitants rebuilt, survived and thrived in the aftermath of these disasters.</p><p>Restoration, plague, fire</p><p>Rebuilding and new building</p><p>The Huguenots</p><p>Leisure and pleasure: theatre, coffee houses, pleasure gardens</p><p>Schools and almshouses</p><p>The birth of modern banking and commerce.</p><p>Place events and characters into a coherent chronological framework</p><p>Identify key features of the `new’ London</p><p>Recognise ways of taking personal interests further.</p><p>This is an `introductory` course and does not assume any previous study or reading although you will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course and to participate fully in discussions. You will gain more from the course, in terms of enjoyment and learning, if you are able and willing to do some supplementary reading. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully, in class discussion and debate.</p><p>Classes will be taught through a mixture of illustrated lectures and discussion.</p><p>No, however, please bring a pen and paper for any notes you would like to take. Books and resources will be recommended throughout the course.</p>HLW251 Tudor London.HistoryLondon history & walksvirtual223279181HLW59NONETue22/09/26 - 24/11/2610:15 - 12:1510:1512:1510 sessions (over 10 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetMike BerlinBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities279279London 1660-1714london-1660-1714/hlw59-2627<p>What was the impact of plague, fire, revolution and war on the lives of Londoners? Find out how the capital's inhabitants rebuilt, survived and thrived in the aftermath of these disasters.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>How did London survive the catastrophes of the 1660s? The city grew and spread, population revived and new buildings served a wide range of purposes. We shall consider how all this impacted on London and Londoners.</p><p>What was the impact of plague, fire, revolution and war on the lives of Londoners? Find out how the capital's inhabitants rebuilt, survived and thrived in the aftermath of these disasters.</p><p>Restoration, plague, fire</p><p>Rebuilding and new building</p><p>The Huguenots</p><p>Leisure and pleasure: theatre, coffee houses, pleasure gardens</p><p>Schools and almshouses</p><p>The birth of modern banking and commerce.</p><p>Place events and characters into a coherent chronological framework</p><p>Identify key features of the `new’ London</p><p>Recognise ways of taking personal interests further.</p><p>This is an `introductory` course and does not assume any previous study or reading although you will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course and to participate fully in discussions. You will gain more from the course, in terms of enjoyment and learning, if you are able and willing to do some supplementary reading. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully, in class discussion and debate.</p><p>Classes will be taught through a mixture of illustrated lectures and discussion.</p><p>No, however, please bring a pen and paper for any notes you would like to take. Books and resources will be recommended throughout the course.</p>HLW251 Tudor London.HistoryLondon history & walksconfigurable
11841178London history & walkshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/london-history-and-walks1/2/285/1177/1178/11841/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/London history & walks
