Recording the layers of London's rich heritage

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Collection

Dickens' London

Charles Dickens' London

Collection

Entertaining London: London County Council Collections

Entertaining London is one of several collections curated by the Layers of London team at London Metropolitan Archives (LMA).  These collections bring together photographs, films and estate plans from the London County Council archive collection at LMA. London County Council (LCC) was established in 1889. As part of its remit to run public services in the capital, the Council quickly turned it...

Collection

Hackney History

A collection created over several months in 2019 by 'Hackney History', a Hackney local history group made up of members of the Friends of Hackney Archives. The collection continues as a work in progress. The Hackney Archives can be visited at Dalston CLR Library. The Friends of Hackney Archves can be joined by visiting www.hackneyhistory.org

Collection

London Pubs

The histories of pubs, inns and taverns, past and present

Explore our unique, historic map layers

Our map layers have been stretched and manipulated to fit over the contemporary map of London; meaning you can focus on a street, building or area and see how it has changed over time!

Step back in time
  • A Map of Tudor London, in about 1520. Reconstructed by modern historians and archaeologists and published by the Historic Towns Trust in 2018.
  • A survey of the City of London and the surrounding built-up area, completed in 1682 by William Morgan.
  • A map showing bomb damage during World War II. The original maps are at the London Metropolitan Archives.
  • A modern map showing the streets of London today.
  • Ordnance Survey maps from the 1940s-1960s. The most detailed OS maps after the Second World War.
    • [#<OpenStruct image="//lol-content.rooftop.io/sites/398/2018/06/15133940/map-grab-1-1600x777.jpg", caption="A Map of Tudor London, in about 1520. Reconstructed by modern historians and archaeologists and published by the Historic Towns Trust in 2018.">, #<OpenStruct image="//lol-content.rooftop.io/sites/398/2018/06/15133940/map-grab-2-1600x777.jpg", caption="A survey of the City of London and the surrounding built-up area, completed in 1682 by William Morgan.">, #<OpenStruct image="//lol-content.rooftop.io/sites/398/2018/06/15133940/map-grab-3-1600x777.jpg", caption="A map showing bomb damage during World War II. The original maps are at the London Metropolitan Archives.">, #<OpenStruct image="//lol-content.rooftop.io/sites/398/2018/06/15133940/map-grab-4-1600x777.jpg", caption="A modern map showing the streets of London today.">, #<OpenStruct image="//lol-content.rooftop.io/sites/398/2018/06/15133940/map-grab-61-1600x777.jpg", caption="Ordnance Survey maps from the 1940s-1960s. The most detailed OS maps after the Second World War. ">]

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Explore history

Layers of London is a unique, free, historical and geographical resource for Londoners. Anyone can explore our map layers that have been stretched and manipulated to fit over the contemporary map of London; meaning you can focus on a street, building or area and see how it has changed over time! Great!

Step back in time

Tell your story

Everyone can take part. You might have something interesting to say about the history of your area or people you know.

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Help us trace Booth's map of London

Booth's map has poverty classifications for different buildings, but there's been no way to read the locations as data. You can help to trace the colours and label them, so researchers can use the data in the future.

Start tracing now

Partners & Supporters

  • School of Advanced Study
  • Institute of Historical Research
  • The Heritage Lottery Fund
  • Creative Commons
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