The London Archives

London Metropolitan Archives became 'The London Archives' in 2024

The London Archives is a free public archive focussing on the history of London from 1067 to the present day. Visit us to enjoy exploring millions of historical manuscripts, maps, photographs, books and films or connect with and be inspired by our exhibitions, events and workshops. Entrance is free and everyone is welcome.

Explore your story. Uncover London's history. Discover The London Archives.

Why the Name Change?

In 2022 we undertook a process to understand how current and future visitors viewed us. An analysis of feedback from workshops and surveys highlighted that visitors were confused by the use of the word ‘metropolitan’ in our old name 'London Metropolitan Archives'. Of those surveyed many thought that we held the records of only the Metropolitan Police, London Metropolitan University, or London Underground’s Metropolitan Line. It felt clear to us that the word 'metropolitan' had fallen out of everyday use and didn’t convey the breadth of our collections and what we have to offer.

Through this work we decided The London Archives would be our new name as it clearly communicates our collection and echoes similar institutions including The National Archives and the London Museum. In late 2023, work began with Cog to develop our new brand identity, aiming for a contemporary feel whilst respecting our role as a place for historical research and learning.

Our ambition is that our name and brand is welcoming, open and inspiring, and a visual identity that is recognisable and synonymous with the history of London and the knowledge contained within our collections.

We’d love our visual identity to develop as a badge of honour for those who use and love our service and as a way of attracting new visitors who love research, history and discovering and exploring the past. It is our hope that through this work we can highlight how essential archives are to our understanding of the city and society around us.

Come and visit us and explore our amazing collections!