London Metropolitan Archives

We are home to an extraordinary range of documents, images, maps, films and books about London. On this site you can find out about the archives we hold, and get practical advice on how to use them.

We run a wide variety of talks, guided tours, film screenings, exhibitions and other events, and you can find out more about these as well as the latest updates from the archives on our news and events page.

LMA is free to use and open to everyone. Whether you’re tracing your family history or researching the history of your neighbourhood, if you’re interested in London or Londoners, LMA is the place to visit.

Family History

If you’re looking for ancestors from the London area, you’ve come to the right place. Explore our family history pages to find out all the options available to you.

Search the Archives

Use our catalogue to search the collections, and plan which documents you want to see when you come to LMA. Don’t forget that you need to register for a History Card to view original documents when you visit.

Explore the Collections

London's history from 1067 to the present day is recorded in a wealth of archives and specialist library books at LMA. Find out more about the different sources of information we hold on our collections page.

Exhibitions

Begin your journey into London’s dark shadows! Visit our exhibition,London Gothic, which runs until Thursday 30 April 2015.

Images

Our image collections include photographs, films, posters, prints, drawings and watercolours and make up one of the finest visual records of London in the world. You can find out more on the images and films page.

Learning

To support wider access for educational bodies such as schools, universities and other similar interest groups, we offer a range of online resources, workshops, conferences and events. Find out all the options available to you on our learning pages