London Historians' Monthly Pub Meet
A London Historians Event
We have an informal gathering of socialising at the beginning of every month. From 6:30 pm. We have up to 30 attendees most months and you can come as early or late as you like, we’re always still there at Last Orders. All welcome, not just LH members.
The pub we use is the superb Bishop’s Finger , just adjacent to Smithfield Market at 9-10 West Smithfield, London, EC1A 9JR. It’s just five – 10 minutes walk from Barbican Tube Station (Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines).
We meet on first Wednesday of the month on these dates: Wed 4 June; Wed 2 July; Wed 6 August; Wed 3 September; Wed 1 October; Wed 5 November; Wed 3 December.
Twickenham Stadium Heritage Tour
A London Historians Event
Tuesday 8 July 2025, 2 – 4:30 pm.
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Twickenham Stadium – the ‘Home of Rugby’ – opened in 1909. Following overwhelming demand for international match-day tickets, the RFU had purchased a 10 acre site near Twickenham, formerly a market garden for vegetables, hence the stadium’s nickname the Cabbage Patch. Originally designed to host 20,000 spectators, Twickenham’s current capacity is 82,000. Apart from all of England’s home matches, it hosts annual prestige games such as Oxford v Cambridge and Army v Navy. It was the venue for the Rugby World Cup finals of 1991 and 2015.
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Our tour comprises two parts: a guided tour of the stadium itself followed by a visit to the museum. Our tour leader is London Historians member and Blue Badge Guide David Beaumont who is also an official guide with the stadium.
This event is open to both Members and non-Members of London Historians.
London HIstorians Annual Lecture 2025
A London Historians Event
Guildhall Library, City of London
Monday 8 September 2024, 1800 – 2000h.
Mapping London on the eve of the Great Fire of 1666.
A talk by Professor Vanessa Harding.
The first plan-form maps of London were created in the decades after the fire that devastated the city centre in September 1666. For the first time, they enable us to mentally walk the streets, pinpoint buildings and other features, and locate events. They show us the metropolis rebuilt and continuing to spread east and west. Can we go back before the moment of the fire and map London as it was then with the same degree of accuracy? Can we recapture the London that the young Samuel Pepys knew, recovering from the Civil War years, enlivened by the recent Restoration of monarchy and court, but devastated by the worst-ever plague epidemic? This talk outlines a new project that aims to do just that. I will explain our approach to creating a large-scale, accurate street map of the whole metropolis in 1666, and discuss sources, challenges, and opportunities.
Followed by Q&A and wine reception.
London Historians Events
Here are some London Historians events from last year. We held over 30 in 2024 with many more lined up for 2025 as you can see, above. Walks, talks, site visits, pub meet-ups. Virtually all our events are for Members only, so the only way to be in with a chance is to join us! You can do so here
Ironmongers’ Hall.
Berry Bros & Rudd, wine merchants
Golders Green Crematorium
Free and Affordable Lectures
Several institutions host wonderful history lectures which are either free or cost very little.
The venerable Gresham College holds free lectures at its HQ in Barnards Inn, Holborn and also at Museum of London. Details.
Guildhall Library has free lunchtime lectures and £5 evening ones, which include a glass of wine. Details
