Hello from The London Archives

Hello from The London Archives

We are so excited to share our new name, brand and website with you, read on to find out what’s on offer and why we have become 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 which will become 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.

What Can I Do Next?

Live far away? Why not search our collections from the comfort of your own home? Or check out images and videos of London through the years. Live a little closer? Then you can visit us to research the records, check out our events or attend one of our exhibitions.

Whatever you choose to do we cannot wait to welcome you to the London Archives soon and don’t forget to keep up to date with what we are up to.