The Museum of London documents the history of London from the Palaeolithic to the present day. The museum is located in a 1970s building approximately 10 minutes walk north of St Paul's Cathedral and admission is free. It is operated by the Corporation of London and was opened in the 1970s, utilising collections previously held by the Corporation at the Guildhall and also items from other collections.

The museum comprises a series of chronological galleries containing original artifacts, models, pictures and diagrams. The museum covers principally social and economic history, with a strong emphasis on the built city and urban development. As at 2004 the museum is engaged in a long term program to overhaul the galleries with contemporary interactive exhibits. The prehistoric gallery, which is called "London Before London" has already been updated. Star exhibits include the Lord Mayor of London's state coach.

Fragments of the old London Wall can be seen just outside the museum. The Museum of London is responsible for rescue excavations in the City area.

In 2003 the museum opened an offshoot called The Museum in Docklands in a nineteenth century warehouse building near Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs. The new museum relates the economic and social history of the London Docklands.

External links

• Museum of London website
• Map courtesy of StreetMap.co.uk