Archives on Show: Shakespeare's London

This session showcases archival material relating to the time that playwright William Shakespeare lived in London. Explore material relating to playhouses, players and performance in London as well as sources that can be used to get a sense of life in the city in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

Booking: You can book for a one hour drop-in session at 1pm or 2pm.

This one-off Archives on Show event complements our Shakespeare in London display where you can see some of our rarely displayed treasures from 30 June until 25 September 2025.

Our Archives on Show events are a chance for us to show you the wide range of material we hold at The London Archives.

Whether you are new to archives and curious to see what we hold, or you are an experienced researcher that wants to learn more, these relaxed events offer a chance for you to see a selection of original materials on a changing monthly theme.

What to expect:

• Curated display of archival material from our collections - available for you to handle and explore at your own pace.
• Informal atmosphere with staff on hand to answer queries about items on display.
• This is a drop-in session - while it doesn't include a formal talk, members of our team will be on hand to answer questions and to discuss the selection of items.
• Each month we focus on a specific topic, type of record, or theme.