A History of London: 1851 - 2000

Online course

+44 (0)20 7942 2000

Explore the changing landscapes and history of London from the creation of Albertopolis to the dawn of the new millennium. A city shaped by empire and war, London was rebuilt and renewed as a global melting pot of cultures drawn from around the world

On this London history course you can learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with more than 40 hours of study over 12 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for up to 12 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.

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Portrait of V&A Academy Course Director Mike Berlin

V&A Academy Course Director
Mike Berlin

Mike Berlin is a Lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is a specialist in the social history of early modern London and has published extensively on the history of London’s guilds. Before joining Birkbeck, he was a research officer at the Centre for Metropolitan History, Institute of Historical Research.

This was a fantastic course, one of the best I have done and I do a lot of them! Many thanks to Mike and all the team. Online course attendee

Course overview

Join us to learn more about the history of London. A city shaped by empire, war and decolonisation, London has gone from the heart of a vast and powerful imperium, an unrivalled centre of global trade and finance to becoming a global melting pot, shaped by the twin forces of modernisation and migration, seen in its architecture, art and design. This term course will explore the rich cultural and social history of a city whose fortunes waxed and waned with rise and fall of Imperial Britain, but which has always been sustained by the creativity and genius of its peoples, drawn from the four corners of the globe. Drawing on the work of cultural and social historians, V&A curatorial staff, and experts on art, design and fashion, we will explore the vicissitudes of London’s greatness as a world city, from the creation of Albertopolis to the dawn of the new millennium.

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V&A Academy Online. A learning environment you can trust.

V&A Academy Online courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live, or catch up later on demand. Download handouts and presentations. Join the discussion in a secure, closed class environment, wherever you are.

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Online course: A History of London: 1851 - 2000

17 April 2024 - 3 July 2024

£395.00

Call to book +44 (0)20 7942 2000

Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:

+44 (0)20 7942 2000

Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)

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Header image: Photograph by Emil Otto Hoppé of Eros, London, 1925. Museum nr. PH.263-2021