Museum of London Group facts for kids

The Museum of London Group is a special group of museums in London, England. It helps people learn all about London's amazing history, from ancient times to today. This group includes several important places where you can explore the city's past.

Discover the Museum of London Group!

The Museum of London Group is like a big family of places that keep and share London's history. It's a "public body," which means it's set up by the government to serve everyone. Since April 1, 2008, it has been supported by two important groups: the Greater London Authority and the City of London Corporation. Before that, it was funded by a different government department and the City Corporation.

What is the Museum of London Group?

This group is made up of different parts, each focusing on a unique aspect of London's story. They work together to collect, preserve, and display millions of items that tell us about the city and its people.

Who Supports the Museums?

The museums get their money from two main sources. The Greater London Authority is like the city-wide government for London, led by the Mayor. The City of London Corporation is the local government for the historic heart of London, known as the City of London. Their support helps the museums stay open and create exciting exhibitions for everyone to enjoy.

Exploring the Museums

The Museum of London Group includes three main locations where you can dive into London's past:

The Main Museum of London

This is the biggest museum in the group. It's located at London Wall in the City of London. Here, you can journey through London's history, from when it was a Roman settlement called Londinium, all the way to modern times. You'll see ancient tools, Roman artifacts, medieval costumes, and even items from the Great Fire of London.

Museum of London Docklands

This museum is found on West India Quay, close to Canary Wharf. It tells the story of London's docks and the River Thames. For hundreds of years, the docks were a very busy place where ships brought goods from all over the world. This museum shows what life was like for the dockworkers and how trade shaped London.

London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre

Known as LAARC, this center is located in Mortimer Wheeler House in Hackney. It's not a museum you visit in the same way, but it's super important! It's where millions of archaeological finds from London are stored and studied. When archaeologists dig up old sites in London, they bring their discoveries here. Researchers use these items to learn even more about the city's past.

Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)

There was once another part of the Museum of London Group called Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA). This team of experts specialized in digging up and studying archaeological sites. However, MOLA is now an independent charity. This means they still do important archaeological work, but they operate separately from the Museum of London Group.