What we do

The London Topographical Society is a registered charity (no 271590) founded in 1880. It concentrates on publishing books and sheet material illustrating the history, growth and topography of London. For more than a century the Society has remained true to the vision of its founders by making available maps, plans and views, and by publishing research, to assist the study and appreciation of London.

Who we are

The Society has about 1,100 members spread throughout the world. As well as individuals, the membership includes over 100 universities, libraries and other institutions. All those interested in the history and topography of London are invited to join. This website includes information about our events, and other sources of information (museums, libraries, bookshops, etc) - see links.

Several of the Society’s publications are of particular interest to genealogists. These include the series of A-Z books, which allow researchers to identify streets, courts and alleys, and sometimes even individual houses. This is particularly useful where ancestors’ addresses have subsequently been swept away or renamed. Other key resources are the two parish boundary maps – one covering the City of London (now out of print but available in Guildhall and other libraries) and another for the much fuller extent of the County of London – and Booth’s poverty map.

The Council meets three times a year. Council members at Contact us.

History of the Society

PDF Stephen Marks article Vol. 24 (1980)
PDF Simon Morris article in LTR 1995, No 149

What’s new

Our website! We hope you find it useful and your feedback is welcome.

The images used on the website are identified here. We have based our ‘vertical pictorial theme’ on some of London’s towers: each section of this website has its own tower as its symbol. Can you recognize them all? If you need help with some of them or want to have the overall key to this particular theme, click here.