London Museum Docklands has been in touch with me to share some events they have coming up which may be of interest to some of you.
From African women in Tudor London to archaeology, alchemy and mudlarking, there's so much history to enjoy!
Find out more at https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/
African women in Tudor London
17 Aug 2025 | 1.30pm – 2.15pm| Tickets from £10 | Adults
"Join a Host for a talk uncovering African women in Tudor London, whose histories were erased, but not forgotten.
African women lived and worked in Tudor London, yet their stories have been overlooked and not told. This talk will explore scattered records to uncover fragments of their lives.
Through the eyes of a storyteller, these historical records will be brought to life in an enchanting and engaging talk."
Secrets of the Thames tours
17 Aug 2025 | 1.30pm – 2.15pm| Tickets from £20 | Adults
"Join one of our hosts for an after-hours tour of our exhibition Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London's lost treasures.
Delve into themes of love, loss, faith, community, migration and culture through artefacts that help us trace London’s rich past.
Learn more about mudlarks, whose passion for discovery has helped uncover countless objects from all eras of the city’s history – and the forgotten stories behind them."
In & around Smithfield Market
24 Aug 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm | Tickets from £17 | Adults only
"Join our guide for a stroll through Smithfield, passing famous landmarks and getting into the fascinating and surprising stories behind them. Delve into the lives of past Londoners and explore the dissolution of the monasteries, the plague and public executions. You'll also hear stories of William Wallace, Henry VIII and even Sherlock Holmes.
Stops include the Charterhouse, St-Bartholomew-the-Great (one of London's oldest churches) and of course: the famous meat market. Please note that this is a guided tour of the Smithfield area and does not include a visit to our new museum site."
Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London's lost treasures
Until 1 March 2026 | 10am-5pm | Tickets from £16 | All ages
"Explore the hidden world of the mudlarks.
Twice a day, the River Thames dramatically recedes to expose a landscape unknown to most Londoners. Among the mud and the stones, the tides reveal remarkable objects from every era of London’s rich past.
The exhibition features over 350 mudlarked objects, from intimate personal items to historical relics, with many on display for the first time. Step into the shoes of a mudlark and explore the foreshore, uncover artefacts and learn how they identify and curate their personal collections.
The journey ends with a space for reflection on the mysteries of the moon and the tides that make mudlarking possible, leaving visitors with a powerful, contemplative memory of their time uncovering the secrets of the Thames.
Blending archaeology with contemporary art and digital experiences, Secrets of the Thames offers fresh perspectives on London and all its people – past and present."
Big dig for grown-ups
17 Aug 2025 | 5.15pm – 9.15pm | Tickets from £24 | Adults
"Discover your inner archaeologist with a fun, adults-only big dig session and exclusive after-hours exhibition access.
This summer, our families are loving the chance to learn about archaeology through our immersive big dig activity.
For one night only, adults have permission to play and try out this fun mock-up of an archaeological dig with selfie opportunities and silliness encouraged (but not essential!).
You can delve deeper into the treasure-seeking world when you explore our Secrets of the Thames mudlarking exhibition and handle some objects presented and explained by our friendly Host.
Chill out in Luke Jerram’s moon room listening to a mudlarking soundscape, or relax over refreshments in our cafe with friends and fellow discoverers. Enjoy some treasured time for you and your inner child exploring the stories of London’s past."
Mudlarking weekend (series)
27 – 28 Sep 2025 | Various times | From FREE | All ages
"Join us for a discovery-filled weekend as we celebrate the world of mudlarking in all its muddy glory, with expert talks, a free-to-visit object showcase with mudlarks and their fascinating collections, and much more. Experience the thrill of holding history in your hands. Explore the playful spirit of Londoners through toys and miniatures uncovered along the Thames foreshore.
Discover the long-lost tools once used by those who lived and worked beside the river, and learn about the vital role the Portable Antiquities Scheme plays in documenting archaeological finds made by the public. While you’re here, don’t miss Secrets of the Thames, the UK’s first-ever exhibition dedicated to mudlarking.
Mudlarking weekend is part of the Totally Thames Festival celebrations."
Includes:
Mudlarking showcase
27 – 28 Sep 2025 | 10am – 5pm | FREE | All ages
"A showcase of London's forgotten objects discovered on the Thames' foreshore.
Come and see thousands of historic artefacts recovered from the riverbed and meet the mudlarks who found them. In this interactive showcase, you'll hear the intriguing backstories about the artefacts on display in the museum. Each object reveals a unique story about the people who once lived and worked in London’s Docklands. Don't miss this unique opportunity to hold history in your hands and talk to the mudlarks who discovered the ancient artefacts. A wide variety of interactive, river-related arts and crafts activities will be offered by mudlark artists. You'll also have the chance to explore the museum by following a mudlarking trail."
Toys from the Thames
27 – 28 Sep 2025 | 2pm – 3pm | From £12 | All ages
"Delve into the playful side of Londoners through rediscovered toy treasures in this lecture from Hazel Forsyth, Senior Curator at London Museum.
London Museum holds the largest collection of medieval and early modern base-metal toys and miniatures in the world – almost all recovered by mudlarks.
In this lecture, Hazel Forsyth, Senior Curator at London Museum and author of Toys, Trifles & Trinkets, will consider how the toys were found, made and used and who they were intended for. Whether they were playthings for children or novelties for adults, they all offer fascinating insights on the cultural life of London and Londoners."
Mudlarking alchemy
27 – 28 Sep 2025 | 11am – 12pm | From £12 | All ages
"Join mudlark Monika Buttling-Smith as she reveals tools uncovered from the Thames foreshore – objects that offer a powerful connection to London’s long-lost riverside workers.
For centuries, blacksmiths have worked iron into practical items that have helped Londoners thrive.
When these were lost or discarded in the Thames, the anaerobic river mud enveloped the tools and protected them from the oxygen that would have otherwise allowed them to rust away.
In this lecture, Buttling-Smith will share tools she's discovered that tell the stories of the countless dockworkers and people who lived and worked along the river centuries ago."
Photo: Mudlark in gloves finds fork while searching the foreshore © London Museum.jpg
All information from Mariam Hussein, London Museum Docklands.
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