While traveling through London in the last three weeks I have passed by buildings that were built over 1000 years ago and buildings that have not even been completed yet. Even though I have passed these historic and new buildings I had yet to stop and think about how life in London has changed over that time period.

On Saturday, I visited the London Museum for this assignment. Before coming to London I had heard about how diverse the city was and how many different cultures are present in the city. While visiting the museum I went to an area that explored the Roman Age of London’s history. From 50-410 AD Romans controlled what was then called Londonminuim. I found this interesting because they set up London as an important port for trade and travel, laying the foundation for what London is today. And during this time many Europeans came to London and the surrounding area to live, creating a diverse city. This helped me understand why London such a diverse and prosperous city. I also learned that Ceaser’s camp was located where Heathrow Airport is now, so we’ve all already been there! In this area, I also saw what is claimed to be the oldest structure in London, the London Wall, which was built by the Romans in the 2nd or 3rd century.

One exhibit that I found emotionally moving was in the ‘People’s City’, during the Second World War London had been bombed, known as The Blitz, for over 50 days and nights. During this time Londoners used the Underground’s stations as makeshift bomb shelters. During The Blitz, rail cars were used to deliver food and refreshments to Londoners. This gave me an understanding of why the Tube and Underground are synonymous with London. I also thought this area of the museum did a good job showing how much London had changed technologically from the 1850s to the 1950s and what struggles that forced and how the city adapted to the changes. This gave me an appreciation for how well technology has been integrated into the city, from being able to see when the bus will arrive to having charging ports for cars. 

While there I noticed a lot of parents taking their kids through the museum and explaining different parts of London’s vast history. This really showed the value Londoners see in education and particularly the emphasis on their city’s history. I found this interesting because at least from my experience, there is not much emphasis on knowing your city’s history. But this is probably because cities in the US are relatively young compared to London and do not have a long history.

The life of a Londoner has changed drastically over time but the ways of life that came before have not been forgotten. And the history of the city is still visible in everyday life, from historic buildings like Westminister Hall to the Underground. The biggest takeaways from my visit are how much history London has and how much has changed from when London was first founded. But also how London continues to make history through innovation.