The Story of London – city of ideas, innovation and pioneers

The Story of London – city of ideas, innovation and pioneers

16 AUGUST 2010

- The Story of London returns with ten day celebration looking at city's role in technological, cultural and social advances – and challenges for the future
- Speakers include Sir Terry Farrell, Billy Bragg, John Hegley, Charles Saumarez-Smith, Mark Easton, Sir Crispin Tickell with more to come

London's rich history as a centre for world-beating ideas, invention and pioneers is being celebrated this autumn, when the Story of London returns.

Originally initiated in 2009 by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, this year's ambitious cultural festival runs from Friday 1 until Sunday 10 October. Organised in partnership with a range of organisations, including funding partners the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), English Heritage and the Renaissance London (London Museums Hub), events are taking place all across the city.

Around 100 events are being planned for audiences from every corner of the capital to get involved in, encouraging them to share in the story of the most exciting city in the world. One of the aims is to raise the profile of cultural attractions throughout the city, to people living locally, as well as Londoners from across the capital and tourists.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'London is a city where around almost every corner there has been a great Eureka! moment. Full of pioneering bright sparks in every field, there are hundreds of stories to be discovered. From the inventor of the incandescent light bulb to surgical techniques, from beer making to fashion and digital art, London continues to play a crucial role in every sphere of human activity. The Story of London is about invention, ideas and exploring the city. Who knows, you too might be inspired to instigate the next big thing.'

The Story of London will enable Londoners and visitors to explore the role the capital has played in technological, scientific, cultural and social advances over the centuries - and discover how the city will change and develop as it faces the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

These achievements will be highlighted through a range of events and activities, including film, music and live performance, guided walks, talks and debates, exhibitions and workshops. From art, fashion and poetry, to history, science and technology, to transport and the environment, there will be something to suit every interest.

The season will include the legacy of Jimi Hendrix at the Handel House Museum; the development of surgical practices at the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons; a new project that 'remixes' archive film to create new visions of London; and the chance to create your own version of London's future 'in a box'. There will be talks from the likes of environmentalist Sir Crispin Tickell at the Museum of London; musician Billy Bragg and architect Sir Terry Farrell at the British Library, plus BBC Home Editor Mark Easton, who will be speaking at the Wellcome Trust. Poet John Hegley will be taking part in a special Poems on the Underground event at LSO St Luke's. Other names will be confirmed shortly.

There will be opportunities to use the latest technology to help you navigate and explore the city in a new way, including a look at what London would be like had Joseph Bazalgette not developed the first sewage and an experiential look at London architecture involving newly composed music. Hip website the Londonist will be hosting a special pub quiz, in conjunction with the Royal Institution at its 'Time and Space' bar.

Following the extraordinary success of the walking tours through Brunel's tunnel at Rotherhithe – the first to be constructed under water – there will be guided train journeys. These will include a descent by temporary staircase into the Grand Entrance Hall, which was originally constructed above ground, before being sunk for the railway.

Key partners in the Story of London include the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is supporting a range of events, with awards being given to London community groups, heritage and arts organisations that show an exciting legacy of famous figureheads and unsung heroes, charting the ever-changing face of London as a city of ground-breaking ideas and innovation. From the story of Grade I architecture and its changing environs, to the history of social housing in the East End, or Ghandi's student days in Wandsworth to the stories behind London's famous Blue Plaques and London's street theatre, a myriad of inspiring stories are waiting to be told this Autumn.

Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for London, said: 'From central boroughs like Tower Hamlets, Camden and Islington, to Sutton in the South, Havering the East, and Wandsworth in the West, it's fantastic to see Londoners young and old, from inner and outer boroughs, getting involved and interpreting this years theme of Innovation for a second exciting festival programme. We look forward to hearing more over the coming months from those volunteering their time to research the heritage that inspires them to put on the exhibitions, street theatre, artworks and guided walks that will go towards this year's Story of London.'

English Heritage will be putting on events at Down House, where Darwin wrote 'On the Origin of Species', Chiswick House whose gardens were birthplace of the English Landscape Movement, and a range of other activities looking at some of London's greatest and lesser known heritage assets.

Nigel Barker, Acting Regional Director, London region, English Heritage commented: 'Without its pioneers, visionaries, and risk takers, London’s unique heritage would be much the poorer - extraordinary and innovative feats of engineering have resulted in some of the city's greatest landmarks. Initiatives like the Story of London are an increasingly important in these times of financial restraint – they champion free access to, and enjoyment of, our capital’s outstanding history and heritage. English Heritage are delighted to again be supporting the Mayor’s Story of London.'

Renaissance London is supporting several museums across the capital as part of the festival: Museum of London; Geffrye Museum; London Transport Museum; Bruce Castle Museum; Orleans House Gallery; London Shh (Benjamin Franklin House, Burgh House, Dr Johnson’s House, Freud Museum, Handel House Museum and Kelmscott House); Church Farmhouse; Eastside Community Heritage; Handel House Museum; Greenwich Heritage Centre; Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons; Valance House Museum; and Bromley Museum.

Professor Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London, says: 'As part of the Mayor’s Story of London festival, the Museum of London will display dramatic images of a London affected by climate change. Like postcards from the future, familiar views of the capital have been digitally-transformed by architectural illustrators GMJ. They bring home the full impact of global warming, food scarcity, rising sea levels and how all Londoners will need to innovate to survive.'

Further details will be released in due course. The website is www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon.

Notes to editors

1. The Story of London is organised by the Mayor of London in partnership with a host of organisations across the capital. It takes place from 1-10 October and is designed to offer new experiences and insights into the capital, historically, culturally and socially. This year's festival celebrates London’s rich and varied history as a place of innovation and ideas, and explores how it will develop as it faces the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. The aim is to inform, entertain, educate and inspire, with dozens of events and activities covering history and heritage, art and architecture, design and fashion, music, theatre and film. More information can be found at www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon.

2. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) uses money raised through the National Lottery to sustain and transform a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK, including £865million to projects in London alone. www.hlf.org.uk

3. Renaissance London is a partnership of four museum services working closely with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to deliver the Renaissance in the Regions programme of investment in England's regional museums. Renaissance London works to invest in and transform the 250 or so non-national museums in London. This is done through providing a comprehensive service to schools, supporting a range of projects designed to demonstrate how museum collections are vital in communities, improving the regions collections and expanding the diversity of collections. Renaissance London is also engaged in building and engaging new audiences and is leading on London’s Stories of the World project, which is part of the Cultural Olympiad for London 2012.

The museums supported by Renaissance London to take part in the Story of London festival are: Museum of London; Geffrye Museum; London Transport Museum; Bruce Castle Museum; Orleans House Gallery; London Shh (Benjamin Franklin House, Burgh House, Dr Johnson's House, Freud Museum, Handel House Museum and Kelmscott House); Church Farmhouse; Eastside Community Heritage; Handel House Museum; Greenwich Heritage Centre; Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons; Valance House Museum; Bromley Museum. www.mla.gov.uk/what/programmes/renaissance/regions/london

4. English Heritage is the Government's advisor for the historic environment. It provides advice on how best to conserve England's heritage for the benefit of everyone. Most of England's heritage is in private hands. It work's with landowners, commerce and industry, planners and developers, national, regional and local government, the Third Sector and local communities to help them conserve the historic environment. It promotes public knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of our heritage. It is also entrusted with the custodianship of some of the most important monuments of human history – such as Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall. For further information, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk