London: 2000 Years of History

A huge engineering project building a new train route has uncovered treasures from London's first 1,000 years. These include ruins from Roman Londinium, a small settlement by the River Thames that grew into a mighty city. Evidence of Britain’s mighty warrior queen Boudica, handwritten messages dating back 2,000 years and the first London Bridge tell the story of the capital’s early years.

After years of bloody invasion by Romans, Saxons and Vikings, London transformed into one of the world’s greatest cities that would dominate Europe and beyond. But Medieval London was divided, with merchants to the east and monarchy ruling the west. But soon a catastrophe would strike all parts of the capital. The bubonic plague killed a quarter of the population and changed the face of the city.

With the horrors of the Black Death behind it, London faced a new disaster that threatened to wipe it from the map. The Great Fire of London in 1666 started as a small yard fire, grew out of control and nearly burnt the capital to the ground. The city recovered but was divided once more. The West End became a place for the wealthy, while the poor dealt with cruel living conditions in the east.

During the industrial boom of the Victorian era, rail, roads and prosperity brought millions to London. The population of the city exploded. But chronic congestion drove commuter’s underground and the London Tube was born. But this modernization forced many Londoners from their homes as new transport links and buildings arrived. This crush of people led to disease and a dream of escape.