London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is the largest local authority archive in western Europe housing collections dating from 1067 to the present day. Thousands of documents, maps, plans, photographs and prints tell the story of Greater London and its people. The collections include material relating to the building of London, engineering, hospitals, court records, businesses, charities and associations, diocesan records, parish records and local government material from the Metropolitan Board of Works, London County Council and the Greater London Council. LMA currently hosts the City of London Records Office.

It is free to use the archives and some 35,000 vistors a year come to research their family and local history, get information for academic papers, find out about house history, use our large reference library and obtain copies of material. Run by the City of London, LMA works closely with Guildhall Library and Guildhall Art Gallery.

LMA is also responsible for the running of Keats House Museum. This is where John Keats lived from 1818 to 1820, and is the setting which inspired some of his most memorable poetry. It was from this house that Keats travelled to Rome, where he died of tuberculosis aged just 25. The museum runs regular poetry and literary events, and offers a range of educational facilities. Keats House is currently closed for internal refurbishment works until October 2008 as part of a £424,000 Heritage Lottery Grant. Details of the closure and further information can be found on the Keats House website www.keatshouse.org.uk.

LMA organises regular courses, family events, workshops and conferences which take place at its main site in Clerkenwell and sometimes at Keats House Museum. These events offer a range of exciting learning opportunities from basic introductions to starting family history to full academic seminars. A large number of short talks and skills based sessions are free. These should be booked in advance using the details provided to be sure of a place. In addition to the adult learning programme LMA and Keats House Museum also offer an extensive learning programme for schools. Hundreds of children visit both sites each year to learn more about London history and the work of John Keats. For enquiries relating to schools activities please call on 020 7332 3851 or email ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk. There is also a useful learning resource website at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/corporation/lma_learning.