Plan Your Visit
07.02.2025 – 19.12.2025

Lunchtime Talks at The London Centre

Plan your visit

Explore London from new perspectives!

Join NLA for a free lunchtime talk every Friday at The London Centre to learn about London’s historical and physical development, brought to life through giant model of central London and The City of London model and accompanying exhibitions.

At 12.5 metres-long, the 1:2000 scale London model covers more than 85 square kilometres of London, 19 Boroughs and approximately 170,000 buildings, including 34km of the Thames with its corresponding 21 bridges. It extends from King’s Cross in the north to Peckham in the south and the Royal Docks in the east, to Old Oak Common and Wembley in the west.

The City of London, also known as the Square Mile, is the primary business district and historic centre of London. The 1:500 City Model is the best place for people to come to experience the future of the City of London’s skyline and engage with new developments, via exact scale replicas of buildings in and around the Square Mile.

The models are used by a range of built environment professionals involved in the shaping of London, and anyone interested in the past, present and future of London’s ever-changing development.

Every first Friday of the month NLA host themed model talks, please check their events page to see upcoming themed model talks.

Time: Every Friday, 12.30 to 1pm

Tickets: Free event.

Listing location

Discover more

Exhibition: Desks, Drudgery and the Dictionary
After a 250-year absence, the ‘Dictionary Desk’ of celebrated 18th century writer Samuel Johnson makes a historic return to his former abode, Dr Johnson’s House in the City of London.
Heritage Gallery Exhibition: City of London, a city of science
A new display that celebrates the City’s rich history of scientific innovation and invention.
New Italian restaurant – now open!
Discover Penny Squares, East London's newest Italian gem! Think handcrafted pizzas, fresh pasta, and authentic Italian flavours in a cosy, welcoming setting. Buon Appetito!
Guildhall Library celebrates 600th anniversary
Guildhall Library is holding a series of talks, walks, and literary viewings throughout 2025 to celebrate 600 years since it was founded.
Swing Out & Shimmy Dance Classes
Learn how to Swing, Jive, strolls, Rock 'N' Roll and more! Looking to learn solo dancing or wanting to keep fit with uplifting toe tapping music this Dance class is for you.
Spring Recital Series
21.01.2025 01.04.2025

Spring Recital Series

St Lawrence Jewry
Join one of St Lawrence Jewry's lunchtime concerts, part of their Spring Recital Series, every Tuesday at 1pm.
0.1% by Jonathan Baldock
Myths, gods and hidden histories. Discover Jonathan Baldock’s 0.1%, a new immersive installation at London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE.
Citra Sasmita: Into Eternal Land
The Indonesian artist transforms The Curve in her first solo UK exhibition. Via painting, installation, embroidery and scent, take a sensory journey exploring ancestral memory, ritual and migration. 
Magic at the Temple
Magic. Deception. Secrets. Who holds the keys to the inner knowledge, and what must we do to attain them? An immersive new show combining magic and masonry comes to Andaz Liverpool Street from Sept 2024.
Home: Figure and Portrait Drawing Workshops
Express yourself freely and creatively at this figure and portrait drawing course that will encourage you to reflect on the themes of family and the home.
London Weekend Getaway Offer
Unlock the perfect London city getaway by Tower Bridge with 15% off our Room Rate for weekend stays and a relaxing late check-out until 4:00 pm, giving you more time to unwind in the Spa, or explore nearby iconic landmarks.
Afternoon Meze Club at Leydi
Slow afternoons, endless mezze, and half-price cocktails at the Leydi Afternoon Meze Club.
Process: A Window Into Creation
A group show providing an insight into the creative process.
Weekend Escape
08.03.2025 30.11.2025

Weekend Escape

Hyde London City
Enjoy 20% off your two-night stay at Hyde London City including a cocktail to kick off the weekend.
The Andaz Brunch Paradiso
08.03.2025 29.03.2025

The Andaz Brunch Paradiso

Rake's Café Bar
Enjoy limitless brunch at Rake’s Café Bar with crafted cocktails, gourmet bites, and DJ-curated Disco, House, and Balearic beats for the ultimate Saturday escape.
Black Sound London
10.03.2025 19.07.2025

Black Sound London

Barbican Centre
Explore over 100 years of British black music in Black Sound London, a free, interactive exhibition tracing its journey from the underground to the mainstream.
The Magic of Afternoon Tea
Experience a spellbinding afternoon tea inspired by myths and magic. Indulge in enchanting sweets, savory delights, and whimsical drinks, including cocktails, artisanal teas, or Champagne. A magical treat for all ages!
Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale
Enter the world of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, a spellbinding journey through jealousy, loss, and forgiveness, directed and adapted by Mariah Gale for Guildhall School.
How to get the Planning System Working
The Planning System: Caroline Harper, Interim Managing Director of BeFirst, talks about how to make planning work.
Gin & Georgian London: A Spirited Evening
Enjoy gin, history, and tasting at Dr Johnson’s House! Sip, learn, and explore gin’s role in Georgian London. A spirited evening awaits!
Defying Limits: Women’s Voices in Challenging Professions
Join award-winning filmmaker Charysse Tia Harper for a 90-minute Women's History Month event featuring film screenings followed by a Q&A.
Lunchtime tour: The Future of Money
Join free lunchtime tours of the Bank of England's exhibition The Future of Money
London By Lily Vanilli’ Afternoon Tea
Experience London By Lily Vanilli at Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge: a modern twist on afternoon tea, launching 28th March at Rotunda Bar and Lounge.
Mother’s Day Offers at Apex Hotel
Enjoy live entertainment, 20% off dining and stays and an 'eat for free' Sunday Roast or Sunday Brunch at Apex Temple Court or Apex City of London Hotels on 30 March.
Evelyn De Morgan: The Modern Painter in Victorian London
One of the most remarkable artists of her generation, Evelyn De Morgan, returns to Guildhall Art Gallery this year in a major exhibition that premieres two newly restored artworks.
Andaz London Wedding Show
The Andaz London Wedding Show returns on 5 April, featuring top vendors, stunning florals, bespoke confections, and everything to create your dream day.
Unravelling the Double Helix by Gareth Williams
In Unravelling the Double Helix, Professor Gareth Williams sets the record straight. He tells the story of DNA in the round, from its discovery in pus-soaked bandages in 1868 to the aftermath of Watson's best-seller The Double Helix a century later.
Young Master Builders: Roman Londinium in Bricks
Visit London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE and become a master builder for the day, as we use bricks to re-construct artefacts of Roman Londinium.
BOXHALL City opening
BOXHALL City, a new food hall from BOXPARK, is opening on 10 April at Metropolitan Arcade near Liverpool Street station.
London’s Roman Amphitheatre Tour: discovery, function and form
Join archaeologist Dr Andrew Lane for an extended tour of one of the most important buildings in Roman London.
Second Saturday – Family activities at Guildhall Art Gallery
A revolving programme of family activities may have you heading into the Roman Amphitheatre and hearing tales of Roman conquests, or creating crafts from the Victorian paintings surrounding you.
Liminal Chords: A Dreamscape in Verse and Sound
Poet and sound artist MA.MOYO (Belinda Zhawi) and friends, Roxanne Tataei & Marysia Osu, respond to the radical work of artist Noah Davis through poetry, vocal textures, and music.
Hamlet: Teatro La Plaza
24.04.2025 27.04.2025

Hamlet: Teatro La Plaza

Barbican Theatre
A joyful and enigmatic reinvention of Shakespeare's tragedy that explores what it's like to 'be' in a world that often excludes you, performed by a powerful cast of actors with Down's Syndrome.
When the Cloud Catches Colours
Thought-provoking theatre exploring the experience of two queer Singaporeans as they grow older. Based on true accounts, the show delves into relationships, family, insecurity, kindness and safety.
Krapp’s Last Tape
30.04.2025 03.05.2025

Krapp’s Last Tape

Barbican Theatre
Stephen Rea gives a 'hauntingly good' (Guardian) performance in this triumphant production of Samuel Beckett's solo masterpiece about memory, loneliness and lost love.
Passion Fruit
30.04.2025 03.05.2025

Passion Fruit

Barbican Centre
Brimming with joyful movement, brutal honesty and tender insight, this coming-of-age comedy-drama follows the life of Romeo, a Black, Gay, British-Jamaican boy growing up in North London.
Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha
Featuring sculptures from Bhabha and Giacometti, this unique show spans nearly a century of art, exploring the body, trauma, and human resilience.
Jason Moran
Join acclaimed pianist Jason Moran for a special one-off concert inspired by Noah Davis's paintings.
A Night With Boy Blue
10.05.2025 11.05.2025

A Night With Boy Blue

Barbican Centre
Mixing exuberant hip hop dance displays, a joyful sense of community and the heart-thumping rhythms of an eclectic score, Boy Blue’s company showcase always culminates in uproarious applause.
Gladiators to centurions, uncovering the archaeology of north-west Londinium
Starting in London's Roman Amphitheatre, explore this once little understood part of the Roman city with archaeologist Dr Andrew Lane. The tour also visits part of the Roman city wall, before finishing in the rarely accessible remains of the Roman Fort Gate.
Feel the Sound
22.05.2025 31.08.2025

Feel the Sound

Barbican Centre
Feel the Sound with the Barbican's bold new multi-sensory exhibition experience that explores our relationship to sound and embraces a world of listening.
London Festival of Architecture 2025- in the City
Discover stunning outdoor art installations in the City of London during London Festival of Architecture (LFA).
London Open Gardens Weekend – in the City
Explore some surprising and unexpected gardens in the City of London during London Open Gardens Weekend.
Barbican Summer Jazz Series
16.06.2025 26.07.2025

Barbican Summer Jazz Series

Barbican Centre
Across June and July, a handpicked array of jazz superstars and international talent take to the stage at the Barbican.
Summer Music in City Churches – Concert Series
Ten days of beautiful music on themes of love, romance and Shakespeare at St Giles Cripplegate church.
City Beerfest
City Beerfest is back! Delicious beers, mouth-watering street food and live music at historic Guildhall Yard.
Cart Marking Ceremony
The annual Cart Marking Ceremony is a free-to-watch historic tradition in the City of London, led by a City Livery company (the Worshipful Company of Carmen).
Goldsmiths’ Fair 2025
For more than four decades, Goldsmiths’ Fair has brought together a selection of the UK’s best contemporary jewellers and silversmiths.
Sheep Drive and Livery Fair
A long-established charity event, celebrating a Freeman’s ancient “right” to bring sheep to market over the Thames, toll free; all in aid of raising funds for The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
Lord Mayor’s Show
Visit the City for the Lord Mayor’s Show - a three mile long outdoor procession with colourful floats, music and fun.