31 May 2017 marks the first ever London History Day. To celebrate, over 40 of London's museums will display rare or unusual London related objects. Some will host special events too.
One of the things we're most excited to see is Charles Dickens' walking stick (at the Charles Dickens Museum), which he took with him on his countless jaunts around the city. There's also a free talk on the history of the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament and a workshop that teaches you how to make a Saxon home at the Museum of London. Check out the full list of events taking place here.
If you feel you'll be missing out by being stuck in school all day, Sadiq Khan encourages all children to go in dressed as their favourite historic Londoner. If you're a little older — and therefore trapped in an office — we still encourage fancy dress for the day (even if your boss doesn't).
Why 31 May you ask? It marks the anniversary of the day Big Ben — or the Great Clock if we're being pedantic — began keeping time in 1869. This momentous occasion won out in a popular vote over others that included the start of the Great Fire and the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games.
