London Societies

Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

Regional Societies
Barking & District Historical Society Harp House 16 Helmore Road Barking, London IG11 9PH UK Email: [mailto:barkinghistorical@hotmail.com barkinghistorical@hotmail.com] Website: Barking & District Historical Society


 * The Barking & District Historical Society was founded in 1934 to encourage interest in the history of the Barking district.

Bromley Borough Local History Society Small Hall Trinity United Reform Church Freelands Rd Bromley, London BR1 3AQ UK Telephone: 01689 854 408 Email: [mailto:lainey.l.baker@btinternet.com lainey.l.baker@btinternet.com] Website: Bromley Borough Local History Society


 * BBLHS was formed in 1974 so that those with an interest in the history of the people, events and places that make up London's largest borough could meet to exchange information and learn more about the long and fascinating story that makes up the London Borough of Bromley and all its constituent parts.

Chingford Historical Society SS Peter and Paul Church on The Green North Chingford, London E4 7EN UK Telephone: 020 8504 6340 Website: Chingford Historical Society


 * We organise meetings during the winter and coach tours to places of historical interest in the summer. We publish a bi-annual newsletter. Local history research is carried out and books and newsletters about Chingford's past are on sale.

The East of London Family History Society Email: [mailto:secretary@eolfhs.org.uk secretary@eolfhs.org.uk] Website: The East of London Family History Society


 * The East of London Family History Society’s aim is to promote and encourage the public and private study of family history, genealogy, cultural heritage, heraldry, and local history with particular reference to the eastern area of Greater London.

Ilford Historical Society Ilford Hospital Chapel Ilford Hill Ilford, London IG1 2AT UK Telephone: 020 8500 6045 Email: [mailto:georgina.green@btconnect.com georgina.green@btconnect.com] Website: Ilford Historical Society

Kingston Upon Thames Archaeological Society Main Hall Surbiton Library Ewell Road Surbiton Kingston upon Thames, London KT6 6AG UK Email: [mailto:kutas.archaeology@gmail.com kutas.archaeology@gmail.com] Website: Kingston Upon Thames Archaeological Society


 * KUTAS is a friendly Society for anyone with an interest in archaeology and history.

Lewisham Local History Society Methodist Church Hall Albion Way Lewisham, London SE13 6BT UK Telephone: 020 8313 3384 Email: [mailto:d.eley922@btinternet.com d.eley922@btinternet.com] Website: Lewisham Local History Society


 * The Lewisham Local History Society was founded in 1961 with the aim of encouraging and assisting study of the local history of the London Borough of Lewisham and nearby areas.

Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society St John’s Church High Rd Leytonstone, London E11 1HH UK Telephone: 020 8558 5491 Email: [mailto:measure@btinternet.com measure@btinternet.com] Website: Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society


 * Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society began in February 2005 at a meeting attended by over a hundred people. Our long-term aims are to research and promote interest in and knowledge of the history of the area of the former Borough of Leyton and its surrounding region.

London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Website: London and Middlesex Archaeological Society

Orpington & District Archaeological Society Christ Church (United Reformed) Tudor Way Petts Wood Bromley, London BR5 1LH UK Email: [mailto:orparchsoc@yahoo.co.uk orparchsoc@yahoo.co.uk] Website: Orpington & District Archaeological Society


 * The Society promotes the study of archaeology in the local area by undertaking excavations, carrying out research, and encouraging public interest through meetings and visits.

Romford and District Historical Society myplace 343 Dagnam Park Dr Harold Hill Romford, Lomdon RM3 9EN UK Website: Romford and District Historical Society


 * The Society shall consist of persons interested in the study of history, with particular reference to the historic town of Romford and its environs (the Municipal Borough of Romford, the Royal Liberty of Havering, the London Borough of Havering, the County of Essex, and East London); encourage the preservation of local records, antiquities, objects of interest, and the historic environment; and promote the study of local history in all its aspects, by sponsoring lectures, encouraging  research, publishing articles, and organising excursions to places of  historical interest.

Surrey Record Society Surrey History Centre 130 Goldsworth Road Woking, Surrey GU21 6ND UK Telephone: 01483 518737 Email: [mailto:shs@surreycc.gov.uk shs@surreycc.gov.uk] Website: Surrey Record Society


 * Surrey Record Society exists to publish records relating to the historic county of Surrey, which includes the parishes of South London as far east as Rotherhithe. Since its foundation in 1913 it has published transcripts, translations and abstracts of texts ranging in date from the twelfth to the nineteenth century, and in subject from central, county and municipal government to ecclesiastical, manorial, industrial and military history.

Waltham Forest Family History Society Spruce Hill Baptist Church Hall Brookscroft Road Walthamstow, London E17 4JP UK Email: [mailto:mcarroll@waitrose.com mcarroll@waitrose.com] Website: Waltham Forest Family History Society


 * Waltham Forest Family History Society was founded in 1978 to bring together and to encourage people with an interest in family history and genealogy. We are a small but friendly society that caters for all those with South West Essex ancestry who might live at a distance, and for those who live locally but whose ancestors came from elsewhere.

Walthamstow Historical Society St Mary's Church 8 Church End Walthamstow, London E17 9RJ UK Email: [mailto:whsenquiries@gmail.com whsenquiries@gmail.com] Website: Walthamstow Historical Society


 * The origins of the Society lie in a small band of enthusiasts who were keen to further the study of local history and publish books in which such knowledge would be available "for all comers and for all time". With the aim of promoting the study and enjoyment of local history, particularly in the vicinity of Walthamstow.

Wesley Historical Society - London And The South East 7 Hornminster Glen Hornchurch, London RM11 3XL UK Website: Wesley Historical Society - London And The South East


 * The aims of the Society laid down in 1893 were to promote the study of the history and literature of early Methodism, research into the Wesley's, and investigation into the beginnings and development of Methodism. Area: London and the South East.  South East England consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Woolwich & District Family History Society Shrewsbury House Bushmoor Cres Shooter’s Hill London SE18 3EG UK Email: [mailto:suhiwfhs@tiscali.co.uk suhiwfhs@tiscali.co.uk] Website: Woolwich & District Family History Society


 * The Society covers not just Woolwich but also Greenwich, Woolwich, Charlton, Plumstead, Eltham, Welling, Bexleyheath, and Crayford.  Many people have ancestors who spent a few years or a few generations in this area. Many worked at the Royal Arsenal, the Royal Dockyard, or served in the Artillery.

London Societies
Barnes and Mortlake History Society Website: Barnes and Mortlake History Society

Bromley Borough Local History Society Website: Bromley Borough Local History Society

Carshalton & District History & Archaeological Society Email: [mailto:membership@cadhas.org.uk membership@cadhas.org.uk] Website: Carshalton & District History & Archaeological Society

Catholic Record Society Website: Catholic Record Society

City of London Archaeological Society (CoLAS) Email: [mailto:web-enquiry@colas.org.uk web-enquiry@colas.org.uk] Website: City of London Archaeological Society (CoLAS)

Docklands History Group Website: Docklands History Group

Enfield Archaeological Society Website: Enfield Archaeological Society

Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society Website: Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society

Greenwich Industrial History Society Website: Greenwich Industrial History Society

The Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland Website: The Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Islington Archaeology & History Society Website: Islington Archaeology & History Society

Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society Email: [mailto:measure@btinternet.com measure@btinternet.com] Website: Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society

London Record Society Website: London Record Society

London Westminster & Middlesex Family History Society Website: London Westminster & Middlesex Family History Society

Richmond Archaeological Society Website: Richmond Archaeological Society

Society of Genealogists

Southwark & Lambeth Archaeological Society (SLAS) Email: [mailto:b.bloice@btinternet.com b.bloice@btinternet.com] Website: Southwark & Lambeth Archaeological Society (SLAS)

Surbiton & District Historical Society Website: Surbiton & District Historical Society

Borough of Twickenham Local History Society Website: Borough of Twickenham Local History Society

University of London Extra-Mural Archaeological Society (EMAS) Website: University of London Extra-Mural Archaeological Society (EMAS)

Wandsworth Historical Society Website: Wandsworth Historical Society