Mapping London

A fascinating exhibition of rare maps of London from 1572 to 2013. Discover 450 years of dramatic transformations of the Thames landscape and the art of cartography through these intricate and insightful visions of London.

Situated in a gallery beside the river it documents, this intriguing exhibition of rare maps of London shows how the landscape bordering the Thames has changed over the past 500 years. Curated by Daniel Crouch, one of the world's leading specialist map dealers, it will include the first available map of the capital, dating from 1572, a contemporary map of underground London from 2013, several impressive monumental wall maps, and even a map of London that doubles up as fan. Aimed at introducing people to the mapmakers' art by displaying 500 years of cartography in one location, this fascinating show will include very large maps not normally viewable as framed works of art, as well as the first three printed surveys of the capital, dating from 1746, 1799 and 1827 – the largest of which is 4m by 2m.