London is a city justly proud of its cultural diversity, yet for too long tourists and Londoners alike have had to rely on guides focusing on its white history and landmarks. Now Black London allows us to see this familiar city anew, gathering together the places that tell the story of its Black inhabitants, stretching back to Tudor times.
From Cleopatra’s Needle sitting on the Victoria Embankment, carved in Egypt three and a half thousand years ago, to the Black Lives Matters mural in Woolwich, the city is rich with features that symbolise its Black history.
Here are places worth visiting and revisiting. Get your bearings, revise your history, and be inspired by the work of some remarkable individuals who made London a truly global, modern city.
As well as historical information and recommendations on where to go, there are lots of Black events in London throughout the year. Here are some dates for you to add to diary from Black London by Avril Nanton & Jody Burton:
London’s Black Events:
Huntley Conference
February (first week)
The archives of Guyanese-born political activists Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley are held at the London Metropolitan Archives in East London. Started in 2005, the Annual Huntley Conference is organised by the charity Friends of the Huntley Archives (FHALMA).
Stephen Lawrence Day
22 April
The first annual national commemoration of Stephen took place in 2019. He was only 18 years old when he was murdered by white racists in 1993. The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust launched an architect’s competition in 2019 to design an 18-mile marker for the London Marathon (held each March) dedicated to his life.
Windrush Day
22 June
The year 2019 saw the first annual celebration of Windrush Day, celebrating the first modern day mass immigration from the Caribbean islands. The day recognises the contribution of the Windrush generation. Government plans for a Windrush
memorial are under discussion, and in 2021 Hackney Council plans to unveil a major artwork to honour the local Windrush community.
UK Black Pride
First Sunday of July
UK Black Pride is Europe’s largest celebration for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent. First celebrated in 2006, the event is part of the annual celebrations of Pride month.
Nelson Mandela Day
18 July
This day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010, the date of his birthday. It is now an annual international day in his honour.
Sankofa Day (International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition)
23 August
In 1998 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), designated this date as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, and from 2016 onwards, victims of the trade have been remembered and honoured on Sankofa Day in a ceremony at London’s Trafalgar Square. Symbolised by a bird with its head turned backwards to take an egg from its back, the word sankofa means learning from the past to build the future.
Notting Hill Carnival
Last Sunday and Bank Holiday
Monday of August
This carnival started in 1959 as a community festival and is now the largest in Europe. It is a celebration of African Caribbean culture and tradition via music, masquerade and food.
Black History Month
October
Founded in 1987 under the Greater London Council (GLC), this national celebration aims to promote and celebrate black British contributions to society, and to foster an understanding of black history through educational and cultural events.
Tottenham Literary Festival
November
Established in 2019, the Tottenham Literature Festival is an annual nine-day event. It is held at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, and aims to highlight work by black writers and to champion diverse children’s literature.
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