Discover Victorian London with our 5-day immersive event - the ultimate family history getaway experience. Choose either in-person or online attendance.
In Person
You'll start each morning in our Research Hub in the historic canal-land of North London, where our librarian and genealogist will be on hand with expert family history advice and guidance. They'll help you learn about the best places in London for you to visit to get a better understanding of your ancestors lives, whether that's via research or by treading in their footsteps.
Across the 5-days you can enjoy 12 in-person talks covering a wide range of London topics and tips. Learn about the criminal underbelly of London with renowned author, Angela Buckley. Solve your family history problems with Dave Annal, former Principal Family History Specialist at The National Archives. Dive into a wealth of records and resources with our in-house expert genealogist Else Churchill, and so much more, with talks covering a wide breadth of different topics and sources all relevant to London.
Plus, on three of the days you can choose visits or walks from a selection of seven activities. From guided visits to world famous London cemeteries to bustling streets packed with history and resource rich archives.
Learn how London Victorian families lived and how London’s social issues and local history affected their lives. Explore the books, documents and records that will help you track your ancestors' lives from cradle to grave and every event in between!
Meet fellow genealogists, enjoy a sandwich lunch on us and round the five days off with a traditional pie and mash lunch delivered to the common room.
By the end of your five days you'll have:
- Gained hands-on guidance from our in-house team of librarians, archivists and genealogists on where best for you to visit to tread in your ancestors footsteps or complete further research
- Tasted the foods of your ancestors with a hand-delivered pie and mash lunch!
- Met fellow genealogists, shared your ancestors stories and swapped tips
- Delved into the wealth of resources available at our Research Hub
Our genealogists, librarians and archivists, will be on hand to give you directions, guiding you to sites relevant to your ancestors - such as churches, cemeteries or specialist-subject museums.
Included: 12 talks, 4 sandwich lunches, 1 pie and mash lunch, recordings of all 12 talks and access to our Research Hub and genealogy team.
Not Included: Transport and accommodation in London is not included.
Customise your week further by selecting from a range of 7 different walks and visits. Priced at £20 each you can pick and choose from these 'bolt on' activities, spend extra time in our Research Hub (with library and access to a wide range of family history subscription websites) - or take up the advice of our experts and visit areas relevant to you. Please take care when selecting not to choose two on the same day!
Download the full timetable: Victorian London Week In-Person Timetable
Online
We appreciate that not everyone can travel or stay in London, which is why we are delighted to be able to offer you our 12 in-person talks in an online format.
Watch live or catch up for up to one month.
Take action after the talks by sharing your goals with your peers in co-working sessions. It’s amazing how telling others what you are going to do can help you commit to it! Led by our friendly genealogy staff you’ll meet your fellow attendees in our warm and welcoming virtual socials. Break the ice and get to know other family historians, swap stories and share tips. In follow up virtual socials you’ll be able to share your progress and get help and guidance on any tricky puzzles! Or simply on where to research and explore next.
Download the full online timetable: Victorian London Week Online Timetable
FAQ
- How will we travel from the Society of Genealogists to the various sites? I'm not confident travelling alone.
- A volunteer will be travelling from Wharf Road to each of the arranged visits and walks. Though if you prefer to make your own way that is fine too.
- Can I mix attending in person with online?
- In-person attendees will receive links to re-watch the talks for up to one month afterwards.
Talks include:
- London: Its Problems and Its Archives with Else Churchill
- London Registers and Records (Christenings, Marriages, Burials and More) with Else Churchill
- London Probate and Property with Else Churchill
- Stepney Union Casebooks (part of Charles Booth's investigation into the causes of poverty in London) with Patricia Sears
- Streets Paved With Gold? Immigrants in Victorian London with Frances Hurd
- London Apprentices, Guilds and Freemen Records with Else Churchill
- Jewish and Huguenot Collections at the SoG and Elsewhere with Else Churchill
- Scrofula, Scarlet Fever and Sudden Visitations: How Did Our Victorian Ancestors Die? with Jenni Phillips
- London Children: Schools, Foundlings and Other Institutions with Else Churchill
- Victorian Crime and Police History with Angela Buckley
- Finding Londoners in SoG Collections with Else Churchill
- Lost in London: solving your London family history problems with Dave Annal
Afternoons feature optional heritage excursions to London sites such as the Dickens Walk, Highgate Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery, and Hackney Archives among others. These curated outings connect family history with the city's rich cultural backdrop.
Whether you’re exploring archives, joining a walking tour or learning from top genealogical experts, this event offers a memorable and educational Victorian London Week.
Book the full week which includes:
- 12 in-person talks
- Daily library time before 11am
- Tea and coffee
- Four sandwich lunches
- Traditional pie and mash
- Up to three optional extra walks and visits
- Two or more afternoons in the library with the genealogy team on hand
- Two exclusive Q&A sessions
- Links to re-watch all the talks again in the comfort of home for up to one month.
- For those that cannot get to London, the twelve talks can be watched online.
Programme details
| Visit | Visit: London Archives (Monday) | In Person | 08/09/2025 | 14:00 - 15:30 |
| Visit | Visit: Highgate Cemetery (Monday) | In Person | 08/09/2025 | 14:00 - 15:30 |
| Walk | Walk: Up and Down the City Road (Monday) | In Person | 08/09/2025 | 14:00 - 16:00 |
| Walk | Walk: London of Charles Dickens (Tuesday) | In Person | 09/09/2025 | 14:00 - 16:00 |
| Visit | Visit: Hackney Archives (Tuesday) | In Person | 09/09/2025 | 14:30 - 15:30 |
| Visit | Visit: Brompton Cemetery (Thursday) | In Person | 11/09/2025 | 14:30 - 16:30 |
| Walk | Walk: Historic Soho (Thursday) | In Person | 11/09/2025 | 14:30 - 15:30 |
| Afternoons in the library (not Tuesday) | In Person | 08/09/2025 | 14:00 - 16:00 | |
| Free afternoons to explore Victorian London or walk in your ancestors footsteps | Online | 08/09/2025 | 14:00 - 17:00 |
About the Speaker
Jenni Phillips
Jenni Phillips is a qualified genealogist, with an MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde. She has a keen interest in the history of medicine and mortality, having worked in a medical risk management role at an insurance company for 25 years. Jenni’s MSc dissertation focused on early nineteenth century defamation causes at Llandaff Consistory Court. She worked as a researcher on the Papal Dispensations for Marriage project at the University of Strathclyde, and is particularly interested in research focusing on south Wales and south-west England, from the early modern period to the nineteenth century. Jenni has given talks for a wide range of genealogical organisations, and is a member of RQG, the Royal Historical Society, and several family history societies.
About the Speaker
Else Churchill
Else Churchill is the Genealogist at the Society of Genealogists in London. Formerly a professional genealogical librarian and researcher, Else has worked for the SoG since 1994. She is the Society’s subject lead, working across the organisation and runs the publishing programme. She was the recipient of the IHGS Julian Bickersteth Memorial Medal in 2023 for her exemplary contribution to family history studies.
About the Speaker
Patricia Sears
Patricia Coveney Sears has spent most of her adult life working in education and the arts. Researching her own family history began as a fulfilling pastime which grew into an obsession and, ultimately, a vocation. Committed to providing the best possible professional service to clients, she took the online Diploma in Genealogy at University College, Cork, Ireland and is now studying towards the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. Her personal research interests include London in general, East London in particular; Ireland, especially Co. Cork and Co. Fermanagh, but has successfully traced families from other areas of the UK and further afield. She has given talks and written articles about historical buildings and their occupants, from manor houses to cottages, pubs and slums, including Queen Catherine Court, Ratcliff, which was the subject of her UCC Diploma dissertation.
About the Speaker
Frances Hurd
Dr Frances Hurd has a PhD in medieval and modern history, and has worked in publishing, academia and heritage. She is an independent historical researcher exploring the emotional and psychological impact of the First World War, her two areas of particular interest being the experiences of gay officers and the motivations of conscientious objectors. She has made extensive use of family history research throughout her career.
About the Speaker
Dr Angela Buckley
Angela Buckley is a historian specialising in crime and policing history. Her PhD is in the evolution of Victorian and Edwardian detective practice. Angela has published five books, and her work on crime and detective history has featured in national magazines and newspapers, and on radio and TV. She is a regular contributor to family history podcasts. Angela is associate lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and a former chair of the Society of Genealogists.
About the Speaker
Mr David Annal
Dave Annal has worked as a professional researcher since 1984 and was formerly employed by The National Archives as the Principal Family History Specialist. He has written a number of family history books, and is a regular contributor to Family Tree magazine where he is currently running the Family Tree Academy. Dave is also a well-known speaker at Family History Society meetings with talks on a wide variety of topics, and also runs his research business, Lifelines Research. He was nominated a fellow of the Society of Genealogists in 2019.
About the Walk Guide
Rob Smith
Rob Smith is one of the tour guides with Footprints of London. He also teaches London History classes at Bishopsgate Institute, Morley College and South Thames College.
About the Walk Guide
Paul Baker
Paul Baker qualified as a City of London guide in 2003. As well as conducting walks in the City and the West End, he has been leading walks in Barnet since 2004. Paul also has a broad repertoire of walks outside the borough, in central, north, east, south and west London and beyond.
About the Walk Guide
Diane Burstein
Diane Burstein is a native Londoner, who is one of London’s best known and most versatile tour guides. She has made a name for herself with her Secret London feature on talk radio station LBC 97.3 FM and now makes regular contributions to BBC London 94.9’s Saturday Breakfast Shows. She is the author of a successful book "London Then and Now" which featured in BBC History magazine's Top Ten Best http://seller.as/ a Further Education Lecturer, Diane teaches “Discovering London” courses for two Adult Education Colleges. Diane holds the prestigious London Blue Badge and has a BA Honours Degree in English Literature and History.
08/09/2025 - 12/09/2025
10:00 - 17:00
Society of Genealogists / Online
Family History Week, 12 talks, optional extra walks and visits