Register your interest to be be one of the first to know when bookings are open.
Discover Poor London with our 5-day immersive event - the ultimate family history getaway experience. Choose either in-person or online attendance.
In Person
Spend time 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 11 in-person talks covering a wide range of London topics and tips. Step into the streets, workhouses, and homes of London’s past and uncover the lives of the city’s poorest families. This course takes you from parish relief in the 1700s to the packed Victorian slums of Shoreditch, from foundlings and orphans to the journeys of street children sent to Canada. Explore life in Barnardo’s East End, meet the people who ran workhouses, hear petitions to the city, and even glimpse a young Charlie Chaplin growing up in the slums. Along the way, discover indentured Londoners bound for America and the charities that tried to make a difference, all bringing the human stories behind your ancestors vividly to life.
Plus, on four of the days you can choose visits or walks from a selection of activities. From guided walks around Smithfield and Lambeth to vists to London Archives and the Foundling Museum there are plenty of opportunities to get out and about.
Meet fellow genealogists, enjoy a sandwich lunch on us and enjoy insightful conversation with fellow family historians.
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
- 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: 11 talks, 5 sandwich lunches, recordings of all 11 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 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.
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 11 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.
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.
Full details of the talks, walks and visits coming soon.
Whether you’re exploring archives, joining a walking tour or learning from top genealogical experts, this event offers a memorable and educational PoorLondon Week.
Book the full week which includes:
- 11 in-person talks
- Daily library time
- Tea and coffee
- Fivesandwich lunches
- Links to re-watch all the talks again in the comfort of home for up to one month
- 20% Discount for all Society of Genealogists Members
You can attend in-person at our Resource Hub in London where the presenter will be live or watch online via Zoom. The option to choose either online or in-person appears before checkout
Click here for information about our events. Contact events@sog.org.uk if you have any questions.
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
Sarah Wise
SARAH WISE is a social historian and author of Inconvenient People: Lunacy, Liberty and the Mad-Doctors in Victorian England which was shortlisted for the Wellcome Prize, and The Blackest Streets: The Life and Death of a Victorian Slum, shortlisted for shortlisted for the RSL’s Ondaatje Prize.
About the Speaker
Dr Gwyneth Wilkie
Dr Gwyneth Wilkie joined SoG straight after taking early retirement and signed up for the Skills courses. Over the years she has volunteered in various capacities, starting with stuffing leaflets into plastic bags and later being on the Advice Line and part of the Events team. Her particular interests in Family History are civil registration, fraud, and medicine. She has contributed some short biographies to the livesretold website and has written various articles for the Genealogists’ Magazine among others. She has branched into local history by writing the history of the Amersham British School and is at present looking at workhouse officials there.
About the Speaker
Ian Porter
Ian Porter is a historian, novelist, walks guide and public speaker. He is particularly interested in women's 19th and early 20th century social and political history. He guides over 50 different walks in London, all but one (street art) history related. He is particularly well versed in the Suffragettes, Women in the Great War, the Spanish Flu and 19th century East End crime. He is presently writing his fifth novel, which is set during the 1908 London Olympics. Previous novels have been set at the time of Jack the Ripper, on the Titanic, in the Suffragette struggle, and during the Spanish Flu.
About the Speaker
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.
21/09/2026 - 25/09/2026
10:00 - 17:00
Society of Genealogists / Online
Family History Week, talks, optional extra walks and visits