You're in Bishopsgate Institute's in-house ice cream parlour.

So, what is this place?

Welcome to one of London’s best-kept secrets. 

We’re Bishopsgate Institute - a stunning 1890s building full of radical history, unexpected stories and real-life culture, right in the heart of the City of London. 

Since 1894, we’ve been collecting the stories that don’t always make the textbooks - from protest to Pride, punk to politics.

What you’ll find inside: 

• Remarkable archives - open to researchers, writers & the just-plain-curious
• London’s liveliest social dance scene - from swing to tango, all under one roof
• A place to think differently - and discover the histories that shaped today 

We’re also a charity - and when you: 

• Hire our spaces (for events, meetings or rehearsals)
• Make a donation (big or small)

…you help us keep this work alive, accessible, and free to explore. 

Curious? Good. That’s kind of the point.