In Tudor times the City was the centre of trade and commerce as well as the overcrowded home of thousands; Westminster housed both the king and parliament; and Southwark was devoted to indecent pleasures such as bear-baiting, prostitution and the theatre. These three distinct areas (the City, Westminster and Southwark) were surrounded by countryside.

Tudor London was the setting for many of the key events of this turbulent period - from the pageantry of royal coronations to the embarkation of the fleet against the Spanish Armada. When a civil revolt erupted in the country, the rebels would often attempt to march on London. The Tower of London is infamously the site of the many political and religious imprisonments during the Tudor period, while Tower Green was the site of executions for treason and `heresy` during this period, including Lady Jane Grey, Queen Catherine Howard and Queen Anne Boleyn.

This gallery provides a selection of contemporary images and later reconstructions of the period and presents some of our finest prints and paintings of Tudor London. To discover more, try searching or use the London Picture Map to focus on a location.