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189 episodes

Chapter 185- The Spanish Gambit (1504-1506) (Part 1)
12/02/2026 | 51 mins.
Towards the end of his reign, Henry VII really came into his own; he stood as a giant on the European stage, a player in THE most dynamic and profound change in European politics in decades, poised to strike down his enemies and ensure his dynasty was cemented into the high seat of European politics… but how did he do it?
What follows is the opening part of a story involving corrupt popes, holy cartels, dodgy Italians living in London, dubious Spaniards, an eager but devout heir to the throne, and one of the most lucrative smuggling operations of the era, all of which has Henry VII right in the heart of it. Welcome to the first part… of The Spanish Gambit.
Cover features portrait of Pope Julius II by Raphael.
Chapter 184- In the shadows of a house on Candlewick Street (1503-1507)
04/02/2026 | 55 mins.
In the dying years of the reign of Henry VII, some big changes happened, which London witnessed and had to cope with. This weeks chapter covers quite a lot- what happened to Catherine of Aragon when she was staying in London after her first husband died? How the city witnessed the growing power (and occasional ineptitude) of Henry VII’s spy networks? Why Catherine of Aragon and Prince Henry ended up getting engaged down on Fleet Street? What caused the King to briefly shut down the sex trade in the city? And how a London based lawyer, living near the London Stone, unleashed a new wave of terror in the name of the King?

Cover contains a detail of a picture of Henry VII, Edmund Dudley and Richard Epsom.
Chapter 183- The River of Light (1500-1505)
28/01/2026 | 55 mins.
The five years at the start of the 16th century are often overlooked, but contain elements in the city’s story that cannot be ignored- new rituals that last to this very day, new buildings and palaces that still stand, an epoch defining shift in the politics of London, and two royal deaths… an period defined by a river of light on a dark February afternoon.
Welcome as the story completes the tale of a small man we first met seven chapters ago, and how unexpectedly the very future of the Tudor dynasty was briefly in the balance…
Cover includes a detail from the portrait of Elizabeth of York, in the Royal Collection.
Chapter 182- The Volcano of Love (1501)
22/01/2026 | 54 mins.
We return to the Story of London was a telling of the marriage celebrations of Catherine of Aragon and Arthur, Prince of Wales. The most glorious, elaborate, and expensive ever held during the reign of King Henry VII… and the most majestic celebration London had ever seen. An episode filled with pageantry, pomp, ornate theatrical street shows, wild jousts, and a man made mountain on wheels! Welcome to the explosion of the Volcano of love…
Cover features an adjusted portrait of Catherine of Aragon by Michiel Sittow.
Chapter 181- Erotic Aliens (c.1450-1550) (Sex and the City: 2)
14/01/2026 | 57 mins.
The Story of London takes a brief break from the usual narrative, to examine the sudden spate of cross-dressing women who appeared in the records of the early Tudor London courts. Who were these women who dressed as men? Why did they do this? What insights does it give us into the mindset (and the sex lives) of London and Londoners?
A fascinating slice of Tudor London’s life…
Cover art includes a section of ‘Portrait of a boy’ by Piero di Cosimo, painted sometime in the 1490’s.

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About The Story of London

Welcome to The Story of London, a podcast dedicated to telling the history of London as a single narrative tale; from its birth until the present day.Each episode takes us along that tale, a chronicle of the most fascinating and vibrant city on Earth.There is a lot of content in here and each listener can enjoy it in a variety of ways. You can listen to an episode by itself for a slice of life from London’s past; or, if you have a favourite period of time you want to explore, find the era and follow the Chapters in that section.Or maybe you want to join us on the grand journey, starting at the beginning and following along? Whatever option, welcome to the chronological tale of this amazing place.The Story of London covers events as they happened, from the actions of the great and the good, down to those of the poor and marginalised. We try to be as historically precise as possible, sometimes stumbling upon little gems of history that change the way we see the past, and never take ourselves too seriously.Feel free to join us… new episodes every week.

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