The collection is devoted primarily to London topography and London life from the 15th Century to the present day. Approximately 1,000 caricatures are also included. This consists of some 6,000 paintings, watercolours, drawings and sculptures. These include 3,000 paintings and sketches from the studio collection of Sir Matthew Smith, the very fine collection of Dutch and Flemish 17th Century masters bequeathed by Harold Samuel, and an important collection of Victorian paintings comprising works by Millais, Rossetti and many other notable artists of the period. It does not include some categories of material held by the Print Room, such as many of the maps, the photograph collection, engraved portraits, playing cards, the Willshire Collection of Old Master prints, and a wide range of ephemera.
Some items recently acquired by both collections also have yet to be included.
All images are copyright Corporation of London and may not be copied or reproduced for any purpose.