Germans in Britain

About the exhibition

Not currently on display. See below for past displays.

Explore the rich and fascinating history of German migrants to Britain in our pop-up exhibition.

There’s more to Anglo-German relations than war and football.

Joanna Lumley

 

Germans have had an immense impact on British life over the centuries. Find out how British sport, science, banks, businesses, music, monarchs, art and design have all been shaped by their German connections.

Germans in Britain is curated by Dr Cathy Ross, Honorary Research Fellow at the Museum of London, and designed by Joe Ewart of Society.

This exhibition has been realised through generous funding from The Schroder Foundation, the Kohn Foundation and a number of private sponsors.

Germans in Britain was launched by Joanna Lumley and Neil Macgregor in the autumn of 2014 and is currently on tour.

Past displays of Germans in Britain include:

German Historical Institute London, September –October 2014. 

St John’s College Oxford, November –December 2014

Queen Mary University of London (Mile End campus), January 2015

Manchester Central Library, March–April 2015

German YMCA, London, April 2015

Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, June 2015

National Records of Scotland, July–August 2015

Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen, August–September 2015

London School of Economics and Political Science, September–November 2015

Homerton University Hospital, London (the old German Hospital), November–December 2015

University of Reading, Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Whiteknights, Reading, January–March 2017

 

In the press

The National Scotland, 7 July 2015
Exhibition tells the untold story of how German immigrants helped shape British life

The Times, 3 July 2015
Germans in spotlight at migration exhibition

David Hencke Blog, 12 October 2014
What have the Germans ever given us

BBC Radio Oxford
Interview with Professor Barry Murnane, St John’s College, Oxford

 

Visitor feedback from Germans in Britain at the University of Reading

“This exhibition packs so much in and in a highly engaging fashion, too.”

“I found this exhibition very enlightening, despite doing German for a degree, I didn’t realise how connected English and German culture is.”

“Great exhibition focussing on the exchange and common factors. Important in times of divide.”

 

Exhibition brochure