Join us on 1 October for Shaftesbury Day, a public event celebrating the extraordinary legacy of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, 200 years after he first entered Parliament as an MP.

Held beside the iconic Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain at Piccadilly Circus, the event takes place on the anniversary of his death and shines a light on the lasting impact of his campaigns to improve the lives of others. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy a series of short performances by Victorian characters, bringing Lord Shaftesbury’s story to life and exploring the reforms he championed – from workers’ and children’s rights to disability advocacy and better housing. Between performances, there will be opportunities to take photographs with the Victorian characters and share your experience using the #ShaftesburyDay hashtag.

If you’d like to take part from home, the Shaftesbury website will be live with the #ShaftesburyDay map where you can learn about Lord Shaftesbury’s ties to London and find out more about how he shaped the city in the 1800s.

Come and discover more about the remarkable legacy that continues to inspire our work today.