List of riots in London

The following is a list of riots and protests involving violent disorder that have occurred in London:

• 1189: The Massacre of the Jews at the coronation of Richard I

• 1196: William with the long beard causes riots when he preaches for the poor against the rich

• 1221: Riots occur after London defeats Westminster in an annual wrestling contest; ring-leaders hanged or mutilated in punishment.^[1][2]

• 1268: Rioting between goldsmiths and tailors^[2][3]

• 1391: Riots break out in Salisbury Place over a baker's loaf^[2]

• 1517: Evil May Day riot against foreigners takes place

• 1668: Bawdy House Riots took place following repression of a series of attacks against brothels^[4]

• 1710: Sacheverell riots, following the trial of the preacher, Henry Sacheverell

• 1719: Spitalfields weavers rioted, attacking women wearing Indian clothing and then attempting to rescue their arrested comrades^[5]

• 1743: Riots against Gin Taxes and other legislation to control the Gin Craze, principally the Gin Act 1736; rioting was fuelled by consumption of the drink itself^[6]

• 1768: The Massacre of St George's Fields after the imprisonment of John Wilkes for criticising the King

• 1769: The Spitalfield Riots when silk weavers attempted to maintain their rate of pay

• 1780: Gordon Riots against Catholics

• 1809: Old Price Riots, 1809 following a rise in the price of theatre tickets

• 1816: Spa Fields riots, Spenceans met in support of the common ownership of land

• 1830: Attacks against the Duke of Wellington in his carriage and on his home, for his opposition to electoral reform (which had been seen partly as a solution to rioting by rural workers).^[7]

• 1866: a riot took place in Hyde Park after a meeting of the Reform League was declared illegal

• 1886: The West End Riots followed a counter-demonstration by the Social Democratic Federation against a meeting of the Fair Trade League.^[8]

• 1907: The Brown Dog riots, medical students attempt to tear down an anti-vivisection statue.

• 1919: The Battle of Bow Street, Australian, American and Canadian servicemen rioted against the Metropolitan Police

• 1932: The National Hunger March ended in rioting after the police confiscated the petition of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement

• 1936: The Battle of Cable Street saw rioting against the Metropolitan Police as they attempted to facilitate a march by the British Union of Fascists

• 1958 Notting Hill race riots between White British and West Indian immigrants.

• 1974: Red Lion Square disorders happened following a march by counter-fascists against the National Front.

• 1977: The Battle of Lewisham occurred when the Metropolitan Police attempted to facilitate a march by the National Front^[9]

• 1981 Brixton riot against the Metropolitan Police. Especially on 10 July, rioting extended to other parts of London and numerous other cities around the UK^[10]

• 1985 Brixton riot against the Metropolitan Police after they shot the mother of suspect Michael Groce.

• 1985: Broadwater Farm riot, residents of Tottenham riot against the Metropolitan Police following a death during a police search

• 1990: Poll Tax Riots followed the introduction of a poll tax.

• 1993: Welling riots, October 1993.^[11] A march organised by the ANL,^[12][13] the SWP and Militant resulted in riots against the Metropolitan police.^{[11][note 1]}

• 1995: 1995 Brixton riot against the Metropolitan Police occurred after a death in police custody.

• 1999: Carnival Against Capitalism riot

• 2000: Anti-capitalist May Day riot^[17]

• 2001: May Day riot in central London by anti-capitalist protestors.^[18]

• 2009 G-20 London summit protests occurred in the days around the G-20 summit.

• 2010 UK student protests against increases in student fees and public sector cuts.

• 2011 anti-cuts protest in London against government public spending cuts.

• 2011 England riots, initially in London, following the police shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham

References

Notes