It also takes an interest in districts that were historically in Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire, but that now lie within Greater London.

It acts to some extent as an umbrella organisation to support smaller archaeological and local history societies in the Greater London area.

The Society was established in 1855 "for the purpose of investigating the antiquities and early history of the Cities of London and Westminster and the Metropolitan County of Middlesex".

[2] Boutell served as honorary secretary from 23 July to 27 November 1857, but was dismissed for what was termed "improper" bookkeeping involving the disappearance of £56 15s received in subscription fees.

[4][5] Also active in the early decades were John Gough Nichols and Edward Brabrook (the latter eventually serving as President from 1910 to 1930).

[5] Sir Thomas Phillipps was another early supporter, but allegedly withdrew on learning that Hugo had expressed a wish to see the restoration of the monasteries.

Three additional volumes of Special Papers, dealing with excavations in Southwark, Lambeth and Staines, have been published jointly with the Surrey Archaeological Society.

[13] The Society is joint sponsor and organiser (with the Merchant Taylors' Company) of the regular Stow Memorial Service, held in the church of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London.

[20] The Society awards small grants (envisaged as totalling approximately £3,000–£5,000 per annum) to support research into the archaeology and history of London and Middlesex.

By the mid-20th century, Jewitt's design was considered "perhaps a little crowded", and, to mark the Society's centenary year, Kenneth Ody was asked to redraw it to "represent the taste of 1955".

The only heraldic variation is that, whereas Jewitt had shown the supporters as two-legged wyverns, in Ody's design they appear (more correctly) as four-legged dragons.