London has a long and varied history with squatters. Whether you support or despise them, these pictures give an insight into one of the city’s most controversial subcultures. From London24…
![Squatters outside an empty building they took over in Broad Court, near Bow Street, Holburn (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image97.jpg)
Squatters outside an empty building they took over in Broad Court, near Bow Street, Holburn (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
![circa 1975: A squatter looking out of the balcony window into Regents Park, in a house in Cornwall Gardens (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image98.jpg)
circa 1975: A squatter looking out of the balcony window into Regents Park, in a house in Cornwall Gardens (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
![15th November 1979: Squatters protesting at Bloomsbury Square (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image99.jpg)
15th November 1979: Squatters protesting at Bloomsbury Square (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)
![A squatter reacts to reporters from the roof of one of two Mayfair mansions, estimated to have a combined value of £23 million, in Park Lane on January 28, 2009 (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image100.jpg)
A squatter reacts to reporters from the roof of one of two Mayfair mansions, estimated to have a combined value of £23 million, in Park Lane on January 28, 2009 (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
![December 24, 2014: A police officer looks on from a doorway as squatters from a group calling themselves 'Love Activists' sit on the balcony of a previously unoccupied building in Trafalgar Square (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image101.jpg)
December 24, 2014: A police officer looks on from a doorway as squatters from a group calling themselves ‘Love Activists’ sit on the balcony of a previously unoccupied building in Trafalgar Square (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
![Squatters occupy a house in Oakfield Road, Ilford, 1969. (Photo by Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image102.jpg)
Squatters occupy a house in Oakfield Road, Ilford, 1969. (Photo by Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
![Squatters remain defiant at 144 Piccadilly shortly before being evicted by the police,1969. (Photo by Ronald Dumont/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image103.jpg)
Squatters remain defiant at 144 Piccadilly shortly before being evicted by the police,1969. (Photo by Ronald Dumont/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
![A local woman argues with one of the squatters occupying a building on Endell Street, Holburn, 1969 (Photo by William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image104.jpg)
A local woman argues with one of the squatters occupying a building on Endell Street, Holburn, 1969 (Photo by William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
![A squatter from 144 Piccadilly is evicted by police, London, 21st September 1969. (Photo by P. Floyd/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image105.jpg)
A squatter from 144 Piccadilly is evicted by police, London, 21st September 1969. (Photo by P. Floyd/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
![A group of squatters entertain themselves in a run-down house in Broad Street (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image106.jpg)
A group of squatters entertain themselves in a run-down house in Broad Street (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
![15th March 1977: A meeting being held by squatters at the squatters action council headquarters in London. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image107.jpg)
15th March 1977: A meeting being held by squatters at the squatters action council headquarters in London. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)
![13th June 1947: A group of squatters in Ealing (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Getty Images)](https://en.squat.net/wp-content/uploads/en/2015/01/image108.jpg)
13th June 1947: A group of squatters in Ealing (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Getty Images)
Source – London24