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This autumn the National Maritime museum opens a new gallery, dedicated to the story of British traders with the East who made Britain one of the richest nations in the world and laid the foundations of colonialism.

Traders unpacked is a wide-ranging festival of music, film, fashion, debate and spoken word which explores the complex legacy of one of history’s most remarkable and controversial companies. It brings together leading writers, artists and academics from around the world including Man Booker-nominated author Amitav Ghosh, Forward Prize-winning poet Daljit Nagra, the Guardian’s Aditya Chakrabortty, Moushumi Bhowmik and her Anglo Bengali band Parapar, the BBC’s Razia Iqbal and the Traders Unpacked official storyteller-in-residence Seema Anand.

The festival kicks off with A Londoner’s Guide to the East India Company, bringing together high tea, fashion shows and impassioned debate. It continues with regular film screenings, unique international tea parties, cerebral curry and a pint nights, and talks on topics from the Opium Wars to Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

Explore some highlights

A historical walk with author Nick Robins at 11.30 - 1pm meeting at Bishopsgate - £5

An artist-hosted tea party in re-created 18th century tea salon - free

Or explore the whole season here