The 1950s London was the heyday of the baby boomers. There was no longer rationing post war and the city was undergoing huge social and economic change. A new Queen was in charge of the country who was vibrantly popular and hope hung in the air for a new era.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhC491w27QPtoGrWDE88yWnn22pErk3T7YmYZlPEm6DmmDbB907ymqiaBOkL9pxXsXLdGjR0EWeCiL56zoCXmyoJKpfTgSq9sWJnSg3x-jVAvbkBbKk5rGO-YrsffbvZUot9zL7-_cYE/w640-h360-rw/london-1950s.jpeg) |
London in the 1950s |
It was also the decade when televisions and washing machines first appeared in houses, something that would transform the housewives day-to-day, and the standard of living was generally improving as council houses offered respected alternatives to slums and the welfare state was in full bloom.
A set of amazing color photos from
foundin_a_attic that shows what London looked like in the 1950s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-GT_dSmwy6BxGMkqUJbLuCm2eRVgZXVT-yU5Xvuk72me3IzHdG4wlX3PWO40H6PlmuJ3Q5tXX1pWir3F7xeLwCXm6DFBb-b9wZH0tlvhxgI-r_hZf0e1vjmdskoDnJFmxqXRuLCDJY0/w640-h406-rw/london-1950s-1.jpeg) |
Admiralty Arch from the Mall, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbywX5-kqQFB1t95MbGvgIr80LxSKRnuI3F-zWRyt0Ek_ExpT7gIo0Z-UwlPaJApQMsBmjELuXlLx-7XuXKniEp3RyeGmOIq__QK8cB6Pv4CumHcNKrVWNQTbmKxSXPDDA8lGK43Vb0js/w640-h384-rw/london-1950s-2.jpeg) |
Admiralty Arch, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8x1l2koDlVe1ds8yPOqd5uXngQr2bBCdBmn4PK0yw6YfZKIlMcrd8GtifO8YC4KEBFJhVrrvV4FjEv6xkm7iSq4XIPDG1URz3u2VJ0aPmPkKzQ8x9xFTwV1oGfEvoCiT-ezWToR9jzw/w640-h370-rw/london-1950s-3.jpeg) |
Beefeaters, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37eRN8wCmDeUVhYQi1cgPLnIbOOhwAMqlQLmf1myAPzik5jncwVTjulwtravl8hw2YW5pYikTGDWSW_gz72-9wZoTTtadIie0DrrHTREn-w4BnvYu5H-QQ7vM4doc5gcM1GDMm_pS_Ns/w640-h392-rw/london-1950s-4.jpeg) |
Buckingham Palace, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzbX0xvihsvOE8Ma-U2w78ZgyaRM45kyZqA0Ih6A91B2EMx1jQxPILqbHA-IJ3gFXCEBJCULIto5p_aLESNX8BBH3_pJKEJLI2_J4xeK5T0QLn2r61VjYNJ-FysBcflT6XWyzey6Ny60/w640-h402-rw/london-1950s-5.jpeg) |
Coronation of Elizabeth II, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBj_oEAU3Tmpd8uTvQo3lvL2InMxFgC15SO31SBXqk5tRTrbW97URn0hsowDkNWHeuTwASKJ5fgQ6CVtnIdv2HwqKwbBxWr-TtlJY8sBVdQqCeC2WkWgSvXMMTOweRGzaMGdXdocaRtg/w640-h416-rw/london-1950s-6.jpeg) |
Cutty Sark, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK8uxiVom1jaHJnXBvB4JRwznTQM8E4XfbxGDOmYsEk7TPfgCPsEkjePu-BqE2dtpwZURhXL0jhyhp_srA6O-OnMYIKWKejkL14UKWN-ITEI8awsL862XnVpOnGOGwyojawDTBVGUIGo/w640-h422-rw/london-1950s-7.jpeg) |
Egyptian Sphinx on Victoria Embankment, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KJo8gufe63Ii6I9jJFNhhmRe83BnQlbTD8jMa_YzUKtuBQhcetdLdUT7SBur8UxISG9-tAkJ9GS1-bkpPTHzNewBd58dKS_TyRzqOZoIHaGCXn4wTWzcsdkwuD0V3wktYjHbzYwODSc/w640-h420-rw/london-1950s-8.jpeg) |
From the Queen's Building at London Airport (Heathrow) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5ogACBuFeM75toP_PC7iqjXnP2S-ZW3zjeR0kNWPDiU8QsWxJ0TQCwIttwS9RerrSRJ55jJuYMLMtHbIwTkLv3NVB6qRvS8NKpdgoeyGH5tl00NtRGIoAbD_RaeLQoyZvqfsB-ISIr0/w640-h400-rw/london-1950s-9.jpeg) |
Kew Gardens, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVU4EQlsYdXM7vxDR3oPm6jC59fELei6h6lVsaeAXlMUrF_9U7W6vQG0XfOnWXKjfXS6No3wxeA0uVyCGvFcIr72ECnzzJm-QR7gy18IPa4xXqIzh_gTHZSCDSJR8smVDLhyphenhyphen1lBWeKi0A/w640-h420-rw/london-1950s-10.jpeg) |
Lambeth Palace, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc38WYLUG4Ixw1EPjpHnvwPd8unK7fQ_qNniYaRydBcqiKZp6VptuBI1ZHKeoWXi4asUQNBjzJnFiT2Z10plHJccySklSaz8Qzc34jdDJRikhzl5J_pxo90kfHlXnUkVAsRgyYmYZjt0/w640-h440-rw/london-1950s-11.jpeg) |
London Airport (Heathrow) car park |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6jhganhYCiuqDe4YNJjgGQb3pO6YNcSUODI5SP4IkujMCbJTvnXuxTq_obuFvYPiEJm2pVFfAuv_ChxzTMG3ZpQLel-rJZ4XTmkdzfy24sW3pTKZ8UVEGuvyoouPm_nb8XF2XkGJD4U/w640-h396-rw/london-1950s-12.jpeg) |
London overview |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjHwOuOfzIQ5RHxL2CtTHIyFf0EEiiFnY50AXBQv829_R37lkdy3bk6TMaARM1lj3JjIJwNQlqIVzT000gW7hROZilJs0mK0jpicYud819PREgIPDP_NhgUuthyphenhyphenoUbpFJw-aqWBfwW_Q/s16000-rw/london-1950s-13.jpeg) |
London Pavilion at Piccadilly Circus, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJClHms0X-_eLRcEu1sdQnvLtLdjbZjJYO9v7Y5hbFdsm2ERgzAJvjD7jDOasBdCneV-KeYfkvcUV3O0qctxOsKXqA2BFaKya28FzsWgI1SMHevXM1qjz2c1WYF_rLQXYXBZ0cHzC1PVA/w640-h396-rw/london-1950s-14.jpeg) |
London street scenes |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXh7uaE9Zt9bM2-a1X5h9Nv7WPN2BVlG7qATTYzOgm-5PzAyB6zrEL5Gy5XpLU70Z-OJSLWmcZ0jnJv8aHqXTwqcgrqGS8J3sHRtGFLJC4EH18dezw8B1oWtlmSQ4mNmlmxOE9bVuSDI/w640-h420-rw/london-1950s-15.jpeg) |
Marble Arch, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMa7umKe430Qs00pkGszyXX9dStWOcuqcstRk7jx4jG-GbxwktzgJhMK3t_KH0AQhOEvAMkk_K72CFhxr-d74Taz75fchyFkzKluI1tayk_eU39nlYCWskOM-kUuESsTo-dzPsCCzGHM/s16000-rw/london-1950s-16.jpeg) |
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gzXdLrIIOTrV2eEagX_hwxHLrVhWRInt24hmYfZ2LJ6bL6jdZcHBNPLjtS2qo_CXeNIE-3u1iiBVp29wnjHVvA4MTjIwEPgjfUMc2NiVf55bmPMKjDBAPnR6SO7tpo12OwAAxQzGqiw/s16000-rw/london-1950s-17.jpeg) |
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQaH3APXUJCpXz1CKEZnwbhiTJFAvBdaqtrgwo-OUdpwUDMlyCbM6OkVdz2uXHnS-Iwz1yGUcM_9PT0snL83j6EIARXtzbD990FHMixfrSm-TwbLeFR7c4ksOKtO6rEiZIH2efmUOFpE/s16000-rw/london-1950s-18.jpeg) |
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD-hyOhN-DMmX3NeS2aRLovh3_-sMS4JnIbNPmiSFReqM6KGOVtCf0-fEonZNaYcZUgm9VUaXoinQVDhXyU6zZodAIhIjrNg3B2TgptatBs4_4S7U4meAb-WXkTF4S89Yp_I29whAQIc/w640-h446-rw/london-1950s-19.jpeg) |
Palace of Westminster, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM5pMb5xiM1YPSSWGHZ2HeklV3mP4wOxDh9iL-_QhYxf8F443ekL8iyh3grdDvVRXe71kRNhFjmRG-1msByQRugwgm8BPcMEwxm4hUC3w0T3siqrvLtC-MD-oun5reYcaY2Q5UxjG5DM/s16000-rw/london-1950s-20.jpeg) |
Parliament Square, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4zecN1ABHZcpaNmeBr_ZBHQqokXs_UkCaV1LGNbGOkxmFR8jp9AkweiSsSplKANkjlHZj3WfhjIFMRuJA9-xHGouGRhM2zrCfkg5F38hrC4YQyEsiDolzQJU9N5FZoOtrAEf5YGOYBY/w640-h406-rw/london-1950s-21.jpeg) |
Queen's Guard, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpsYReG9PQCK7f7a7fITLoxPZGoxq-BUuUwnfW9xgU8bGlWTu7tPuFlmjT-Fkw8LAnZL7uDOeH4UZ-NpSPaIMroENPm2B3rNRlS7RCGPPvlfZp4qWgrVmGxR3ln4c5IAlZ7EJfs_81a4/w640-h406-rw/london-1950s-22.jpeg) |
St James's Palace seen from St James's Street, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgGEpaZis8-ki2FGAIG3AcEpxeRBdwTiwAdTM6IP2E3v6isPaiGod7jgwJcQy_TyMnzneg9obVMCWNyQasrZqA9irXL_jrO_7VANcJc2q-9kq8u0AHvqdhoYtmfsKkKJEvLzY5hjWCrY/s16000-rw/london-1950s-23.jpeg) |
St Stephen's Tower (Big Ben) and Westminster Bridge, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrP2RNvfMBnh1ItdTg9or5kXwEkanlcQK7RbeeX61hw4G4_SxixO0Hav4pDEOE8iCyxmg1AZZb12LAIJQxPhNxrtFzRAO-K3Bqv8xGMgqQAoLlLSedp2wn1q63oYxuDdy867ridSZ3HE/s16000-rw/london-1950s-24.jpeg) |
St Stephen's Tower (Big Ben) underwent extensive repairs, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68hSb4hM0U8fIimkIeuRbu9wCGLXM3_bRVGIToop58fjA7GfSHeSzEShfWCrQC94yqhMuhqpyZtI0LNMnjuUTskN9FpfIdvL5e38z8rpTCbGQu0aXv1wbk5lv0sw_i54eJxiNrlPNHdM/s16000-rw/london-1950s-25.jpeg) |
St Stephen's Tower (Big Ben), London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIS7z9QTJBzp5PmPjCyXRS1bUSYlEWvjqXPIGazNDQ9rovPDYMTQzD4evdjUuNEdIMcsZZgvH1cNnmeoYuExV630-XWBTwu_CB9jI0_j0jI2L9sJpAfnlsp-HNciONFSWwrazSN2tU3tI/w640-h426-rw/london-1950s-26.jpeg) |
St. Paul's Cathedral, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K6LiGi3fh1q4fIfXz0r41X919CiSmiojdviAJjwLGLPhQZiDa-51_rGaqNUIw-e8y2hkZjFAjAaD44eLm2uyNuzVsgr5BTyDaomsj5co7TDoedFunQurSYLBqIcE7mtdMidwuR2pd0U/s16000-rw/london-1950s-27.jpeg) |
St. Paul's Cathedral, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbACXm5eG8F3w7eBZ515UDYhGE-Fl2HXZ0U9kwfMxJl5SDYJZCU5U2PxfLeB3SA1b-jrL5gHR5H-4nMcKG0BnQUlMlkfooYSGpfpp3-4jZ6vxgkHTi2TEESen6TGgswwlD2dmJHDl6P0/w640-h382-rw/london-1950s-28.jpeg) |
The Cenotaph on Whitehall, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrelzHgfR4pQ6ZXm_6yJL6rdwYkHjyNtm1wsVt5rQb1uU5R0hJObzrIVNDbu_juBJRAVLtiG99jFwPTRU-0OKHHeUHvRuTQt9PJFz6x4Ht4-uMMxrY3Zz9Nn4ZR4hyphenhyphencv0I5R60y1rYM7U/w640-h362-rw/london-1950s-29.jpeg) |
The church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Trafalgar Square fountains in the foreground |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi0z9lAZUPrckCgxIXnbKZN-bvlJC1xBriOfD9MF8WoMl9BT5ksMEdYJidi0wRJC77UDDaF-EDqBa_fg1M_Ks6rKgHNjaXC1BAV2XpUO0kihknzIHk11tKUfAPAvp1o5ergtsuokAL9I/s16000-rw/london-1950s-30.jpeg) |
The church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Trafalgar Square in the foreground |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q6paL_3bi9Wu86KYm50ERQ13KPcr5rR8zZNiVKgmK8Wn_HYrFJOJOv_RgpiUJnYM4sOQH7toyRGvPyvbv5wql0qyrHmwQBm19UKTYxYD05MVhl4g-p02GsoqadtMwsmQF6l8T50AiJE/w640-h424-rw/london-1950s-31.jpeg) |
The Mall, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdKlgzdlbUTcJpkbSx5_uYAuTQuF-YIU99PkzgWHb46at7zwRHveaZau_rSD6fLCwgZb3-xHfYlNA7bpp3U-3bo51tuQvwPLGvAUk3em-U7mu6hXWvjdIJiv40VI7HJFJ_YUtphSw8KI/w640-h428-rw/london-1950s-32.jpeg) |
Tower Bridge, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEU2e_prMy4SpKJy1KUVprZ61vj2rDgu1JrUjBb0PRWmzL9UxZGT727HESPH7KLbEvyJ2PcOw5Wtltj0Qia8bkf4gr1W2gkg8CfVoATXwxvyy7NuMZZq-vszB3knq5jvMw_mTd3C2VfU/w640-h430-rw/london-1950s-33.jpeg) |
Tower of London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr5ZnAGOpAptKwW5SUzTJAl2NDlq1ih-mjHtxJ4y_p5n_elxh_MvMC4BDfKp8QtGg0JKGv-ZL721r7KFw8_z5RpaiU7tNEYhEZtnO-QJV0396bdwGg0x7o4DxRJ8Mh8HDnDYEeqVqPTk/w640-h388-rw/london-1950s-34.jpeg) |
Tower of London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SuN5V5rvkgqXtX_Csd5V9Dg4U2BX4fQVVqqqSKQ8X-56YlvVIkTPs22IlzAooxi33ipXp0qXf5BomrRXm_C9HCfjCRNYS2UFQC4Bx19Rh94ErAxJ5FGZ9DvFp9yxB5RMV2EQv50Mo20/w640-h406-rw/london-1950s-35.jpeg) |
Tower of London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjptpaay0pAI2JRszL8hg_rzLgLqrJer2-qMzl5Sv_1xnigJOMUrax_6WiZ38nMeydAZsvv-dJ_Cil8WBh0556Dw9N7sSGkTI6ohM47hhd3lxIV_Zq3XD-LUtn7_yl8JyLnK4a096n7Tg/w640-h428-rw/london-1950s-36.jpeg) |
Tower of London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBSqE6x8FkORJogMgum7roClN1DBHQGTYU29ISmxaEFe7Ba4TlNAypuf3-J-mt1oYsKhaeMsNKJX3tZAPWa8_imDvi2mDs5zGkzunXGm7FC7OUir2RbGBKqWiCG1R6OH-5lw-uFHrwV8/s16000-rw/london-1950s-37.jpeg) |
Tower of London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3P4ryOu3DFD9o9lDRWSxb9Ajgjl4KbuV1e3CDyp6euXX9PedXsvicxofAOX47gArthPAsp4fh_Hsd2EMMz8muJ7xHB20RUKvjqO-tLeUEnskKLSabvoFCdH9Q3YWIXUXUE-mD2wb-as/w640-h372-rw/london-1950s-38.jpeg) |
Trafalgar Square, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7pF4Zux1Jgn1EwZR8Wo5OARscoWmEe9RZujUqqNOTr2kpJGSzYHb21HIMmTYqYEsXqy2V0yIW61aLbh7bNDC8adx-Nr9EkJ4gYNEhF4zPd0qYZUFtXqIvyvHpsgsf2tnmU-V6UybGrA/s16000-rw/london-1950s-39.jpeg) |
Victoria Tower Gardens, with the eponymous tower in view, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYhNWUi5b_QN8Rf5fnMRMYZWe72yIZUYPrpqnMkPvN_C47PkBgxx7Ww4EOJt6WO2nGDegynxuUN6aKfSmGzQy5st_C0Wy7XLIVK4iN0MqYklvA-gkkGCh526Ph-jK2cQj_QQxhsssHqE/w640-h416-rw/london-1950s-40.jpeg) |
Waterloo Bridge looking east towards St. Paul's Cathedral, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC4EQJA_EFSi_BAUq-FQs76NKl4dCcpWlgKQUxjXP_3icPkvzJmKmlafvlFUiYACuYNCBFUZVh6FRa2ZZ8FxZnGFpdaG4Bs1oXkOtBZmIGmsxnq74Msr0iDSylwtYTgWAzM9D0XV9Pwg/s16000-rw/london-1950s-41.jpeg) |
Westminster Abbey, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg4cao3XB5y3FmwERd1smq8y9OhN934ukLP8_Yy2AHys5RkSkksACSL-euYj7_1zhJj1nYlmOmRc04sKg0IvWvAUl4ub-L8xNFGvv25kcxmjp4gWknTrfvlpREl9TlCUQjaF6Tt9NG10/s16000-rw/london-1950s-42.jpeg) |
Westminster Abbey, London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_SXEmrCmnHUho5OVe2DQHUb-EccckB8BryDHPYEnv-GSWvvLqOLd0JMLRcMfmAAV4tiaJhRAKh2M1Gyz5NFg94JyTcfI2LJT1A0FRoop4A4GI81zoAtIwHAswFjSD7SqbK7V2TS2Diw/w640-h388-rw/london-1950s-43.jpeg) |
Westminster Abbey, London |
Pretty uninformative holiday snaps. Very little to see of London that doesn't look the same as today.
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