Great Events in London History: The Festival of Britain – London’s Post-War Party

In 1951, just six years after World War II, London threw itself a party. The Festival of Britain transformed the bomb-scarred South Bank into a celebration of British innovation, art, and optimism. It was exactly what a war-weary nation needed – a glimpse of a brighter future rising from the rubble of the past.

The Festival’s main site on the South Bank was a wasteland of warehouses and wharves before construction began. In its place rose a collection of strikingly modern buildings that must have seemed like something from science fiction to visitors of the day. The most dramatic was the Skylon – a cigar-shaped aluminum structure that appeared to float in mid-air with no visible means of support. Alongside it stood the Dome of Discovery, then the largest dome in the world, and the Royal Festival Hall, which still stands today as the Festival’s most lasting legacy.

The exhibition was a deliberate attempt to lift Britain’s post-war spirits. Rationing was still in effect, many bomb sites remained uncleared, and the country was deep in debt. Yet here was something new and exciting – pavilions showcasing the latest British science and technology, modern art exhibitions, and displays celebrating British achievements in everything from farming to fashion.

Visitors encountered all sorts of wonders. The Dome of Discovery housed exhibitions on British advances in science, including early computers and jet engines. The Transport Pavilion featured a steam locomotive pointing skyward at a 45-degree angle. There was even a brief glimpse of that future technology – television – with the BBC broadcasting from the site.

The Festival brought color back to London’s grey post-war landscape. The exhibition’s designers used bold primary colors throughout, and the site was lit up at night in what must have been a spectacular display for a city still emerging from years of blackout. The riverside walkway was lined with fairground-style attractions, including the “Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Branch Railway,” a whimsical miniature railway designed by cartoonist Roland Emett.

Some fascinating details from the Festival survive. The designers created a special typeface called “Festival” for all the signage. They also developed a distinctive style of furniture that would influence British design for years to come. Even the food was forward-looking – the Festival restaurants introduced many Londoners to their first experience of espresso coffee.

The Festival wasn’t confined to the South Bank. The Pleasure Gardens in Battersea Park offered more populist entertainment, including a “Far Tottering” railway and various funfair attractions. The Lansbury Estate in Poplar was built as a “live architecture” exhibition, showcasing modern housing ideas. Fun fact: the Festival even had its own perfume, created by the House of Worth and described as having “a light green note.”

Despite its popularity (over 8.5 million people visited the South Bank site), the Festival was short-lived. When the Conservative government came to power later in 1951, they ordered most of the site demolished, seeing it as a symbol of Labour’s “socialist extravagance.” The Skylon was sold for scrap, though rumors persisted for years that it had been thrown into the Thames or turned into souvenirs.

Today, the Festival’s influence can still be seen along the South Bank. The Royal Festival Hall remains a vital cultural venue. The riverside walkway, revolutionary in 1951 for opening up the Thames to the public, is now one of London’s most popular promenades. The Festival’s spirit of optimistic modernism influenced British architecture and design for decades.

Some lesser-known Festival sites can still be found around London. The Lansbury Estate still stands in Poplar, though much altered. The baroque church of St. John’s Smith Square, restored as part of the Festival, continues as a concert venue. And if you look carefully at the Royal Festival Hall, you can spot original 1951 features like the ticket booths and some door handles.

The Festival of Britain marked a turning point in London’s history. It showed that the city could look forward rather than back, that modern architecture could be exciting and accessible, and that culture belonged to everyone, not just the elite. It gave Londoners permission to dream about the future at a time when the present was still pretty grim.

Next time you’re walking along the South Bank, imagine the gleaming Skylon soaring above you, and the wonder of those post-war visitors experiencing their first glimpse of a more optimistic future. The Festival of Britain may have been temporary, but its spirit of innovation and optimism helped shape the London we know today.