For over two centuries London has been the richest and most important trading city in the world. Since Norman times it has also been Britain’s administrative and political centre.
The National Archives’ London images show London’s rise and continued importance. They include the architectural plans of Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park, as well as drawings of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and London Bridge which hold a simple nostalgic charm.
Hundreds of our postcards, drawings and photographs show the chaotic London traffic through history. The artist Grace Golden depicts a vibrant vision of post-Second World War London scenes.
London has always been a place of celebration too. Our extensive collection of photos, drawings and posters honour London exhibitions including The Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park and the Festival of Britain held on the South Bank a century later.
The 2012 Olympics confirms that London remains the world city. The images at The National Archives reveal how it got there.
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Houses of Parliament, 1899
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/copy1-441-houses-of-parliament-1899.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY1/441
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Royal Exchange and Cornhill, London, 1877
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/copy1-37-f380-royal-exchange-and-cornhill-london-1877.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY1/37 f380
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Rail terminus, by artist Grace Golden, 1939-1945
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/inf3-1740-rail-terminus-artist-grace-golden-1939-1945.jpgCatalogue reference: INF3/1740
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Buckingham Palace gardens and lake plans, 1855
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/work34-501-buckingham-palace-gardens-and-lake-1855.jpgCatalogue reference: WORK34/501
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Tower of London illustration by Tom Browne, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/copy1-208A-182d-tower-of-london-illustration-tom-browne-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY1/208A (182d)
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Fleet Street, 1891
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/copy1-406-(46)-fleet-street-london-1891.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY1/406 (46)
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Carnaby Street, London, 1969
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/inf14-147-carnaby-street-london-1969.jpgCatalogue reference: INF14/147
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Oxford Street, by artist Grace Golden, 1939-1946
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/inf3-1738-oxford-street-artist-grace-golden-1939-1946.jpgCatalogue reference: INF3/1738
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Elevation of clock dial for Big Ben tower, Houses of Parliament, 1857
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/work29-3284-elevation-of-clock-dial-for-big-ben-tower-houses-of-parliament-1857.jpgCatalogue reference: WORK29/3284
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Festival of Empire pageant of London, Crystal Palace, 1910
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/copy1-293(i)-(312)-festival-of-empire-pageant-of-london-crystal-palace-1910.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY1/293(i) (312)
-(312)-festival-of-empire-pageant-of-london-crystal-palace-1910.jpg)
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Great Exhibition building in winter 1873
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/copy1-21-great-exhibition-building-in-winter-1873-card-open.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/21
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Great Exhibition building south front, 1851
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/london/work25-195-great-exhibition-building-south-front-1851.jpgCatalogue reference: WORK25/195
This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.
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