click on the links below to explore further

The Festival of Britain opened less than six years after the end of the Second World War and the consequences of that conflict were still influencing daily life. At the same time, much had happened in the intervening period and the Britain of 1951 was a very different place to that of 1945.

still feeling the effects of war...

It was the excitement of going and getting a new dress and shoes. I do remember it being clean and white after the drabness of London and getting Candy Floss. (contributor Kathleen Cant, aged 8 in 1951) Why not contribute your memories?

While conditions were improving, in 1951 people's daily lives were still affected by continuing shortages and rationing arising from the war. In London, the location for the Festival's centrepieces, an equally tangible reminder of the recent conflict was provided by the urban landscape, with still much to be done in terms of clearing away bomb damage, rebuilding the city and rehousing its inhabitants.

After such a trying time, the Festival was viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate, celebrate and promote both Britain’s resilience and its achievements. Its organisers also wanted to offer people a much-needed good time.

I remember that the whole experience was like being on another planet, in a Sci-Fi way. The modernity of the Festival was a wonderland to us all, coming as we did from a very poor background around the bombed sites of the area around the Festival grounds. (contributor David Nissen, aged 9 in 1951) Why not contribute your memories?

... but beginning the post-war period

The period between 1945 and 1951 was a difficult one. Shortages of materials and foreign exchange currency impeded rebuilding at home while overseas Britain lost its Empire and Imperial identity and became involved in the Korean War.

At the same time the radicalising effects of the Second World War and the Labour landslide election victory in 1945 enabled significant government-driven social reform, most notably the establishment of the Welfare State. Meanwhile government plans for the carefully and centrally orchestrated redevelopment of Greater London and other urban areas began to be implemented. Some Conservative MPs suspected that the Festival was in part intended to celebrate Labour's post-war achievements. However the political, economic and social climate had already started to change by the time that the state-funded Festival opened its doors.

There was of course a tremendous enthusiasm and confidence that ‘life’ could now be improved. The tasks to be done like the rebuilding of London and City centres, New Towns, Schools programmes and Social Housing were tremendous and much was eventually achieved. Designers and Politicians were enthusiastic and confident - our Health Service was to become the envy of Europe, so were our housing and school programmes. We were all socialists then, it all seems very strange now! Younger people may never understand. (contributor Bill Fisher) Why not contribute your memories?