Between May and September 1951 the nation celebrated the Festival of Britain. After the devastation of war and years of austerity the Festival aimed to raise the nation’s spirits whilst promoting the very best in British art, design and industry. The London based centrepieces of the Festival, the South Bank Exhibition and the Festival Pleasure Gardens in Battersea, were the most visible elements of a Festival which was celebrated in cities, towns and villages all over Britain.

This web site comprises an online exhibition about the Festival of Britain together with a searchable catalogue of over 400 items from our Festival related collections. The catalogue can be accessed from every page of the online exhibition.

In May and June 2001, the Museum of London invited its visitors and users of its web site to send us their memories of the Festival for inclusion in the online exhibition. These contributions together with objects, photographs and drawings are at the very core of the online exhibition and shaped its development from the very beginning.