People's City gallery

1850s - 1940s

The London 2012 Olympic Cauldron

2012 Olympics

World City

1950s – today

Revolutions in technology, fashion, and culture have transformed London

The postwar generation led London's multicultural revolution, followed by the punk movement in the 1970s. By the 1980s many of London’s traditional industries had closed down, even as new technologies transformed everyday life. Now 21st century London is known for its diversity and modern industry.

Not to be missed on your visit

View slideshow

Swimming trunks worn by Tom Daley in the London 2012 Olympics.

Tom Daley's swimming trunks from the 2012 London Olympics

These Adidas Team GB swimming trunks were used by Tom Daley during the 2012 Olympics. The Union Jack-based design is by Stella McCartney.

Case illustrating London fashions of the 1960s.

London's fashion revolution

This case displays the changes that swept London style in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dress created by fashion collective the Fool, displaying faces of the Beatles.

Beatles dress

This cotton dress, emblazoned with the faces of the Fab Four, was available from C&A, a high street clothing shop. It testifies to the way young Londoners embraced the new music and fashions of the 'swinging sixties'.

Gates of the Firestone Factory on display in the World City gallery.

Bronze gates from the Firestone tyre factory, 1929

The Firestone factory closed in November 1979 with the loss of 1,500 jobs.

Cover of book Because They Know Not: a Powerful Story on the Colour Problem, 1950s.

Cover of 'Because They Know Not: a powerful story on the colour problem', 1959

This novel by Alvin Gladstone Bennett tackles the issues raised by West Indian migration to Britain in the 1950's, and was inspired by the author's own experiences.

Children look at the Bill and Ben Flowerpot Men puppets on display in the World City gallery.

Visit our children's corner

These Bill & Ben string puppets were used in the children’s television programme ‘The Flowerpot Men’, part of the BBC's 'Watch With Mother' series, 1952.

Punk outfit worn by Marian Williams in the 1970s.

Outfit worn by Marian Williams, a singer in a punk band, 1982

The mohair sweater was bought at Camden Market and the bondage trousers and studded t-shirt were from Kensington Market.

Tom Hunter's scale model of two London streets, known as the

The Ghetto, 1994

Designed by artist Tom Hunter, this 3D photographic model exactly recreates, in miniature, two streets in Hackney, condemned as a 'ghetto' by the Hackney Gazette in 1994.

Vespa scooter

This Douglas Vespa 125cc motor scooter was one of the symbols of the youth revolution that swept through London in the 1950's and 60's.

Capital Concerns interactive in the World City gallery.

Experience the Capital Concerns interactive

Learn what Londoners think and worry about by using this interactive. A digital river Thames runs through the gallery, carrying icons representing the major issues of the city.

Gallery access

The gallery is open during the museum's normal hours:

10am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday)

The gallery is on the lower ground floor and can be accessed by lift.

Free entry, timed ticket

World City also of interest

Holloway prison opened in 1852 as the City of London House of Correction. In 1902 it became a female-only prison. This bell hung in the courtyard of the original Gothic prison, demolished in the 1970s. All prisoners, including Suffragettes, would have been familiar with the daily ringing of the bell to summon them to work and exercise in the yard.

Collecting for London

Our free display looks at the museum's latest acquisitions

Plan your visit

Beyond Documentary

See the city through our free display of cutting-edge photography