Festival of Britain Walking Tour

Celebrate 75 Years of the Festival of Britain on London’s Southbank

Join our expert guide on a circular walking tour celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, following the route taken by thousands of visitors flocking to London’s Southbank in the summer of 1951. Step back in time to a post-war London, where a city recovering from the Blitz came together to celebrate British innovation, science, and culture.

Discover why the Festival was hailed as “the tonic for the nation”, transforming a bomb-damaged riverside site into a vibrant showcase of hope, creativity, and progress. Explore how this landmark event helped Britain emerge from the austerity of the post-war years and dared to imagine a future filled with optimism

Experience the art, music, and architectural wonders of the Festival, including tea dances, concerts, and illuminated fountains. Marvel at the Dome of Discovery, the Festival of Britain Calypso, the working factory on the Southbank, the iconic Skylon, early experiments in 3D cinema, and the whimsical Tempest Prognosticator invented by Dr Merryweather.

Uncover the Festival’s controversies as well as its triumphs, and see the lasting legacy still visible on the Southbank today. Spot the wandering Coade Stone lion, admire restored artworks once hidden under a tarpaulin in a South London hotel, and discover markers that tell the story of an event that left an indelible mark on London’s cultural landscape.

By the end of the tour, you’ll gain a vivid understanding of one of the 20th century’s most ambitious cultural events. Leave with a rich appreciation for the ingenuity, spectacle, and stories that shaped the Festival of Britain, and explore the Southbank through the eyes of the millions who experienced it firsthand.

Start: Waterloo Station
Duration: 90 mins
End: York Road