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Splendid scenes of Londoners letting off steam around the capital - but where, exactly?
Non-Fiction 1926 2 mins Silent
The Whitsun holiday of 1926 prompted these splendid newsreel scenes of Londoners letting off steam around the capital - but where exactly were they shot? A gigantic fun fair - on Hampstead Heath perhaps? Urchins in short trousers enjoying a sand pit and paddling pool. Steamers at the Embankment (okay, that one's easy), and, most mysterious of all, an exotic Thames island paradise, with palm trees, pleasure boats, and an impromptu performance from the Golden Guinea girls...
Golden Guinea was a brand of French sparkling wine in the 20s, hence the girls' ingenious grape-themed costumes - a quirky piece of advertising!
School programme and Educational film 1955 11 mins Location: Finchley
Everyday family life in suburban North London - as seen by folk learning English in the 1950s.
Instructional film/TV programme 1983 1 mins
Two young BMX-ers nearly come a cropper in this short and shocking cycling safety film.
1963 3 mins Silent
Back in 1963, record shops were a place to hang out with friends and hear the latest pop tunes, with no pressure to buy.
Public Information Filler 1947 2 mins
A witty, eccentric guide to safety on two wheels under the watchful eye of a pedalling angel.
Public Information Filler 1950 3 mins
The car-free, Kodachrome streets of 1950s London offer an idyllic environment for acting out the 'wrongs' of cycling safety.
Amateur film 1945 9 mins Silent Location: Southwark
Step into the aftermath of a WWII bombing raid in south London in this startling amateur film.
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: London
Capital scenes thanks to Victorian filmmakers
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Location: London
Vivid images of Victorian London - but where?
1899 2 mins Silent Location: London
A sports day gives the young residents of the Foundling Hospital a chance to let off steam
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Location: London
Londoners turn out in their thousands to greet the returning Boer War hero after his famous defence of Ladysmith
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: London
Horse-drawn traffic on one of London's busiest thoroughfares
Non-Fiction 1897 1 mins Silent Location: London
The Band of the First Life Guards approaches Westminster Bridge during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Industry sponsored film 1960 24 mins
A new luxury express is put through its paces. This film looks over the shoulders of the select band of craftsmen, engineers and operators, whose combined skills try to ensure that a train journey is a delightful experience.
Documentary 1973 15 mins
British Transport Films record the varied daily lives of their neighbours as seen from the high roof of their building in London’s Marylebone.
Travelogue 1953 21 mins Location: York
The Stationmaster at York guides us through a typical day, from dawn to dusk.
Industry sponsored film 1957 20 mins
Illustrating the efficiency of express freight trains, and how they link manufacturers with their customers at the other end of Britain.
Documentary 1952 30 mins
Examining a day in the life of what was then the busiest railway system in the world – British Railways.
Industry sponsored film 1957 9 mins
A 1957 film examining the future for British Railways, and some of the opportunities provided by a new modernisation plan.
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