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This film is part of Free
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
1924 10 mins
A tour by horse-drawn bus, narrated by the driver, contrasts new buildings under construction in London with the old, travelling from the City along Middle Temple Lane, passing Clifford's Inn, The Strand, Piccadilly, St. James's Palace, Kingsway, Lincoln's Inn, St. Sepulchre's church, the Old Bailey and Staple Inn.
Based on a successful magazine, the film series Wonderful London captures the life of the capital in the 1920s. These simple travelogues contrast different aspects of city life; East End and West End, poor and rich, natives and immigrants, looking beyond the stereotypes to show surprising views of the city. These six restorations by the BFI National Archive reintroduce the films' original colours, with new piano accompaniments by John Sweeney.
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Interest film 1924 10 mins Location: Soho
An extraordinary tour of Soho's French cafés, Clerkenwell's Little Italy and the lesser-trodden streets of Limehouse in the 1920s.
1924 0 mins Location: Strand
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
1924 10 mins Location: Charing Cross Sta
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
1924 8 mins Location: London Br
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
1924 10 mins Location: Belgravia
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
1924 12 mins Location: Hyde Park
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
Amateur film 1966 6 mins Silent Location: Harringay
James Bond, Graham Hill, Winston Churchill and St Paul’s Cathedral all feature in this brilliant home movie from the Davis Family Film collection.
Amateur film 1963 4 mins Silent Location: Strand
From sunbathing on the East London estate balcony to swimming in the sea at Clacton, this home movie records family life in London in 1963.
Amateur film 1963 5 mins Silent Location: Strand
Iced fountains at Trafalgar and a steeplejack up Nelson’s Column are among the highlights of this fascinating, eclectic home movie from 1963.
1924 0 mins Location: Strand
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
1924 10 mins Location: Belgravia
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
Advert 1967 2 mins Location: Devon
Mrs Cross takes the Daz test but what will the outcome be?
Advert 1954 20 mins
Points of view from a production company at the outset of commercial television in the UK.
Advert 1938 1 mins Silent
From out of the vaults comes this pre-WWII cinema advert for ice-cream
Advert 1953 2 mins
A hard-working Catford clippie and her family star in this cinema ad for hot chocolate.
Advert 1972 1 mins
In 1972 Britain entered the European common market full of beans. What could go wrong?
Advert 1952 2 mins
A cup of Horlicks helps a struggling husband bring home the bacon in this 1950s advert.
