London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
Trams and Trolleybuses in London
Stopping at numerous locations across London, an amateur filmmaker records the last days of trams in 1952 and trolleybuses in 1962.
From the collection of:
Overview
After nearly a century of service, Londoners say goodbye to the much-loved trams during Last Tram Week in July 1952. The tall, narrow red vehicles are shown making their final journeys through the capital in this charming film shot by an amateur filmmaker. Second half of the film lets us witness the last days of another classic London Transport vehicle - the trolleybus. Having launched in May 1931, the service was withdrawn on 8 May 1962.
For much of its existence, the London trolleybus system was the largest in the world. This film is from the collection of London Transport Museum, a member of the London's Screen Archives Network.
Related
Watch for free
StoryTrails: The People's Map Lewisham StoryTrails: The People's Map Lewisham
Documentary 2022 18 mins Location: Lewisham
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Lewisham.
Watch for free
RT Buses in SE London RT Buses in SE London
Industry sponsored film 1978 4 mins Silent Location: Crystal Palace
Take a trip down memory lane to a time when a fleet of the popular RT buses serves the capital and congestion is still a thing of the future.
Watch for free
David Is Homosexual David Is Homosexual
Drama-documentary 1978 38 mins Location: Lewisham
A lonely gay man discovers friends, love and activism in this rediscovered educational film made by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality
Watch for free
Street Scenes V: Changes, changes Street Scenes V: Changes, changes
School programme and Educational film 1975 17 mins Location: Lewisham
Changing streets and school playgrounds – plus children’s paintings – all feature in this final episode of a 1970s children series.
Watch for free
Lewisham's Film Review Lewisham's Film Review
Travelogue 1922 5 mins Silent Location: Lewisham
Journey into a lost London with this exquisitely detailed tour of the shops and street life of 1920s Lewisham.
Watch for free
Opening of Tower House Opening of Tower House
Amateur film 1933 6 mins Silent Location: Lewisham
Precious pre-war film of Lewisham town centre, shot on the opening day of Tower House, the huge Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society store, in 1933.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.