Piccadilly, London 1965

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures the mid-day bustle of Piccadilly in 1965, looking west. The right side of the image features the grand, rusticated facade of the Piccadilly Hotel, with its prominent red illuminated sign and “Car Sales & Rental” storefront. Next door is the Percy Vimpany jewellers shop, and further down is a sign for Sabena Airlines. A light blue and white luxury coach, marked “Private Hire,” travels east, while a classic red double-decker bus is visible further down the road. The traffic includes a black Austin FX4 taxi and several period saloon cars, with a blurred black vehicle in the immediate foreground creating a sense of movement. On the left, the “Princes” building stands tall, while pedestrians in mid-sixties fashion—including women in tailored coats and men in suits—walk along the pavements. Modernist lamp posts contrast with the historic stone architecture, documenting the evolving urban landscape of central London. This digital download is a superb historical record of the city’s transport and atmosphere, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of vintage wall art.