Ludgate Hill, London 1965

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures a bustling afternoon on Ludgate Hill in 1965, with the scaffolding-clad dome of St Paul’s Cathedral rising in the background. The street level is alive with mid-century character, notably featuring a light blue Austin A90 Atlantic convertible (registration MTE 109) towing a caravan. Alongside the car, a man on a moped is likely “doing the Knowledge,” the rigorous training required for London taxi drivers to master the city’s complex street grid. To the left, the “Hope Brothers” storefront advertises an annual sale, while a uniformed commissionaire or security officer walks towards the camera. Pedestrians in typical sixties attire, including men in grey suits and a woman in a vibrant blue jumper, populate the pavements. Other period details include several red double-decker buses, traditional black-and-white striped bollards, and the ornate clock tower of a nearby church. This digital download is a rich documentary record of London’s post-war commercial life, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of historic urban wall art.