Red Lion Square, London 1965

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures a tranquil view of Red Lion Square in Holborn during the spring of 1965. The perspective is taken from the junction of Old North Street, looking across the road towards the square’s perimeter. A small, single-storey cream-coloured building with a brown tiled roof stands near the entrance to the square, featuring a poster with a portrait of a man on its side. Beyond the railings, the square is filled with mature, leafless trees and patches of yellow daffodils, indicating the early spring season. The background is dominated by a grand, multi-storey dark brick Victorian terrace with distinctive bay windows. A street sign for “Old North St. W.C.1” is clearly visible on the stone building to the left, and a traditional black-and-white striped “One Way Street” sign stands on the pavement. Two pedestrians can be seen in the distance, walking near the square’s entrance. This digital download is an evocative record of a quieter side of mid-century London, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of vintage urban wall art.