Four vintage travel posters from London Transport Museum’s historic collection have been reimagined for contemporary London to celebrate the city’s world-class arts and
culture and the role it plays in defining the capital, bringing people together to enjoy memorable experiences and great days out.
Showcasing four of the city’s iconic live arts institutions and performance venues, the new poster series celebrates London’s reputation as a vibrant cultural hub and
encourages the public to get out and about to enjoy all that the city’s attractions have to offer as they continue to recover post-pandemic. The four institutions featured are: the
English National Opera, London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican,
Royal Opera House and Southbank Centre.
Passengers can see the stunning designs on display across the Underground network between Monday 10 April to Thursday 28 April 2023. The
series is part of London Transport Museum’s collaboration with Transport for London to mark 160 years of the Tube and
continues the Underground’s long tradition of putting brilliant design at the heart of London’s transport to engage and connect with passengers.
Frank Pick is widely credited as the man behind London Transport’s iconic design style and identity. From 1908 onwards, Pick began to commission leading contemporary artists
and designers to create attention-grabbing posters to promote
the numerous music venues, theatres, galleries, museums and attractions that could be explored and enjoyed by using London’s public transport.
The posters commissioned over the succeeding decades have earned the Underground and London Transport a reputation for high quality poster
design. The poster designs that feature in this new series date from 1912 through to 1999, revealing the changing artistic styles used to promote things to see and do in the capital.
The Tube 160 x Love London’s Culture posters
Original poster:
‘For the Sunday Concerts’ by Fred Taylor, 1912 © TfL from London Transport Museum’s collection
First published in 1912, Fred Taylor’s artwork publicises travelling by Tube to enjoy London’s Sunday concerts and is the oldest poster featured in the series. Today it
promotes London Symphony Orchestra, resident orchestra at the Barbican.
Original poster:
‘Pantomimes, plays and picture’ by Charles Atkinson, 1933 © TfL from London Transport Museum’s collection
Charles Atkinson’s exuberant 1930s poster celebrates the merriment of London’s pantomimes, plays and cinemas. Today it celebrates the
Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, home to The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera.
Original poster:
‘Just because you’ve finished work it doesn’t mean it’s curtains for your travel card’ by Trevor Caley, 1986 © TfL from London Transport Museum’s collection
Created in 1986, this vibrant mosaic design by artist Trevor Caley pays homage to London’s theatres and stage venues. Reimagined for today it celebrates the
English National Opera, the resident opera company of the London Coliseum in St Martin’s Lane.
Original poster:
‘Simply London by Tube and bus’ by Jake Sutton, 1999 © TfL from London Transport Museum’s collection
Jake Sutton’s watercolour was commissioned by London Transport for a 1999 poster campaign titled ‘Simply Travel’. Full of colour and movement, it depicts the hustle and
bustle of central London and its cultural delights which are easily enjoyed by bus and Tube. Today it promotes London’s
Southbank Centre.
Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE,
said: ‘Culture is woven into London’s DNA and our capital is home to some of the greatest theatres, venues, galleries and museums in the world. I am delighted that many of our cultural gems have been so wonderfully reimagined in these posters, highlighting
the memorable experiences on offer. With cultural tourism generating billions for our economy, it has a big role to play in supporting our recovery. That’s why the Mayor launched his Let’s Do London campaign – the biggest domestic and international tourism
campaign London has ever seen – which is bringing Londoners and visitors back to our city, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.’
