London in the Second World War

Our next exhibition

Highlights of the exhibition

Find out more about the bomb damage maps of London, some of which will feature in our exhibition and read about the air raid reports.

Article

Second World War Bomb Damage Maps of London

Find out more

Exhibition

Recording the war: air raid report books

Exhibition highlights

Research Guide

About the exhibition

From 24 February until 30 October

This free exhibition explores the experiences of Londoners during the Second World War and the effect it had on the city they knew. Using the London County Council bomb damage maps, personal diaries, rarely seen original artworks and atmospheric photographs we will tell the story of the people that lived and worked in a city at war.

What was it like to live through the Blitz, to see your neighbourhood change overnight, or to be a volunteer with one of the city’s emergency services?

The exhibition also examines the way that London sought to rebuild after the war, through the creation of the County of London plan, and how this was put into place at Poplar’s Lansbury Estate for the opening of the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Book your ticket

Events

Find out about upcoming events in connection with the exhibition.

What's On

Poetry of the Second World War

Join us as Tim Kendall guides us through his new anthology

5 March - Join us as Tim Kendall guides us through his new anthology 'Poetry of the Second World War'.

Tour

Curator-led Tour

London in the Second World War

Every month our curators will guide you through the exhibition exploring the lives of Londoners during the Second World War.

Anthony Heap diaries

Anthony Heap (1910-1985) was an avid diarist who lived in the St Pancras and Holborn area. Heap records observations of his time in London during the Second World War including the nightly raids and sleeping in air-raid shelters. Also a keen theatre-goer, he supplies insights into entertainment during this period.

As in the last war we are now reduced to saccharine to supplement the sugar ration, our small stock of sugar is getting very much diminished.
The London Diary of Anthony Heap, Tuesday 17 December, 1940.

At last theatres are to be allowed to open on Sundays, subject to Parliamentary approval and be put on equal footing with cinemas in that respect. To think that it takes a war to achieve this amendment of such a stupid anomaly! Ron suddenly migrated back to his home town of Wolverhampton last Saturday. Apparently Friday night's experience was more than enough of Blitz time London for him!
The London Diary of Anthony Heap, Thursday 20 February, 1941.

The fiercest London Blitz this year with tonight's alert which lasted from 8.15 till 2.0 a.m. Should imagine they did a good deal of damage. Shelter full once more.
The London Diary of Anthony Heap, Wednesday 19 March, 1941.

Living through the Blitz

London County Council bomb damage maps charted the destruction at the level of individual properties, and the remarkable photographs taken by City Police photographers Cross and Tibbs, who stepped out into the streets after air raids to capture the scene as the action occurred and as the dust settled.

Arthur Cross and Fred Tibbs were City of London policemen. Cross had been appointed official photographer to the police department in July 1939 with Tibbs assigned to assist him in September 1940 and they worked capturing images of the damage caused to the City of London by enemy action during the Second World War.

Discover more in the exhibition and purchase images on the London Picture Archive.

Cross and Tibbs Photographs

Find out about our monthly book group

This year we will be reading some books relating to the subject of the Second World War in London. We recently looked at 'The Night Watch' by Sarah Waters and will be discussing 'The Report' by Jessica Francis Kane. Check out our book group page for more information.