Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city.

Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city.

ww2

Latest news, articles and photos

ww2 - Latest news, articles and photos

See inside the St. Leonards air raid shelter in East Sheen
See inside the St. Leonards air raid shelter in East Sheen

See inside the St. Leonards air raid shelter in East Sheen

On a side street not far from Mortlake station is a set of 1930s residential flats and in front a curious brick building - the entrance to an underground air-raid shelter.

Sep
15
2021
Colourised film shows London during WW2
Colourised film shows London during WW2

Colourised film shows London during WW2

Film footage of London during WW2 is rare, thanks to the efforts of the film censor, but here's a colour film from bombed-out London.

May
05
2021
TfL releases WW2 archive online
TfL releases WW2 archive online

TfL releases WW2 archive online

The actions of London's transport during WW2 are being highlighted by TfL's corporate archives for the next few months.

Nov
17
2020
The myth that Hitler wanted Senate House as a Nazi headquarters
The myth that Hitler wanted Senate House as a Nazi headquarters

The myth that Hitler wanted Senate House as a Nazi headquarters

One of the more curious stories that regularly crops up about the University of London's Senate House is that it was saved from being bombed by Hitler who wanted to use it as a new headquarters for his Nazi government in the UK.

Jul
01
2020
Photos of London’s docks during WW2
Photos of London’s docks during WW2

Photos of London’s docks during WW2

On the eve of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Museum of London Docklands has released some photos from its archive that show the devastating impact of WW2 on the area.

May
07
2020
The Woolwich WW2 pillbox
The Woolwich WW2 pillbox

The Woolwich WW2 pillbox

If you walk along the riverside near Woolwich, you might spy a concrete box covered in graffiti -- it's a relic from WW2.

Apr
28
2020
There’s a Spitfire fighter plane inside London Bridge station
There’s a Spitfire fighter plane inside London Bridge station

There’s a Spitfire fighter plane inside London Bridge station

If you catch a train from London Bridge, then look out for a Spitfire fighter plane sitting in the middle of the main concourse.

Jun
01
2019
London Transport Museum secures funding for war gallery
London Transport Museum secures funding for war gallery

London Transport Museum secures funding for war gallery

London Transport Museum has secured funding to develop a new gallery that will explore the role of London’s transport during the First and Second World Wars.

Jan
16
2019
WW2 bomb map and a Lord Mayor’s response to the Armistice
WW2 bomb map and a Lord Mayor’s response to the Armistice

WW2 bomb map and a Lord Mayor’s response to the Armistice

One of the many maps of bomb damaged London has gone on show in the City of London's heritage gallery, alongside a declaration about the end of WW1.

Jan
14
2019
The London Underground tube map made in a WW2 prisoner of war camp
The London Underground tube map made in a WW2 prisoner of war camp

The London Underground tube map made in a WW2 prisoner of war camp

A photograph of a London Underground tube map made in a WW2 prisoner of war camp has emerged from a collection taken by a British inmate in the prison camp.

Jan
03
2019
The Crockett’s Leathercloth Works War Memorial
The Crockett’s Leathercloth Works War Memorial

The Crockett’s Leathercloth Works War Memorial

A majestic lion lays bestride a war memorial in a post-war housing estate, a memory of those who worked nearby and died far away.

Oct
28
2018
Go inside the ruined St George’s Garrison Church in Woolwich
Go inside the ruined St George’s Garrison Church in Woolwich

Go inside the ruined St George’s Garrison Church in Woolwich

The ruined remains of a military church is on the verge of reopening part of the building following restoration work.

Oct
03
2018
The block of flats named after a war hero
The block of flats named after a war hero

The block of flats named after a war hero

If you pass a rather nondescript block of flats in Richmond, you might be surprised to see a poppy wreath hanging on the wall.

Sep
05
2018
When a WW2 tunnel full of salads meets modern art
When a WW2 tunnel full of salads meets modern art

When a WW2 tunnel full of salads meets modern art

What happens when an abandoned WW2 under Clapham is used to grow salads, and then gives over some of the space to modern art?

Jun
21
2018
Disused WW2 tunnels used as “Windrush hotel” opens for tours
Disused WW2 tunnels used as “Windrush hotel” opens for tours

Disused WW2 tunnels used as “Windrush hotel” opens for tours

A series of WW2 tunnels under Clapham that were later used as a short term hotel for Windrush arrivals are being opened up for tours.

Jun
07
2018
London Public Art: SOE Memorial
London Public Art: SOE Memorial

London Public Art: SOE Memorial

A stone plinth with the striking bust of a young lady staring impassively across the Thames towards Parliament, this is the memorial to those who died in secret operations during WW2.

May
31
2018
Tickets Alert – Tours of Churchill’s abandoned WW2 bunker
Tickets Alert – Tours of Churchill’s abandoned WW2 bunker

Tickets Alert – Tours of Churchill’s abandoned WW2 bunker

Deep under a housing estate in North London lies one of WW2’s greatest secrets, the reserve Cabinet War Rooms that lay hidden and waiting, just in case the (now) more famous Westminster bunkers were destroyed.

Feb
02
2018
75th anniversary of the Catford school bomb
75th anniversary of the Catford school bomb

75th anniversary of the Catford school bomb

At lunchtime today, it will be 75 years to the moment when a German bomb was dropped on a South London school, killing 38 children and 6 adults.

Jan
20
2018
Perspectives of Destruction: London during WW2
Perspectives of Destruction: London during WW2

Perspectives of Destruction: London during WW2

The London Blitz beginning in 1940 has been described as the second Great Fire of London and large swathes of the city were destroyed.

Apr
23
2017
WW2 film shows London commuters during the Blitz
WW2 film shows London commuters during the Blitz

WW2 film shows London commuters during the Blitz

How did London's commuters get to work during the blitz? A propaganda film from 1941 says, blitz? What blitz? Everything's normal down here.

Dec
10
2016
The Mansion, The Military, The Museum – Bentley Priory
The Mansion, The Military, The Museum – Bentley Priory

The Mansion, The Military, The Museum – Bentley Priory

Through a locked gate, down a road past more locked gates, and here on the edges of London is a grand building that played a very secretive role during WW2.

Aug
27
2016
The WW2 fortification in a Nth London park
The WW2 fortification in a Nth London park

The WW2 fortification in a Nth London park

If you were talking a wander through a nature reserve in North London one day, you might notice a rather shabby looking concrete hut peeking out of the bushes.

May
30
2016
Ticket Alert: Date announced for a rare tour of a WW2 Bunker
Ticket Alert: Date announced for a rare tour of a WW2 Bunker

Ticket Alert: Date announced for a rare tour of a WW2 Bunker

Deep under a housing estate in North London lies one of World War Two’s greatest secrets, the reserve Cabinet War Rooms that lay hidden and waiting just in case the (now) more famous Westminster bunkers were attacked.

May
24
2016
WW2 bunker under Clapham to open for regular tours
WW2 bunker under Clapham to open for regular tours

WW2 bunker under Clapham to open for regular tours

Transport for London has secured planning permission to open up one of the WW2 bunkers dug deep under London for regular tours.

Dec
21
2015