Exhibition: London County Council Tramways posters

Promoting London as an attractive and exciting place to visit, shop or relax was as important a century ago as it is today. In the 1920s when the former London County Council was running London’s tram service they met growing competition from the Underground and bus services. Posters were commissioned firstly from students at the Central School of Arts and Crafts (now Saint Martin’s College of Arts and Design) and, later in the decade, from professional artists to position London as “a destination”.

These posters show a modern 1920s City; stylish and confident with infinite possibility (if you use a tram!). They are part of the London County Council archive, now owned and managed by the City of London.