London 1942

The camera pans the Thames and then over the roof tops of The Houses of Parliament. Note the barrage balloon.

From ground level on Bridge Street, SW1. SJ

“After three years of war the familiar outlines of London are much the same”. The Houses of Parliament as seen from across Parliament Square. The column seen in the left of the capture is part of the Buxton Memorial Fountain that stood on the site currently occupied by the statue of George Canning. The fountain was removed in 1949 and is now sighted in Victoria Tower Gardens.

With the pedestal of the Canning statue to the left. SJ

“But there are many new and unfamiliar sights in the street” NW corner of the Houses of Parliament.

An almost identical angle is seen in Mr Beamish Goes South. SJ

“Affairs of State in Whitehall have a new urgency”. 57 Whitehall, SW1, the Old War Office, now 'Raffles Hotel' looking south.

Just south of the main entrance. SJ

“For here is the organising center of the British Commonwealth and the Free World at war”. Whitehall looking north from about ‘The Women of World War ll memorial.

The view from, but avoiding, the Monument to Women of World War II, which was unveiled in 2005, 62 years later than the film. SJ

A military motorcycle rider is seen exiting Parliament Square into Parliament Street, SW1

A colourful scene in the square with St Margaret's in front of Westminster Abbey in the background. SJ

We stay in Whitehall to see the rider pass the Cenotaph.

Looking south down Whitehall and Parliament Street. SJ

He rides through Horse Guards and into Parade.

Looking west with the Guards Memorial on Horse Guards Road framed by the central archway. SJ

Gate post of Horse Guards, SW1

It took a little while to find but it's on the south side of the central gate. SJ

The gated entrance to Horse Guards looking outwards across Whitehall to the corner of Banqueting House and the junction with Horse Guards Avenue.

Reading the shadows, a little earlier in the day. SJ

The entrance to King Charles Street. Whitehall/Parliament Street out of shot to the left.

Security is more formal now. SJ

“The allied servicemen have settled down pretty quickly”. The café culture had clearly started much earlier. The bottom of Regent Street, W1 looking across to what was the Swan & Edgar department store and the corner of Piccadilly and Regent Street St. James’s.

Nowhere for Paul Lincoln to have a coffee these days.

“And for the time being feel that London is their home”. I believe this to be outside the London Pavilion, 2-8 Shaftesbury Ave., W1 looking back towards the Quadrant Arches in Regent Street/Piccadilly Circus. The London Pavilion was a cinema in 1942 and the film ‘Alias Boston Blackie’ was also released in that year.

If Paul had captured a similar threesome we would have had to blur their faces anyway.

A further shot of Allied Troops. The Underground access on the corner of Piccadilly Circus and Shaftesbury Ave., looking across to the shops in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Paul took this shot of 'clutter corner', at least the railings provide some continuity.

The camera pans up (actually cuts) from the previous shot to above the ‘Travel Information’ stand to the upper floors of the premises on the corner of Glasshouse Street and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Revised forms of advertising meant that Paul was unable to capture the architecture.

“Under Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square one sees the uniforms of twenty different nations.” The statue of General Charles Gordon in the foreground was removed in 1943 and is now sited on the Victoria Embankment.

King George IV remains on the third plinth. SJ

Daytime entertainment is provided for relaxation. Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery in the background.

Some changes here after renovations including pedestrianisation of the road passing the National Gallery were completed in 2003. SJ

“London thrills to see the growing forces in their midst.” Trafalgar Square.

The Beatty fountain on the east side of the square. SJ

“And welcomes them just as one September morning in 1942 she welcomed the first American troops as they marched through the City”. St. Paul’s Cathedral with the troops marching along Cannon Street, EC4 in the foreground. The tower of the 17th Century St Augustine’s Church is also to be seen.

This favoured angle of St Paul's can often be tricky to replicate, and the traffic jam here isn't helping, but this points in the right direction albeit lacking in height. Note the spire back on the restored tower of St Augustine's Old Change which was bombed in 1940 & 1941 and has been part of St Paul's Cathedral Choir School since 1967. SJ

“The cinemas of Leicester Square are open”. The ‘Empire Theatre’, Leicester Square, WC2

The north side of the square. SJ

“But precautions for the safety of London are maintained.” In the background is what was the Warner West End cinema, Cranbourn Street, WC2 (now Vue) to left and the opening to Leicester Court.

An unobstructed view of the Vue and Hippodrome. SJ

“Emergency water tanks spill out the defiant symbol of victory.” What is now known as Paternoster Square as seen from the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

"Though scarred, London still presents a smiley face”. The northern side of St. Paul’s Cathedral looking down to properties on St Paul’s Church Yard and London House Yard dividing the two buildings.

“Ruins there are, but there is also new life” Unidentified location.

The window tracery suggests that this could be St Dunstan-in-the East, St Dunstan’s Hill, London EC3 but as Dave W says, there is curvature in the wall arrangement which perhaps suggests otherwise. And Dave W has found the 'otherwise', Guildhall Council Chamber, EC2 with the north-east corner spire of the main Guildhall building background to the right.

Block of flats. Dave W admits that he came across this by chance, let us hope that his luck continues. The corner of Prince of Wales Rd, NW5 and Queens Crescent.

On this occasion Dave made a specific journey. Interesting to view the subtle differences occasioned by the passing years.

“Out of the danger has arisen a great citizen army, the Home Guard.” Dave W recognises this as Masons Avenue, EC2 and the 'Ye Olde Doctor Butler's Head'.

Paul Lincoln found the location rather more relaxed in 2025.

“Clerks, factory hands, Bank Managers, are trained in the very streets that they may one day have to defend”. The St Lawrence Jewry Memorial Fountain, Guildhall Yard looking west. The fountain is now located in St Paul’s Churchyard.

Despite the sginificant changes, including the relocation of the Memorial, Paul found his way to the correct location, albeit at ground level.

“Weapons are made from the railings that they have sacrificed. Children like the idea, a park without railings reminds them of the open country.” Unidentified location.

“In 1942, even the children help with the salvage campaign.” Unidentified location.

“Today, every man woman and child has a job to do”. Unidentified location. There is an Express Diary in that parade and it could be a W H Smith next door but the other names escape identification for the moment.

”Youths under military age give up their weekends to train in the park for future service in the RAF”. Presumably Hyde Park and the Serpentine.

“Across the grass soldiers and workers take an hour or two off, they can relax with a free mind”. Could this also be the Serpentine?

“Because others are always on the alert”. Anti-aircraft gun positions were to be found in Hyde Park.

“No petrol to waste means holidays at home.” Unknown location.

Swimming. This looks very much like the Serpentine Lido.

Not quite as busy surprisingly given the weather. SJ

Fishing. That is the Dell Bridge, Hyde Park in the background.

The anglers have been replaced, looking east with the Dell Bridge lurking in the shadows on the left. SJ

“Holidays for some but duties for others.” Likely to be Hyde Park once again.

“Acres of allotments have been cut into London’s parks and gardens.” With rather more accute observation Dave W places this as near to the summit of Parliament Hill looking south-east panning to south. To add further interest as the pan continues, he points out the asymmetrical tower of St Martin's Church, Vicar's Road NW5 appearing as well as the roofline of All Hallows, Savernake Road with the running track of Parliament Hill featuring in most of the pan with its pavilion roof also coming into view.

“Exhibition allotments show beginners how to get the most out of their plots.” Hyde Park, looking across Park Lane as the next capture will show more exactly as the camera pans upwards.

Paul Lincoln confirms that all the vegetables have been harvested.

“Food is grown in all sorts of unexpected places.” Hyde Park, looking across Park Lane to the Grosvenor House

Paul suspects that the street level double columns in the original might have been replaced with the newer, white, frontage.

“On a roof garden high above the City’s streets, vegetables grow amongst the flowers”. The roof top of Adelaide House, EC4 with a brief view of the top of the Coal Exchange that stood almost opposite Old Billingsgate Market on the corner of St Mary at Hill and Lower Thames Street.

The pan shot continues and stops here with 68 King William Street prominent.

“Rationing makes sure that everyone gets a fair share, no matter where they shop.” Unidentified background.

Selfridges, Oxford Street, W1

Paul likes to get to the shops before the rush.

Regent Street looking south from the roof top of 229 Regent Street on the corner of Hanover Street.

Paul Lincoln did well to mirror the capture from ground level.

“Meal time in war time is also recreation time….. The front of the National Gallery looking across to St Martin-in-the Fields

A little tricky to align everything but this is close. SJ

..….. Inside the National Gallery world famous musicians give luncheon concerts of classical music.” The front of the National Gallery. The doorway to the right of the main entrance.

No picnickers on this bright but chilly day. SJ

“Women mobilised into war work lock up their homes and hand over their children to communal nurseries, while they go off to do their jobs.” Unidentified location.

“While the mothers work, the children play and grow strong.” Park Lane looking south, reflections would suggest that the bus stop in 1942 was the same as today but the building top right behind the bus stop sign is on the corner of Upper Brook Street and could not be photographed from there today.

Paul Lincoln captured the scene as it is today, including the reflected queue.

“The most striking change in London’s life has been brought about by the mobilisation of women.” PW identifies this as Southbound Bakerloo Line Platform 3 at Finchley Road station at the corner of Finchley Road and Cranfield Gardens in NW3. The Bakerloo line service was transferred to the Jubilee line when that line commenced operation on 1 May 1979.

“In Downing Street the efforts of the people are co-ordinated into terms of World strategy at the house of the Prime Minister.” The corner of Downing Street looking north up Whitehall.

Probably the best shot we'll manage for this corner, given the entrance's heavy security. But at least it's a quiet moment. SJ

“London in 1942 is the hub of the war effort.” Queen Victoria Memorial Monument and The Mall as seen from Buckingham Palace.

“And Buckingham Palace is the background for a display of Britain’s growing strength”. Buckingham Palace.

Taken from the Victoria Monument. SJ

“Dusk falls over London, with the darkness comes the blackout.” A view across the River Thames with what surely is the profile of 80 Strand (formerly Shell Mex House) on the north bank.

“Every able bodied Londoner stays on after work to fire watch. He is the ordinary citizen, one of the brotherhood of men and women, who will work, watch and fight until the lights go up again in a World freed from want and fear”. A view across the Thames with the Oxo Tower left of center and the Houses of Parliament to the right of capture.