Evocative Photos of London’s West End in the 1950s

A keen photographer since childhood, Allan Hailstone’s beautiful images are a tribute to London of the 1950s.

A keen photographer since childhood, Allan Hailstone’s beautiful images are a tribute to London of the 1950s. Fogs, Soho at night, the remnants of St Giles, lost theatres … Here is a taste of how things were…

Warner Cinema, Cranbourn Street, London, 3 January 1957.

Warner Cinema, Cranbourn Street, London, 3 January 1957.

 

 

Trafalgar Square, London, 5 November 1955.

Trafalgar Square, London, 5 November 1955.

Trafalgar Square CND London, 24 September 1960

Trafalgar Square CND London, 24 September 1960

The Strand, London, 1 August 1955.

The Strand, London, 1 August 1955.

Southampton Row, London, 2 August 1955.

Southampton Row, London, 2 August 1955.

Piccadilly Circus, London, 2 April 1956.

Piccadilly Circus, London, 2 April 1956.

Outside Foyle's Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London, around mid-1961.

Outside Foyle’s Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London, around mid-1961.

Near Tottenham Court Road tube station, London, 1 August 1955.

Near Tottenham Court Road tube station, London, 1 August 1955.

Men outside shop Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955.

Men outside shop Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955.

Leicester Square, London, 11 April 1955.

Leicester Square, London, 11 April 1955.

Leicester Square, London, 2 April 1956.

Leicester Square, London, 2 April 1956.

Aldwych, London, 1 August 1955

Aldwych, London, 1 August 1955

Museum Street cnr. New Oxford Street, London, 1 August 1955

Museum Street cnr. New Oxford Street, London, 1 August 1955

Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955

Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955

Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955 looking south

Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955 looking south

Charlie Gracie posing for promotional photos in London, c.5 August 1957

Charlie Gracie posing for promotional photos in London, c.5 August 1957

Foyle's Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955

Foyle’s Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London, 5 November 1955

High Holborn, London, 2 August 1955.

High Holborn, London, 2 August 1955.

Kingsway cnr. High Holborn, London, 1 August 1955.

Kingsway cnr. High Holborn, London, 1 August 1955.

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