London in the Second World War

Our current exhibition

About the exhibition

Runs until 19 February 2026

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.

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Display - Isabella Lazeris

Illustrating the 'London in Second World War' exhibition'

Artist Isabella Lazeris worked with our 'London in the Second World War' exhibition and provided an illustrative interpretation for a contemporary audience.

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Highlights of the exhibition

Find out more about the bomb damage maps of London, some of which feature in our exhibition and read about the air raid reports. We will also be adding related articles based on our research throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Article

Second World War Bomb Damage Maps of London

How you can use them

Exhibition

The Cross and Tibbs Photograph Collection

Exhibition highlights

Exhibition

Recording the war: air raid report books

Exhibition highlights

Research Guide

Second World War: bomb damage

Research Guide

Visit us

Opening Times

When to visit us

Visit us

Group visits

Find out more

Learning

Second World War workshop

Key Stage 2

Events

Find out about events in connection with the exhibition. For a full list of related upcoming events and to book, visit Eventbrite.

Tour

Curator-led exhibition tours - January

Exhibition tour

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

Tour

Curator-led exhibition tours - February

Exhibition tour

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

What's On

Men At War – Lusting Loving Fighting Remembering 1939-1945

Book talk

Luke Turner explores how the social upheaval of the Second World War had a profound impact on the lives of Londoners.

What's On

Mapping the Blitz

Talk

The Bomb Damage Maps are one of the centre pieces of our London in The Second World War Exhibition. They are precise and visually striking record the devastation the capital suffered during this tumultuous period. Come along to this illustrated to talk to hear about how these remarkable documents were made.

bank-station-bomb-damage-with-mansion-house

What's On

Finding Fred: The Life of a City of London Police Officer

Talk

This talk explores the story of Fred Tibbs, a police officer and World War 2 photographer. Hear about what his life in a city he patrolled from the Roaring Twenties and through the war. We will also take a closer look at the stories behind some of the Collection photographs.

Education

Find out about our work with schools.

Learning

Second World War workshop

Key Stage 2

What was it like living in London during the Second World War?

Learning

School sessions - FAQs

What to expect from our workshops

Find out what to expect, and how to prepare for our school sessions across Key Stage One to Key Stage Four

Blogs

Our curators talk through some of our exhibition highlights and Second World War related material.

Exhibition

Illustrating the 'London in the Second World War' exhibition

Isabella Lazeris

Long read

Henry V

Propaganda at the Cinema

Long read

London's Auxiliary Ambulance Station 50

The untold story of the Blitz

Exhibition

Writing the War

Reading literature of the Second World War

Article

The war diary of John Teague

Find out more

Exhibition

Armoured Cars

Exhibition highlights

Exhibition

The Cross and Tibbs Photograph Collection

Exhibition highlights

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 read 'The Night Watch' by Sarah Waters and 'The Report' by Jessica Francis Kane. Check out our book group page for more information.