Festival of Britain 1951: A Dazzling but Divided National Showcase
The Festival of Britain, which opened 75 years ago this weekend with a service at St Paul's, was a five-month nationwide celebration of British arts and sciences. Conceived by Herbert Morrison of Clement Attlee's Labour government to 'give Britain a lift,' it centered on a South Bank exhibition that reclaimed derelict land and drew 8.5 million visitors. As an 11-year-old schoolboy, Michael Billington attended from Leamington Spa, recalling the Dome of Discovery and the Skylon as exhilarating sights. The Tories later demolished those prime exhibits, but the festival left a significant legacy despite revealing a divided nation.
Key facts
- Festival of Britain opened 75 years ago this weekend with a service at St Paul's
- Lasted five months as a nationwide celebration of British arts and sciences
- Conceived by Herbert Morrison of Clement Attlee's Labour government
- Central exhibition on London's South Bank reclaimed derelict land
- Attracted 8.5 million visitors
- Key exhibits included the Dome of Discovery and the Skylon
- Tories later demolished the prime exhibits
- Michael Billington attended as an 11-year-old from Leamington Spa
Entities
Artists
- Michael Billington
Institutions
- Labour government
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Tories
Locations
- London
- South Bank
- Leamington Spa
- United Kingdom