Winter Wonderland - Discover our festive Poster Parade
The posters on display in our new Poster Parade Winter Wonderland invite you to celebrate winter and the festive season, including country walks, ice skating, shopping in the sales and exploring historic landmarks. They have a practical purpose too, encouraging passengers to travel off-peak or reminding us that it’s quicker, easier and warmer to travel by Underground, bus, tram or river. The posters, dating from 1909 to 2016, are by a range of designers, all commissioned to promote London’s transport network. I have selected a few of my favourite designs below.
When it is cold, rainy and foggy outside the Underground is an enticing prospect for passengers, providing a warm and bright atmosphere. Frederick Charles Herrick‘s brightly coloured design presents the Underground as a comfortable and efficient service operating beyond the constraints of traffic, roadworks and weather above ground.
This poster by Anna Hymas is one of a series which aims to publicise the wide range of winter activities and attractions that London offers. The design features the popular temporary winter ice skating rink at Somerset House, encouraging people to get out and about despite the winter cold.
Sport is a vital part of London life and public transport plays a crucial role in moving large numbers of people efficiently to events. This 1930s design by Margaret Barnard promoted the winter skiing show, in which a purpose-built structure imitating a ski run rose 100ft into the roof of the Earls Court exhibition centre. Despite war looming, 350,000 people attended.
The Underground’s regular services to the countryside encouraged people to enjoy the beauty of nature all the year round. London Transport even published ‘Country Walks’ guidebooks, for rambles in and around London. Laura Knight’s poster shows the appeal of country walks in the winter, with the bare trees fog and snow trodden paths.
The Underground provides an easy way to travel into the heart of town for the winter sales, even in the winter cold, rain and wind. This poster by Edward McKnight Kauffer shows two figures battling the elements in an atmospheric winter scene. London Underground commissioned Kauffer to produce this design, giving him the freedom to combine his interest in Futurism and Vorticism to create this striking image.
Whatever the season, public transport gets you where you need to go, encouraging passengers to make the most out of London’s urban and country environment. Visit our Winter Wonderland Poster Parade, at the Museum from 3 December to see our stunning posters up close.
Find out about all the exciting family activities available at the Museum this winter season, and don’t forget to pop up to our Canteen café for a festive treat and to visit our shop for your Christmas gifting.
