Rare Old Pictorial Map of London Town by British Railways & Kerry Lee, 1953: Tower of London, Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral

This vintage pictorial map of London, designed by Kerry Lee for British Railways in 1953, is a charming and informative guide to the city. The map shows central London in great detail, with iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and St. Paul's Cathedral prominently featured. The River Thames winds its way through the city, and smaller streets and neighborhoods are also shown.

The map is also notable for its decorative border, which features historical figures from all the London boroughs, as well as the royal procession for the State Opening of Parliament. The map is a delightful piece of history and a must-have for any lover of London.

Context and Significance

The map was published in 1953, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. It was a time of great optimism and celebration in Britain, and the map reflects this mood. The map is also a testament to the importance of rail travel in London at the time. British Railways was the main provider of public transportation in the city, and the map was designed to encourage people to travel by train.

The map is also interesting for its depiction of London in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Many of the city's buildings had been damaged or destroyed in the war, but the map shows that London was already on the road to recovery. The map is a reminder of London's resilience and its ability to overcome adversity.

Natural Phenomena

The map shows the River Thames, which flows through central London. The river was a vital transportation artery in the city, and it is still important today. The map also shows some of the smaller rivers and streams that flow into the Thames.

Other Interesting Details

The map is full of humorous and whimsical details. For example, there is a man walking down the street with a clock on his head, and a woman walking her dog with a leash made of sausages. The map also includes a number of historical references, such as a depiction of the Great Fire of London.

Overall

The "London Town" map is a delightful and informative guide to the city. It is a must-have for any lover of London or history.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 32x40in (81.5x102cm), 40x50in (102x127cm), 48x60in (122x153cm) and 56x70in (142x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 100in (254cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40.5x51cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.