1-192-262 - © Henry Grant Collection/London Museum/Heritage Images

A woman curtsies to Queen Mary at the opening of the Festival of Britain, London, 1951. To the immediate left of the queen is the Prime Minister Clement Atlee. At the top right of the picture workmen can be seen looking down on the proceedings. Between May and September 1951 a grand exhibition was held throughout Great Britain. A Festival Council brought together a team of designers, architects and builders to mastermind this exhibition, whose intention was to demonstrate all that was best about Britain at the time. The central focus was a purpose built exhibition constructed on the South Bank of the Thames in London.