On 1 May 1951 the Festival of Britain opened to the public – a bold, hopeful moment for a country rebuilding after the Second World War. Today, as we mark its 75th anniversary, it’s worth remembering that Jubilee Gardens stood right at the heart of that story.
This much-loved green space was once home to the Festival’s most iconic structure: the vast Dome of Discovery, and was overshadowed by the striking Skylon, which seemed to float above the South Bank skyline. Together they symbolised innovation and a belief in a brighter future. Millions of people came here to experience new ideas in science, design and culture – encountering a transformed London after the bombing and deprivations of WWII.
But there’s a challenge at the heart of this story. Unlike the nearby Royal Festival Hall, which still stands today, the Dome and Skylon were dismantled soon after the Festival closed. Almost nothing physical remains. What was once a centrepiece of national optimism has largely disappeared from view.
That’s what makes Jubilee Gardens so special. The current lawns and trees hide a layered history that reflect London’s ever-changing, richly woven story of constant reinvention. This site has evolved from marshland and working wharves to the post-war Festival of Britain, a short-lived air terminal, decades as a GLC car park, and later open parkland that became a space for public gathering and protest, before becoming the much-loved Gardens we enjoy today. Yet without visible reminders, it’s easy for this fascinating past to be forgotten.
This anniversary is a chance to look again. As you sit, play or pass through the Gardens, you are standing on the very ground where one of Britain’s most ambitious cultural moments unfolded. It’s a story of reinvention, imagination and resilience – and it’s still part of the landscape, even if you have to look a little closer to see it. A place where each new season brings fresh growth, and where the spirit of regeneration that shaped the South Bank continues to unfold.
Over the coming months, Jubilee Gardens Trust is hoping to share more of this history, helping bring these hidden stories back into view for everyone.
