Heritage Walking Tours: Festival of Britain

Guided walks, led by local people, exploring Poplar’s extraordinary role in the Festival of Britain - the location of the Live Architecture Exhibition.

In 1951, Poplar played a starring role in the original Festival of Britain. While the main attractions were based on London’s South Bank, around 86,500 visitors travelled to East London to see completed sections of the Lansbury estate, then under construction.  Visitors could enjoy East End hospitality in the Rosie Lee Tea Tent, walk through a finished section of the neighbourhood, view a completed show-home, and meet its first residents, the Snoddy family, with their pet tortoise! Find out more on our fascinating 45-minute-long tour.