Raining in Trafalgar Square

Step into a misty interwar London as pedestrians hurry beneath umbrellas across the glistening pavements of Trafalgar Square. In the centre rises Nelson’s Column, shrouded in drizzle, while to the right looms the equestrian statue of King George IV. Vintage double‑deckers—one emblazoned with a “Craven A” cigarette advertisement, another for “Shredded Wheat”—stand at the busy bus stops, and early lorries trundle past beneath the wrought‑iron lampposts. The scene perfectly captures the city’s blend of imperial monumentality and everyday urban life.

Historical Context By 1932, Trafalgar Square had become the very heart of Britain’s civic and social world—site of mass gatherings, political rallies and everyday crossings for office workers and shoppers alike. Public transport was booming: London’s fleet of motor buses had largely replaced horse‑drawn omnibuses by the late 1920s, while motor taxis and lorries navigated the same thoroughfares. The fashionable overcoats, bowler hats and cloche hats worn by the figures here reflect the evolving styles of the early 1930s, even on a grim, rain‑soaked day.

Share Your Own Vintage Finds! Do you have sepia‑toned postcards, family snaps of London life or atmospheric street‑scenes from the interwar years? Upload your photographs to OldPik.com and help us expand our archive of Britain’s rich urban heritage—one image at a time.

SEO Tags vintage photo, 1930s Trafalgar Square, rainy London, interwar Britain street scene, Nelson’s Column, double-decker bus history, antique UK postcard, London nostalgia, OldPik uploads, City of Westminster