Decorative maps
Decorative poster maps combine art and cartography to promote transport services. They were introduced in 1908, and by the 1920s, were a popular way to promote travel to the suburbs and beyond, as well as central London’s leisure destinations.
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
This Sights of London map was created by John Dixon in 1930 and features many of London’s gardens. In this story, we’ll take you on a tour of the gardens featured in the map, with the best ways to travel between them!
Victoria Embankment Gardens
We start our tour at the Victoria Embankment Gardens.
Embankment Park by Tube and bus (1999) by Jennie TuffsLondon Transport Museum
Bands in the parks (1922) by Charles Sharland and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
London Stories (2018) by Julia AllumLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
On the other side of the road to the Gardens is an Egyptian obelisk, brought to London from Heliopolis, Alexandria!
The needle was granted to the UK by Muhammad Ali, ruler of Egypt and Sudan, in 1819. It is flanked by a pair of sphinxes, and a time capsule is buried underneath.
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Get the Bakerloo line from Embankment station to Regent's Park station.
It's then a short walk to our next stop!
Regent's Park
Regent's Park roses (1932) by Dora M BattyLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
Regent’s Park has an abandoned canal!
Gloucester Gate may appear to be a bridge over nothing, but shortly before the Second World War it fell into disuse and was filled in.
For the Zoo book to Regent's Park (1921) by Charles PaineLondon Transport Museum
Natural history of London no. 5, deer in the parks (1916) by Edwin Noble and Johnson, Riddle & Company LtdLondon Transport Museum
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Now get the Circle or Hammersmith and City line from Regent's Park station to Paddington...
...and change to the Circle or District to Bayswater.
Then it's just a short walk south to our next stop!
Kensington Gardens
Kensington Palace and Gardens (1990) by Alex BrownLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
Kensington Gardens is home to fairies and elves? There’s a sculpture made from the stump of a 900-year-old-oak tree in the gardens.
Children’s book illustrator Ivor Innes carved and painted the small figures. The tree is now grade II listed.
Fresh air in London's parks (1924) by James Henry Dowd and Dangerfield Printing Company LtdLondon Transport Museum
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Now just take a short walk (or a Santander Cycle!) through the park to our next stop.
Hyde Park
I love the park (1933) by Anna Katrina Zinkeisen and Haycock Press LtdLondon Transport Museum
Bands in the park (1973) by Ronald Glendening and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
Did you know… The bandstand in Hyde Park is one of the oldest in Britain?
It was built in 1869 and hosted concerts up to three times a week in the 1890s.
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Get the Piccadilly line from Hyde Park Corner to Green Park (which used to be known as Dover Street).
St James's Park
Joined to Green Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens is St James's Park.
St James' Park (circa 1913) by Hilda Cowham and Johnson, Riddle & Company LtdLondon Transport Museum
St James's Park; pelican (1936) by Edward Bawden, London Transport, and Curwen PressLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
The park’s famous pelicans are descendants of a donation from a Russian ambassador to King Charles II in 1664!
Flowers spring (1924) by Freda Lingstrom and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Get the District or Circle line from St James's Park Station to Victoria...
...then change to the Victoria line to Vauxhall.
Vauxhall Gardens
Motifs; Victoria line no.14 (1989) by UnknownLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
The gardens have been closed and re-opened many times in its history – however when it was first opened in the mid-17th century, it as one of the leading venues for London’s public entertainment!
The sights of London (1905-04-13) by John Dixon, Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, and Waterlow & Sons LtdLondon Transport Museum
Our next stop is just an easy bus ride away. Jump on a bus heading west!
Battersea Park
London's Tramways, Chrysanthemum show at Battersea Park (1930) by R & B StudiosLondon Transport Museum
Football; humours no. 3 (1913) by Tony SargLondon Transport Museum
Did you know?
The first exhibition football game under the rules of the recently formed Football Association was played at Battersea Park on 9 January 1864!
