- On Monday 23 June 2025, London Transport Museum will open a new photography exhibition, Then and now: London’s transport in photographs
- Visitors will see a compelling mix of historical images from the Museum’s collection and newly commissioned images by photographer and Transport for London (TfL) Train Driver, Anne Maningas, which capture the modern-day scenes depicted in the original archive images
- The new exhibition marks the 25th anniversary of TfL and more than 160 years of transport history within the capital
A new photography exhibition Then and Now: London’s transport in photographs will open on Monday 23 June at London Transport Museum in Covent Garden to mark the 25th anniversary of Transport for London (TfL).
The new photographic display explores how public transport in London has evolved amid social change. Visitors will be able to compare scenes from the capital’s past with the present day, revealing the major influence transport infrastructure has had on the city’s development.
The exhibition features 40 striking photographs, bringing together historical images from the Museum’s collection – some dating back to the 19th century – alongside newly commissioned contemporary images by photographer and TfL Train Driver, Anne Maningas.
To mark the 25th anniversary of TfL, London Transport Museum commissioned Maningas to document public transport in the city today. Her new images are responses to highlights from the Museum’s collection.
Anne Maningas is a self-taught, internationally published photographer whose work explores the themes of journeys, being in transit and public transport. Her unique perspective is influenced by her role as a Train Driver at TfL, where she brings a deep understanding of the city’s transport network to her work.
As part of her collaboration with London Transport Museum on this exhibition, Maningas was loaned a vintage Bronica medium format film camera from the 1990s – previously used by a Museum photographer and curator.
A passionate analogue photographer, Maningas uses traditional film and mechanical cameras to create evocative images that reflect the rhythm of urban life. All the contemporary images featured in the exhibition were produced using analogue processes, highlighting her commitment to traditional photographic techniques.
Left image: Cashier counting bus takings at unidentified garage, by Ian Bell, about 1980. Copyright London Transport Museum Collection. Right image: Brixton Underground station ticket hall kiosk, by Anne Maningas, 2025. Copyright London Transport Museum Collection.
Left image: Passageway at Tottenham Court Road Underground station, by Topical Press, 1946. Copyright London Transport Museum Collection. Right image: Interchange concourse at Piccadilly Circus Underground station, by Anne Maningas, 2025. Copyright London Transport Museum Collection.
Photographer and TfL Train Driver, Anne Maningas said: ‘As someone who works within the transport network, it was a privilege to document it from a different angle. These photos are my way of showing the quiet beauty in the movement of the city. Being able to use analogue film for this project added a sense of continuity with our transport heritage, and it was especially meaningful to shoot with a vintage film camera once used by a London Transport Museum photographer.’
Matt Brosnan, Head Curator at London Transport Museum said: ‘Photography has played a vital role in documenting the lives of Londoners as they travel across the city and its transport workers as they keep our capital moving. Our striking archive images bring to life London’s rich history and transport past. That’s why we commissioned Anne Maningas to create a contemporary response to standout images from our historic collection. These images reveal not only how the city has changed, but also how transport continues to shape the lives of Londoners every day.’
Emma Strain, Transport for London’s Customer Director said: ‘Seeing how London’s transport network has developed from the past to where it is today, through this photography exhibition from one of our train drivers, is really impactful. Anne Maningas’ photographs help to show how integral transport is to the daily lives of Londoners and visitors and how transport services are continually improving. The transformation of London’s transport network since TfL formed 25 years ago is something we’re immensely proud of and we encourage everyone to visit the Transport Museum to see this fantastic exhibition.’
The Then and now: London’s transport in photographs exhibition will run until Spring 2026. For more information visit Then and now: London’s transport in photographs
London Transport Museum’s permanent photography gallery, where the Then and Now exhibition will be displayed, was made possible thanks to a grant from the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund.
Entry to the Then and Now exhibition is included with Museum admission. Adult tickets to visit London Transport Museum in Covent Garden include free return day-time entry for a whole year, and kids go free! To book visit: ltmusuem.co.uk
