London Autumn 1941

Stirring portrait of London in autumn 1941- its streets and monuments battle-scarred, but its spirit intact.

The 'Blitz spirit' is alive and well in these wonderfully evocative snapshots of London in autumn 1941. Despite the evidence of German bombing in the boarded-up shop fronts and damaged buildings, West End department stores throng with shoppers, and it's business as usual along the East End's Commercial Road. Watch out for some mesmerising tracking shots as the camera captures ordinary life unfolding before it.

The vigorously patriotic and rather breathless commentary is spoken by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, a president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) from 1933 until 1935. As well as being a renowned architect - his projects included Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station - Sir Giles was also the designer of the iconic 'K2' red telephone box. This government film is a public record, preserved and presented by the BFI National Archive on behalf of The National Archives, home to more than 1,000 years of British history.