Great British Travel Posters: How It All Began
There’s something irresistibly nostalgic about a vintage British travel poster. Bold colours, sweeping landscapes, elegant typography – these iconic works of art captured the spirit of travel long before Instagram feeds and glossy travel brochures. They weren’t just advertisements; they were invitations to dream.
The Birth of the Travel Poster
The golden age of the British travel poster can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As the railway network expanded across the country, rail companies sought fresh ways to entice passengers. Posters became the perfect medium – eye-catching, affordable, and capable of sparking wanderlust at a glance.
Artists were commissioned to depict seaside towns, historic cities, and rolling countryside. Each poster promised more than just a destination; it offered escape, adventure, and a new sense of freedom. From Cornwall’s golden beaches to the Lake District’s brooding fells, the romance of rail travel was brought vividly to life on station walls across the country.
The Romance of the Railways
Few people have captured this spirit quite like artist and writer Ian Scott Massie. In his acclaimed exhibition and book, Romance of the Railways, Massie explores the emotional pull of train travel and the art it inspired.
His work reminds us that the railways were more than a means of getting from A to B. They were – and remain – part of the nation’s collective imagination. Massie celebrates the drama of the steam age, the allure of faraway places glimpsed from a carriage window, and the powerful role posters played in shaping how people saw Britain itself. From this we collaborated to make our own versions of great travel posters.
More Than Advertising
What made these posters so successful was their ability to blend practicality with artistry. They told you when the train left, yes – but more importantly, they stirred the desire to be on it. Some of Britain’s finest artists and designers, from Frank Newbould to Norman Wilkinson, worked on railway posters, elevating them into works of cultural significance.
These posters also helped define a visual identity for Britain. A windswept Whitby Abbey, the bright lights of Blackpool, the soft greens of the Cotswolds – all rendered in bold, stylised form – gave people a new way of seeing their own country.
A Lasting Legacy
Though the golden age of railway posters has passed, their influence endures. Collectors prize them, galleries exhibit them, and contemporary artists like Ian Scott Massie keep their spirit alive. They remain a reminder of a time when travel was slower, more romantic, and infinitely more stylish.
As we look back at how it all began, we can still feel the pull of those posters: urging us to step aboard, settle by the window, and let the rails carry us somewhere new.
