Description

The London Underground, 1968–1985: The Greater London Council Years is a deeply visual and rich exploration of London Underground history and its iconic subway system during a transformative era. Author and transport photographer Jim Blake documented hundreds of scenes across the network, focusing on older rolling stock, station architecture, and glimpses of infrastructure that would soon vanish as modernisation swept through.

This volume charts how trains — many still two-person operated — and stations changed under the evolving governance of the Greater London Council (GLC). From the early 1970s takeover to the turmoil preceding the GLC’s dissolution in 1984, Blake’s archive reveals a London Underground defined by resource constraints, deferred upgrades, and a strong sense of character and heritage.

With roughly 192 pages and over 250 black-and-white photographs, the book offers readers a rare chance to step back into a Tube system unlike the one we know today. Whether you’re a urban-transport enthusiast, historian, or simply nostalgic for London’s past, this book provides a vivid portrait of a Subway network at the crossroads of change — capturing a vanished chapter of London Underground history.