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Original poster

Do you know where this is in London?

153 replies

SundayBells · 02/03/2026 16:39

This is a really odd one I know.

This is a (blurred out) photo of my husband and his friend when they were teenagers. They'd hitched to London in the 1970s to see a band and had the time of their lives.

This is the only photo they have of the trip. Neither of them know where this photo was taken and, as they have a special occasion coming up, I would love to be able to tell them.

I've tried reversing the image and everything else I can so I'm throwing myself on the collective wisdom on MN. Can anyone help please?

Do you know where this is in London?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
KeepPumping · 02/03/2026 18:09

MMAMPWGHAP · 02/03/2026 17:25

I think it’s likely to be near somewhere very famous that they visited. So 10 Downing St & Whitehall would fit. Bank not an obvious destination for teens to visit in the 70s. Speaking as someone who was a teen in the 70s

Close to Downing St. was my first thought. What band, which venue, did they stay in a hotel?

Cosmication · 02/03/2026 18:10

Wow!! I'm so impressed that @Blarn identified it accurately. It's needle in a haystack territory!

KnickerlessParsons · 02/03/2026 18:16

You’re not actually going to know if any of these suggestions are right or not, are you?

OldForANewMum · 02/03/2026 18:17

Blarn · 02/03/2026 17:32

Crimean War Memorial, Waterloo Place.

+1 to this. It's not around Bank, the street's too wide. It's Whitehall way, somewhere further west (and as others have said, somewhere more likely for young visitors to end up than the City)

cordialzempy · 02/03/2026 18:23

That was so fun! Can we do another? It’s like Geoguesser but better! Someone post another random pic please, and 10 points to @Blarn!

Blarn · 02/03/2026 18:25

gannett · 02/03/2026 17:53

Did you know because you've gone through or hung around Waterloo Place a lot, or do you just have an uncommon interest in/memory for London plinths?!

Show quote history

I could say I am some sort of plinth savant and will be on Mastermind but I just walk around there a lot when visiting London and just find that one very pleasing. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know what the staue commemorated until looking on Google maps!

GlasgowGal2014 · 02/03/2026 18:26

I'm really intrigued by all the posters suggesting getting the OP's OH to retrace his steps by naming the venue, which route they took, where they ate when they were there etc. Unless it was a particularly famous venue or a city I was very familiar with I'd struggle to do that for a trip I took ten years ago, let alone 50 years ago!!!

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 02/03/2026 18:29

Yeah, Im changing my mind to go with @Blarn as well 😁

Maia77 · 02/03/2026 18:29

My vote goes to Crimean War Memorial Waterloo Place.

FrothyCothy · 02/03/2026 18:32

Top bloody marks @Blarn 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

Talkinpeace · 02/03/2026 18:32

GlasgowGal2014 · 02/03/2026 18:26

I'm really intrigued by all the posters suggesting getting the OP's OH to retrace his steps by naming the venue, which route they took, where they ate when they were there etc. Unless it was a particularly famous venue or a city I was very familiar with I'd struggle to do that for a trip I took ten years ago, let alone 50 years ago!!!

I can remember everything about some iconic gig visits that were 45 years ago.
Who I saw, where, how I got there, who else was with me.

YesTonightJosephine · 02/03/2026 18:35

Who were the band as you could probably find their set list and venue online ... and see if it is near to the venue of their fab night out ... just a thought OP.

Good luck!

itsneverdullinull · 02/03/2026 18:39

It made me think of the Old Bailey

YesTonightJosephine · 02/03/2026 18:47

Just seen the update BUT still would love to know who the band was!

Do tell ...

GlasgowGal2014 · 02/03/2026 18:53

Talkinpeace · 02/03/2026 18:32

I can remember everything about some iconic gig visits that were 45 years ago.
Who I saw, where, how I got there, who else was with me.

Show quote history

You've got a much better memory than me then! My peak gig going days were 20 years ago and whilst I think I can remember most of the gigs I went to, which venue they were in and who I was with I have no recollection of how I got there, what we ate before/after or anything like that. I also went to lots of festivals and my recollection of who I saw where is pretty blurry, apart from some iconic ones (although I could have sworn I saw a particular band that I loved at a particular festival but I recently checked and they didn't appear in the line up for any of the years I was actually there!)

FoxglovesAndLupins · 02/03/2026 18:55

SundayBells · 02/03/2026 16:39

This is a really odd one I know.

This is a (blurred out) photo of my husband and his friend when they were teenagers. They'd hitched to London in the 1970s to see a band and had the time of their lives.

This is the only photo they have of the trip. Neither of them know where this photo was taken and, as they have a special occasion coming up, I would love to be able to tell them.

I've tried reversing the image and everything else I can so I'm throwing myself on the collective wisdom on MN. Can anyone help please?

OP. I found the place. I have the weirdest visual memory. This is on the corner of Princes Street. Your DH has his bag right next to one of the entrances to Bank Tube station. He is looking at the arches on Princes Street which are still there.

WonderingWanda · 02/03/2026 19:34

If you take a look at the Crimean war memorial at Waterloo Place just off pall mall it looks similar. Those arches in the background have a low but quite ornate wall in front of them that match and the base of the statue looks similar.

Do you know where this is in London?
Original poster
SundayBells · 02/03/2026 20:05

Oh my goodness, I'm absolutely overwhelmed with your kindness, help and how much fun you've made this.

Sorry not to have taken part in the thread but I popped to the gym expecting 2 or 3 replies at most. How wrong I was!

YES @blarn you have it! You're a complete genius. My husband sends you a massive thank you. He's so grateful to all of you and is just calling his friend now.

To answer your questions the gig was a small punk band called Rubella Ballet and they saw them in Stockwell on that occasion....they loafed about in London for several days exploring though. DH and his friend were crazy about the band then and still go to their gigs although here are lot more bald heads than mohicans these days.

To the lady who said "Do they actually care where some random photo was taken 50 years ago? What an odd thing to waste time and effort on" you make a good point, but they do really care.

Music and the adventures they built around it were a big part of their youth. At the time photos were expensive for students to have developed and as a result the few they have are treasures and this one has been a puzzle for decades.

I love them both dearly and they now have been best pals for 50 years this year so I was really happy to put the effort and time in.

Thank you again you lovely people 😍

OP posts:
MontgomeryClift · 02/03/2026 20:05

MakeYourOwnSunshine · 02/03/2026 16:42

Do they actually care where some random photo was taken 50 years ago? What an odd thing to waste time and effort on.

Christ, you’re a miserable cow 😂

ElizabethsTailor · 02/03/2026 20:08

Well done @Blarn !

Talkinpeace · 02/03/2026 20:09

SundayBells · 02/03/2026 20:05

Oh my goodness, I'm absolutely overwhelmed with your kindness, help and how much fun you've made this.

Sorry not to have taken part in the thread but I popped to the gym expecting 2 or 3 replies at most. How wrong I was!

YES @blarn you have it! You're a complete genius. My husband sends you a massive thank you. He's so grateful to all of you and is just calling his friend now.

To answer your questions the gig was a small punk band called Rubella Ballet and they saw them in Stockwell on that occasion....they loafed about in London for several days exploring though. DH and his friend were crazy about the band then and still go to their gigs although here are lot more bald heads than mohicans these days.

To the lady who said "Do they actually care where some random photo was taken 50 years ago? What an odd thing to waste time and effort on" you make a good point, but they do really care.

Music and the adventures they built around it were a big part of their youth. At the time photos were expensive for students to have developed and as a result the few they have are treasures and this one has been a puzzle for decades.

I love them both dearly and they now have been best pals for 50 years this year so I was really happy to put the effort and time in.

Thank you again you lovely people 😍

You know that we now need them to do a recreation of the picture
with their faces hidden

or go see the band again !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella_Ballet

Rubella Ballet - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella_Ballet

Original poster
SundayBells · 02/03/2026 20:11

Carryitjoyfully · 02/03/2026 16:53

It would be so much fun to recreate so many years later!

We are going to do this. I hope they can still climb up there after all these years 😀

OP posts:
PersephonePomegranate · 02/03/2026 20:15

Is it the monument on a plinth outside the Royal Exchange?

Blarn · 02/03/2026 20:28

@SundayBells I will smile every time I see that statue on my lunch break walk now!

ClaredeBear · 02/03/2026 20:29

MakeYourOwnSunshine · 02/03/2026 16:42

Do they actually care where some random photo was taken 50 years ago? What an odd thing to waste time and effort on.

Stop being no fun.