London Life, 1965–1966 - Key Data

Launched in 1965, London Life was one of several titles owned by The Illustrated London News (ILN). A reincarnation of The Tatler (1901–1965)—which, from its inception, catered primarily to a wealthy and conservative readership—London Life represented a radical departure from its predecessor. This new magazine endeavoured to "reflect all aspects of the life of London". Throughout its brief existence, it proved adept at conveying the spirit of the "Swinging Sixties" in the world’s "capital of cool". Encompassing nearly 5,000 images, this collection contains all 63 issues of London Life, published between October 1965 and December of the following year. 

London Life covered a wide range of topics, from music and film to sexuality and the thriving nightlife of London’s West End. It likewise captured the increasingly cosmopolitan nature of British society, documenting the emergence of a more diverse media landscape and audience. Featuring interviews with cultural icons, such as Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger, as well as contributions from rising stars, such as the supermodel, Jean Shrimpton, and the popular entertainer, Anita Harris, London Life remains emblematic of 1960s counterculture. This collection contains essential material for those interested in the cultural history of the 1960s and, more specifically, in Britain’s cultural revolution and the advent of its "permissive society".