Bygone days...
The Tower was opened to the public on 19th May 1966. A ceremony of invited dignitaries in the morning was followed by the public opening in the afternoon.
In the photo above is the 'Information Service' with questions and answers about the Tower displayed on screens - this was of course in the days before PCs!
| The Royal Visit | |
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Her Majesty the Queen visited on 17th May 1966 and took tea with the Postmaster General who presented her with a gold replica of a model of the Tower. |
| The Public Opening | |
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During 1966 visitors flocked in their hundreds every day, to queue for a vantage point on the upper floors, for outstanding views across London. The mural on the wall tells the 'story of telecommunications' as the Tower was a focal point and showcase for the 'White Heat' of technological development, which was so typical of the Sixties era. |
| The Foyer | |
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The expansive foyer contained a charity pond and fountain, gift shop, post box and information centre. |
| Topofthetower Restaurant | |
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"The restaurant has its own separate entrance in Maple Street, leading into a specially designed reception area on the ground floor level. There, patrons are provided with lift tickets, their names and reservations checked, and are then escorted to the two high speed lifts which ascend at 1,000ft. per minute, and are said to be the fastest in the country." |
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