The 1950s

A new half-century dawns as the Cold War freezes and the Korean conflict ignites.

Festival of Britain lifts spirits while the Cold War deepens on every front.

A new Queen ascends the throne as the atomic age casts its shadow over a nervous world.

The Coronation captivates millions as Everest is conquered and a tyrant's era ends.

Roger Bannister breaks the impossible barrier as rock and roll begins to rumble.

Rock around the clock — the teenage revolution explodes as consumer culture hits top gear.

Suez shatters imperial illusions while Elvis shakes the world from the hips up.

Sputnik orbits overhead and a new European community is born down below.

The jet age arrives as Britain confronts racial tension and Munich mourns.

The decade closes with motorways, Motown, and the first steps towards the moon.