Counterculture - London Punk in the Seventies

London, England was one of the major cities to experience the explosion of punk rock in the 1970s. The Historical Walking Tour "Counter-Culture in London: The Punk Rock Movement of the 1970s" seeks to explore the rising popularity of punk rock bands in London, and how this affected the city both socially and physically. Cities naturally emerge and evolve over time based on many factors. Throughout this course we have learned how the urban environment is a driving force of history and of what events occur in major cities. In London, the Punk Rock Movement is a major shift in the atmosphere and environment that affected the landscape of London, as well as the experience people had in the city.
Bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and The Clash are just some of the major players in the Punk Rock Movement. Through this walking tour, attendees will begin at the Joe Strummer mural, then go to Vivienne Westwood World's End, then from there go to the Upper Street, then go to the 100 Club, then the Roundhouse, then the Screen on the Green, finishing off at The Rainbow Theatre. The tour will also include sites relevant to major events in 1970s London, including Teddington Studios and the Rock Against Racism movement. These are some major points of interest from the Punk Rock Movement that will showcase the far-reaching influences and political power of punk. They will also to seek to form a strong understanding of what exactly occurred during this movement, while also showing how major events of the movement affected the urbanization of London.
Punk itself is considered to be a sub-culture of its own, with its own ideology, that fits into the "counterculture" of London due to its public expression of dissatisfaction with life in London. There was economic recession preceding the punk movement, racial and class tensions, as well as post-war policies that heavily affected London following World War II into the 70's. Punk Bands were known for expressing feelings of detachment from society surrounding them, through punk music and punk culture. Punk sought to challenge the status quo and remedy some of the issues they found within society. The Walking Tour will clearly show how the Punk Rock Movement is a prime example of counter-culture, the human side of punk rock, the progression of the movement, specific events that occurred, and major social and physical affects the movement had on the city of London.


Sites we will visit on this tour

Goals of this tour

  • Show how the punk rock movement contributed to London growing as a global hub for entertainment
  • Show the human side of the punk rock movement and highlight the solidarity and sense of community in punk culture
  • Highlight how punk music was a response to social issues and post war policies in London
  • Punk culture includes feelings of detachment and dissatisfaction from the rest of society
  • Punk music as a protest to societal norms

Counterculture: 1970's London Punk

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