15 October 2009 to 31 March 2010

London Transport Museum celebrates the glory of the suburban garden as part of its next major exhibition, Suburbia. Opening on 15 October 2009, Suburbia will explore how public transport helped to create the myths and identity of suburbia and how it has featured in the cultural fabric of London and Britain over the last 100 years.

The growth of suburban development across Britain meant that more and more people could afford their own plot of land on which to create a tiny piece of rural bliss. In London, this development was led by the transport companies and, in particular London Transport, which also ran station garden competitions - further promoting the idea of green and healthy living.

Visitors will enter the exhibition via a giant privet hedge behind which will be displays about suburban living including architecture and gardens. A feature of the exhibition will be a fantasy lawned space inspired by Stanislaus S Longley’s 1933 poster Gardening by Underground. Complete with a gnome fishing pool, a shed filled with old garden tools and a radio playing programmes from the1960s, the installation pays homage to one of the defining characteristics of suburban development – the domestic garden. Visitors will also be able to submit images of their own gardens via the Museum’s website for consideration for inclusion in the exhibition.

Other areas of the exhibition will look at the development, marketing and lifestyle of the suburbs, and displays will include previously unseen posters, photographs, early publicity material, signs and maps.

Suburbia will be supported by a programme of garden themed special events for children and adults which include:

Family fun events

Junior Gardening Week
Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2009
Junior gardeners can muck in and develop their artistic and gardening skills by creating their very own secret garden, planting up an eco pot to take home, and sing along to handpicked garden songs. And it’s all free for accompanied children under 16.

Secret gardens - Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October
14:00 to 16:00 drop-in
Suitable for ages 3 and above
Take a pot of mud, add a sprinkling of imagination and make a mini secret garden to take home. Construct a shed, fill it with flowers or add your own tiny treasures to make your garden extra special.

Eco-pots - Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October
12:00 to 13.00 drop-in
Suitable for ages 3 and above
Learn how to make eco-plant pots out of recycled newspaper, ready to plant straight into the ground without disturbing your little seedlings. Collect your free seeds, get planting - then take your pot home and watch them grow.

Sing-along Suburbia - Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October
11:00 drop-in (session lasts 20 minutes)
Suitable for under 5s
Sing along to a selection of hand picked songs about life in the garden. Including old favourites Incy wincy spider and Wiggly woo the worm.

Friday late: Garden Party
12 March 2010
18.30 to 21.00 (last admission 20.15)
Join in the Museum’s indoor garden party and enjoy an evening of fun, fact and a little bit of fantasy as we discover the myths and reality of what lies behind the privet hedge.

Adults £10.00; Senior Citizens £8.00; Students £6.00. Admission to the Museum is free to accompanied children under 16. Admission to Friday late: Garden party is  for adults only and tickets cost £8.00 (concessions and students £5.00). London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB. www.ltmuseum.co.uk