Parking in central London became so tricky post-war that the government set up a working party for solutions. It found the city was short of some 12,000 spaces so suggested that garages be built under the major squares (actually something that had often been proposed before the war). Engineering feasibility studies were commissioned, but it appears the cost proved prohibitive. The party also found 60% of cars were left for more than two hours, so it proposed fitting roadside parking meters. They first arrived in Mayfair in 1958 (pictured) and, much to our regret, quickly advanced.
GETTY IMAGES / DEUTSCHE FOTOTHEK