Discover how ocean liners became one of the most powerful and admired symbols of 20th century modernity.

Ocean Liners: Speed and Style was our first in a series of major changing exhibitions showing the very best of international design.

From Brunel’s 1859 steamship, the Great Eastern, to the launch of the QE2 in 1969, Ocean Liners was the first exhibition to fully explore the design and cultural impact of ocean liners on an international scale, focussing on their promotion, engineering, interior design, as well as the lifestyle on board.