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Does a gorilla playing the drums along to Phil Collins mean anything to you? What about surfers that turn into horses as they’re riding the waves? Or a fisherman boxing with a bear over some salmon? Those are just a few of the most iconic adverts to have graced our TV screens over the last five decades. And soon, you’ll be able to see them on a humungous scale.
An upcoming free exhibition titled Ads of the Years will see 68 classic ads from the last 50 years broadcast on Outernet London’s enormous floor-to-ceiling screens. The commercials will include Cadbury’s Phil Collins-inspired drumming ‘Gorilla’ from 2008, Guinness’s ‘Surfer’ from 2000 and John West’s ‘Salmon’ as well as LEGO’s 1981 ‘Kipper’ ad, several Levi’s Jeans campaigns from the nineties and Nike’s viral ‘Nothing Beats a Londoner’ featuring Giggs, Skepta, Harry Kane, Mo Farah and Dina Asher-Smith.
The immersive exhibition comes from The British Arrows, which is one of the world’s most-respected advertising awards bodies and is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. All the ads shown at the exhibition are ones that have been awarded the British Arrows best commercial of the year or best crafted commercial of the year awards. Visitors can also vote for their favourite advert of the past five decades here, with the winner being announced at the British Arrows 2026 awards in March.
Jessica Dracup-Holland of Outernet London said: ‘British advertising is one of our most powerful creative forces – shaping culture, sparking conversation, and delivering real-world impact far beyond the screen. This curated experience celebrates an industry that not only drives the UK economy, but uses creativity for good, from changing behaviours to saving lives.
‘We’re incredibly proud to elevate our long-standing partnership with the British Arrows as they mark this milestone moment, and to bring these iconic, unmistakably British adverts to life on Outernet’s immersive canvas. It’s a showcase the advertising community will revel in, and one our audiences will love, taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane.’
Ads of the Years is on at Outernet London now until February 22.
Did you see that a spectacular immersive David Bowie experience is coming to London in April?
Plus: The 8 best museum exhibitions coming to London in 2026.
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