The 1980s were an iconic time for the United Kingdom, and London was at the centre of it all. Short of a world war, there was probably no other period in which the social and political atmosphere changed so drastically. From the conservatism of Margaret Thatcher to the rebellion of the Sex Pistols, 1980s London seemed to revel in extremes.Unions and family-owned shops gave way to privatization and impersonal, foreign-owned stores. While some took to the streets in protest, others gathered in Wembley for a concert to bring help to less-fortunate populations. Additionally, the music scene ranged from the anger of the Punk to the expressionism of New Wave and everything in between.These impressive black and white photos were taken by Simon Nowicki that show street portraits in London in 1981.