And so, with the help of Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Mondrian left the French capital on 20 or 21 September 1938. When he got to London, he soon found a studio in a good location. The city had a positive effect on Mondrian and his art. He began new paintings almost immediately, renewed friendships with acquaintances who had emigrated to London, showed his work in a couple of exhibitions, and went dancing. All in all, Mondrian was happy in his new home.
But London was becoming dangerous too. In September 1940 the Germans began the intensive bombing campaign that would come to be known as the Blitz. On 9 September, early in the morning, a bomb hit down the street from Mondrian's studio. Thanks to his blackout shutters he was uninjured and merely got shattered glass on his clothes. He decided to get out while he could. With the help of friends, two weeks later he left for New York by way of Liverpool.