Victorian London

In 1837, Victoria became Queen at the age of 18. The time while she was Queen is called the Victorian era. London was busy with trade and industry, and it grew fast. Better lighting, plumbing and transport developed too. By the time she died in 1901, London was a very different city.

Up until the 19th century, the city was a similar size as the Roman Londinium. From 1820 the green areas around were absorved by new arrivers, workers attracted by industrialism. This growth caused problems: the first cholera epidemic broke out in 1832 and in 1858 the Thames was so dirty and it stank - The Great Stench- that the Parliament had to close! The new sewer and river drain system by Joseph Bazalgette (1875) solved the problem.

Railways were built linking much of Britain to the capital. London was the centre of the world trade and had a large powerful empire.

Many of the buildings in London today were built in Victorian times. The most famous is probably the Houses of Parliament, built after a fire destroyed the original buildings.

Electric light was first used in Holborn in 1883. By the 1840's there were also horse drawn buses and from the 1870's horse drawn trams.

The World first underground railway ("The Tube") opened in 1862. At first carriages were pulled by steam trains. The system was electrified in 1890-1905.

A Christmas tradition started in this era still continues: the Pantomime.

Sites from this times:
- Train stations
- The Kensington Museum
- The Royal Albert Hall
- The Leighton House
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- The London Transport Museum