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London entered the 20th century at the height of its influence as the capital of one of the largest empires in history, but the new century was to bring many challenges.
London’s population continued to grow rapidly in the early decades of the century, and public transport was greatly expanded. A large tram network was constructed by the London County Council, through the LCC Tramways; the first motorbus service began in the 1900s. Improvements to London’s overground and underground rail network, including large scale electrification were progressively carried out.
Take a look at these amazing photos to see what street scenes of London looked like in the 1900s and 1910s.
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| The Wellington Arms was situated at 96-102 Uxbridge Road, London. This pub is now used as a Kentucky Fried Chicken and a gaming arcade, circa 1900 |
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| 261 – 265 Brick Lane, London, 1900 |
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| Billingsgate Market, the Monument to the Great Fire of London in the background, circa 1900 |
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| Chelsea Hospital, London, circa 1900 |
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| City of London Police mounted unit, circa 1900 |
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| London Bridge, when traffic jams were caused by horse-drawn carts, circa 1900 |
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| London buses, 1900 |
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| London Underground Central Line, Bank station, 1900 |
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| London Zoo, 1900 |
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| Piccadilly Circus, London taken during the early 1900s |
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| Sheep were used to keep the grass under control in London parks to cut costs, Piccadilly, circa early 1900s |
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| Street seller, Eros fountain, Piccadilly Circus, London, circa early 1900s |
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| The Thames at the Tower of London, 1900 |
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| Tower Bridge, London, circa 1900 |
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| Zebra-drawn carriage parked outside the Royal Albert Hall, London, 1900 |
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| Two early Rational motor taxis (built by Heatly-Gresham Engineering) parked outside the Savoy Theatre in the Strand, London. Registration numbers on taxis show the photo was taken after 1904 |
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| Waite, Rose & Taylor’s first store at 263, High Street, Acton, London, circa 1904 |
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| The Woodman tavern, 60 Battersea High Street, London, circa 1905 |
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| Westminster Bridge, London, circa 1905. The Boadicea statue is on the left |
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| The Piccadilly Line is being constructed under the tram tracks, London, 1906 |
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| Albert Bridge, London, 1910 |
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| British suffragette campaign for women’s voting rights, London, 1910 |
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| Hammersmith Bridge, penny farthing bike, motorbike with side car, No 33 Bus, London, 1910 |
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| Liberty, London, 1910 |
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| London cab, 1910 |
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| London dust cart, 1910 |
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| Piccadilly at times of transport upheaval, circa 1910 |
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| Street lamp maintenance, London, circa 1910 |
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| The ‘smallest shop in London’ trading from the basement, Bateman Street, 1910 |
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| Tower and Tower Bridge, taken from the Monument, circa 1910 |
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| Yeoman Warder, London, circa 1910 |
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| Zebra-drawn carriage on London streets, 1910 |
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| Anna Pavlova appeared in the Princes Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, London, 1913 |
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| Wandsworth Bridge Road from New Kings Road, Fulham, 1913 |
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| Tottenham Court Road at the junction with Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, London, October 1919 |