London in 1885 City Walk Tour | Victorian Era

Let's take a tour of London in 1885. Walk with me. So we're starting our morning on Westminster Bridge, and London is already so busy. There are horse-drawn buses everywhere, and you can see Big Ben right behind them. We've just crossed the bridge, and now we're standing beside the Houses of Parliament. Look at everyone's outfits. Top hats, long dresses, parasols. People really dressed up just to leave the house. Now we're walking through Whitehall, which is basically where all the important government buildings are. The Horse Guards are coming through, so let's quickly move out of their way. And we've made it to Trafalgar Square. There are families walking around, artists drawing Nelson's Column, and honestly, more pigeons here than people. OK, Charing Cross is much more chaotic. People are carrying heavy leather bags, horse-drawn buses are completely packed, and handsome cabs are trying to squeeze through the traffic. Now we're entering Covent Garden Market, and there's so much happening here. People are selling fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, while workers carry these massive wooden crates through the crowd. Look at this flower stall for a second. She's making every bouquet by hand, using roses. Even the little brass scissors are so beautiful. I could smell fresh bread from down the street, so obviously we had to stop here. The shelves are full of warm loaves, buns and pies, and there's already a queue outside. OK, it's time for a little tea break. Everyone inside is drinking tea, eating scones and reading the newspaper. It's honestly so quiet and cosy in here. Now we're on Fleet Street, where most of London's newspapers are being printed. The newsboys are shouting out the latest stories, while the printing shops are working non-stop behind them. We've found this really beautiful old bookshop nearby. It's filled with leather books, maps and globes. Honestly, I could spend the entire day just looking round in here. We're inside one of London's working stables now. The horses are being groomed, the harnesses are being cleaned, and the carriages are getting repaired before heading back outside. And just outside there's a whole line of handsome cabs waiting for passengers. They're basically Victorian taxis, except your journey completely depends on the mood of the horse. Now we're on Regent Street, and it somehow feels even fancier. The buildings curve around the road, everyone is dressed beautifully, and there are musicians playing right beside the traffic. We're back near the Thames now, walking along the embankment. Steamboats are passing by while workers unload wooden boxes, and people are just enjoying an afternoon walk beside the river. A little farther down, workers are preparing the riverside near the future tower bridge site. The bridge isn't here yet, so right now it's mostly plans, foundations and construction materials. OK, we've reached the London docks, and this place is packed. Ships are bringing in tea, timber and other goods, while workers and horse carts move everything into the warehouses. Here comes one of the Thames steamboats. Everyone is boarding with these enormous leather trunks while the porters carry the luggage. Let's try to find a seat near the water. After all that noise, Hyde Park feels so peaceful. Families are walking under the trees, children are playing on the grass, and people are casually riding horses through the park. Now we're in Kensington Gardens, and look at all these flowers. The children are sailing tiny toy boats across the pond, while everyone else slowly walks around the gardens. We've left the famous landmarks behind, and this is what a normal London neighbourhood looks like. The church service has just finished, and everyone is gathering outside. The priest is greeting people, families are chatting, and there are birds flying all around the courtyard. It's evening now, and all the gas lamps are starting to glow. People are buying the last of the fruit while musicians play beside the road, and carriages slowly pass through the market, and we're ending our walk back beside the Thames. The steamboats are drifting past Westminster, the sky is turning pink and gold, and honestly, London looks incredibly peaceful right now.