In the early 1900s, London was the largest city in the world, with more than six million residents. It was a hub of trade, finance, and industry, connected to the rest of the globe through the British Empire. The River Thames remained the city’s main artery, carrying goods in and out through busy docks lined with warehouses.
Street life was a constant mix of wealth and poverty. In the West End, polished carriages and early motorcars carried the upper classes past theaters, restaurants, and fashionable shops. In the East End, narrow streets were packed with market stalls, laborers, and overcrowded housing.
Public transportation was expanding quickly. Electric trams ran alongside horse-drawn vehicles, while the London Underground had already been operating for decades. By this period, deep-level tube lines were extending farther into the suburbs, making daily commuting possible for more people.
Workplaces were varied and often divided by class and gender. Men found jobs in factories, dockyards, offices, and government buildings. Women worked as servants, seamstresses, shop assistants, or in domestic piecework. Child labor laws were tightening, but many children still contributed to household incomes through part-time or casual work.
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Air quality was poor due to coal smoke from factories and home fireplaces. Thick fogs, sometimes called “pea-soupers,” could reduce visibility to only a few feet. Despite health risks, coal remained the primary fuel for heating and industry.
The city’s architecture reflected centuries of growth. Medieval lanes wound past Georgian terraces and Victorian public buildings. Major landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, and Tower Bridge were already iconic. New construction projects, including department stores and railway stations, added to the changing skyline.
Entertainment options were plentiful. Music halls drew large crowds with variety acts and comic performances. Theaters presented plays by both established and new writers. Early cinemas were beginning to appear, showing short silent films for a few pennies. Parks like Hyde Park and Regent’s Park provided green spaces for strolling, boating, and public events.
Public services were developing, though unevenly distributed. Some neighborhoods had paved streets, street lighting, and reliable sanitation, while poorer areas struggled with inadequate drainage and overcrowding. Charitable organizations and local councils worked to improve living conditions, but progress was slow.
Immigration brought new communities into the city. People arrived from Ireland, Eastern Europe, and the colonies, seeking work and safety. This diversity was most visible in working-class districts, where different languages, foods, and traditions mixed in the markets and streets.
