Old London Street Scenes (1903)

Made over 100 years ago, this footage shows a number of scenes shot around central London, taking in locations such as Hyde Park Corner, Parliament Square and Charing Cross Station. We see crowds of people disembarking from a pleasure steamer at Victoria Embankment, pedestrians dodging horse-drawn carriages in Pall Mall, and heavy traffic trotting down the Strand.

There are plenty of famous landmarks to spot here, including Big Ben, the National Gallery and the Bank of England, and it is fascinating to see the similarities between the customs of "then" and "now" - the dense traffic (mainly horse-drawn, with the occasional motor car) is highly reminiscent of today's London rush hour, whilst advertising on public transport is clearly no new phenomenon - in one scene, an advert for Nestlé's Milk seems to be plastered on every other vehicle. (Alex Davidson)

All titles on the BFI Films channel are preserved in the vast collections of the BFI National Archive. To find out more about the Archive visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collect...

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[Mike E.]

Its nice to see nobody texting

[Daniela Miranda Grotta]

It's weird to think of London without all the asian people, and with all that traffic!

[David Andrew]

Now I know what horsepower means

[jon tallhat]

Nestles milk seem to have cornered the advertising on buses.



[TribalKatz]

Every frame of this footage is full of life. It's like stepping into another world--a world that is strange, beautiful, and in some ways dark. I LOVE old footage.

[Dan O'Donoghue]

Incredible

[MisterGibbycrumbles]

A society like back then, but with modern healthcare, would be utopia.

[MrSteevieboy]

Have you noticed the traffic.....it's all disorganized chaos......but at least i'ts always moving.......no traffic lights...no roundabouts.....and no ******* cameras!!!

[piromaniac9999]

Its weird to see something this old

[freqest1]

not if you wasnt a criminal I suppose it wouldnt bother you?