Page 88 - A History of the World in 25 Cities

In NuMbers
Life in
London, the capital city of England, grew enormously during the reign of Queen Victoria, a time known as the ‘Victorian age’. The city expanded from a population of just one million in 1800 to over six million by the end of the century. It was a time of huge change not only for the city itself but also in the way many Londoners lived their daily lives.
Parts of London were dirty, dangerous and full of diseases. Thousands of poor people
lived in terrible conditions in slums, which were overcrowded neighbourhoods crammed with
leaky, cold and unsafe houses. Many of the worst slums were in East London, where whole families often lived cramped together in one room. Sickness and disease were a constant threat and were increased by the overcrowding and damp conditions.
Number of London Underground stations in 1880:
49
Number of London Underground stations today:
Population of London in 1880:
55
Population of London today:
85
For many children in 1880s London, life was tough. Really tough. Recently, laws had been passed saying that all children aged between five and 13 had to go to school, but it was not free. It cost at least a penny a week to send a child to school and for many poor families this was too much. Many children were expected to help earn money and worked long, hard hours selling flowers, fruit or matches on the street in all weathers.
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