Old London Street Scenes (1903) | BFI

Old London Street Scenes (1903) | BFI Subscribe: bit.ly/subscribetotheBFI
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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)
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[@leftieloosers]

Two observations. Firstly, this makes you realise just how fleeting life is. Secondly, the world owes horses a huge debt of gratitude.

[@RWMoortgat]

I think one of the most fascinating aspects of this footage is the advertising on the double decker trams. Bovril, Nestlé, Kodak, Pear's Soap, all brands we still use today. The video in one aspect is very antique, but at the same time, shows how strikingly modern the world already was back then. Immense amount of traffic! Only difference is that it's horse drawn. That, and people are immaculately dressed :)

[@henryquenin6580]

Simply amazing. Wish I could disappear into the film and go back there to live.

[@thoward6437]

My late grandfather who lived during this era told me that the noise from the horses hooves in the heavy London traffic was deafening.

[@andyhaslam9231]

Fascinating piece of history captured in 4 minutes.All those horse drawn trams,no lines on the road and vehicles weaving all over the place.

[@PhilWithCoffee]

Remarkable. I still can't believe the moving picture has been around like this for over 100 years. A great quality print, too, very clear. We're lucky to have institutes like BFI to bring this to us.

[@harryhopworthy9600]

The streets looked so terribly congested !!!! the carriages appear to be an even amount of the horse-drawn omnibus, and the horse-drawn hansom cab. I would have loved to have ridden in either type of carriage, but not in the awfully crowded conditions as displayed in the 1903 footage of this picture. My heart and admiration, go out to all the brave and durable horses, and their drivers.

[@iandavidson6715]

Everything about this film is wonderful, including the music. The car at the end reveals the world on the streets that lies ahead. Horseless!

[@caroljones4511]

It's lovely to see what London looked like all those years ago really interesting.

[@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.

[@West.Ham1964]

Absolutely brilliant, it's like organised chaos. Those horses pulling the trams had a hell of a job pulling all that weight, notice the solitary motor car at the end. There's always one, eh?

[@Dvssonance]

The music in the video is amazing. Mood-changer definitely

[@Tsumami__]

I love those double decker carriages, never knew they had those. Seems like the ones fully loaded with people on top and bottom were a bit much for a mere two horses, though...

[@bobbydylanio]

When you see somewhere you recognise... it really hits home.

[@TheresaNChristyy]

Omg

[@britishfilminstitute]

@mammal46 Actually, the word 'smog' was coined within two years of these shots being taken, with direct reference to the notorious London 'pea-soupers', a staple feature of 19th-century industrial Britain as factories belched out smoke and other pollutants without any concern for the environment. The tide only turned with the passage of the Clean Air Act in the 1950s - and while it's impossible to make a direct comparison, all evidence suggests that smog was a far greater problem a century ago.

[@WheelieMacBin]

I was born and live in London and it is so very different today in many ways, but in some ways it never changes. The hustle and bustle will always be there, as will the pull it exudes to so many people from all over the country. London is truly one of the worlds greatest cities.

[@99ontguy1]

The hat makers did well in those days!

[@LightningClaireFarron390]

Oh my god,,,, poor horses pulling that load of people, not one, but two stories of carriage :(

[@foxylorri64]

love this and the music goes exceptionally well with the film!