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17 Vintage Photos of Great Britain in the 1890s-1900s Victorian Era

Vintage Photos History May 21, 2025

Last Updated on May 21, 2025 by Matt Staff

Dating back to the twilight of Queen Victoria’s reign, Great Britain was caught in limbo between two worlds. There was the one involving the steam-powered industry that roared ahead, and then there was the one with its candlelit parlors that were stuffed with all the rigid etiquette. These 17 vintage photos, dating back to the 1890s and into the 1900s, capture those two worlds in visceral detail.

1. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as seen from Parliament Square, London 1897

A historic photograph of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben in London, with numerous horse-drawn carriages and people on the street, suggesting a scene from the late 19th or early 20th century.

2. Troops of the Eight Nations Alliance, 1900

Five soldiers in different uniforms from various countries stand in a row outside a white building with blue doors and windows. They wear hats or helmets and carry swords and backpacks.

3. London Horse Carriage, Bedford Street, London

A busy, decorated street scene from the early 1900s, with people in period clothing, a horse-drawn carriage, festive garlands, flags, and shopfronts, all under warm, glowing daylight.

4. Hollywood Season in 1890s Liverpool

A group of boys sits atop a large pile of suitcases on a horse-drawn cart, waving and smiling, in front of a brick building with arched windows. The scene appears to be from a past era.

5. Victorian Women at the Horse Races in 1890

Two women in early 20th-century fashion stand outdoors at a social event. One wears a red hat and holds a white parasol, while the other wears a yellow hat and striped dress. People in period attire are seen in the background.

6. People arguing about their business in the streets of 19th Century London

A busy Victorian-era London street with horse-drawn carriages, double-decker buses, and pedestrians. Ornate buildings line the road, and St. Paul’s Cathedral dome is visible in the background above an elaborate bridge.

7. Victorian family day out in the countryside of Britain

A vintage colorized photo of eleven people, including men, women, and two boys, dressed in early 20th-century clothing and hats, posing in front of a stone building outdoors.

8. The splendid, trendy styles of the Victorian Era

Two women in elaborate early 1900s dresses and large, decorative hats stand outdoors. Their vibrant outfits feature long skirts, sashes, and feathers, with a blurred crowd and arched building in the background.

9. The trading scene could be intense

A bustling street market scene from the past shows men in bowler hats and suits gathered around a wooden cart selling produce. Bystanders, including children, watch and interact in front of shopfronts and a newsstand.

10. “Cast Iron Billy”, a famous London bus horse driver

Two men in Victorian-era clothing stand beside a horse-drawn carriage; one holds a whip and wears a top hat, while the other, in a bowler hat, rests a foot on the carriage step. The scene appears historical and urban.

11. The rush hour at the London Bridge could be a mess and a half

A busy 19th-century city bridge crowded with horse-drawn carriages, carts, and pedestrians, set against a backdrop of historic multi-story buildings by the river.

12. An authentic Victorian couple from the 1870s

An elderly man in a tall brown hat and worn coat sits next to an elderly woman in a patterned shawl and lace bonnet with a ribbon, both looking at the camera with serious expressions.

13. Yes, this is a literal muffin man

A man in vintage clothing balances a tray of yellow bricks and folded cloth on his head, stands by a wrought-iron gate, and holds a handbell. Brick buildings and lace curtains are in the background.

14. Looks to be a lovely day at the beach back in the Great Britain of olden times

Three women pose on a crowded beach in Edwardian-era clothing with hats and long dresses. The background shows more people in vintage attire and buildings along the shore.

15. Women certainly loved their fur suits in Great Britain back during the Victorian Era

Eight women in early 20th century attire pose for a group photo, wearing elaborate hats, coats, and large fur stoles, seated and standing against a painted backdrop with greenery.

16. Jacobus Parker, a dramatic reader and seller of various fine goods

Three people stand by a street vendor’s cart with yellow tins and jars on display. An older man in a coat and cap faces a young boy and another man with folded arms, leaning against a wall near iron railings.

17. A lovely summer day out in Sussex, Brighton Beach, 1890s

A crowded beach scene from the early 1900s with people in vintage swimwear and sun hats. Groups sit on the sand, some holding umbrellas, while many others swim in the sea. A sailboat is visible in the background.

Explore more vintage content:

Victorian lamplight may have dimmed long ago, but these images keep its steam, lace, and cobblestones vividly aglow. Continue your stroll through the era’s fog-lined streets with 20 Vintage Photos That Capture London’s Charm Through the Decades, or step even further back with 20 Colorized Photos of Victorian Couples From the 1840s.

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