London has a history dating back over 2,000 years. During this time, it has grown to become one of the most significant financial and cultural capitals of the world. It has experienced plague, devastating fire, civil war, aerial bombardment, terrorist attacks, and widespread rioting. he City of London is its historic core and today is its primary financial district, though it now represents a tiny part of the wider metropolis of Greater London.
This video below was filmed in 1904 as a ‘travelogue’ for Australians curious about life in what was “one of the most exciting cities anywhere.”
London entered the 20th century at the height of its influence as the capital of one of the largest empires in history, but the new century was to bring many challenges.
Prior to World War One, Britain was the world’s economic superpower.Despite its flourishing economy, Britain was simply not prepared for the economic impact that the war would have.While London remained fairly prosperous relative to the rest of Britain during the interwar years, their economy still experienced an inevitable decline. After the beginning of World War One in 1914, Britain experienced a massive financial crisis due to market panic.
There were several reasons why London was able to remain relatively prosperous throughout the interwar years. One major reason was the significant amount of population growth London experienced during these years. In fact, London’s population increased from 7.25 million in 1911 to 8.73 million in 1939.Another major aspect that helped fuel the economy was the Pax Britannica, which brought business through an increase in shipping, imports, and even investments
London’s population continued to grow rapidly in the early decades of the century, and public transport was greatly expanded. A large tram network was constructed by the London County Council, through the LCC Tramways; the first motorbus service began in the 1900s. Improvements to London’s overground and underground rail network, including large-scale electrification were progressively carried out.