London is a city that is always changing. Walk down a street or around a borough that you haven’t explored in a while, and it can seem like a whole new world. Businesses, pubs, restaurants, and bars are constantly closing down, with new ones popping up in their place. And the London skyline has changed dramatically throughout the years.
But, how much has London, at its core, really changed? We found a treasure trove of historic London photos, which present an intriguing portrait of the city. Some of the city’s most iconic sites and buildings look much the same as they ever did. So much has changed, but a lot remains the same – and you can still see the spirit of London’s past in the present.
To start our journey into the past, let’s head on over to one of the most iconic areas in London.
Picaddily Circus past and present
Below, you can see how Piccadilly Circus has changed through the decades – from as long ago as 1961, all the way through to more recent photos of the area.
Take note, while some of the ads might change (and a few stay the same), Piccadilly Circus has arguably always been pretty much the same!
Piccadilly Circus – 1961
Piccadilly Circus – 1968
Piccadilly Circus – 1987
Piccadilly Circus – 1994
And if you look at Piccadilly Circus now, it’s certainly more sleek and modern-looking. But at its core, how different is it really from its past?
Piccadilly Circus – 2023
Carnaby Street
One famed street in London that has remained the same, but also become something completely different, is Carnaby Street.
Amidst conversations around what pedestrianisation of London’s streets might look like, it’s interesting to look back at streets that have become pedestrianised in the past decades. At one point, Carnaby Street’s famous walkway was a public road. Imagine popping out of Dr. Martens or Vans and a car rushing past you!
Here’s what it looked like back in 1968:
And here’s what Carnaby Street looks like now! (Or back in 2019, at least.)
Quite the difference, eh?
Big Ben
And now for something that really hasn’t changed much at all: Big Ben The Elizabeth Tower.
Here’s what it looked like back in 1961:
And here’s a view of the Houses of Parliament from around that time period, too, in 1968:
And now, here’s Big Ben (you know what I mean!) today:
Plus, the Houses of Parliament:
Not much of a change, really, at all!
St James’s Park… and an iconic London landmark
Here’s a photo of St James’s Park dating back to 1963. Pretty, right?
But can you spot what’s missing from the photo?
Hint: it’s now one of London’s most famous sights.
That’s right, it’s the London Eye!
Construction on the London Eye didn’t start until 1998. It was then finished in 1999, and has since achieved global fame as a symbol of the city.
But just imagine, many of us have been alive longer than the London Eye has existed!
London’s buses through the years
Perhaps one of the most charming demonstrations of how London has changed is in its buses. Just as cars have changed a lot throughout the years, in terms of visual aesthetics, so too have London’s iconic red buses.
Here’s a great example of an old London bus, travelling along London’s streets in the past:
Interestingly, by the time this photo was taken, in 1987, the bus was already out of production and was considered a ‘heritage’ vehicle.
In comparison, here’s a contemporary London bus, making its way past Tower Bridge – a real combination of old and new.
The DLR
The DLR looked like some kind of retro-futuristic space transport back in 1994.
I mean, just look at this – can’t you imagine it surrounded by laser guns, robots, and UFOs?
Compare it to today’s DLR, which certainly still looks pretty futuristic – but without looking like a set-piece from The Jetsons. Not that that’s a bad thing! But they’re two quite different aesthetics.
You can see their shared character, but today’s version is just a bit more sleek.
The London Underground
Just like the DLR and the buses, London’s Tube network has seen some impressive changes in its history. Take a look at this old Piccadilly Line train, travelling through Barons Court station in 1994:
I mean, just look at how different it is in comparison to today’s London Underground trains!
The London skyline
If we zoom out a bit from London’s specific buildings and sights, though, we get a clear image of just how much London actually has changed.
The skyline has changed hugely over the years, with more and more towering buildings jostling for space in the sky.
Back in 1963, the Tower of London cut a pretty solitary figure on the skyline.
But by 1987, that was already changing. And if you look in the background, you can see construction work already in progress to create even more skyscrapers in the city.
Which brings us on to this – London today, with even more skyscrapers on the way.
*Thanks to Roger W on Flickr, whose albums provide a fascinating glimpse into the past.
