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.

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.

Take a look at these amazing photos to see what street scenes of London looked like in the 1900s and 1910s.

The Wellington Arms was situated at 96-102 Uxbridge Road, London. This pub is now used as a Kentucky Fried Chicken and a gaming arcade, circa 1900

261 – 265 Brick Lane, London, 1900

Billingsgate Market, the Monument to the Great Fire of London in the background, circa 1900

Chelsea Hospital, London, circa 1900

City of London Police mounted unit, circa 1900

London Bridge, when traffic jams were caused by horse-drawn carts, circa 1900

London buses, 1900

London Underground Central Line, Bank station, 1900

London Zoo, 1900

Piccadilly Circus, London taken during the early 1900s

Sheep were used to keep the grass under control in London parks to cut costs, Piccadilly, circa early 1900s

Street seller, Eros fountain, Piccadilly Circus, London, circa early 1900s

The Thames at the Tower of London, 1900

Tower Bridge, London, circa 1900

Zebra-drawn carriage parked outside the Royal Albert Hall, London, 1900

Two early Rational motor taxis (built by Heatly-Gresham Engineering) parked outside the Savoy Theatre in the Strand, London. Registration numbers on taxis show the photo was taken after 1904

Waite, Rose & Taylor’s first store at 263, High Street, Acton, London, circa 1904

The Woodman tavern, 60 Battersea High Street, London, circa 1905

Westminster Bridge, London, circa 1905. The Boadicea statue is on the left

The Piccadilly Line is being constructed under the tram tracks, London, 1906

Albert Bridge, London, 1910

British suffragette campaign for women’s voting rights, London, 1910

Hammersmith Bridge, penny farthing bike, motorbike with side car, No 33 Bus, London, 1910

Liberty, London, 1910

London cab, 1910

London dust cart, 1910

Piccadilly at times of transport upheaval, circa 1910

Street lamp maintenance, London, circa 1910

The ‘smallest shop in London’ trading from the basement, Bateman Street, 1910

Tower and Tower Bridge, taken from the Monument, circa 1910

Yeoman Warder, London, circa 1910

Zebra-drawn carriage on London streets, 1910

Anna Pavlova appeared in the Princes Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, London, 1913

Wandsworth Bridge Road from New Kings Road, Fulham, 1913

Tottenham Court Road at the junction with Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, London, October 1919