In the 125 years from the French Revolution to the First World War, London was transformed into a world city, capital of the largest empire the world has ever known.

The city's economy thrived on a system of free enterprise and London grew dramatically. The population rose from under one million to over seven million. So many people massed together created problems, yet with radical improvements the capital evolved into a modern city not that different from the London we know today.

The new galleries include an evocative street with shops, offices and workshops to discover. Why not explore the virtual Victorian Walk. Each location introduces not only information on the shop or workplace but also extra screens on related themes, topics and additional resources.

For visitors with slower modem connections or screenreaders who prefer not to use the virtual reality interface, there is a text version of the site.

On your journey you will find information on every facet of life, fascinating objects and sounds.

If you are looking for a particular subject, the site index will help you go directly to what you are looking for.