We've taken a look at how London's streets have changed, from as far back as 1900, up until present day. Just drag the slider back and forth to reveal photos of London, past and present.
Balham Station
Built in 1863, Balham Station still provides a handy link between London and Brighton, for city dwellers wanting to spend a day at the seaside. Taken in 1961 and present day, these then and now pictures of Balham Station show a view towards Streatham and Crystal Palace. Adjoining here, Balham tube station holds a little bit more history. As a deep tube station, it was used as an air raid shelter during WWII and even featured in the music video for Everything but the Girl’s - Missing!
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The fantastic transport links make Balham a popular choice with London's renters. Take a look at our properties for rent in Balham.
Chiswick High Road
While the horses and their carts in this 19th century photo postcard of Chiswick High Road have long since been replaced by cars, the buildings remain pretty much the same – with the shops changing hands a few times since, of course. These photos show an easterly perspective of the high road, with Stamford Brook Underground Station just around the corner. Without doubt, it was the opening of the District line here in 1869 that led to the rapid development of shops in the area for Chiswick’s well-heeled residents, past and present.
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The independent shops and eateries in Chiswick attract many families to the area. We've got plenty of family-friendly properties for sale in Chiswick.
Clapham High Street
At the bottom end of Clapham High Street next to Clapham Common, you can see from the before picture postcard that a lot has changed in the last 100 years. The Plough Inn, which is the main feature of the postcard, remained in this location at 196 Clapham High Street until around 1912. And while the clock tower exists in both photos, the domed structure over Clapham Common tube station – built in 1900 – doesn’t. Did you know that during WWII, a large bunker was built underneath the station, along with six others along the Northern line?
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With bars and restaurants lining the whole length of Clapham High Street, this part of Clapham attracts professionals looking for place to rent. Find a rental property near Clapham High Street, today.
Hampstead
Tourists and Londoners alike flock to Hampstead for its cafes and boutiques along the high street and beautiful Hampstead Heath. And by looking at these then and now pictures, we can see it’s still as charming as ever. The buildings in the area remain largely unchanged, with the clock tower in the foreground of the 1955 photo now obscured by a more recent building. The position the photo was taken in is just north of Hampstead tube station, looking south down Heath Street.
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From grand family homes, to charming apartments in period conversions, Hampstead has some beautiful properties for sale and to rent.
Peckham
Rye Lane continues to be a busy South London shopping destination, which we can see in the photos. But what has changed most are the buildings and the transport of course – with old-fashioned delivery horse-drawn carts replaced by lorries. These photos taken from the junction of Choumert Road show just how much development there has been. The biggest and most noticeable difference is the missing tower from what was the Tower Cinema, which was demolished after its closure in 1956. To the back of the building was an auditorium that has since been replaced by a car park.
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The community feel and host of independent amenities make Peckham a great area for both families and individuals looking for a property to buy.
Richmond
This delightful picture of London United Tramways staff and passengers in Kew Road, Richmond was taken in c.1900. Even though the rest of London’s tram system was electrified by the turn of the 20th century, the route between Richmond and Kew was still using horse-drawn cars. The building in the background on the left-hand side was the tram shed built in 1883, which is now The Falcons School for Boys – you can still see the clock face on the exterior today.
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Richmond's Thames-side position and quiet, leafy roads attract families in search of properties for sale in the area.
Shoreditch
These then and now photos looking north up Shoreditch High Street in the direction of Kingsland Road show the biggest changes by far of all the areas we visited, particularly the Victorian tram lines that ran through the area. Highlighting how much our capital has developed and grown over the past century, this section of Shoreditch High Street has changed beyond recognition. It is only the frontage of the old Lynes building on the right side of the photo that allowed us to match it up to the modern day restaurant in its place.
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Arguably East London's most fashionable neighbourhood, Shoreditch is popular with people looking for a property to rent.
The Strand
The then and now photos of the Strand show that the buildings on the right-hand side of the road haven’t changed all that much in the past 60 years, and neither has St Mary-le-Strand Church opened in 1727, which stands proudly in the middle of the road. However, in the foreground on the left-hand side, the 1940 photo depicts the Gaiety Theatre, which was opened in 1864 and closed a year before this photo was taken, in 1939. The luxurious ME London hotel that stands here today is a far cry from the wartime austerity poster that featured here in 1940.
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From pied-à-terres, to stylish central London pads, the properties to rent near the Strand are perfect for those wanting to make the most of the capital's attractions.
Walthamstow
Hoe Street in Walthamstow has changed dramatically over the past century, from a busy thoroughfare established in the Victorian era by its cinemas and shops, to a decline in the late 1980s due to the building of a shopping centre in Walthamstow Central, which drew shoppers away from this part of town. But today there’s plenty going on and lots of independent shops and cafes popping up, which are changing the face of Walthamstow. Here, the photos show a view looking north from the junction of Hoe Street and Greenleaf Road.
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Walthamstow's mix of trendy independent eateries and high street stores make this area ideal for families in search of a home to buy.
Discover more...
Take a look at our Local Life section for a greater insight into all of London's areas; from local cafes, to fun facts, to your perfect property.
