19th century London > The First Metropolis

London in 1800

In 1801, when the first census was taken, nearly one million people lived in London. By 1901, the year of Queen Victoria's death, the population had risen to 4.5 million in the London County Council area. Another two million lived in the growing ring of suburbs beyond.

This huge metropolis with its government, business and residential districts, vast docklands and industrial and commercial areas, was the greatest city the world had ever seen. Essential to London's success was the transport system that grew up and developed with the Capital in the 19th and 20th centuries.