Tale of Two Cities (1851 - 1891)

The development of London during the Victorian era, as the city at the heart of the British empire rapidly expanded - and social divisions became increasingly pronounced. The programme explores the grandeur of the period, including the building of the Crystal Palace, as well as sharp rises in vice and crime that prompted outrage among reformers including Charles Dickens and Josephine Butler. There is also a look at how football became increasingly popular.