The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 4 (July 1, 1939)
Sight-seeing in London in 1853
Sight-seeing in London in 1853.
The next article—“London, its sights and how to see them,” is addressed to one who may be leaving London, in which case it will “agreeably recall scenes of the busy stage he is quitting,” but more particularly to the traveller who for the first time is approaching the great city of London.
The reader is advised to take one of “our cheap, convenient cabs,” and, starting from Leadenhall Street to make the Marble Arch, Hyde Park, his goal.
Passing many notable buildings and places, the cab moves on through Pall Mall, reaches Regent Street and turns into Oxford Street. The traveller is warned that here he will see a most painful sight — “panting, worn-out, wounded horses” dragging unmerciful loads; two miserable hacks trying to pull an omnibus carrying from 20 to 30 passengers.
At length the goal—Marble Arch—is reached, and returning by the way he came, the traveller arrives back at his hotel. He dines comfortably, and then wonders how he may best spend the evening.