Shoppers and traffic

1909

Step into the heart of Edwardian London, where the pavements of Soho thrived with energy, elegance and commerce. This 1909 photograph captures the vibrant pulse of Charing Cross Road, lined with decorated shopfronts and filled with well-dressed Londoners strolling past horse-drawn omnibuses bearing adverts for Hudson’s Soap and Nestlé’s Milk.

This scene is more than a glimpse of a bygone era — it’s a celebration of a city on the move, just before the arrival of motor cars would forever transform urban life. Note the intricate lamps hanging from the storefronts and the mix of shoppers — from maids and children to gentlemen in top hats and ladies in ornate bonnets.

🕰️ On this day in 1909, scenes like this defined modern city life — elegant, industrious, full of stories waiting to be remembered.

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