Step back in time with these reminders, symbolic places, of the Britain that once was ruled by Queen Victoria.
Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire
Visitors to this Victorian town could happily wave goodbye to their smartphones, cars and almost any modern convenience. Walk through the gates and enjoy the smell of freshly baked bread and carbolic soap, hear the sounds of steam engines, a horse and cart.
November and December are the perfect months to visit, as the town lays on its annual Christmas celebrations.
The Workhouse, Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Experience the life inside without enduring the punishing conditions, with a tour of the best-preserved workhouse in Britain, serving as a place of labour.
Life here for Victorian Britain's poorest was incredibly tough, with the 160 inmates spending their days pulling rope apart by hand or turning the mill, but today it's a peaceful site and an abundant vegetable crop, with heritage varieties.
Grand Hotel, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
The hotel was built in the peak of this domestic train tourism boom. In 1845 the town was linked to York by rail, a development that brought a flood of holidaymakers. When it opened, it was one of the largest in Europe.
Visitors can still book in at the hotel today and enjoy the same traditional seaside pastimes as their ancestors—watching Punch and Judy shows, eating ice creams or riding along the coastal path on donkeys.
Tower Ballroom, Blackpool
Another immensely popular Victorian seaside town, Blackpool, received a sudden increase in visitors following the erection of the Blackpool Tower in 1894. In 1899, the Tower Ballroom was opened, designed to rival the nearby Empress Ballroom. The specially designed dancefloor attracted dancers from all over the world, and even the most working-class locals could experience a night of luxury.
Today, visitors still flood to dance in its grand interior or enjoy afternoon tea under the dreamy painted ceiling.
