victorian time travel

• Kindle Store
• Kindle eBooks

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Buy for others

Buying and sending ebooks to others.

• Select quantity
• Buy and send eBooks
• Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Victorian Time Travel Romance: Laura's Collection (Twickenham Time Travel True Love Romance) Kindle Edition

These fun sweet/clean historical time travel romances by author laura d. bastian are perfect for fans of regency or victorian romance with a touch of contemporary, this collection contains all 3 books in laura's twickenham time travel romance series - love's past, there's always tomorrow, only a moment. the whole series is in one easy download for convenience and to save love's past: kaitlyn loves all things regency and jumps at the chance to take a trip to england for a full immersion experience. but when the ancient fae magic causes a disruption in reality, she’s unexpectedly pulled back in time to 1850. cyrus told himself the real reason he came to england was to help keep kaitlyn safe as a promise to her mother, but he soon discovers that there’s more to his best friend’s younger sister than he remembers. will kaitlyn give him a chance to prove his love, or will he lose out to a genuine victorian gentleman there's always tomorrow: melanie wishes there were real gentlemen still in the world. her dating life is a joke so when she hears about a week-long regency immersion experience at twickenham manor in england she happily books a trip and is surprised to find herself transported back in time to victorian england in the year 1851. sir jack hughes has had enough of the flirtatious young ladies and their meddling mothers. when he meets melanie, he’s happy to make her acquaintance, yet cautious. he can’t lose his heart again to another visiting american. only a moment: she thought being pulled back in time was an accident. he thought marriage was out of the question. neither expected to find true love..

• Print length 450 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publication date May 24, 2020
• File size 1716 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

Customers who read this book also read

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0894DQX15
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lange House Press (May 24, 2020)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 24, 2020
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1716 KB
• Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 450 pages
• #3,231 in Time Travel Romance
• #4,745 in Time Travel Romances
• #12,254 in Victorian Historical Romance (Kindle Store)

About the author

Laura d. bastian.

Laura grew up in a small town in central Utah and now lives in another small town in northern Utah. She always loved stargazing and imagining life outside her own little world. Though they grew up only thirty miles apart, she didn’t meet her husband until they went to college. A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, Laura has been using that training as she raises her children and writes make believe worlds. You can usually find her on her laptop either typing away, or on social media interacting with friends.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Report an issue

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Advertisement

• Previous Article
• Next Article

Time Travelers: Victorian Encounters with Time and History edited by Adelene Buckland and Sadiah Qureshi

• Cite Icon Cite
• Permissions
• Article contents
• Figures & tables
• Supplementary Data
• Peer Review
• Search Site

Helen Kingstone; Time Travelers: Victorian Encounters with Time and History edited by Adelene Buckland and Sadiah Qureshi. The Journal of Interdisciplinary History 2021; 52 (2): 272–274. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/jinh_r_01707

Download citation file:

• Ris (Zotero)
• Reference Manager

Time Travelers argues “that the past was no safe ground” in the Victorian period (xv). This volume, featuring distinguished contributors from literature, history, classics and religious studies, sets out to be “kaleidoscopic rather than encyclopedic” (xvi), emphasizing complexity and entanglement. The book’s key questions are about disciplines (how Victorian disciplines grew out of earlier practices, and what they shared between them), what drove “this newly voracious appetite for historical inquiry,” and the “kinds of narratives [that] emerged about the past” (xvi). It emphasizes change across the period (something “pertinent” in the 1850s might no longer be “relevant” by the 1870s) rather than trying to codify anything essentially “Victorian” (xxiv).

Part I focuses on “Narratives.” Qureshi examines competing theories of human evolution, emphasizing that “the 1860s witnessed a substantial proliferation , not homogenization, of theories” (12), even a “cacophony” (19). As this reviewer similarly argues elsewhere, this panoply “entrenched stadial visions...

Client Account

Sign in via your institution, email alerts, related articles, related book chapters, affiliations.

• Online ISSN 1530-9169
• Print ISSN 0022-1953

A product of The MIT Press

Mit press direct.

• About MIT Press Direct

Information

• Accessibility
• For Authors
• For Customers
• For Librarians
• Direct to Open
• Open Access
• Media Inquiries
• Rights and Permissions
• For Advertisers
• About the MIT Press
• The MIT Press Reader
• MIT Press Blog
• Seasonal Catalogs
• MIT Press Home
• Give to the MIT Press
• Direct Service Desk
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Statement
• Crossref Member
• COUNTER Member  
• The MIT Press colophon is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Time Travelers

Victorian encounters with time and history.

Edited by Adelene Buckland and Sadiah Qureshi

312 pages | 24 halftones | 6 x 9 | © 2020

History: British and Irish History , History of Ideas , History of Technology

History of Science

• Table of contents
• Author Events

Related Titles

" Time Travelers: Victorian Encounters with Time and History is exciting and scholarly... The twelve chapters travel widely across different disciplines, using ideas of time to illuminate many facets of the Victorian knowledge explosion, from the age of the earth to the ambivalences of the new machine age, from Anglo-Saxon poetry and biblical scholarship to submarines and deep-sea cables... Like all the best books, this one points beyond itself."

Victorian Studies

“A bold experiment in interdisciplinarity… An edited volume much more coherent than are others of the genre, twelve essays artfully organized around the themes of narratives, origins, time in transit, and unfinished business. Contributors engage with each other and with recent scholarship, challenging assumptions about nineteenth-century pride in progress and sense of superiority… Time Travelers is a useful, rich, thought-provoking set of essays that ought to make a substantial impact.”

Journal of British Studies

“A feast of historical insights into Victorian life and culture, Time Travelers is an original volume certain to become a classic in its multifaceted field. This invaluable work from an impressive array of scholarly contributors combines depth with wide appeal.”

Crosbie Smith, University of Kent

"This is an excellently conceived collection that manages a tough balancing act very well indeed. It manages to cover a huge range of topics and approaches to the Victorians’ engagement with their past, and at the same time is to be commended for its unity. Time Travelers serves as a model of what can result not just from critical and reflective engagement on a theme, but from sustained conversations around research and writing. I look forward to seeing the impact this terrific volume will assuredly make on Victorian scholarship."

Kate Flint, USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

"This perceptive volume will appeal to anyone studying the Victorian era’s view of its relationship with the past."

Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Table of Contents

Hegel, heidegger, and the ground of history.

Michael Allen Gillespie

Leo Strauss on Hegel

Leo Strauss

The Latest Catastrophe

Henry Rousso

Thinking in the Past Tense

Alexander Bevilacqua

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

Victorian Era Timeline

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 11, 2023 | Original: March 15, 2019

The Victorian Era was a time of vast political reform and social change, the Industrial Revolution , authors Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin , a railway and shipping boom, profound scientific discovery and the first telephone and telegraph. But the Victorian Era—the 63-year period from 1837-1901 that marked the reign of Queen Victoria —also saw a demise of rural life as cities and slums rapidly grew, long and regimented factory hours for many laborers, the bloody Jack the Ripper and even bloodier Crimean War .

Queen Victoria, who was born in 1819 and ascended the throne at age 18, was Britain’s second-longest reigning monarch (surpassed only by Queen Elizabeth II ). Her rule during one of Britain’s greatest eras saw the country create the world’s biggest empire, with one-fourth of the global population owing allegiance to the queen.

Here’s a timeline of innovations and events that helped define the Victorian Era.

May 24, 1819 : Alexandrina Victoria is born in Kensington Palace . As a royal princess, she is recognized as a potential heir to the throne of Great Britain.

Aug. 1, 1834 : The British empire abolishes slavery , and more than 800,000 formerly enslaved people in the British Caribbean are eventually set free. The government provides compensation to slave owners, but nothing to formerly enslaved people.

June 20, 1837 : Queen Victoria takes the crown at the age of 18. The granddaughter of King George III , her father died when she was just 8 months old, and her three uncles also died, putting her first in line as heir to the throne. An estimated 400,000 people thronged the streets of London for her coronation in Westminster Abbey .

July 25, 1837 : The first electric telegraph is sent between English inventor William Fothergill Cooke and scientist Charles Wheatstone, who went on to found The Electric Telegraph Company.

May 8, 1838 : The People’s Charter , the result of the Chartism protest movement, calls for a more democratic system including six points: the right to vote for men age 21 and older; no property qualification to run for Parliament ; annual elections; equal representation; payment for members of Parliament; and vote by secret ballot.

Sept. 17, 1838 : The first modern railroad line, the London-Birmingham Railway , opens, starting the steam-powered railway boom and revolutionizing travel.

Feb. 10, 1840 : Queen Victoria marries German Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, her first cousin. As queen, she was the one to propose. During their 21 years of marriage (until Albert died of typhoid in 1861) the couple had nine children. They also introduced many typically German Christmas traditions to Britain, such as decorated Christmas trees .

May 1, 1840 : The Penny Black, the world’s first postage stamp sold for one penny, is released in Britain, featuring a profile portrait of Queen Victoria. More than 70 million letters are sent within the next year, a number that tripled in two years. It’s soon copied in other countries, and the stamp is used for 40 years.

Dec. 19, 1843 : Charles Dickens, one of the era’s greatest writers, publishes A Christmas Carol . Other works from the author during this period—many featuring protests against class and economic inequality—include Oliver Twist , Great Expectations , David Copperfield and Nicholas Nickleby .

September 1845 : Ireland’s potato crop begins to fail from a widespread mold infestation, causing the Irish Potato Famine , also known as the Great Hunger, that leads to 1 million deaths and caused 1 to 2 million people to emigrate from the country, landing in various cities throughout North America and Great Britain.

May 1, 1851 : The brainchild of Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition opens in London’s Crystal Palace, with 10,000-plus exhibitors displaying the world’s technological wonders—from false teeth to farm machinery to telescopes. Six million visitors attend what would become the first world’s fair before it closes in October.

April 7, 1853 : Queen Victoria uses chloroform as an anesthetic during the delivery of her eighth child, Leopold. Though controversial at the time, Victoria’s embrace of anesthesia quickly popularized the medical advancement.

Dec. 24, 1853 : The Vaccination Act makes it mandatory for children born after Aug. 1, 1853, to be vaccinated against smallpox . Parents failing to comply are fined or imprisoned.

March 28, 1854 : France and Britain declare war on Russia, launching the Crimean War, which largely surrounds the protection of the rights of minority Christians in the Ottoman Empire. History’s most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale , helps reduce the death count by two-thirds by improving unsanitary conditions. An estimated 367,000 soldiers died in the two-year conflict.

Nov. 24, 1859 : The controversial On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin is published, presenting his theory of natural selection and challenging the theory of creation.

January 9, 1863 : The world’s first underground railway, the London Underground, opens. About 9.5 million people would ride the steam trains during their first year of operation.

Dec. 9, 1868 : Liberal William Gladstone defeats Conservative Benjamin Disraeli to become prime minister, a position he held for four non-consecutive terms. His legacy includes reform for Ireland, establishing an elementary education program and instituting secret ballot voting.

March 7, 1876 : Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell is awarded a patent on his invention of the telephone, and, three days later, famously makes the first phone call to Thomas Watson, his assistant.

May 1, 1876 : Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, India , which has been under British rule since 1858, declares Queen Victoria Empress of India.

August 2, 1880 : The Elementary Education Act of 1880 makes school attendance mandatory for children from ages five to 10, effectively reducing the hours children can be forced to spend working in fields, mills, mines and factories.

Aug.-Nov. 1888 : An unknown killer named Jack the Ripper murders and mutilates five prostitutes in London, striking terror into the heart of the city.

May 26, 1897: The Irish novelist Bram Stoker publishes Dracula , the story of a now-legendary vampire of aristocratic bearing, inspired in part by his visit to ghostly ruins in the seaside Yorkshire town of Whitby.

Jan. 22, 1901 : Queen Victoria dies on the Isle of Wight at age 81, ending the Victorian Era. She is succeeded by Edward VII, her eldest son, who reigned until his death in 1910. At the time of her death, the British Empire extended over roughly one-fifth of the earth’s land surface, giving rise to the claim, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.”

India from Queen Victoria’s time to independence. The History Press . Past Prime Ministers: William Ewart Gladstone. Gov.uk . Benjamin Disraeli, the Earl of Beaconsfield. Gov.uk . An Introduction to Victorian England (1837-1901). English Heritage . What happened during the Victorian era? Royal Museums Greenwich . Queen Victoria uses chloroform in childbirth, 1853. Financial Times .

HISTORY Vault: Profiles: Queen Elizabeth II

Chart the unexpected rise and record-breaking reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which unfolded in the turbulent modern history of the English monarchy.

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

What happened during the Victorian era?

The Victorian era of the United Kingdom and its overseas Empire spans the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). By this time, the role of the monarch was to reign, rather than rule. Victoria served as figurehead for the nation. 

The period saw the British Empire grow to become the first global industrial power, producing much of the world's coal, iron, steel and textiles. The Victorian era saw revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, which shaped the world as we know it today.

These transformations led to many social changes with the birth and spread of political movements, most notably socialism, liberalism and organised feminism.

Timeline of the Victorian Empire

24 may 1819 | victoria is born.

Born at Kensington Palace and christened Alexandrina Victoria, the baby princess took her place as a potential heir to the throne. 

20 June 1837 | Victoria ascends to the throne 

1 August 1838 | Slavery abolished in the British Empire 

31 march 1838 | ss great western makes its maiden voyage .

17 September 1838 | London to Birmingham line opens

10 january 1840 | the 'penny post' implemented.

10 February 1840 | Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert

September 1845 | irish potato famine begins.

July 1848 | Public health act passed

1 may 1851 | the great exhibition opens, 28 march 1854 | crimean war begins .

24 August 1856 | Henry Bessemer develops a new process for manufacturing steel

10 may 1857 | outbreak of mutiny in india , 24 november 1859 | on the origin of species published .

14 December 1861 | Prince Albert dies. 

9 january 1863 | opening of the london underground, 18 october 1871 | death of charles babbage, creator of the modern computer , 17 november 1869 | the suez canal opens.

March 1876 | Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone

2 august 1880 | education compulsory for children under 10, 25 july 1889 | founding of the women's franchise league, 22 january 1901 | queen victoria dies, shop our london & greenwich gifts range.

Discover the rich royal history of the area where Henry VIII built his first tournament ground, Elizabeth I took daily walks in the Park, and where Inigo Jones built the Queen's House

click here to read it now

Read this week's magazine

Victorian Time Travel: PW Talks with Felix J. Palma

People can travel through time in Félix J. Palma's The Map of Time , the first in a trilogy inspired by H.G. Wells's The Time Machine .

How does this book differ from your earlier ones?

In all of my fiction I always include an element of fantasy, in at least a very minor way, which I use to shatter a character's routine. Sometimes it shows up as a subtle metaphor or, as is the case with The Map of Time, in a much more visible way. What separates this from my other fiction is that the setting is in the past, something I hadn't attempted before out of fear of failure. This story could only work if it were set in the Victorian era, so I took that as a challenge.

Are there themes that connect your fiction?

There are some themes I just love to write about, and I'm powerless to resist them. In this book, you can see my penchant for fantasy, which is obvious, but you can also see my interest in the absurd, in the element of chance, in pusillanimous characters whose lives are shades of gray. It's more than just escapism from reality; it's a sublimation of reality through a fantastical vision of existence.

How do you go about plotting a book as intricate as this one?

Before I begin to write, I've detailed the novel's plot, and I rarely let it take an unexpected detour. When that does come about, it tends to happen somewhere in the middle of the novel, since I already have a clear idea of the beginning and the end before I start writing. Given the number of twists and turns in The Map of Time, it would have been impossible to write it without a clear roadmap, at least for me.

Having an omniscient narrator is essential to the book's success. Did you decide on this point-of-view from the outset?

When I sketched out the novel, I understood that it could neither be told in the first person by a single character, nor by a narrator who followed only one of the characters. I needed a narrator who could see all the stories at once and could jump from one to the other as needed. Once I realized that, I almost immediately decided I could do it theatrically, that is, addressing the reader directly and even offering opinions, the way certain 19th-century narrators did. I think the spirit of the novel can be summed up in a single phrase: for something to become real, it only needs to be narrated.

• You are a subscriber but you have not yet set up your account for premium online access. Contact customer service (see details below) to add your preferred email address and password to your account.
• You forgot your password and you need to retrieve it. Click here to retrieve reset your password.
• Your company has a site license, use our easy login. Enter your work email address in the Site License Portal.

Armchair travel around the world!

Start your reading adventures with our free reading atlas..

• Around the World in 14 Books
• 7 Thrilling Book Series
• 6 Audiobooks That Are Like Theater For Your Ears

Like what we do? Please support our Patreon!

Time Travel to Victorian England with 'A Curious Beginning'

The right book can instantly transport you to anywhere — and anytime — in the world. Every Thursday, we recommend one of our favorite books with a strong sense of place so you can see the sights, meet remarkable people, go on exciting adventures, and feel big feelings. Bonus: You don't even have to put on pants.

This post is part of our 'Weekend Getaway' series.

This weekend, we recommend a getaway to Victorian England with the historical mystery A Curious Beginning . Meet a lady lepidopterist, celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, and — oh, dear! — get caught up in villainy, kidnap, and a little murder.

Our intrepid heroine Veronica Speedwell (secret and semi-legitimate daughter of the Prince of Wales) is a handful and a half. And we wouldn’t want her any other way.

She’s a lepidopterist — that’s a butterfly hunter — with an affinity for adventure, and she’s armed with a tongue that’s as finely honed as the hatpin she wields as a weapon.

Through a series of misadventures — including an attack at her home during her aunt’s funeral… how rude! — she finds herself in the company of Stoker. Officially known as the Honourable Revelstoke Templeton-Vane, third son of the sixth Viscount Templeton-Vane, Stoker is a surly, handsome naturalist with his own troubled past and a surprising (and endearing) feminist streak.

These two! Always bickering and flirting, and, of course, trying to solve a murder while also curating a natural history museum, as one does.

The banter between our two antiheroes adds the right touch of levity to the peril, and there are plenty of moments that skewer the prim social mores of Victorian England. Veronica is no shrinking violet and routinely gets herself into — and out of — dangerous situations. 

This story is packed with suspense and daring exploits, including — but certainly not limited to — a run-in with a traveling circus, a treacherous dunk in the Thames, and menace at the Tower of London.

This is the first book in the Veronica Speedwell series. You might also like A Perilous Undertaking , A Treacherous Curse , A Dangerous Collaboration , and A Murderous Relation .

I shall not see you again. I am off this very afternoon upon my next adventure. — Deanna Raybourn

A Curious Beginning

By deanna raybourn.

This historical mystery novel (352 pages) was published in September of 2015 by Penguin. The book takes you to Victorian England. Melissa read A Curious Beginning and loved it; it wouldn't be on our site if she didn't recommend it.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and give back to the book community.

Want to keep up with our book-related adventures? Sign up for our newsletter!

keep reading

It's moxie, mayhem, and murder in victorian london with 'a murderous relation', victorian seed cake inspired by 'jane eyre', solve a mystery and drink champagne with phryne fisher in australia, hobnob with the queen and enjoy a proper cuppa with 'the royal we', sharing is caring.

Can you help us? If you like this article, share it your friends!

our mission

Strong Sense of Place is a website and podcast dedicated to literary travel and books we love. Reading good books increases empathy. Empathy is good for all of us and the amazing world we inhabit.

our patreon

Strong Sense of Place is a listener-supported podcast. If you like the work we do, you can help make it happen by joining our Patreon! That'll unlock bonus content for you, too — including Mel's secret book reviews and Dave's behind-the-scenes notes for the latest Two Truths and a Lie.

get our newsletter

Join our Substack to get our FREE newsletter with podcast updates and behind-the-scenes info join in fun chats about books and travel.

no spoilers. ever.

We'll share enough detail to help you decide if a book is for you, but we'll never ruin plot twists or give away the ending.

super-cool reading fun

This 30-page Reading Atlas takes you around the world with dozens of excellent books and gorgeous travel photos. Get your free copy when you subscribe to our newsletter.

write to us

• send us an idea
• advertising

legal stuff

• privacy policy
• terms of use
• affiliate disclosure
• cookie policy

Content on this site is ©2024 by Smudge Publishing, unless otherwise noted. Peace be with you, person who reads the small type.

Nineteenth-Century Explorers and Travellers

[ Victorian Web Home —> Political History — British Empire ]

Explorers of Africa and the Middle East

• Richard Burton
• Mary Kingsley: Demystifying Africa
• David Livingstone ( gallery of images )
• John ‘Rob Roy’ MacGregor (1825-1892): Explorer, Evangelist and Philanthropist
• John Hanning Speke
• From Travel to Text: Reverends Wolff and Lansdell's missions to Bokhara (abstract)

Explorers and Travellers in the Far East

• Isabella Bird (1832-1904), Traveller, Travel Writer and Photographer, Part I

• Isabella Bird (1832-1904), Traveller, Travel Writer and Photographer, Part II
• The Travels and Travel-Writing of Maria, Lady Callcott (1785-1842)
• Christina Herringham and the Ajanta Frescoes
• Juliana Hervey, author of The Adventures of a Lady in Tartary, Thibet, China, & Kashmir (1853)
• Marianne North, Botanical Painter and Traveller (in many countries, including India, Ceylon and Japan)
• Fact or Fiction in the Forbidden Land: the questionable travels of Arnold Henry Savage Landor (in Tibet — abstract)

Explorers of Polar Regions

• Joseph René Bellot
• Sir John Franklin
• Dr. John Rae
• Robert Falcon Scott ( monument)
• Ernest H. Shackleton (monument)

British Explorers and the Visual Arts

• Monuments to Victorian British Explorers

Related Material

• Cannibals on the Northern Ice: Nationalist Ideals, the Big Lie, and the Franklin Expedition
• The Search for the North-West Passage: 1497-1845
• The Mary Slessor ("Queen of the Okoyong") window in the McManus, Dundee
• "Hitting the Road! Travel Experiences and Narratives of the Victorian and Edwardian Era" (conference announcement with select bibliogrpahy) University of Tours, France (2-3 February 2023)

Related Material on Other Sites

• Livingstone online — a digital museum and library

Bibliography

Note: See also under individual explorers.

Bridges, Roy. "Speke, John Hanning (1827-1864). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Online ed. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.

Hanbury-Tenison, Robin. Exploration . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005

Jeal, Tim. Explorers of the Nile: The Triumph and Tragedy of a Great Victorian Adventure. . London: Faber, 2011. 510pp. £25.00. ISBN 978-0-571-24975-6. [ review ]

Speke, John Hanning. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile . New York: Harper, 1864. Internet Archive . Web. 5 Dec. 2011.

Last modified 9 August 2022

How the Victorians invented the ‘staycation’

Lecturer in Victorian literature and culture, University of Bristol

Disclosure statement

Joan Passey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Bristol provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK.

View all partners

Holidays feel like an important tonic after such a tough year. While international travel is possible, it’s not exactly easy, so many are choosing to stay closer to home, opting for a “staycation”. This year holidaymakers are discovering the treasures of the UK’s coast and the rugged beauty of its landscapes.

Domestic tourism as we know it began in the 19th century when the idea of the holiday was just becoming popularised. Expanding railways and changing work practices meant people had more leisure time to dedicate to travelling. International travel was becoming easier but wasn’t accessible to all, so the Victorians chose to spend this newfound “free” time in the UK.

This gave way to the creation of hot new holiday destinations, mostly on the UK’s coast. Great British seaside towns, from Bournemouth to Brighton, enticed people with promises of fun, sea and clean air – many of the things that continue to lure people today.

The great summer holiday as we know it was conceived by the Victorians . The 19th century saw the industrial revolution and the rise of industrial capitalism, where factories were thriving and work structures were more clearly and rigorously defined and delineated. This led to the emergence of administrative professions, like clerks, and an emerging middle class .

There was more structured working time , including shift work in factories and time off on Sundays. As a result, working-class people had leisure time to use, and by the 1890s some skilled workers had half days on Saturdays, leading to the birth of the “ weekend ” – though this was not formalised until much later in the 20th century.

In 1871 the Bank Holidays Act was passed. This designated certain days as holidays on which banks closed, though, over the years, more businesses began observing these days off work. Before 1830, banks closed only on the 40 saints’ days of the year, though by 1834 this was just four days, including Christmas day. From 1871, any day could be declared a bank holiday, not just saints’ days.

These new leisure hours were used to explore the surrounding countryside and seaside as cities expanded at exponential rates . The working class took day trips and the wealthy stayed in hotels along the coast, many of which still stand today.

Travel was previously only accessible to the wealthy, but an expanding rail network meant that travel across Britain was easier, faster, cheaper and more accessible than ever before. The railway boom began in the 1840s , and by 1850, 6,000 miles of track had been laid and 18,000 by 1880. This meant that smaller towns were connected, as well as big cities.

The rise of mass print literature went hand in hand with the rise of the railway – British train station stalwart WH Smith was established to sell cheap books to train passengers, a brand new audience, as it was previously too bumpy to read on a carriage or cart.

That a greater variety of people could access the margins of the country than ever before caused a lot of anxiety among the upper classes. Poet William Wordsworth famously protested the expansion of the rail into the Lake District, the site that inspired some of his most famous poems, as he thought its beauty would be tainted and that the poor did not have the capacity to appreciate its sublimity.

There was also anxiety that the railway and encroaching tourists would spoil seemingly untouched regions. Protesters in Cornwall thought tourism would dilute the country’s particular identity, language, history and culture. This is not dissimilar to anxieties about tourists buying holiday homes in Wales and Cornwall today.

Tourism is born

An emerging tourist industry meant emerging tourist boards eager to promote UK travel over increasingly accessible foreign travel. By 1870, the Great Eastern Railway was publishing advertisements for “A Day at the Seaside”.

Places in the UK were sold as being somewhat exotic or foreign – Cornwall was called “the Cornish riviera” and maps of Cornwall were flipped upside down and displayed next to maps of Italy to show their similarities.

As a result, sunny seaside resorts were developed by investors – Bournemouth, Brighton, Weston-super-Mare and Blackpool, to name a few. Their influence can still be seen in finely wrought piers, promenades and pavilions of these seaside towns, which have gained renewed popularity during the COVID pandemic.

As seaside getaways became popular, many of the things we associate with the British summer holiday came to be, including deckchairs, ice-cream, donkey rides, Punch and Judy shows (violent puppet shows primarily aimed at children), rock (a hard sugar candy), and games arcades.

Ice-cream became very popular in the 19th century and was a welcome cool treat on summer beaches, as the Victorians developed icehouses (essentially deep wells) to store ice and keep it cool. Queen Victoria had her preferred clear ice imported from Massachussets, USA . Many popular ice-cream flavours might feel unfamiliar to us today, such as cucumber ice-cream.

The tourism that emerged, however, wasn’t always sunshine and deckchairs – one of the first Thomas Cook holiday packages in the 19th century was a railway journey to Bodmin Jail where passengers could look out of the window to witness hangings from the comfort of their own carriage.

While a day out to see hangings or a scoop of cucumber ice-cream may not be quite up modern holiday seekers’ street, many of the things that the Victorians popularised remain a huge part of a British holiday today. So, while enjoying a stick of rock or a game on the pier, spare a thought for the pioneering Victorians who made some of the best bits of your much-needed holiday possible.

Head of School, School of Arts & Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Clinical Teaching Fellow

Data Manager

Director, Social Policy

• DIGITAL MAGAZINE

MOST POPULAR

15 facts about the Victorians!

Head back in time to when britain became the most powerful empire in world history….

Let’s learn more about this fascinating period of history in our Victorian facts…

Victorian facts

1) The Victorians were the people who lived during the reign of Queen Victoria , from the 20 June 1837 until the date of her death on the 22 January 1901 . It was an era of exciting discoveries, inventions and exploration following the Industrial Revolution.

2) During the Victorian era, Britain expanded its territory throughout the world and became the largest, richest and most powerful empire in world history. A quarter of the world’s population lived in the empire and Queen Victoria was even Empress of India ! Today, we look back at the British Empire differently to how it was viewed at the time. Indigenous people were often treated unfairly by the invading British and tensions ran high. Over time, the empire broke down and gradually, countries gained independence.

You can read more about the British Empire and how it changed the world, in our British Empire facts .

3) New inventions, like the telephone , motorcar , typewriter , bicycle and moving film totally changed the way that people lived, worked and travelled. In 1856, an engineer named Henry Bessemer invented a new method for turning iron into steel making it possible to build ships, bridges and other structures on a scale like never before!

4) Expansion of the railways meant that people could travel faster and further than ever before. All of Britain’s major cities, like London , Glasgow and Manchester , were now connected. Before trains, the fastest mode of transport was horses . All aboard!

5) The boom in industry saw lots of people moving to cities to find work. For the first time in world history, more people lived in cities than in the countryside , making city centres very cramped! Poor people lived in crowded slums — houses which were overcrowded, smelly and in bad repair.

6) Despite Britain’s political power , many ordinary people lead hard lives. As technology advanced, new machines left lots of people without jobs. Many resorted to workhouses , which provided basic poor relief like food, medical care and shelter in exchange for labour. Conditions were poor and sadly, families were often separated.

7) Many charities for the poor, like the Salvation Army and Barnardo’s , were established during the Victorian era. They fed the hungry in soup kitchens, and looked after the poorest children in orphanages.

8) Victorian children were expected to work long hours and for less money than adults. Seems unfair, right?! To make matters worse, the jobs were often dangerous and conditions were hard. Children were favoured because they could fit into tight spaces that adults couldn’t. Therefore, many children worked in factories, coal mines and as chimney sweeps.

9) Before the Victorian era, most of Britain’s population couldn’t read or write and had limited access to education. Queen Victoria believed that education should be for all , and by the end of her reign, going to school became compulsory for all children, rich or poor.

10) Improvements in education meant that more people could enjoy reading. Children’s books were no longer just for learning, they were fun! New titles such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , Treasure Island and The Jungle Book became hugely popular. Victorian children loved an adventure story!

11) This period was a great time for the arts, too! Some of Britain’s best-known poets, thinkers and authors flourished in the Victorian era, like poet Elizabeth Browning , playwright Oscar Wilde and authors Emily Brontë and Charles Dickens . Dickens’ novels – such as Oliver Twist – often focused on poor people, and his stories helped to highlight their plight.

12) The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 introduced extra days off throughout the year. Banks and offices would close and people could take time off work. The first travel agent, a businessman named Thomas Cook , ran trips to the seaside, which were very popular amongst Victorian families — those who could afford it, that is!

13) Organised sport became popular in the Victorian era. In 1871, the first Rugby Football Union was set up. It is believed that the sport was invented when William Webb Ellis , a pupil at Rugby School in England, picked up the ball during a game of football and ran with it!

14) Believe it or not, television didn’t exist in Victorian times! Therefore, Victorians entertained themselves by going to the theatre or watching live music . Visiting the music hall was a popular British pastime for poorer people. For a penny, customers were treated to a variety show, showcasing musicians, comedians and plays.

15) Healthcare saw huge improvements under the Victorians. Medical pioneers like Florence Nightingale worked with the government to improve hospital cleanliness — which hadn’t been considered as important before!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Victorian children (80584720), locomotive (901968198), children in slum (80584721), Cheapside (629390154).

Did you enjoy reading our victorian facts leave a comment and let us know, leave a comment.

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE, YOUR COMMENT HAS BEEN ADDED!

This was amazing and had a lot of facts!

omg so cool

great information

Thanks this really helps

This really helps!

Thank you for the good tips!

This is useful

Nice you save my english mark

Very good and helpful

this was really useful!

I think this is amazing learning about the Victorians and what they have been through,and I just love the way you put puns in from time to time!.

Victorians are very different and it would be interesting to go back in time and see everything!

I am loving the history.

This book is ausome

CUSTOMIZE YOUR AVATAR

More like general history.

Facts about the suffragettes

Mini Histories Comic – Max Visits the Victorians!

Aboriginal Australian Culture!

10 facts about Martin Luther King

Sign up to our newsletter

Get uplifting news, exclusive offers, inspiring stories and activities to help you and your family explore and learn delivered straight to your inbox.

You will receive our UK newsletter. Change region

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

COUNTRY * Australia Ireland New Zealand United Kingdom Other

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and will receive emails from us about news, offers, activities and partner offers.

You're all signed up! Back to subscription site

Type whatever you want to search

More Results

You’re leaving natgeokids.com to visit another website!

Ask a parent or guardian to check it out first and remember to stay safe online.

You're leaving our kids' pages to visit a page for grown-ups!

Be sure to check if your parent or guardian is okay with this first.

The 35 Best Books About Time Travel

Here's what to read after you finish Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Gabaldon first published Outlander —the book that would eventually inspire the television series starring Caitriona Balfe as Claire and Sam Heughan as Jamie —in 1991, and the ninth novel in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone , came out in November 2021.

Ahead of the seventh season of Outlander , now's the perfect time (ha) to dive into time travel books. From time traveling romance to alternate realities to murder mysteries, there's something for everyone here.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Any list about time travel books must begin with The Time Traveler's Wife , right? This bestselling novel tells the love story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who inadvertently travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Plot sound familiar? The book was adapted into a 2009 film starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, and a 2022 TV show starring Theo James and Rose Leslie .

Read more: 20 of the best Time Travel Films Ever Made

A Murder in Time

Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI, until one disastrous raid when half her team is murdered and a mole in the FBI is uncovered. After she recovers from her wounds, she's determined to find the man responsible for the death of her team—yet upon her arrival in England, she stumbles back in time to 1815. Mistaken for a lady's maid, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the period as she figures out how to get back to her own timeline. There are five books in the Kendra Donovan series , so if you love a time travel mystery, don't miss these.

Author Octavia Butler is a queen of science fiction, and Kindred is her bestselling novel about time travel. In it, she tells the story of Dana, a Black woman, who is celebrating her 26th birthday in 1976. Abruptly, she's transported back to Maryland, circa 1815, where she's on a plantation and has to save Rufus, the white son of the plantation owner. It's not just a time travel book, but one that expertly weaves in narratives of enslaved people and explores the Antebellum South.

Faye, Faraway

Diana Gabaldon herself called Faye, Faraway "a lovely, deeply moving story of loss and love and memory made real , " so you know it's going to be good. The plot focuses on Faye, a mother of two, who lost her own mother, Jeanie, when she was just 8 years old. When Faye suddenly finds herself transported back in time, she befriends her mother—but doesn't let on who she really is. Eventually, she has to choose between her past and her future.

The Eyre Affair

In this version of Great Britain circa 1985, time travel is routine. Our protagonist is Thursday Next, a literary detective, who is placed on a case when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel.

Bonus: The Eyre Affair is the first in a seven book series following Thursday.

The River of No Return: A Novel

Lord Nicholas Davenant is about to die in the Napoleonic Wars in 1812, and wakes up 200 years later. But he longs to return back in time to his love, Julia. When he arrives in modern society, a mysterious organization called the Guild tells him "there is no return," until one day, they summon him to London and he learns it's possible to travel back through time. A spy thriller that's also historical romance that's also time travel... Say less.

One Last Stop

Casey McQuiston's second novel ( following Red, White, and Royal blue, which is going to be a major motion picture this summer ) is a queer time-loop romance set on the Q train in New York City, and it's riveting. August is 23, working at a 24-hour diner, and meets a gorgeous, charming girl on the train: Jane. But she can't seem to meet up with her off the Q train—until they figure out Jane is stuck in time from the 1970s. How did she travel through time? Can August get Jane unstuck? Will they live happily ever after!? The questions abound.

What the Wind Knows

Anne Gallagher grew up hearing her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. When she returns to the country to spread his ashes, she is transported back in time to 1921—and is drawn into the struggle for Irish independence. There, she meets Dr. Thomas Smith, and must decide whether or not she should return to her own timeline or stay in the past. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, What the Wind Knows is a "spectacular time travel journey filled with love and loss."

The Midnight Library: A Novel

Imagine a library with an infinite number of books—each containing an alternate reality about your life. That's the plot of The Midnight Library , where our protagonist Nora Seed enters different versions of her life. She undoes old breakups, follows her dream of becoming a glaciologist, and so much more—but what happens to her original life?

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.: A Novel

In this novel from Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland, magic existed—until 1851. A secret government organization, the Department of Diachronic Operations (or D.O.D.O. for short), is dedicated to bringing magic back, and its members will travel through time to change history to do so. As Kirkus Reviews wrote , the novel "blend[s] time travel with Bourne-worthy skulduggery." It's a delight for any fans of science fiction, with a slow burn romance between military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons and linguist Melisande Stokes.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, this epistolary romantic novel tells the story of two time-traveling rivals who fall in love. Agents Red and Blue travel back and forth throughout time, trying to alter universes on behalf of their warring empires—and start to leave each other messages. The messages begin taunting but soon turn flirtatious—and when Red's commander discovers her affection for Blue, they soon embark down a timeline they can't change.

The House on the Strand

Set at an ancient Cornish house called Kilmarth, where Daphne du Maurier lived from 1967, The House on the Strand story follows Dick Young, who has been offered use of Kilmarth by an old college friend, Magnus Lane. Magnus, a biophysicist, is developing a drug that enables people to travel back to the 14th century, and Dick reluctantly agrees to be a test subject. The catch: If you touch anyone, you're transported back to the present. As the story goes on, Dick's visits back to the 1300s become more frequent, and his life back in the modern world becomes unstable.

The Kingdoms

It’s 1898 and there’s a man named Joe, who lives in London, which is, in this alternate historical, a part of the French Empire as in this version of the past, Britain lost the Napoleonic Wars. Joe has gotten off a train from Scotland and cannot remember anything about who he is or where he’s from. He soon returns to his work, and after a few years, he is sent to repair a lighthouse in Eilean Mor in the Outer Hebrides. Joe then finds himself a century earlier, on a British boat with a mysterious captain, fighting the French and hoping for a future that is different than the one he came from. If you're into time travel and queer romance and alternate history, this is for you.

The Future of Another Timeline

In 1992, 17-year-old Beth agrees to help hide the dead body of her friend's abusive boyfriend. The murder sets Beth and her friends on "a path of escalating violence and vengeance" to protect other young women. In 2022, Tess decides to use time travel to fight for change around key moments in history. When Tess believes she's found a way to make an edit to history that actually sticks, she encounters a group of time travelers bent on stopping her at any cost. Tess and Beth's lives intertwine, and war breaks out across the timeline.

Shadow of Night

The sequel to A Discovery of Witches , the plot of Shadow of Night picks up right where the story left off: With Matthew, a vampire, and Diana, a witch, traveling back in time to Elizabethan London to search for an enchanted manuscript. You really need to read the first book before reading Shadow of Night , but the series by Deborah Harkness is a swoony magical romance.

And: It's now a TV show! ( Season one is streaming on Amazon Prime Video .)

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

In The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, the same day happens again and again. Each day, Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered at 11:00 p.m at Blackheath. And each day, our protagonist Aiden Bishop wakes up in the body of a different witness—and tries to solve her murder. He only has eight days, and it's a race against time to solve Evelyn's murder and to escape the time loop.

Recursion: A Novel

In 2018 New York City, detective Barry Sutton fails to talk Ann out of jumping off a building. But before Ann falls to her death, she tells him she is suffering from False Memory Syndrome—a new neurological disease where people are afflicted with memories of lives they never lived. The dissonance between their present and these memories drives them to death. This is best read unspoiled, but it's undoubtedly a time travel story you haven't read before.

On the eve of her wedding day, Shay Garrett looks into her grandmother's antique mirror and faints. When she wakes up, she's in the same house—but in the body of her grandmother, Brandy, as a young woman in 1900. And Brandy awakens in Shay's body in the present day in 1978. It's like Freaky Friday , but with time travel to the Victorian era.

Here and Now and Then

Kin Stewart is a time traveler from 2142, stuck in 1990s suburban San Francisco. A rescue team arrives to bring Kin back to his timeline—but 18 years too late. Does Kin stay with his "new" family, and the life he's built for himself in San Francisco, or does he return to his original timeline? He's stuck between two families—and ultimately, this is a time travel tale about fatherhood.

A Knight in Shining Armor

Originally published in 1989, this romance novel features a present-day heroine and a knight from the 16th century who fall in love. Per the book's description: "Abandoned by a cruel fate, lovely Dougless Montgomery lies weeping upon a cold tombstone in an English church. Suddenly, the most extraordinary man appears. It is Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck…and according to his tombstone he died in 1564. Drawn to his side by a bond so sudden and compelling it overshadows reason, Dougless knows that Nicholas is nothing less than a miracle: a man who does not seek to change her, who finds her perfect, fascinating, just as she is. What Dougless never imagined was how strong the chains are that tie them to the past…or the grand adventure that lay before them."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-transform:scale(-1, 1);-moz-transform:scale(-1, 1);-ms-transform:scale(-1, 1);transform:scale(-1, 1);background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-1jdielu:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}} Best Books of 2024 @media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-128xfoy:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}}

The Best New Royal Books of 2024

15 Friends-to-Lovers Books to Read

Queen Camilla Recommends 'Pachinko'

Who Does Cressida End Up with in Bridgerton?

Inside the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Biography

'The Thursday Murder Club' Movie News

The Best Books of 2024... So Far

Tulipmania and the 2022 Crypto Crash

BFFs Behind Christina Lauren on Their 30th Book

How To Read the Bridgerton Books In Order

Plum Sykes's Cotswolds Survival Kit

• Victorian Prisons
• Irish Potato Famine
• Chimney Sweeps
• Florence Nightingale
• Rich People
• Queen Victoria Facts
• Industrial Revolution

Victorian Transport

Horse and carriage.

At the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign, horse-drawn carriages were the main mode of transportation. The Brougham was a popular vehicle for everyday use and was available in two- or four-wheel styles. Upper class families would use a barouche, a fancy four-wheel carriage with a fold-up hood and seats that faced each other. For those who didn’t own a vehicle, carriages were available for hire.

Country-dwellers relied on open vehicles, such as wagons and drays. These were larger and heavier than carriages, and thus slower. They were useful for moving goods. For longer trips through the country, one could purchase a ticket for a seat in a coach.

Bicycles became popular during the Victorian era. By the 1880s and 1890s, bicycles were widely used both for fun and as a means of transportation. The accessibility of this means of personal transportation contributed to a social uprising as women shed their corsets in favor of attire more compatible with cycling.

Steam Engines and Railways

With the Industrial Revolution came the widespread use of the steam engine, which, in various forms, was used to drive trains, ships and buses. Railway networks were constructed, providing an efficient means of traveling between urban and rural areas as well as transporting goods. Bus and tram routes were created to connect with the railways, creating an effective and extensive transportation system.

Early Buses and Cars

While railways used steam locomotives, the bus system still primarily used horse power. This was due, in large part, to the Red Flag Act of 1865 which prohibited buses and other such vehicles from moving faster than a walking pace of four miles per hour. It also stipulated that a person bearing a red flag must walk in front of the vehicle. This law remained in effect until 1896, at which time motor cars began establishing their place on British roadways.

The Underground

The steam engine was also the driving force behind the development of the Underground. In 1863, the first underground railway opened in England, and by the 1880s, an extensive underground network allowed passengers to travel between parts of London and beyond.

The use of electricity to power vehicles also grew more sophisticated and useful during the Victorian era. By the early 1880s, some horse- drawn trams were replaced by trolleys powered by electricity through overhead cables. Though slower to take hold than steam powered vehicles, by 1927 an extensive network of electric tram cars laced through British cities.

Top Victorian Books

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk

Search the site

Victorians  ©  2000 - 2024 - Privacy Policy

victorian themed series and movies(19th century)

1. North & South

2. Oliver Twist

3. Oliver Twist

4. Oliver Twist

5. Les Misérables

6. Anne with an E

7. David Copperfield

8. David Copperfield

9. The Young Victoria

10. Victoria

11. Jacquou le croquant

12. The Abduction Club

13. Dorian Gray

14. The Count of Monte Cristo

15. The Count of Monte Cristo

16. The Raven

17. Great Expectations

18. Great Expectations

19. Gangs of New York

20. The Love Letter

21. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

22. Far and Away

23. Little Dorrit

24. Dances with Wolves

25. Cold Mountain

More to explore, recently viewed.

Step back in time as you explore Victorian-era York, England

York, a city nestled in England , is a veritable treasure trove brimming with a historical richness that spans across ancient times. Among its diverse epochs, the Victorian era prominently shines, marked by its unique architectural and cultural significance. This guide is crafted to navigate you through York with a Victorian perspective, offering an unparalleled peek into the historical tapestry of the past.

Visit the National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum in York is a journey to the Victorian era's steam age. Marvel at majestic locomotives and royal carriages that crisscrossed the country. With an impressive collection, including historic trains from the 19th century, it's essential for those interested in how railways revolutionized travel and commerce under Queen Victoria , highlighting the era's technological progress.

Explore Fairfax House

While technically Georgian, Fairfax House offers insight into domestic life leading into and during the early Victorian period. This beautifully preserved mansion provides a detailed look at 18th-century living with its stunning interiors and furniture collections. A visit here will give you an appreciation for the elegance and sophistication that characterized upper-class homes just before the full swing of the Victorian era.

Stroll through the Shambles

The Shambles is one of York's most iconic streets, dating back over 900 years. While it predates the Victorian era, walking through this narrow medieval street offers insights into what daily life might have looked like before modernization took over in Victoria's time. The overhanging timber-framed buildings now host quaint shops and cafes but once were bustling market stalls and workshops.

Discover York Minster's hidden secrets

York Minster, one of Europe 's largest cathedrals, has origins before the medieval period but saw significant Victorian-era transformations. Inside, discover the era's impact on religious practices and architecture. A must-do is climbing Central Tower for stunning York views, blending historical exploration with beautiful cityscapes. This experience highlights the cathedral's architectural evolution and its role in Victorian religious life.

• Internet Tendency
• Books Division
• Quarterly Concern
• The Believer

McSWEENEY'S INTERNET TENDENCY'S PATREON

Help support our writers and keep our site ad-free. Become a McSweeney’s Internet Tendency patron today .

A Brief History of Time Travel

By sean m c gowan.

The first successful instance of time travel occurred in 2306, when a group of Syracuse University researchers transported Tootsie, a chimpanzee, to the front lines of the War of 1812. The scientists were awarded a Nobel Prize, but despite deftly outmaneuvering the British Royal Navy in the Battle of New Orleans, Tootsie won no military decorations.

Tootsie’s success sparked a wave of further time travel experimentation on science’s usual test subjects, including sheep, goats, and chickens. The demand for subjects was so great that farmers began selling their animals directly to chrono-labs. “Ain’t it just the way, boy, but this runt here’ll be fer time travel,” they’d say, ripping away a piglet their child had reared to send it hurtling through space-time. Such was the cruel reality of farm life.

Researchers quickly discovered that the past could not be altered, no matter how much time voyagers tried. If you went back in time to prevent the Hindenburg disaster, whatever you did would only ensure the blimp exploded, especially if you tried stopping it by crashing a larger, more on-fire blimp into it. If you tried to go back and save Abraham Lincoln by giving him the Heimlich maneuver, he would still succumb to the bullet wound in his head.

Naturally, the military applications of time travel were pursued first. The US Army wanted to know if it was possible to use time travel to make a big gun. The US Navy wanted to see if they could also do that, but wet.

Time travel was the skeleton key that unlocked history’s greatest mysteries and catalyzed scientific discovery. Researchers learned the ultimate fate of Amelia Earhart and discovered that if you went back in time to meet your grandfather as a young man, he would still smell like an old person. Stonehenge, it turned out, was Homo sapiens’ disastrous first attempt to build a writing utensil.

Time travel technology eventually improved enough to be made available for commercial purposes. It was initially offered as a costly luxury experience that only the uber-rich could afford. Billionaire CEOs jumped at the chance to meet their heroes of the past, like Steve Jobs or the first landlord.

The physical sensation of the body traveling through time was alien and surreal, almost indescribable. First, your ears popped. After that, your nose would pop. Then your fingers, toes, and neck popped. Just a lot of popping all around.

Eventually, time travel became more cost-effective and accessible to the middle class, ushering in a new era of affordable chrono-tourism. Time travel agencies began selling packaged experiences to popular historical destinations, like “The Fall of Pompeii” and “Watch Joey Chestnut Eat Sixty-Eight Hot Dogs in 2009.”

Going back in time became incredibly popular, despite exposing travelers to a wide array of historical dangers. It wasn’t long before fatal incidents took their toll on society, with “flattened by horse and carriage” becoming the second leading cause of death in the US—nearly a 100 percent increase from the previous year.

Today, of course, time travel is a normal part of everyday life. Teachers take their students to witness the Gettysburg Address firsthand, while teens flock to the sparse settlements of Ancient Mesopotamia to hook up. NBA players bring the Mayflower’s Pilgrims to All-Star Weekend, posterizing them for style points in the dunk contest, and Bravo has a reality show where twenty-five women compete for Attila the Hun’s love. We remembered powdered wigs look fucking cool. Accountants go back in time so they can do more accounting. Animal Planet’s programming is still just okay.

We live life again and again and again, until we are flattened by horse and carriage.

• Time Travel
• Time Travelers

I Was the Wedding Planner for the Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” Ceremony and Reception

Suggested reads.

• January 3, 2018 Dispatches from the Resistance: The Biggest Button by Matthew Disler
• February 17, 2023 I Asked ChatGPT to Send a Terminator Back in Time to Circumvent Its Own Inception by Caleb Coy
• December 14, 2017 While I Admit That I’m a Time-Traveling Cyborg Assassin, I Thought I’d Made It Clear that I’m Not the Time-Traveling Cyborg Assassin Who Killed Your Father by James Spillane
• March 19, 2013 A Memo to Investors in 11D Technologies, Inc by Michael Ward
• May 30, 2024 Every Conversation Between Every Parent and Their Child After One Year of College by Jennifer L a Porte
• June 3, 2024 We’re Having a Get-Together. Could You Bring Your Massive, Poorly Trained Dog? by Mike Langley
• May 31, 2024 “Why I Am Still Voting for Donald Trump” Mad Libs by Devorah Blachor
• May 24, 2024 I Am the Only Person on the Fury Road Who Still Drives a Sensible Car by Johnathan Appel

• June 7, 2024 A Brief History of Time Travel by Sean M c Gowan
• June 6, 2024 I Was the Wedding Planner for the Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” Ceremony and Reception by Mike Sacks

Past Factory

20 Facts About The Strange Reality Of Life In The Victorian Era

Posted: June 4, 2024 | Last updated: June 5, 2024

The Victorian era is loosely defined as the period of the United Kingdom's history under the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 until her death in 1901. England saw the demise of rural life and a focus on the establishment of cities and industry, which changed British society forever. See what life was like during the Victorian period and some of the things people did that we couldn't fathom doing today. Read on to learn more!

They Wore Dangerously Tight Corsets

During the Victorian period, corsets were all the rage among ladies. They provided a way to reduce the size of a woman's waist and hide any unwanted fat and skin.

Over time, certain styles of corsets took things to the extreme and could bring some waists down to a startling 14 inches! Not only were these horribly uncomfortable for the wearer, but they could also result in serious and irreversible external and internal damage.

Beware Of The Body Snatchers

In the early 1800s, doctors were legally permitted to have and research the bodies of those who had been condemned to death. Unfortunately, this proved to be less-than-helpful, as this way only barely above 50 bodies per year, and with a growing number of doctors, countless more cadavers were needed.

This demand for corpses quickly turned into a business with people looking to make a quick buck stealing bodies from fresh graves and selling them to medical schools. This practice became so common that loved ones would often watch over a new grave for days to prevent the body from being stolen.

Read More: What It Was Like To Live In A Medieval Castle

They Would Pose With The Deceased

Today, when someone dies, they are usually buried or cremated shortly after, and that is that. Yet, the Victorians had a different way of doing things. Following the development of photographic technology, when someone passed away, it was not unusual to hire a photographer to take pictures of the deceased as though they were alive.

In some instances, the family and friends of loved ones would even pose with them. So, if you're ever looking at an old Victorian photograph, try to guess if the subject is alive or not!

They Sent Unusual Christmas Cards

Christmas cards had still not been established as a popular holiday tradition during the 19th century, so the Victorians still hadn't gotten the hang of them yet. This resulted in some rather unusual cards being offered during the holidays, with some of the subjects including dead birds, frightening snowmen, anthropomorphic animals and vegetables, and worse.

However, this wasn't considered strange because it was what people found interesting at the time. As described by Penne Restad, author of Christmas in America, "In the 19th century, the iconography of Christmas had not been fully developed as it is now."

Mummy Unwrapping Parties Weren't Uncommon

After the discovery of several important artifacts, there was a renewed fascination in ancient Egypt that has since been described as "Egyptomania." Although wealthy Europeans had been able to purchase mummies for centuries, the practice drastically increased in the 19th century, to the point that mummies were in high demand.

Wealthy English tourists would travel to Egypt and bring home a mummy as a souvenir. They'd then host mummy unwrapping parties where people would be invited to see what was beneath the bandages.

There Was No Shortage Of Arsenic

Today, most people know arsenic only as a deadly poison, but to the Victorians, it was just another ingredient in many of their common products, especially in the field of cosmetics. It was more common than not for arsenic to be found in medicines, wallpaper, toys, clothing, and more, due to its wide availability and low cost.

Even more bizarre is that the Victorians were well aware that arsenic is a poison, as it was frequently used in murders. Thankfully, in 1851, the Arsenic Act was passed, and although it wasn't a ban, it regulated the amount of arsenic in products.

They Electrocuted Themselves As A Form of Healing

As electricity became more and more prominent during the 19th century, people also began experimenting with its medical applications. One practice that came out of this is known as electrotherapy, which would be used for conditions such as muscle weakness or gout.

Essentially, electrotherapy involved the patient being shocked in whatever region of the body was giving them problems. The logic was that the electricity would shock whatever the ailment was away and ease the muscles.

Nobody Was Safe From The Insane Asylums

During the 19th century, the populations in England's insane asylums started booming, as they were a quick and effective way to get rid of a person someone didn't like or to clean up the streets. The three primary classifications that people could be placed under were manic, melancholic, or those with dementia.

Of course, the standards to fit any of these labels were extremely vague, which led to countless people being locked up on account of "laziness," "superstition," "imaginary female trouble," and even more unbelievable reasons.

Selling Their Wives Instead Of Divorce

Before the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857, divorce was not an option for married couples in England, except for the richest and most powerful people. So, to legally end a marriage, a loophole was created in which people could sell their wives. Either held in a public or private setting, men would put their wives up for sale, and men would bid on the woman.

Thankfully, the wife did have the power to veto a sale, and the situation wasn't always bad. Not only did women get out of an unhealthy relationship, but many had the opportunity to marry new husbands who wanted them and would care for them.

They Thought There Was Medicinal Value In Corpses

For hundreds of years, people have believed that consuming certain parts of a deceased body could help cure them of an ailment. Although "corpse medicine" reached its height in the 16th and 17th centuries, it continued well into the Victorian era, with some medical texts claiming some unbelievable cures.

For instance, one text states that mixing part of the skull of a young woman with a syrup could help to cure epilepsy. It also wasn't uncommon for executioners to also be in the corpse medicine business, selling parts of the recently deceased to eager patrons.

They Used Hippopotamus Teeth As Dentures

Today, dentures are made out of acrylic resin, which works perfectly to recreate the feeling and use of a human tooth. However, this process hadn't been invented in the 19th century, and people were still desperate to replace any teeth that they may have lost.

One solution to this was to use the teeth of other mammals, with the hippopotamus strangely being one of the most popular. This is because their molars were large enough to be carved down to the proper size and shape.

They Hired People To Live As Hermits On Their Land

During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was typical for wealthy landowners to have expansive grounds and gardens for them to enjoy and host guests. Many Victorians were completely fascinated by eccentric people, and some would hire people to live on the grounds as hermits.

They were encouraged to grow their hair out, not bathe, dress as druids, and wander around as a source of entertainment or to provide advice. They would live on the grounds and would also be fed and cared for until they were released and usually gifted a stipend.

The Beach Wasn't Very Relaxing For Women

While men had the freedom to relax and swim in the ocean in their bathing suits, going to the beach was an incredible ordeal for women. Considering all of the clothing they wore on a regular basis, it's no surprise that the prim fashion trends didn't stop at the beach.

Not only were women expected to wear modest and uncomfortable clothing, but bathing machines were invented, which allowed women to change in complete privacy at the water's edge, go into the water, and directly back in to change again.

They Used Poisonous Eye Drops

Because you couldn't see really any other part of a Victorian woman except for her face, they would go to great lengths to make their eyes an attractive feature. They would achieve this through the use of belladonna eye drops, which would dilate their pupils and produce a glow.

The downside, however, is that belladonna is poisonous and would cause blurred vision, an increased heart rate, and blindness if frequently used. Of course, this didn't stop many women from using them.

Their Food Additives Were Incredibly Dangerous

Unfortunately, food sanitation was essentially non-existent during the Victorian period, making much of the food dangerous to eat, and that's not even including what they put in the food on purpose.

Countless hazardous additives were put in food for various reasons, such as chalk and alum in the dough to make bread whiter or brewers using strychnine to cut down their cost of hops. Other additives that were frequently used included lead, copper sulfates, and just about anything else that could kill you while making food cheaper to make.

Black Was Worn Out Of Necessity

Although black is a popular color to wear for many reasons, it was worn mostly out of necessity during the Victorian era. Because there was no regulation regarding pollution, there was a constant haze of smoke and grime that, combined with the River Thames' moisture, would coat London in thick, dense smog.

The smog would then build up on the side of buildings and stain clothing black, so many people wore a lot of black to hide their blackened clothes.

Lack Of Emergency Exits

Emergency exits may seem like a no-brainer these days, but such a concept didn't exist back during the Victorian era. This, on top of open flames, shoddy electricity, and questionable architecture, resulted in countless tragedies.

For example, in 1876, 278 people died when the Brooklyn Theater burned down after a lantern fell on the stage. Even worse, in 1888, almost 200 children died in a stampede of children in a stairwell to see some traveling entertainers. This disaster led to the invention of the push-bar emergency exit.

Not Eating Was Basically A Sport

Believe it or not, long before the creation of the NFL or NBA, the people of the Victorian era would keep up with what were known as "fasting girls." These young women were all over the newspapers and claimed that they could survive on nothing but air.

The girls would eat imaginary food in front of crowds, and then of course, secretly eat behind closed doors. On top of not having to eat, some fasting girls claimed to also have religious or magical powers.

Being A Professional Mourner Was A Booming Business

Otherwise known as Mutes, professional mourners during the Victorian period were individuals who would stand in silence during funerals looking incredibly sad. They would often wear very distinctive mourning clothes and follow the coffin as it was being taken to the gravesite.

Because there were so many deaths during this time, being a Mute was a popular profession, with many being hired for common funerals. Charles Dickens even included a mute in his novel Oliver Twist.

Orphaned Children Were Shipped Off

Unfortunately, orphaned and homeless children were a common sight in Victorian-era England, with historian Sarah Wise claiming there were more than 30,000 children living on the streets of London in 1869. Although some solutions were presented, such as building schools and orphanages, there were still too many to handle.

Many of them ended up being taken off the streets and shipped overseas to various British colonies, where they worked as far as help or indentured servants. This later proved to be a controversial practice, as the children were rarely checked on once they had been relocated.

Read More: Fascinating Historical Figures That We're Lucky To Have Photos Of

More for You

Donald Trump 'Faces Enforcement' for Failing to Pay Legal Costs

The Longest Living People In the World All Abide by the ‘Power 9’ Rule

Angel Reese takes another big shot at Caitlin Clark in WNBA

Here's How Claiming Social Security at Age 62 Could Be a Brilliant Move

10% of travelers have had their medicines confiscated. Here's how you can avoid it.

Watch Drew Carey marvel as “Price is Right” contestant makes 'best Showcase bid in the history of the show'

“He’s the greatest weapon the Navy’s ever produced”: Glen Powell Was Sold on What Tom Cruise and Team Thought About Him After Turning Down Top Gun 2

Muddy Waters is a blues guitar icon who pioneered the sound of electric guitar and invented a new solo language

New rules on real estate commissions go into effect this summer

This small U.S. town is considered the best place to retire. Here's why.

Kyrie Irving's Shoes Draw Stares From Collectors and Congress

This Is How Much Money You Can Make With $20K in a 5-Year CD

13 Cybertruck Wraps That Make Tesla’s Electric Truck Even More Polarizing

Heart attack warning signs and symptoms women should not ignore

Taylor Swift pauses Scotland Eras Tour show until 'the people in front of me get help'

Governor says Trump could become the first GOP presidential candidate to win his state in 20 years

I left Russia and moved to Florida. These were the 5 biggest culture shocks.

20 Best Sandwiches in America You Need to Try At Least Once

25 things you're doing that are ruining your car

15 Mistakes People Make When Living Alone That Put Their Safety in Danger

32 Movies Great Movies About Time Travel With Completely Different Rules

Prepare for some serious stipulations.

Is there ever a bad time to watch a time travel movie? Some of the best sci-fi movies in history have tackled this frequently explored topic, and new wrinkles in the fabric of the concept have made the subject more exciting over time. So why don’t we take a look at the different rules these flights of fancy have introduced? Should you be stuck in a time loop, we apologize if this list is starting to get old.

Back To The Future

Everyone loves to talk about how Back to the Future’s time travel works , but there’s one aspect we take for granted throughout the whole trilogy. Doc Brown ( Christopher Lloyd ) may have given Marty McFly ( Michael J. Fox ) the keys to travel through the past, present, and future; but you seriously need to consider the exact spot you’re traveling to. Otherwise, you might find yourself altering history in some intriguing ways. R.I.P. Twin Pines Mall. 

Time After Time

A novel adventure starring the father of time travel H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell), Time After Time actually introduced an interesting mechanic to temporal transport. Let’s just say that if you don’t use the Time Machine properly, you could find yourself stuck in your final destination. Or worse, falling through the time-space continuum, without a way back home.

The Terminator

The Terminator's time travel will forever be a head-scratcher, as the existence of John Connor is the ultimate ontological paradox. How else can you explain Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) being sent back to the 1980s to save the world…and make sure the person who sent him is born in the first place?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

The oldest method of time travel in the Star Trek movies, 1986’s The Voyage Home saw Captain Kirk ( William Shatner ) and his crew trying to save the whales through a time heist. This wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the Enterprise crew using a Klingon Bird of Prey, a slingshot orbit around the sun, and a lot of engineering power to do it.

2004’s Primer is still hotly discussed among time travel aficionados, and it’s not hard to see why. The shenanigans in this test case involve multiple versions of a singular traveler (Shane Carruth) existing in a single timeline, which creates one of the most chaotic timelines ever depicted.

The Adam Project

Story-wise, The Adam Project is pretty cozy when it comes to how it handles time travel. But when it comes to traveling in style, the older Adam Reed ( Ryan Reynolds ) has a Time Jet that’s specifically coded to his DNA! Not many temporal travelers HAVE that, and it prevents so many mistakes other adventures of this sort use for story purposes.

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Avengers: Endgame

How Avengers: Endgame’s time travel works is rather unorthodox, to be honest. Instead of overwriting the past into a more pleasing result, the MCU’s finest are only allowed to use it in the name of stealing/returning the Infinity Stones. Timelines can still create tangent histories, and 2014 Gamora takes over for her slain variant in the films, but you can’t stop “The Snap.”

Lost In Space

If all time travelers had the device Older Will Robinson (Jared Harris) built in 1998’s Lost in Space , they’d have it made. While only one person can travel at a time, exact coordinates in time and space are required; so you can go to a very specific spatial location on the timeline. 

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect's time travel works on rules similar to that of Quantum Leap . Evan ( Ashton Kutcher ) can indeed change history, but it’s only within his own life’s timeline. Unfortunately, thanks to the multiple trips leading to continued alterations to the fabric of events, it all adds up in terms of severe physical wear and tear. 

Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine is a very special case when it comes to time travel. To be fair, the comedy ensemble franchise gets points for having its protagonists travel only within their own bodies. As for how one can actually travel with said titular device, apparently you need an energy drink, the right hot tub with the right temperature, and some convenient writing. 

Real-time bodily damage. That’s probably one of the most unique additions to Looper’s usage of time travel , as we see people incur damage in the past, only for it to show up on their future selves. Poor Seth ( Paul Dano ) demonstrated that lesson the hard way in Rian Johnson ’s sci-fi masterpiece. 

Star Trek: Generations

What if you could wish really hard to create an alternate timeline? Or what if you could send yourself back to your best memory, and never leave? That’s what The Nexus from Star Trek: Generations could do, and both Captains Kirk (William Shatner) and Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) got a taste of that sweet life, before ultimately using their new power to stop the villainous Dr. Soren (Malcolm McDowell). 

Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure

If you ever want to bring a figure from history home for dinner in the present, do it in the universe of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure . There are little to no consequences, especially when it comes to our heroes (Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves) whisking away two medieval princesses to become betrothed in the 1980s. Seriously, how did that not start a war?

The Time Traveler's Wife

“Chrono Impairment” is a seriously rare affliction, but it’s enough of a headache that it prevents Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana’s clock-crossed lovers from ever enjoying a normal life. Such is the nature of The Time Traveler's Wife , which invented that affliction to send Bana’s character Henry on unpredictable trips at unforeseeable intervals throughout his life. 

Indiana Jones And Dial Of Destiny

For Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny's time travel to actually happen, the world of Harrison Ford’s iconic archeologist needed specific hardware. Aided by some very precise calculations to try and take the Nazis to where they were trying to go, it wasn't as simple as jumping into a car and gunning it to 88 miles per hour. 

Star Trek: First Contact

For a franchise that uses temporal transit as much as the Star Trek series does, there sure are a lot of different ways to go back in time. And if you’re not satisfied with The Voyage Home’s method of a slingshot orbit around the Sun, then you can always do what Star Trek: First Contact did. While I wouldn’t personally recommend waiting for a Borg invasion to cause a temporal wake you can just hitch a ride on; you do you. 

Ok, so technically Tenet’s shenanigans involving time is “time inversion,” rather than time travel. Which only makes the journey, and the resulting reality The Protagonist (John David Washington) lives in all the more complicated. It also makes for some classic Christopher Nolan mind melts.

Would this really be a sci-fi party if author Michael Crichton didn’t show up? Timeline’s time travel is a lot of fun, if you consider using a “human fax machine” to send yourself to medieval times “fun.” In which case, try not to abuse it too much, as every trip has the chance to leave you with transcription errors in your reassembled DNA. Again, we’re working with a fax machine here.  

Somewhere In Time

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for Christopher Reeve fans! Somewhere in Time just had to be on this list, as it's pretty unique in how it sends a person back through the ages. In the case of Reeve’s playwright Richard, all he needs is a really powerful hypnotic focus to zoom back to 1912. 

Star Trek (2009)

It’s kind of fitting that the 2009 Star Trek reboot would use time travel, given that the series has continually danced with that concept on TV and in movies. For this J.J. Abrams-directed venture, the destructive and inexact force of a black hole is what’s used to accidentally alter time so vastly that William Shatner turns into Chris Pine.

Déjà Vu

Tony Scott’s 2006 action-thriller Déjà Vu is a big movie with a relatively limited scope. With intelligence gathering, and ultimately one human transport, that can only go as far back as four and a half days, Denzel Washington’s work was kind of cut out for him on this caper.

The Tomorrow War

The Chris Pratt-starring time travel ensemble adventure The Tomorrow War has some pretty huge stipulations when it comes to recruiting an army for the future. The largest among them was, of course, you had to be dead according to the records of the future hellscape that pitted humanity against some very nasty creatures.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past

Going from here to there in the then and now in X-Men: Days of Future Past requires a serious amount of power. With Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) going back to his past body, the key to how it all happens lies in the phasing abilities of Kitty Pryde (Elliot Page). So this story uses a very physical, and incredibly vulnerable, method to execute its vision.

Out of all the time travel universes we’ve seen on screen, perhaps the one I feel the most sorry for is the one shown in 12 Monkeys . The basic rule of this Bruce Willis epic’s temporal transit is “hope for the best,” thanks to the method of being shot through time and intending to land in the right place going wrong more often than you think.

Midnight In Paris

Reminiscent of many other vehicular-based time travel films like Back to the Future , any character that travels through time in Midnight In Paris just needs to catch the right ride, at just about Midnight. The experience is bespoke to whoever is traveling, as the period of time that suits them best also dictates the method of transportation provided.

The Final Countdown

Dropping an aircraft carrier from the 1980s into the moments before Pearl Harbor, The Final Countdown delivers a moral dilemma plenty of time travelers have tangled with. But the real difference with this underrated sci-fi movie is the fact that the time-traveling storm that is responsible for the trip is inescapable. You’re going home, whether you want to or not.

Sharing a similarity with the romantic classic Somewhere In Time , Richard Curtis’ About Time allows any potential traveler to jump into the past with merely intense concentration. However, certain caveats are in play, like the recommendation of not traveling past certain life milestones, or the fact that only the men of the Lake family can actually use this gift.

Donnie Darko

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) can’t exactly travel through time in Donnie Darko , but he does have a special temporal ability that’s kind of funny and kind of sad. With the ability to open a wormhole between the present and the past, Mr. Darko can send objects through time; the skill that gives Richard Kelly’s movie its bittersweet ending. 

Kate & Leopold

Kate & Leopold’s usage of a localized time portal is a method as old as time. However, the big difference with this Meg Ryan/Hugh Jackman rom-com is that the journey Leopold (Jackman) takes to the “future” of 2001 robs us all of elevators. Also, there’s a ticking clock on this specific portal’s usage, which only complicates things further.

Groundhog Day

Perhaps the movie that nailed the time loop into the consciousness of the world, Groundhog Day brought us a charming Bill Murray rom-com mixed with a time travel story. Its misanthropic lead needed to change, even as the world around him stayed the same. The rest was sci-fi history in the making. 

Happy Death Day

What happens if you make a Groundhog Day-style time loop into a deadly game? You get a movie like Happy Death Day , in which our initially unlikable lead Tree (Jessica Rothe) is being stalked through a single-day time loop. The big kicker in this variant is that, unlike your standard time loop, Tree has a finite number of cycles before she possibly dies for good.

Where does one start with director Joseph Kahn’s Detention? Well, how about the fact that the teenagers in play (including a pre- Hunger Games Josh Hutcherson) use a stuffed bear as a time travel capsule? Or the fact that a mother/daughter pair can body swap on a permanent basis, and with no consequences? 

And with that, our supreme sampling of time travel trips has come to a close. Which more than likely has left you with a want to watch some of these movies again, or for the first time. That's totally natural, because this is a subgenre that always leaves us with one question: is there ever a bad time to watch a time travel movie?

Mike Reyes is the Senior Movie Contributor at CinemaBlend, though that title’s more of a guideline really. Passionate about entertainment since grade school, the movies have always held a special place in his life, which explains his current occupation. Mike graduated from Drew University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, but swore off of running for public office a long time ago. Mike's expertise ranges from James Bond to everything Alita, making for a brilliantly eclectic resume. He fights for the user.

Fans Want Lord Of The Rings’ Viggo Mortensen In The New Movie, And He Recently Took Up Aragorn’s Sword For Another Movie

Jurassic Park Author Michael Crichton’s Posthumous Novel Eruption Is Getting Turned Into A Movie, And I’m Jazzed About The Latest Updates On Its Progress

I Saw A Preview Of Zack Snyder's Twilight Of The Gods, And The Animated Netflix Series Looks Like A Rad, Beautiful Depiction Of Norse Mythology

Most Popular

• 2 Fans Want Lord Of The Rings’ Viggo Mortensen In The New Movie, And He Recently Took Up Aragorn’s Sword For Another Movie
• 3 Hacks Is One Of The Best Comedies On Television Right Now, But There Is One Way The Show Could Be Even Better
• 4 Sabrina Carpenter Puts Barry Keoghan In Handcuffs For Latest Music Video, And It's An Iconic Move For The Couple
• 5 Jurassic Park Author Michael Crichton’s Posthumous Novel Eruption Is Getting Turned Into A Movie, And I’m Jazzed About The Latest Updates On Its Progress

Money blog: The 24-minute rule - What time you should actually arrive at cinema to avoid adverts

We've gathered information from the UK's major cinema chains and spoken to experts about how long you can expect adverts and trailers to run until the main event actually begins. Read this and the rest of our Weekend Money content below and we'll be back on Monday with live updates.

Saturday 8 June 2024 08:06, UK

Weekend Money

• How long trailers last at each cinema chain - and what time you should get there
• Your comments : Concert prices, state of UK airports, self-service kiosks at Subway and HMRC glitch
• £2,000 tax hikes and interest rate cuts - the two things you need to know from Money this week

Best of the week

• Money Problem : 'I returned an item by post to Nike, they say they never got it and won't refund - what can I do?'
• Why you should consider swapping chicken breasts out of your shopping basket
• 100,000 reportedly due to remortgage onto higher rates before election - here's what you need to know
• How brands get you to buy more, more, more
• How much are student loans, when do you start paying back and what is the interest?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

By Narbeh Minassian , news reporter

The time on your ticket is 7pm, but you already know it's not going to start then.

So, what time do you get to the cinema?

If you're arriving at 7.10pm, you're almost certainly safe, but any later and you may cut it fine.

Here, we've gathered information from the UK's major cinema chains and spoken to experts about how long you can expect adverts and trailers to run until the main event actually begins.

According to the Cineworld website, ads and trailers "normally last between 30-45 minutes before the actual film begins".

The cinema also asks customers to collect tickets at least 20 minutes before the listed time "to make the most of their visit".

There appears to be a shorter wait at Odeon, which claims advert and trailer length is "typically 15-25 minutes" - but this varies with each performance and can be "considerably less".

"We always recommend to avoid disappointment you arrive with enough time to enter the screen at the scheduled performance start time," the website says.

There's a wider range at Everyman, which says it plays 25 minutes' worth of adverts and trailers.

But beware - "the length of ads and trailers varies for special events and it can be between 15 and 40 minutes, subject to type of event".

There isn't any specific information on the website and we got no response when we reached out to them, but Showcase did respond to a customer on social media on this very question.

In a May 2022 tweet, the cinema said: "The advertised time is when the adverts/ trailers start and are approximately 20-25 minutes long before each show."

Vue offers a more precise window: "Please be aware that most films have around 20 to 25 minutes of ads and trailers before the feature starts."

Its only recommendation is to be in your seat at the time stated so you "don't take any chances in missing the start of your film".

'In general, it's 24 minutes'

Karen Stacey, the chief executive of Digital Cinema Media, which supplies advertisement for the likes of Odeon, Vue and Cineworld, told Sky News the wait is typically 24 minutes - 12 minutes for ads, and 12 for trailers.

This remains true whatever the film and whatever the time of day, with about 95% of DCM's schedules "exactly the same".

"It's very formulaic, that's what consumers are used to," she said. "By making it consistent in length, people are always happy to come and join in."

She said 24 minutes gives schedulers enough time to prepare the film and allow a more staggered entry for the audience - while also bringing in revenue.

Any longer than half an hour, though, is "rare".

"Cinemas want to have as many films in as possible and they want to be mindful they don't finish too late in the evening," Ms Stacey said.

"My experience working with them is they are quite strict."

Are there rules over the length?

As the above suggests, there aren't any set rules or procedures governing cinema advertising length.

Kathryn Jacob, chief executive of cinema advertising company Pearl & Dean, said the length was determined by the cinema.

"Some cinemas take only one ad, like the BFI IMAX, and the maximum length is determined by the cinemas themselves," she told Sky News.

"Factors determining the length depend on demand from advertisers and the films that a cinema might want to showcase to the audience that's at the screening via trailers."

Cinema policy is the key decider and she said research has shown audiences find advertising in cinema "part of the entertainment".

Do viewers like the adverts and trailers?

Ms Jacob may have a point.

According to research published by DCM , advertising in cinemas is more effective than in any other media.

For a 60-second advert in the cinema, viewers will watch 48 seconds, which is a far higher proportion than TV or social media.

It is also highly trusted, with DCM citing a survey by IPA Touchpoints claiming nearly 100% of respondents say they trust what they see in the cinema - for comparison, 75% trust TV adverts.

Avid cinema-goer Bill Boswell, who pays £18 a month for an unlimited pass at Cineworld on the Isle of Wight, said he was happy to wait.

"I know that these adverts help pay for the cinema to run," he told Sky News. "The cinema is my place to escape, so it's good for my mental health and I would not want to lose it.

"If I watch at home, I can sometimes reach for my mobile phone, but a film on the big screen would get my 100% attention, so I just accept the pre-show adverts."

But what are the drawbacks?

The main thing Mr Boswell considers is his car, as his nearest Cineworld offers three hours of free parking.

"I would sometimes plan on 30 minutes of trailers and work back so I can fit the free parking in, as the cinema costs enough already," he said.

"If the film is more than two and a half hours, I park outside town and walk to the cinema."

Consumer expert Martin Lewis raised parking tickets as one of the issues in a 2019 tweet, in which he said he waited 33 minutes for a film to start.

Responding to one user, he said greater clarity would help customers to save on parking tickets and babysitting, while giving "legitimate expectation".

"And there's no rigorous research that prices [cinema tickets] would go up - they're often set by market demand," he added.

Are there alternatives?

If you want to avoid the pre-show altogether, your best bet might be independent or community cinemas.

Draycott Community Cinema, for example, is the only cinema in the Somerset village and is run by volunteers.

Committee member Chloe Haywood told Sky News they are always debating how long to make their pre-show.

They try to keep it to two short trailers, often without any adverts - though they are planning to find a sponsor later this year.

"We do find that it sets the audience up for the screening," she said, referring to their brief pre-show.

"We don't have trailers for long. They're to advertise the next two films, any local news that might be of interest, and then standard 'switch off your phones' type info."

We had a lot of feedback after our in-depth look at why concert ticket prices are so high these days...

Here's some of what you said...

Why do arenas and sports events have to charge so much for food and drinks? Over £8 a pint is absolutely scandalous and opportunistic greed. Britain is an absolute rip off. Lee J

In the same way that football has been gentrified, music is being steered towards the rich and middle class - real fans like me are no longer wanted by agents like Ticketmaster. Frontman

The ones responsible are the ones paying the prices like with coffee shops and other consumer products. Stop paying stupid prices, they won't charge them! Toby

Why are resale tickets allowed to be tripled or quadrupled? Recently offered a David Gilmour ticket for £600??? Springbok

1970... $7.50 to see Elvis at his prime in Vegas. The greatest entertainer ever. 2020... £300 to see Taylor Swift. The most overrated singer around today.  I know who got the best deal there! Steve Elliott

A quick calculation shows $7.50 in 1970 is the equivalent of $60.61 today.

Next, a brief mention of Subway's decision to change its ordering process in all stores to electronic kiosks by the end of the year...

Some readers complained in our comments box but when we asked our followers on LinkedIn whether they liked or loathed self-service via a screen, this was the result...

Another post that got you exercised contained quotes from the boss of Emirates comparing Heathrow to a Second World War airport ...

There wasn't much love for the UK's biggest airport from readers - or for any other airport across the country...

There need to be a lot of change at Heathrow! Specially with immigration checks. The long queues are killing me, someone can't wait 2hrs in a queue to get a clearance, it's absurd! Cheka

Heathrow is not the only one. Coming back to UK through Gatwick yesterday was a sobering experience. Tatty floor covering, scuffed and drab paint everywhere. Wall graphics lacking any imagination or vibrancy. Narrow walkways and corridors. Doesn't show the UK in a good light all. Frequent traveller

Heathrow a Second World War airport? Try coming off a plane with 300 others at Leeds Bradford and queueing outside in the cold and pouring rain trying to shuffle in through a small door that looks like it used to be an emergency exit. How difficult can it be to erect something? Paula Blue

I totally disagree Heathrow is as bad as the president says. Has he ever visited Manchester Airport? AJ

A major HMRC glitch on Monday meant 500,000 families did not get their child benefit on time. Multiple readers wrote in with their views...

So they will be paying compensation then? As they would fine us for late payments... Cybertuck

HMRC? Apologise? Due to an error by working tax credits, I've only just been paid six years' worth. And as to child maintenance payments… I can't even begin to discuss that without crying. LWE

Is there any government IT system in this country that works as it should? Tudor1

I don't have children, very sadly, but if I were told that HMRC were "sorry" for this glitch I would probably feel very violent. We get a lot of apologies these days which mean absolutely nothing (regrettably). Gillydhill

Confirming the problem had been fixed late on Monday afternoon, HMRC said: "We are very sorry some customers didn't receive their scheduled child benefit payments as expected and we understand the concern and difficulty this may have caused. 

"We've fixed the problem and affected customers will now receive their payments on Wednesday morning."

The news agenda this week has been dominated by election campaigning - with the first leaders' debate taking place on Tuesday night.

It saw Rishi Sunak cheer his supporters with the repeated claim that Labour would put up taxes by £2,000.

Sir Keir Starmer was, most observers thought, far too slow to respond - but the claim began to unravel the next day.

Data and economics editor Ed Conway's analysis of the Tory calculations suggested the £2,000 rise was actually spread out over four years - so £500 a year may have been a more suitable number for the PM to throw at his opponent.

Concluding his piece, Conway said you "probably shouldn't" believe the figures - but if you used the same methodology as the Tories, it would show they had put up taxes by £3,000 a year over the course of this parliament. Or £13,000, if you wanted to present the numbers in the same way as Mr Sunak did during the debate. 

Read Conway's full analysis here ...

Some distance from Westminster, the 20 countries that use the euro saw an interest rate cut this week - the European Central Bank moving before the US Fed and Bank of England.

A cut in the UK is currently priced in by markets for September - in the meantime, British holidaymakers could benefit from a weaker euro against the pound.

Business presenter Ian King says a potential weakening of the euro could have wider implications.

He explained: "It comes with risks, not least in terms of pushing up the cost of imports - particularly energy, which is priced in dollars, which could in turn push up inflation."

The price of exports into the US could go down - potentially undercutting American firms.

King went on: "A weaker euro would also carry risks in a US election year in which both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, his challenger, will be seeking to out-bid each other with protectionist policies."

Read his full analysis here ...

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

The BBC's content arm is among the suitors vying to buy the television production company which owns the rights to The Gruffalo.

Sky News has learnt that BBC Studios is participating in a sale process for Magic Light Pictures, which has won three BAFTAs and secured a quartet of Oscar nominations.

The auction is being run by Gotham Street, a specialist media deals boutique.

A number of other bidders are also said to be involved in the process given the quality of Magic Light's content library, which includes a number of works by The Gruffalo's creators, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The Gruffalo has become one of Britain's best-known children's characters, telling the story of an adventurous mouse that fends off a series of would-be predators by telling them about a supposedly imaginary creature called a gruffalo.

In the 2011 sequel, The Gruffalo's Child, the mouse then scares off a young gruffalo by using shadows to project a giant version of itself.

The two films have been distributed internationally by Magic Light, and along with the original Gruffalo books have sparked substantial merchandising revenues as well as a theme park attraction at Chessington World of Adventures.

The woman alleged to be the inspiration for the stalker in hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer is suing the streaming platform for $170m (£133m).

The show is said to be based on the real-life experiences of writer Richard Gadd, who plays himself as he copes with stalker Martha Scott.

Fiona Harvey, 58, claims she is the inspiration for Martha, who begins stalking Gadd after he serves her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.

In the lawsuit, Ms Harvey has accused Netflix of spreading "brutal lies", including that she is a "twice convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison".

"Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money," it states.

"As a result of defendants' lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey's life had been ruined."

Sky News's US partner network NBC News reports the lawsuit described the show's claim "this is a true story" as "the biggest lie in television history".

"Netflix destroyed a woman, claiming, among many allegations, that she was a convicted woman," Richard Roth, a lawyer for Ms Harvey, wrote in an email.

"It never contacted her. It never checked the facts. It never made any effort to understand the truth of its 'true story!'"

The lawsuit seeks actual damages and compensatory damages at $50m (£39m) each, punitive damages at $20m (£16m); as well as "all profits" from Baby Reindeer at $50m (£39m).

A Netflix spokesperson told Sky News: "We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd's right to tell his story."

Administrators to The Body Shop are aiming to clinch a sale of the stricken cosmetics retailer by the end of the month, even as its former owner veers away from making an offer for it.

Sky News' city editor Mark Kleinman has learnt that FRP Advisory, which was appointed to handle the chain's insolvency in January, has asked for indicative bids by next Tuesday.

British entrepreneur Mike Lynch has been cleared of all charges by a US jury in the high-profile fraud case related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

Dr Lynch, who was extradited to the US to face trial just over a year ago, was acquitted alongside a former finance executive Stephen Chamberlain who had faced the same charges.

They were accused of conspiracy and attempted fraud over the £8.3bn sale to HP - a deal that has been the subject of costly legal action since.

Labour is promising to get more young people on the housing ladder as it announces its "freedom to buy" scheme on Friday.

The party is pledging to make the existing mortgage guarantee scheme - which sees the government act as a guarantor for people unable to save big deposits - into a permanent fixture if it wins the election on 4 July.

Meanwhile, the Tories are promising a tax cut for parents by raising the threshold for when families have to pay a levy on their child benefit.

The current system means if either parents or a parent's partner earns more than £60,000, they begin paying the high income child benefit tax charge, and lose the benefit altogether when a salary hits £80,000.

But if the Tories win the election on 4 July, they have promised to increase the threshold to £120,000 before any tax is paid, and to £160,000 before the benefit is withdrawn, as well as base it on a household income, rather than an individual.

Ever wanted to own your own Victorian island fort?

Well now you can - with two being listed with a guide price of £1m.

Spitbank Fort in Hampshire and No Man's Land Fort off the Isle of Wight have been listed for auction and can be bought separately - or as a pair if you can't pick between the two.  

During the Second World War, the forts were used to defend the Portsmouth dockyards. 

No Man's Fort is substantially bigger and probably presents itself more as a business opportunity, but Spitbank offers nine large bedroom suites across three floors and could potentially work as a private home to the right buyer. 

No Man's Fort has its own traditional English pub, a nightclub, and a helipad, while Spitbank Fort naturally boasts a wine cave plus a swimming pool and spa complex.

"Throughout my career as an auctioneer I've seen several sea forts hit the market that have achieved impressive prices as buyers have sought to pursue these trophy assets," said Robin Howeson, head of Savills Auctions.

"Having been carefully restored by the current owners, No Man's and Spitbank Fort represent exceptional market value, each guided at £1m. 

"Both offer an opportunity like no other; a waterfront location, up to 99,000sq ft of space and a chance to champion the heritage and legacy of these iconic maritime structures."

The auction takes place on 18 June. 

If you missed out on the general sales but want to bag yourself a last-minute ticket to Taylor Swift's show in Edinburgh tonight , it could set you back a whopping £4,000. 

Not to fear, however, as it is currently possible to land yourself a ticket for as little as £271 - if you settle for a somewhat restricted view. 

We've checked resale giant Viagogo for the latest prices, accurate as of 10.30am. 

As is often the case with popular tours listed on resale sites, many of the tickets are sold individually - so if you're happy to go alone tonight, you're more likely to get a ticket. 

For context, a ticket at general sale cost somewhere between £80-£160 depending on where you sit/stand. 

As it stands, the cheapest seat with an unrestricted view of the stage is currently up for sale at £323.

Just one ticket is up for £271, but has a "restricted view". 

Bringing a crowd

If you're looking to take someone with you, the cheapest pair of tickets without any restricted view will cost you a combined £1,706.

However, if you're happy with a restricted or limited view, you can pay the cheaper price of £538 for the pair (£269 each). 

You can buy up to four tickets in the same area for £303 each (£1,212 together) for a restricted view, or £555 each (£2,220 together) for an unobstructed view of the stage. 

Getting closer to the action 

Standing tickets are much sought after given their proximity to the stage. 

As alluded to at the top of this post, one frankly optimistic reseller has listed four general admission tickets for a staggering £4,256 each (in the "floor" section shown in the map below). 

However, you can get even closer - with one ticket remaining in the separate section to the left of the stage at £651 and another to the right at £559. 

A word of caution

Ticket resale sites, including Viagogo, have previously been accused of "ripping off" consumers amid concerns customers could be turned away at venues because of restrictions on some resold tickets.

The company was told in 2019 that it was required to make a number of changes to the way it collects and presents information about tickets on its site.

It has since pledged to be compliant with UK watchdogs and now offers a "100% order guarantee [which] covers both buyers and sellers".

If you're happy paying over the odds for last-minute tickets, make sure you're buying through a site with such a guarantee and always beware of scams!

House prices in the UK dropped by 0.1% between April and May, data from mortgage lender Halifax shows.

Analysts had expected a drop of around 0.2%, while last week, rival lender Nationwide said its measure of house prices rose in May after falling in the previous two months.

In the 12 months to May, prices rose by 1.5%, Halifax said - faster than the median forecast in a Reuters news agency poll for an annual increase of 1.2%.

"Market activity remained resilient throughout the spring months, supported by strong nominal wage growth and some evidence of an improvement in confidence about the economic outlook," Halifax's head of mortgages, Amanda Bryden, said.

The stable picture for property prices over the last three months was likely to give more confidence to buyers and sellers, she added. 

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Get the Best Car Insurance

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

For a lot of people, buying car insurance is like buying sliced bread. It’s not the most exciting purchase, and the options all seem similar. So thrifty shoppers might simply reach for the cheapest thing on the shelf. But like cheap bread, cheap car insurance may leave you wishing you spent a little more on quality.

“The cheapest is not always the best,” warns Jessica McNally, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Dallas. That’s because there are lots of factors that make up a car insurance company. And while price is one of them, it’s best to look at the bigger picture.

Here’s what to look for when picking the best car insurance company.

1. Choose a financially stable company

The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers’ claims. It’s important to check an insurer’s financial stability before buying a policy, especially if it’s a smaller insurer you’ve never heard of.

There are several independent agencies that evaluate the financial strength of insurance companies. One example is A.M. Best. You can use its online search tool to find an insurer’s financial strength rating. Companies with a rating of A or higher are considered to have an excellent ability to pay out customer claims.

2. Check customer satisfaction ratings and reviews

Not every insurer is customer-first. That’s why it’s important to research the customer satisfaction of insurers you’re considering.

You can turn to surveys from companies like J.D. Power to find insurers with the best customer satisfaction scores [0] J.D. Power . Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . Or, if you don’t mind doing a little detective work, you can compare customer complaints against insurers by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website . But take other people’s emotionally charged comments about companies or agents you might read online with a grain of salt, McNally advises.

3. Look for convenience

A great auto insurer should offer multiple ways to manage a policy. For example, some insurers allow customers to use a mobile app to file and track claims. But it’s hard to tell how simple it’ll be to file a claim or perform other essential tasks, like paying your premium, before becoming a customer.

Some telltale signs that an insurer will be easy to work with are high mobile app ratings, flexible customer service hours and an easy-to-use website with helpful content. Consider asking a company representative to walk you through the claims process to learn what you’ll need to do if you have to file a claim. And pay attention to how the company communicates with you. "If they don't properly communicate, well, that's a warning sign," says Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate for the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.

4. Pick an affordable company

Car insurance premiums are stretching to record-breaking heights [0] U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS . Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources , and almost half of U.S. consumers shopped for a new car insurance policy in the past year, according to an April 2024 report by J.D. Power [0] J.D. Power . Half of Auto Insurance Customers Currently Shopping for New Policies, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates and a variety of potential discounts.

It’s not hard to get car insurance quotes online from many companies. Make sure you compare the same coverage options throughout the quote-gathering process. And don’t forget to look for car insurance discounts, like breaks for being a good driver, paying your premium in full or driving a new car.

More tips to find the best car insurance

When shopping for the best car insurance, keep the following tips in mind.

Assess your needs. Before buying car insurance, take a moment to reflect on what’s important to you and your family. For example, maybe you prioritize affordability and a well-polished mobile app, but don’t need accident forgiveness .  

Consider small insurers. There are lots of small insurance companies you’ve probably never heard of. These regional insurers may provide lower rates and better customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV.

Work with an independent agent. While it may be easy to get quotes yourself, independent car insurance agents and brokers can streamline the process. These experts vet companies and compile quotes from small and large insurers on your behalf. Independent agents and brokers can especially come in handy if you have a less-than-perfect driving record and can’t find insurance on your own.

Do your research. Search online for recent mentions of a company in the news before buying a policy, recommends DeLong. If you find a company has lots of recent lawsuits against it, you may want to think twice about signing on the dotted line. “And if they've had to pay out settlements, that's an even bigger red flag,” DeLong says.

Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance every year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so what might have been the most affordable option last year may no longer be a bargain.

On a similar note...

Free car insurance comparison

Instantly compare top auto insurance companies.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Preclearance

Learn About Preclearance

Sites and contact information, preclearance expansion.

Preclearance operates at 15 locations worldwide

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance is the strategic stationing of CBP personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights. With Preclearance, travelers then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.

Today, CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.

In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travelers, representing over 16 percent of all commercial air travelers to the United States.

Preclearance Videos

History of preclearance, media assets.

Transcript: https://www.cbp.gov/video/opa/ preclearance/preclearance-history.srt  

Preclearance Benefits

Transcript: https://www.cbp.gov/video/opa/ preclearance/benefits.srt  

Preclearance Experience

Transcript: https://www.cbp.gov/video/opa/ preclearance/preclearance-curb-to-curb.srt  

The History of Preclearance

The preclearance experience, the benefits of preclearance.

In operation since 1952, Preclearance has proven benefits for all major stakeholders in the air travel industry. Click below to learn about the specific benefits for each group.

Traveler Benefits

• No Security or Waiting Upon U.S. Arrival - Skip CBP and TSA inspection lines upon arrival in the U.S and proceed directly to a connecting flight or final destination.
• Easier Domestic Connections - Accept tighter connection windows at U.S. airports and be less likely to miss a domestic connection.

Airline Benefits

• Cost Savings - Access less expensive U.S. domestic gates and more flexible arrival times at airports in the U.S.
• Increase U.S. Market Access - Establish new routes to desirable U.S. destinations that meet growing traveler demand.

Airport Benefits

• New U.S. Destinations - Enable new direct routes to 160+ U.S. airports regardless of whether they have a CBP port of entry. Gain an advantage over competitors for the U.S.-bound traveler market.
• Terminal of the Future - Bring innovative technologies like facial recognition biometrics that expedite passenger processing, and help meet the demand of rising passenger volume to the U.S.

Government Benefits

• Enhance Security – Bolster the safety and security of all travelers while facilitating efficient trade and travel.
• Greater Collaboration - Increase collaboration and coordination between the U.S. and host governments through daily interaction with local law enforcement partners and other government authorities.

Preclearance Sites and Contact Information

Preclearance field operations.

22001 Loudoun County Parkway Mail Stop 1330 Ashburn, VA 20598-1330

Questions & Customer Service

For general CBP inquiries, please call the CBP INFO Center Monday-Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time. General Inquiries: 1-877-CBP(227)-5511 International Callers: (202) 325-8000 TDD: https://www.fcc.gov/trs/

Preclearance Site Locations

Click below to find contact information for any of the 15 Preclearance sites worldwide.

Please use your International Direct Dialing Number in place of the '+' for the country you are calling from. For example, if you are calling from the U.S., use 011; France, use 00; Australia, 0011.

United Arab Emirates