Queen’s Jubilee: How London has changed in the Queen’s lifetime

As we approach the Queen’s Jubilee to mark her 70-year reign, Mobile Phones Direct has created image sliders to show how London has changed during the Queen’s lifetime. 

The Queen recently celebrated her 96th birthday and in that time, the city she has called home has drastically changed. The historical image was taken in the 1920s, the same decade the Queen was born. 

In the historical image of the capital, the ships that line the Thames rise higher than Tower Bridge, a former standout in the skyline which is now overshadowed by The Shard, 20 Fenchurch Street (otherwise known as The Walkie Talkie tower), and more nearby skyscrapers.

Working ships no longer tower over the Thames, instead it’s The Shard. At 310 metres in height, not only is this the tallest building in London, but also in the UK.

Old London is unrecognisable to some

In fact, Mobile Phones Direct surveyed UK residents and nearly one in ten did not recognise the historic image as being London (8%). Of those who didn’t guess correctly, responses included ‘Paris’, ‘New York’, ‘Berlin’, ‘Newcastle upon Tyne’, ‘Liverpool’ and ‘Prague’. 

London’s skyline cost £25 billion to construct

With such a big change between the historic and modern-day image, the research has also calculated the construction cost of London’s 20 most iconic buildings over the past 100 years and converted this to today’s money. The city’s skyline comes with a price tag of nearly £25 billion, with Embassy Gardens being the most expensive building at £17 billion in today’s money.

Best spots to view the capital’s skyline

For those that are looking to visit London ahead of the celebrations, the research has also analysed the top recommendations to highlight the best places to go to view the beautiful skyline:  

• The Shard – With 360 degree views of London, The Shard is home to one of the tallest viewpoints of the city – there’s even an open air sky deck at the top.
• Sky Garden – Located at the top of the Walkie Talkie, Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden. While access to the garden is free, you can pay to take part in yoga sessions among the stunning backdrop, or stop for a bite to eat or drink.
• Emirates Air Line cable car – Another way to be high in the sky is to travel on the Emirates Air Line. Not only can you see the city around you as you travel 90 metres above the Thames, but you can move between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks to explore different sides to the river.
• Alexandra Palace – For those that may be scared of heights, Alexandra Palace is a great way to view the skyline with your feet firmly on the ground. Situated in North London, the area offers views of some of the tallest buildings in the city but from a distance. When you’ve taken in the amazing view, there’s plenty to do with the local ice rink and constant flow of events on at Alexandra Palace
• Primrose Hill – Set a bit closer to the inner city, this glorious hill close to Regents Park and Camden offers spectacular views of the capital’s skyline. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic, with plenty of bakeries and eateries around for a fresh snack. 

CITIES AT NIGHT: HOW THE WORLD’S SKYLINES HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME

Image sliders show how our cities have developed over the past decades

While many visit cities to explore and see the sights, one of the most unique and beautiful views to witness is a city’s skyline lit up at night. From a bird’s eye view that some may not ever get the opportunity to experience, the hustle and bustle of city life can be a breathtaking thing. 

However, the skylines of our favourite cities have not always looked the way they do today, with many seeing vast developments over the past decades. To mark the release of the new Samsung S22 and its new Nightography features, Mobile Phones Direct has created image sliders to show how different cities have changed over time.

Image Sliders

From London to Tokyo, the image sliders for each city show two different times. From a time of low buildings and busy boat crossings, the user can slide to built-up developments of skyscrapers and busy lights.

The images reflect a time before some of the world’s most iconic monuments were erected. For instance, Sydney’s slider depicts a world without the famous Sydney Opera House, while London’s shows a city without The Shard, The Gherkin and The Walkie Talkie.

On the other hand, for Paris and Tokyo the sliders show how the cities have developed around their renowned landmarks, the Eiffel Tower and the Tokyo Tower. Similarly, while The Three Graces still stand strong on the skyline of Liverpool, now there is a background including some of the city’s tallest buildings including West Tower and Radio City Tower.

Damian Gowland, Head of Group Mobile Purchasing at Mobile Phones Direct, says: “From these image sliders it’s spectacular to see how our cities have developed over time. From skyscrapers to monumental towers, it’s fascinating to see how our cities have grown to now be home to so many prominent landmarks. 

“While none of these images were taken on a Samsung S22, the new phone has incredible new Nightography features so users can try and take their own city skyline pictures themselves. With a 50MP wide camera that automatically adjusts exposure, we would love to see the beautiful skylines and night imagery users photograph.”

Key tips for when capturing content at night includes;

Stay Still

One of the trickiest elements to taking photos at night is to reduce any potential blurring. Even the slightest movement can cause the image to blur, so keep your phone camera still as much as possible. Prop your phone on a stable ledge to reduce movement or attach a mobile tripod for more stability.

Natural Light

A great element of taking photographs at night is to use the natural light you have available in your image. Whether that’s using the lights available from buildings like in the images above, or making the most of a street light or shop sign, natural light is a great resource for night time photography.

Prepare

Like anywhere you may go in the world, the darker it will get, the colder it will get. Make sure you’re prepared for the night with extra layering and any additional light sources you may need.

Find the full sliders and more information here: https://www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk/advice-and-inspiration/guides/nightography-capturing-our-changing-cities-at-night