The Victorian period is called that because it was during the reign of Queen Victoria - she sat on the throne from 1837 to 1901. During this period there were vast changes and new discoveries in England.
When she was crowned, England was mainly rural with many farms and small towns. By the time she died, England was highly industrialised and everywhere was connected by railways.

It was only during Victorian times that all British towns used the same time. Before this each town had its own time.

During the Victorian times England became the most powerful country in the world, thanks to the explorers and discoverers in Tudor times. Travellers from England had started living in far off places and newly discovered countries.

Victorian ladies used to keep their legs covered at all times, if a gentleman saw a lady's ankle it was considered very rude!

In 1863, 11 football teams met to form the first professional football league.

John Calcott Horsely started the most lovely Christmas tradition... sending Christmas cards.

Workers had no alarm clock, instead the noise from the boilers starting in the nearby factory was enough to wake them!

In 1841 Thomas Cook organized the first advertised rail trip from Leicester to Loughborough. Cook eventually set up his own travel agency.

The Victorians invented most things we see at the seaside; they even invented the first ice cream cone! Agnes Marshall claimed to have made the first ice cream cornet in 1888.

British law said that no man could propose to the Queen, so Victoria had to ask for Prince Albert's hand in marriage.

Children without fathers were sent to the workhouse with their mothers if the family was too poor to support them.

Queen Victoria survived at least seven attempts to assassinate her, including several shootings!

The Victorian age saw the introduction of the first dentist drill and the first porcelain false teeth.