What to do in Regency Era London for fun?

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Broadwayboy1994

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So, I have a character who while his lord friend is making a social call to a young woman he's probably gonna marry, decides to explore early 19th century London. Granted, he's from the 21st century and has the proper clothes and money, so what could he do for fun? Was theater popular or maybe a pub? Are there areas of London someone dressed as a lord should avoid? I want him to cause a little bit of scandal by visiting a bookstore or somewhere someone of his "station" shouldn't be seen? Not like a mollyhouse or anything but something a little innocent. Thank you!
 

waylander

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Google search "Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens"
 

lonestarlibrarian

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If you're really curious, you might check out "Palace and Hovel", originally published in 1870. An American journalist was stationed in London, and amused himself by making a top-to-bottom tour of all the nooks and crannies in London he could wrangle access to--- from Queen Victoria's patchouli-scented bedroom (while she wasn't around, of course) all the way to the most impoverished slums (with a policeman for his tour guide to make the proper introductions and make sure he didn't die in the process).

The Regency era ended in 1837, so this takes place about 30 years later--- but a lot of the places are still the same.
 
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Alessandra Kelley

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If you want to see what London looked like at the time, look up George Johann Scharf. He was a watercolorist and printmaker from Bavaria who came to London in 1816.

In 1831 the English government demolished the old London Bridge and built a new one. This necessitated demolishing a number of buildings and streets leading up to the area.

Scharf documented what was just about to be destroyed, drawing and painting an impressive number of detailed streetscapes of Regency London (parts of which dated back to before the Renaissance), rows of buildings, taverns, wine shops, churches, hotels, etc. near Old London Bridge. You can also see details of the streets like horse posts and lamps and how curbs were formed.
 

Marissa D

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Visiting a bookstore would not be scandalous.

There are many books out there on upper class social life in the Regency--I would strongly recommend jumping in and reading a few titles. Readers of Regency-set romance tend to be pretty knowledgeable about the history of the era, and will know if you've phoned in on research...and rate your story accordingly.
 
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