London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom and the largest metropolitan area in the country. Located near the River Thames, it is a global city that prominently thrives in arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, and tourism and transport.[1]
Season
May through August, when the weather is at its best, is known as the "Season," and aristocrats leave their manors to their London townhouses in order to attend social events.[2]
Buckingham Palace is the residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarchy since 1837. Its first and current residing monarch is Queen Victoria.[3]
In late 1888, the "The Exhibition of Indian Culture and Its Prosperity in the British Empire" was held there. The exhibition showcased Great Britain's achievements and industry in India and included a curry contest Queen Victoria herself attended.
The East End is a dark area in London, plagued by poverty and crime. It is the designated place where people involved with the multinational underworld gather.[7]
The Funtom Music Hall is a newly erected venue operated by Funtom Corporation. It is situated directly across from Sphere Music Hall, its competitor, in London.
Limehouse is a district in East End.[14] For years, Qīng Bāng had a base of operations there.
Lock & Co. Hatters
Lock & Co. Hatters is the world's oldest hat shop, founded in 1676 by Robert Davis, and located at 6 St James's Street, London. It holds a Royal warrant.[15][16]
In December 1888, when it becomes apparent that Soma Asman Kadar and Agni have no intentions of leaving England to return to India, Ciel Phantomhive puts them in charge of managing his townhouse.[18]
The sewer system was built underneath London after the Great Stink in 1858.
The old sewer system had funnelled human waste and industrial effluent directly into the River Thames, and the river's pollution had led to various outbreaks of cholera. In July and August 1858, the smell had become stronger and unbearable due to the hot weather. From 1859 to 1875, the new waterway was built by civil engineerSir Joseph Bazalgette.[21][22]
The Sphere Music Hall is a popular venue that hosts a social gathering every Saturday night at eight o'clock in London. Its competitor is Funtom Music Hall.[25] In November 1889, the Penny Illustrated Paper reports on Sphere Music Hall's illicit activities. Since then, the music hall has ceased operations.[26]
Other places:
Harold Trading — a general store owned by Harold West Jeb[29]
Harold West — a Hindustani coffeehouse owned by Harold West Jeb[29] Lyceum Theatre — in March 1889, it showed the play The Lady of the Lake[30]
Saint Sophia Academy[31]
Unnamed cane shop — owned by the shopkeeper[32]
Unnamed coffeehouse in Piccadilly Circus[33]
Angel's Wing Antiques is a puppet store that Drossel Keinz runs for his master, the Earl of Mandalay. There, apart from small dolls, other little knick-knacks can be purchased.[35]
Mandalay Manor
Mandalay Manor is the base of operation of the Earl of Mandalay, Drossel Keinz' master. It is located behind the Angel's Wing Antiques.[35]
Turner's Photographs
Turner's Photographs is a photography studio. It is owned and run by Mr. Turner and his wife Margaret Turner.[36]
Trivia
As of August 1888, the population of London is 4.5 million—excluding the influx of people during the Season.[37]
Out of Universe
The real Daunt Book Store was originally called "Francis Edwards" and opened in 1912. The bookstore was renamed "Daunt Books" when James Daunt bought it in 1990.[38]
The real Globe-Trotter Company was founded in 1897[11] by David Nelken in Saxony, Germany. It only moved to the United Kingdom in 1932.[39]
Smiths' Olde Sweet Shoppe may have been modelled after Mr. Simm's Olde Sweet Shoppe, a store chain which sells confectionery in Victorian-style stores since 2004.[40]
