TEA, TOURS AND TOP HATS

When it came to getting away from it all, our forebears weren't all that different from us...

- CHARLOTTE HODGMAN

STANDING STONES 

Much as it does today, Stonehenge has fascinated and intrigued visitors for centuries. In fact, it was common for Victorian tourists to visit the Neolithic monument armed with a hammer and chisel so that they could take some of the rock home as a souvenir. Thankfully, these sightseers - pictured in the 1860s seem to be content with merely relaxing against the ancient stones.

SUN, SEA AND SILK SKIRTS

The expansion of the railways in Britain during the 1840s revolutionised Victorian travel and opened people's eyes to the joys of the seaside. The refreshing sea air and sandy beaches of coastal locations like Blackpool, seen here in c1890-1900, quickly became popular holiday destinations for many Victorians. But social standards had to be maintained: crinolines, corsets, hats and bustles made up 19th-century beachwear, whatever the weather.

DON'T LOOK DOWN

The 19th century boasted its fair share of thrillseekers if this photograph, taken in c1900, is anything to go by. Seemingly unconcerned about the potential dangers of such a stunt, waitresses Kitty Tatch and Katherine Hazelston kick up their skirts on the edge of the famous Overhanging Rock at Glacier Point in California's Yosemite National Park - a dizzying 3,200ft above the ground below.

EASTERN DELIGHTS