Kids

 

The Victorians

(1837-1901)

Victoria became Queen when she was just 18 years old. During her reign, there were advances in technology, inventions and scientific discoveries that changed the way that people thought about the world, like Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. However, while wealthy middle- and upper-class people could afford new products, large houses, and servants, many were living in poverty. Lots of people (including children) worked in mines, factories, and mills or as servants to wealthy families.

So, what was life really like for the Victorians? Scroll down this page to find out what it was like to be a Victorian apprentice, who Charles Darwin was, and why his theory was so important, all about Queen Victoria, and more!

Who was Charles Darwin?

Explore the life of this famous Victorian scientist: his family home at Down House, his experiments and a very famous book! Plus, find out how you can have a go at conducting your own Darwin inspired experiments at home and learn to draw this famous scientist.

Discover Darwin

Videos!

Featured video: A day in the life: Victorians

What was life like for Charles Darwin's children? Join Bessie Darwin for a day to find out!

Image: Illustration of Victorian cook Mrs Crocombe mixing a bowl with a table of food behind her

What's for dinner in a Victorian country house?

Lord and Lady Braybrooke are hosting a grand dinner party at Audley End. Dinners could be fancy, with 15 to 20 guests enjoying several courses, each served with wine from the house cellar. Tap or click below to find out what's on the menu and try cooking one of Mrs Crocombe's recipes for yourself!

Enter the kitchen

Quiz time!

Could you be a Victorian gardener? Or does dining at the top tables in the land sound more like you? Take our fun quizzes to find out whether you could fit in with the Victorians!

Read Kids Rule! online

Read issues 10 and 25 of Kids Rule! magazine to learn about life for the Victorians. Explore Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight, find out about Charles Darwin's experiments and life for his children, find out if you're up to Victorian standards with our fun quizzes and much more!

The Kids Rule! magazine series follows the history of England, to help you discover more about the past through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions.

Download a Victorian poster!

We've created a series of posters showing how people lived in England through the ages, like this one showing life in a busy Victorian city. If you're feeling creative, why not download our black and white sheets and colour your own posters using pencils, pens or paints.

Each of the historical posters follow on from each other, so that when you download them all you can create your own mega timeline of English history!