From Buckingham Palace to the wards of a London's women's hospital, Christmas came to London just as it did to the rest of Victorian Britain. See how Christmas was celebrated in court - and how it was brought to those who couldn't be home with friends and family for the season.

Christmas Day on the Pavement (Illustrated London Almanack, 1855)

Christmas day amongst the street vendors of London.

Christmas at Court, by the Hon. Mrs. H. Armytage (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

A look at how Queen Victoria celebrated Christmas. Interestingly, though Victoria wrote of having enjoyed Christmas trees as a child, she and Prince Albert actually observed this tradition on New Year's Eve!

Christmas in the New Hospital for Women, by S.F.A. Caulfeild (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

How Christmas is celebrated in the wards of a London women's hospital.

Christmas Day in a London Hospital (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

Red Letter Days (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

A three-day "Christmas party" set up by the London school board to entertain children during the Christmas holidays.

Hospital Sketches (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

Discover how patients enjoyed "Christmas in the wards"!

The Queen's Christmas (Home Magazine, 1898)

On the decorations of the palace, the royal Christmas feast, and the gifts Queen Victoria hand-selects for her family.

Christmas in Old London, by Sir Walter Besant (Cassell's Magazine, 1900)

Merriment, mumming, church plays and a "boy bishop" were all part of London's great Christmas traditions!