17th century London was the largest European city, combining the history and beauty of buildings by famous architects. Today, you can discover its most famous sightseeing places while walking along its streets. However, London is not only a popular touristic destination but also a city of sins and cool entertainment. Today, we can visit various quest rooms, restaurants, sports events, saloons, and gambling rooms whenever we want. But, isn’t it curious how Londoners had fun 400 years ago? Let’s find out!
Key Entertainment in the 17th Century London
Daily life in 17th century London was varied for the citizens of that time. London had more than 2,000 coffee houses, which everyone could attend. By paying a few pennies, one could smoke a pipe, read newspapers, and have pleasant conversations. Many of these cafes were used for gambling entertainment. Gamblers regularly spent time here, betting real money, losing, and risking their property. Of course, they were unable to use the latest no deposit casino bonus codes or play at the online casinos, but 17th-century gambling set a foundation for the further development of this sphere.
Londoners attended various events and participated in various activities. For example, the below activities were especially popular:
- Cockfighting – Such competitions were held in a round tower where spectators could sit and watch it live. The audience began to place bets and the cocks were released into the arena. Animals with silver spurs started to fight until some animal dies. After the end of the fight, everyone who bet on the losing bird pays money to the winner.
- Hunting bulls and bears – This was a special type of competition in which the bull is taken to the arena and more than 30 dogs were set against it. When the bull started to get tired, the bears were brought in. Standing on two legs, the animal had to fight with them till the end.
- Live performances – Regular performances took place on a dark stage, lit by bright candles. Before the play began, the actors were singing and dancing. The audience was very diverse – from aristocrats and respectable ladies to ordinary people who were interested in everything around.
- The Bartholomew Fair was a large-scale event attended by everyone. An improper lifestyle that did not correspond to the norms took place there. The actors abandoned the theater and wanted to show that they were much better than street acrobats who demonstrated their art to the public day after day. The fair was a real magnet for prostitutes – on this day they offered their services to everyone and were in demand.
In Conclusion
Alongside traditional entertainment like dancing, visiting pubs, and gambling, Londoners used every opportunity to entertain themselves. Some of these traditions survived until today, while others became a historical heritage.
