Minecraft world brings Victorian London to life

The world gives a different view of Victorian London

If you've ever wanted to travel back in time to Victorian London, a new Minecraft world could give you the chance.

The experience, primarily designed as an educational tool in schools for children aged 10-15, gives an insight into the poorest parts of the city.

Cleaning chimneys, rat-catching and clearing sewers are just some of the activities people will be able to do.

Created for the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) by both Lancaster University and Minecraft design company BlockWorks, the world is designed to teach players about social inequality in Victorian London.

The Victorian era was around the period between 1820 and 1914, which roughly matched the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901).

It followed the industrial revolution when more and more people moved from rural areas to cities and towns to work in factories.

Conditions in the poorest areas were often very bad, with overcrowding, poor working conditions and poor public health conditions.

People who fought against these and other problems in society were called social reformers.

Charles Booth wanted to change the experiences of people in society and reduce poverty

The world build called 'Charles Booth's London' is based on the poverty maps of Victorian London created by social reformer Charles Booth between 1886–1903.

The maps, which are held in the LSE Library archive, revealed the true extent of poverty in London at the time.

The experience is structured around six different walks Booth and his research assistant George Duckworth took with police around London.

Each virtual walk contains multiple activities which help give users an insight into Victorian London.

These include building apartments for families relocated from slums, shopping for a rich family and a poor family in Covent Garden, catching thieves, cleaning chimneys, rat-catching and clearing sewers in Bedford Square.

Players will be able to shop in the famous Covent Garden market back in Victorian times

The world, which is made up of over 45 million blocks, took a team of 15 professional Minecraft builders and two academics over two years to create.

The players start at the Royal Opera House and LSE Library – before being transported back to the old King's College Hospital, which stood on the same site in the 1890s.

Professor Sally Bushell from Lancaster University said: "The LSE world build was a fascinating one to make because it was so closely linked to the Booth Archive.

I really enjoyed reading and mapping out the original walks in the notebooks held at LSE and then bringing them to life. "

The world build has been released as LSE marks its 130th anniversary, during which the university will be celebrating its impact, past and present.

A version for members of the public to play will be available on the Minecraft Marketplace later this year.