London buskers through the years: a visual history of street performers in the capital

London’s streets have always fostered incredible musical talent, with buskers forming an integral role in creating the soundtrack to the capital.

The streets of London have been a training ground for many artists over the years, with the likes of Rod Stewart and Ed Sheeran learning their trade as performers on the streets of London before making it big.

But it’s not just the modern era where buskers played their part.

Whether it be organ grinders, fiddle players, bagpipers, accordions or Romany street singers, traditional music was always a fixture in day to day London life in the early 20th century.

Scroll through the gallery above to see stunning images of London’s buskers through the years.

Busking still has an important role to play in the city’s cultural scene, with artists like Passenger finding success after five years of busking.