When Did Indoor Plumbing Begin in London?

Indoor plumbing is something most of us take for granted today. Turning on a tap, flushing a toilet, or enjoying a hot shower feels completely normal. But this wasn’t always the case. The story of how London came to have plumbing inside homes is a fascinating journey — and shows just how much our city has changed.

The Early Days of Plumbing

Plumbing itself goes back thousands of years. The ancient Romans were famous for their aqueducts, baths and sewers, and left their mark here in Britain too. But after the fall of the Roman Empire, much of this knowledge disappeared.

For centuries in London, most people relied on water from the River Thames, public wells, or water carriers. Toilets as we know them didn’t exist. Instead, people used outdoor privies or even buckets that were emptied into the street — a habit that spread diseases and made cities very unhealthy.

The Turning Point: The 19th Century

London’s population exploded during the 1800s, and all that waste caused huge health problems. One famous event was the Great Stink of 1858, when the smell of the polluted Thames became so overpowering that Parliament had to act.

This led to the work of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the chief engineer who designed London’s modern sewer system, completed in the 1860s. This huge project transformed the city. Once homes could be safely connected to proper sewers, indoor toilets and running water became much more practical.

At first, only wealthier households could afford these improvements. By the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, more and more Londoners began installing indoor plumbing. By the mid-20th century, it was becoming standard — meaning most London homes finally had the basics we now take for granted: running water, toilets inside the home, and proper drainage.

How Indoor Plumbing Changed Lives

The difference was enormous. Families no longer had to fetch water in buckets or depend on outdoor facilities in freezing weather. In London, cholera deaths were 14 times higher where water was drawn from sewage-contaminated sources, but fell sharply once clean supplies were introduced, and life expectancy—still under 50 in 1900—rose steadily as sewers and hygiene improved.

It’s hard to imagine now, but the comforts of indoor plumbing are only about 150 years old in most London homes.

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A Personal Note from Me, Lee Devlin

As the director of Homecure Plumbers, I get to see first-hand how plumbing has developed across London. Some of the older houses I’ve worked in still have fittings that are decades old, and in rare cases, I’ve even come across systems that date back nearly a century.

One of my favourites are the high-level toilet cisterns. You’ve probably seen them — the ones mounted high up on the wall with a long chain to pull for flushing. They’re a great reminder of an earlier time in plumbing, and while many people have updated them, some homeowners actually want to keep them as a feature because of the character they add.

Check out this old cast iron high-level cistern we came across in St John’s Wood this year – it’s over 70 years old but still going strong!

For me, every time I come across one of these old installations, it’s like stepping back into history. It reminds me that plumbing isn’t just about pipes and water — it’s about comfort, health, and the way people live their daily lives.

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Final Thoughts

Indoor plumbing in London took shape during the 19th century and quickly became one of the most important advancements in public health. Today, it’s part of everyday life — and something most Londoners couldn’t imagine living without.

At Homecure Plumbers, we’re proud to continue that story by looking after both modern systems and the occasional quirky old installation. It’s all part of keeping London homes running smoothly.

So, whether you’re dealing with a modern plumbing issue or need a skilled hand for an older system, if you’re looking for a reputable plumber in London, Homecure Plumbers is here to help with plumbing systems old and new.