London’s Fictional Timeline: A Quiz of Cinematic & Literary Events

The Londonist article, “Quiz: The Fictional History (and Future) of London,” playfully explores an alternative timeline where all fictional events set in the city are real. Presented as a quiz, it challenges readers to identify the literary or cinematic sources behind 20 imagined historical and future occurrences. The core concept invites readers to envision London’s past and future shaped by everything from classic literature to modern blockbusters, treating every tale as a documentary.

The primary benefit of this feature is engaging entertainment, offering a unique blend of history, pop culture, and imaginative speculation. It allows enthusiasts to test their knowledge of London-centric fiction while contemplating the fantastical transformations the city might undergo. For instance, readers are asked to recall events such as 30 pilgrims setting out from the Tabard Inn in 1392 (The Canterbury Tales) or an East European gentleman moving into Piccadilly in 1893 (Dracula).

However, this fictionalized timeline also highlights numerous dramatic “risks” to London's existence. These range from alien invasions in 1903 (War of the Worlds) and 2016 (Independence Day 2, where Dubai is dropped on London), to a zombie apocalypse in 2004 (Shaun of the Dead). Other catastrophic events include fire-breathing dragons emerging from Docklands Light Railway tunnels in 2000 (Reign of Fire), and the destruction of the Houses of Parliament in 2032 (V for Vendetta). The timeline extends to a dystopian 1984 (George Orwell's 1984) and a far-future London in 804,596 (The Time Machine), where the city has reverted to wilderness and humanity has evolved into distinct sub-species. This imaginative exercise underscores the enduring allure of London as a setting for both whimsical tales like Paddington Bear's 1958 arrival and profound narratives of peril and transformation.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/features/quiz-the-fictional-history-and-future-of-london)