When you think of the 1980s, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps Charles and Diana's wedding, the Cold War, Aids, the reign of Maggie Thatcher, the Falklands War or Live Aid.

But beneath the big events, life in London rumbled along. On the ground, this was a decade defined by youth rebellions, with skinheads, punks, yuppies, hip hoppers and new romantics ushering in new era for the city's subcultural tapestry. In wealthy districts new skyscrapers emerged, while deprived parts of the city rioted and razed buildings to the ground.

Less celebrated than the groovy decade that came before, and the go-go one that came after, the 1980s was a decade of extremes, from flamboyance and hedonism to strikes and social unrest. 

Today, we take you on a visual journey through London of the 1980s.

While rare today, squatting was an option for those who couldn't pay rent 

It was a varied decade for fashion

This is how the cool kids were dressing down in Brixton

While it was more of a 'suit and tie' affair, over at the London Stock Exchange, which had a rather tumultuous decade

Although even these get-ups could be pretty bold

Meanwhile, outside the 100 Club down on Oxford Street...

... rock n' roll was still alive. Here, the Rolling Stones wooed crowds with an impromptu gig

Social distancing wasn't a thing in the House of Commons

And the future king was already on the publicity circuit

Phwoar. Remember when the world's largest cigar arrived in London? 

Or when that enormous milk bottle floated down the Thames, to convince people to get doorstep delivery?

It was a simpler time. Pancake races thrilled the masses

And children didn't need iPads. A good old fashioned round of 'jump through applauding friends' would cut it

Followed by a swift round of 'jump over the legs'

If you were lucky, your parents would have joined this aggressive rabble at Hamleys to get their hands on a Cabbage Patch Kids doll

There were crowds elsewhere, too. Lesbian and Gay rights marches were building momentum in the capital, typically congregating in and around Trafalgar Square

Where our Nelson received a good dose of TLC, from time to time

At ground level, the scene looks rather familiar

The robots were soon to take over. No, this isn't a fax machine. This is HERO 1

Mobile phones weren't terribly mobile yet

Neither were computers. This BBC Micro was a precursor to today's slinkier models

Oh, the glory days of Fleet Street

A slightly more sophisticated operating system here. Battersea Power Station continued to run until 1983

The station's chimneys remain iconic to southwest London, but the station has now been converted into luxury flats

Believe it or not, back in the 80s travelling circuses would still visit the capital with exotic animals in tow

But it wasn't all fun and games. The Brixton riots of 1981 saw bitter clashes between protestors and the police

And four years later, in 1985 riots erupted at Tottenham's Broadwater Farm Estate 

The 80s saw the dawning of hip hop and break dancing

They even held a break dancing festival at the Southbank Centre

While Diwali celebrations would also get people moving in the streets, as pictured here in Southall

Speaking of movement in the streets...

Some parts of the city were given a new lease of life. Covent Garden market was preparing for its grand reopening as a shopping arcade in 1980

While other parts of the city were dismantled.  Built for the 1908 summer Olympics, the White City Stadium was demolished in 1985.

'I hear those things are awfully loud?' 'It glides as softly as a cloud' London got its very own electrified rail, the DLR in the late 80s

While other railways stuck with the traditional approach. Here, a glimpse inside the dining car of the decadent Orient Express 

You would still find steam trains on the Underground network, from time to time

Although from 1984 onwards smoking was prohibited inside the Tube cabins

Which didn't affect this lot – London's early, trailblazing cycling commuters

Down the Thames, the flood barrier officially opened in 1984

Speaking of defences, this chap certainly knew how to penetrate them. This is how professional footballers lived (and looked) in the 80s

It was a very different game back then...

Here, a beautiful sunset at Wimbledon's Plough Lane, which would be demolished in 2002 to make way for housing

Elsewhere in Wimbledon, tennis fans were no less committed to the cause than they are today

The Congestion Zone was yet to be a thing

But in the 1980s we did see the arrival of this... er...

Exotic cuisine from faraway climes continued to break ground in the capital

But through it all, some things in London never change

What are your memories of London in the 1980s? Comment below to join the conversation.