18th-century London force. Penalties for crime were harsh, with the death penalty being applied for fairly minor crimes. Public hangings were common in London, and were popular public events. In 1780, London was rocked by the Gordon Riots, an uprising by Protestants against Roman Catholic emancipation led by Lord George Gordon. Severe damage was caused to Catholic churches and homes, and 285 rioters were killed. 18th-century London The 18th century was a period of rapid growth for London, reflecting an increasing national population, the early stirrings of the Industrial Revolution, and London's role at the centre of the evolving British Empire. In
London in film the rooftop of a skyscraper. "Paddington" (2014) features several London locations, and includes modern landmarks such as The Shard and the London Eye. Cliff Richard was a film star with three successful musical comedies in the early 1960s. The first of these, "The Young Ones" (1961), was set in London. Cliff, The Shadows, and others need money to save their youth club, so they set up a pirate radio station to generate publicity for the show. Although Cliff's second hit, "Summer Holiday" (1963), mostly took place while driving across Europe, it prominently featured a red London AEC, RT bus. The