The J W. ' Excursion to London' is a panoramic theatrical toy made from simple materials: cardboard, paper, wood, string, wax and paint. It dates from the late 19th century when toys were intended to educate rather than simply entertain. Toys were expensive luxuries and if parents could afford to buy them they became a prized possession for the whole family. This may be why a fragile and rudimentary looking item such as this has survived the test of time.