I kind of wonder what they would think

On the Isle of Wight, just south of mainland Britain, there is Osborne House where Queen Victoria spent many years when she was widowed.
Osborne Bay, below the grounds of the house, is a quiet sheltered bay in the Solent. Victoria has a bathing machine. In essence it was a wooden shed on wheels and would be lowered into the sea until part full of water, and then pulled out again when she had bathed. Not sure but it probably required horse power to pull out.

That was the later 1800s.
Not appropriate to see more than the face and hands of a female !

Have often wondered if she actually wore ANYTHING inside her bathing machine !

People wearing bikinis on a British beach . . I am quite sure they would consider mad 😅

I think opinions would be mixed, as always. Some would be scandalised, some envious. The elaborate swimsuits were a product of beach holidays becoming commercialised in the 19th century and bathing part of a social ritual. Prior to that I'm sure most serious bathers would have gone nude.

Of course back then it was assumed that women couldn't swim since so many of them drowned thanks to their swim suit.

Thats global warming for you !

You in a thong bikini must be beautiful

The same as what they would think of our strip shows today.

[media=https://youtu.be/exrcnq6Uac4]

Be horrified i think

It would either be scandalous, or eye-opening, I think.

They would think they're on a different planet.

Bikinis now look like 3 band aids.