Original description by George Birch in 1894
The Imperial Institue of the United Kingdom, the Colonies and India, is situated in South Kensington, in the near neighbourhood of the South Kensington Museum. It was erected by the nation as a memorial of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, and the foundation stone was laid by Queen Victoria in 1887. Among its principal objects are:—the formation of collections of the products of the British Colonies and Dependencies; the collection and distribution of information concerning trades and emigration; the promotion of technical and commercial education, and of friendly and commercial intercourse between the inhabitants of different parts of the Empire. The public is admitted free on the days notified by advertisements in the leading newspapers; but Wednesdays are reserved exclusively for Fellows and their friends.
Other observations
The tower on the right is the 87 metre high Queen’s Tower, at the centre of the Institute. I don't know what the one on the left was, but it doesn't seem to be there today.
In 1962 the Imperial Institute became the Commonwealth Institute and moved to premises in Kensington High Street. The building in the picture was largely demolished in 1957 and only the Queen’s Tower remains; it is now part of Imperial College.
See also this coloured postcard.
Geolocation
Subject at centre of picture: TQ 2664 7928 (the tower). Between Queen’s Gate and Exhibition Road.
Camera position: unclear
Camera height: 6ft?
View angle: ??° approx.
Focal length (35mm equiv): ??mm approx.
Nearest similar geograph
Here is a picture of the Queen’s Tower taken in 2014.
Technical information
See here.