Abstract: As an approach to urban space, the image of flaneur has been developed in a unique way with strong local features. The urban literature at the turn of 16th and 17th centuries witnessed the origin of flaneur that could be regarded as a way to observe cities. Journals and magazines from late 17th century to early 18th century further cultivated this tradition, functioning as enlightenment by sophisticated prose. Poetry by Wordsworth at the turn of 18th and 19th century revels, focusing on nature and countryside, reflected the urban disease in Britain in a different way. Therefore, three forms of flaneur, ranging from literary pamphlets to prose and poetry, collaboratively reveal the development of English middle class, and finally present their social anxiety.

Key words: flaneur, British literature, urban space, middle class