Glorious Central London Gadabout | Trafalgar Square, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace (4K) 

Now living in Somerset , i miss my home town of London SO MUCH. Please keep these wonderful videos coming. Thanks again John.

St. James Park looked absolutely stunning.

What an amazing place. All those people. No wonder I always had a cold when I lived there, or was catching a cold or recovering from a cold. I lived in London for almost 40 years, working first on Farringdon Road, then the West End around Bond Street. Then, my favourite part of London, Bloomsbury. My least favourite part, High St Ken, then back to the Strand and finally across to Greenwich, where I remained for the final 16 years. I lived in Cricklewood, West Hampstead, a very tiny little flat with shared facilities in Hampstead, a house I shared with friends in Ealing/Pitshanger, a lonely studio flat in Hornsey/Crouch End, a less lonely ground floor flat in Sydenham and finally a Victorian terraced house in Abbey Wood where the bubbling neighbourhood included people who became passing friends, and provided interesting times. I was always on the move from one place to the next, always trying to achieve the next thing and the thing after that, and never really free and present to admire the place. For half my time I was fit and sped from one location to another. For another half I was often sick and slow and hoping only to arrive home and hide away from the crowds and action that I now found overwhelming. Then, there was only time for work and survival. I - just - survived it. Now I live in the Midlands and I’m retired, amongst friends and family. I appreciate where I am much more than I ever did London, but my occasional trips into London fill me with excitement as I enjoy the town much more than I ever did when resident there. Your videos fill me with nostalgia, sadness and joy as I take in the atmosphere and surroundings of so much that was around me over that tumultuous, demanding, miserable and, occasionally, joyful 40 years. You can be swallowed up by London’s fierce ambition and relentless (dark?) energy. I lost one very good friend in 2021. She was a victim of the work hard lifestyle so many of us adopted in the 1980s. In lockdown, work enveloped her and long hours became all hours. Her health deteriorated and no one saw it happening. Wrong. We saw it happening from a distance but somehow we could never manage to do enough to make a difference. My friend lived alone in a flat in South East London, had her groceries and shopping delivered and relied on work meetings by TEAMS for her company. Her business was banking and she had worked for the same bank in the City for more than thirty years. As long as she maintained her work output, nobody questioned why or how a 60 year old woman could live isolated and hidden from sight. It was only when she didn’t surface for a work meeting and stopped answering her phone completely that the police kicked down her door to find her three days dead. She left a legacy of something like a million pounds, but I was her best friend and I never really knew what she did at work, or at home in the wee hours and at the weekends. I went to stay with her one night, maybe in 2017. It was the last time I saw her flat. A split level, Edwardian garden flat with an impressive through lounge, three spacious bedrooms, a smart fitted kitchen and a new bathroom. She had done all the things homeowners are urged to do, to enhance the market value of the property. I couldn’t face going back; the air was thick with cigarette smoke and the door to the third bedroom wouldn’t open as it was blocked, the room crammed full of parcels bought from EBay and never opened. I remember her worried face as I retired to bed, leaving her alone for a marathon of lonely cigarettes and brandy. It’s a nightmare when you are sad and lonely, and found out. We are so judgmental of those whose only lonely solace is unhealthy habits and a disorderly private life. I found her red raincoat in my cupboard recently, forgetfully abandoned there after a short stay when we visited the canals together and, briefly, Jenny became herself again. In the pocket of this coat was a 2019 receipt from her corner shop, a Tesco Express, recording a Friday evening shop on the way home from work. Bacon, white bread, tomatoes, brandy, wine and more wine, ciggies. Crisps. She worked to her bones in one of the most historic and glamorous cities on earth for this existence. She made her choices, but in the end had none. London ate her up and spat her out.

To me, the "magic" at the end of the video, is the time of day. Dusk, as the lights come on and the daylight fades into darkness. My favorite thing in all your videos, when it happens. This was quite a treat for a confirmed Anglophile from America. Walking with you in London is a wonderful thing to do; something I look forward to. That info about the Mall was unexpected. Another magical video!

Well, that was a walk down many memory lanes, thank you. From childhood travelling from Bloomsbury to my school in Westminster, the bus went down Charing x Rd, then the Mall & Victoria St. To wandering round as a teenager. Many lovely walks more recently with my late hubby too after visiting the galleries and a enjoying a boozy lunch. Thanks again.

It was so much fun to have you stroll through these areas I have visited as a tourist to London. I love your walks around parts of London I have never visited but there was something exciting about having memories of being in the places you visited today. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories of two visits to London. A belated thank you to all British veterans on Remembrance Day, the world owes you a debt of gratitude for your service.

Nice to see people out enjoying the air

What a great dose of London! Thank you!🇨🇦💕😊

Not a londener myself, im way up in Norfolk, but I do visit from time to time, usually for musical reasons, and less than 2 weeks ago I visited Brixton for the first time, to see a band at the o2, which was incredible! On the tube heading to kings cross, I got out at green park on a whim and decided to visit Buckingham palace, for the very first time, but it was green park which really got me going, it looked gorgeous with all those yellow leaves on the trees and floor, utterly beautiful, and the sun was shining! Oh, and 16:59 is right where I took my selfie, at the palace, seated on the edge of the water feature, phone on a joby resting on a post!

This time last year I did lovely walk around London’s Theatre land and came across Le Beaujolais bistro which I really liked the look of but didn’t go in as I was on my own and thought it was more of a place to go with my husband or my mum (who is French). A year later I still haven’t been back! So thanks for reminding me that I really need to go there. Also I agree with you about the ICA, it was a great place to go to in the 80s when I lived in London. As usual thoroughly enjoyed your walk. Lots of interesting information and St James park is my favourite central London park.

It's great when you pick up on that feeling in the air. It's often the case when you get aa mild day as the season's turning

Thanks John for another splendid walk. If you want an antidote to the classical Trafalgar Square there's an historic tiny police box or lock up in the South-East corner that's well worth searching out. Also a plaque in the pavement near the statue looking down Whitehall, where they take all the measurements from the centre of London. So you can actually stand in the very centre of London!

Thanks for the walk through central London. The Mall and St. James Park were stunning, as was the Palace lit up at night. These walks are getting me through my battle with COVID right now. Cheers!

I'm going to be there in 2 weeks. Can't wait!

I mourn the demise of Gaby's great little deli. First popped in there, sometime in 1969, and continued to do so until its closure. Always a warm welcome from Gaby and his lovely family. Always good grub, too. Thank you, John, for yet another super stroll around this city of ours.

that's just what i needed to see tonight, john, thanks very much! ha, i do enjoy "bubble" tea - it's a cold, flavoured sweet beverage that has large pearl tapioca floating about in it - those are the "bubbles"! you slurp it through a straw, and as you go, sometimes a "bubble" is drawn up the straw, into your mouth. it's not unlike drinking up eyeballs, if you let your imagination run away in a ghoulish fashion haha! anyway, i hope you can get a walk in during the holidays - i enjoy seeing fairy lights twinkling in the darkness 😊

Wow London was buzzing with people. Thanks John for another great walk

So much history. Funny that a walk can bring it out. John is a great host.

It's ages since I've wandered about London. I used to regularly haunt it as part of my job photographing buildings for a firm of architects in south London. So they've pedestrianised the mall! To be honest, places like Oxford Street, with it's crowds I could happily avoid! But there are many hidden gems, as you have discovered in your wonderful videos, John

Magic Walk John my very last London walk over fifteen years ago was through Green Park and St James Park past Buckingham palace and down the Mall to Trafalgar Square , also used to frequent the record and book shops on Charing Cross Road back in the sixties and seventies so very special indeed , thanks again my friend ❤️

It is wonderful to see the greatest city in the world alive again.

Wonderful viewing, esp for a Londoner from many years back. For me, the stunning architecture buzzes with history, culture and atmosphere. Thanks John as always...

I was walking through St James Park a couple of years ago with some friends. One of them was staggering from side to side by about 6 feet at a time. Despite us all being from North of the border the rest of us were not drunk. Very interesting video. I never knew about the hidden tunnels.👍

I went to Le Beaujolais for the first time ever a few days ago, every year on the third Thursday in November, the French tradition of Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated with the young wine from that region. All the French wine bars get in on the celebrations and we had some lovely chats with a few tipsy waiters. Le Garrick is another place nearby that's worth a visit. Well worth it for next year, put it in your diary, John!

Love the image of sitting on the theatre balcony with a gin and tonic, watching life go by!

Thank You John, most enjoyable and can't wait for the next one.

John! I am based up in Staffordshire but my companies office is in central London, I am heading there on Tuesday for the day and very excited to see things like Postman’s Park and all the lovely churches in the city of London. Another Sunday = another great video! All the best

Wow! I had only first learned of the word "frisson" the day before I watched this video, and there you were using that word to describe the feeling of excitement around Trafalgar Square! Amazing how that works! Love your videos!

A terrific walk, John. Many thanks! The weather is a great deal better in London than in Melbourne!

Lovely central walk John

Excellent john back in central london enjoyed very much.

Another superb video John. With so many bookshops now sadly gone from Charing Cross Road, the last time I visited, I just felt that the heart has well and truly been ripped out of the W1 area. The 'West End' that I remembered so fondly as a kid (an oik from Shadwell E1) just now feels so sterile, fake and uninspiring.

I miss it already…London is my favorite European capital city…so much architecture, history and beauty 😊😊 Thanks John for bringing light on lovely London 👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍

Glorious London... I'd love to enjoy more walks in central London , I'll be travelling to London soon so I'll be able to have the usual long walks around in central,north,east,south and west London but your walks come not only with the views but with lots of interesting knowledge and anecdotes that I find delightful. Thank you so much John

Lovely walk! London was just humming with life. Thanks for making us a part of it all.

I visited central London (with the Scouts) in the summer of ‘75. We were each given a pound note to buy lunch and I went to McDonalds (which was a pretty big deal because London was the only city in the UK to have a McDonalds) and after buying chips, burger, apple pie, & coca-cola, I had enough change from my quid to buy a yo yo in Hamleys.

No matter how well I think I know London you always manage to fing something new. I was not aware of the French Restaurant in Lichfield Street. Must have walked past it dozens of times without taking any notice. Well done again.

Good walk John, thanks. Only you could comment on "hidden" military sites in London with the Citadel in the back of the shot. Nice one 😂

Hi John.Great little tour again. In answer to your question about the purpose of Trafalgar Sq previously.On the 1746 map,it shows it as "The Royal Mewes"

A family group of us was in that area recently,in mid October. We had a couple days in London mainly to see Back To The Future musical. Great Show. Totally daft plot but the music and energy in it! That Blue Peter film of John Noakes climbing to the top of Nelson's column. No Health and Safety then! My favourite London Park is Holland Park.

Fascinating brought back many memories. So much history contained in such a few streets. The company I first worked for had its HQ in Grosvenor place which runs up the LH side of Buckingham Palace and from the roof you could see the back of the palace and the lawns.

i did a bit of the west end (TCR to (new) Bond Street , early sunday 6th nov) for travelling first day of Elizabeth Line Liverpool Street-Whitechapel-Stratford. Aside from the changes at Stratford Area (and maybe just filming the areas above ground rail services pass through give you another view you dont get at streets / street level ) . Quite a few people about even at 7am on Oxford Street. - worth a morning look and commentry

Brilliant ! Thank you John 🙏👍

You always makes me miss London with your walks and stories

As always a great video John. I could be there in 30 or 40 minutes on the central line but somehow never get round to it. Regarding the mulberry tree I know that there is one and possibly more in claybury park. Bob.

I visited the ICA from Kent as a teenager. The Man Ray and Roger Dean were memorable - I'm glad I missed the used tampon show

Remember getting the 29 bus back to Palmers Green from outside the Garrick on Autumn evenings back in the late 70s

Fabulous snapshot of central London, loved it

I love the west end during the weekends during the run up to Christmas.

Thanks John, lovely video. Thoroughly enjoyed it

Another excellent and interesting video….so much that we take for granted is steeped in history. Thank you John, your videos are an inspiration.

Thanks john, I was reading your book 'This other London' on the way down to London last Thursday. Enjoyed a meal with my old school friend in St Pauls. Always great to feel the vibes of our great city. Cheers.

Excellent as always!

Some interesting friezes around the base of Nelson's Column - showing a diverse RN at that time .✌️

I chuckled when the military mention on The Mall had the Admiralty Citadel looming in the background covered in ivy. Not so secret Admiralty coms station to this day 🤐 You can also check out the funeral of Leopold von Hoesch which actually saw Nazi's in The Mall in 1936, not so far from Nelson's Column 🤨 Yes, tourism central John, but hidden nooks everywhere. Great stuff 🙂

thanks John, loved this

Nice one John, watching for a second time, like the View from the bridge across the Solent looking down towards horse guards, you caught that moment at the right time of the day.

Another great, I love how you bring these areas alive. The West End had been done by so many people but you bring a uniqueness to these walks. I also love your book recommendations, so many good ones!

Great video, thanks John.

Another enjoyable walk - so much to see and so little time. I was lucky enough to live in this area for 15 years - a surreal experience where things that happened didnt happen!

I just really iam enjoying this tonite, many thanks.

Great walk. Thank you

Love it when you get off the beaten path, love it when you walk me back through the furniture of my teens

Great Stuff, "Thanks" John Have A safe Week.

Nice one John, my office is in Whitehall so all the locales in this one have been my weekday manor for many years now, though only 1 day/week these days

I love your walks. Many thanks :)

Thank you John that was delightful, bringing back beautiful memories for me. I do enjoy these walks with all the history you add. 💕🇦🇺

Love London ,cant wait to visit again hopefully soon ! Great video ,keep it up...

Great video John!

Hello John, what a fantastic video this is short, sweet but jam packed with info. The scary thing is I might be in it, you see, I'm a veteran and I was on parade taking part in the march past at the Cenotaph. The footage you have of the people walking up Whitehall and judging on the timeline, I am in there somewhere. Also , the large white truck you see being driven down the Mall with its hazard lights flashing I saw that get loaded up with the horses from Horse Guards. Keep the videos coming John, they're brilliant. All the best Rab-C. from Carnoustie Scotland.

Superb trip through Trafalgar Square and St James Park Thanks for that walk John.

Well that was a treat. You captured the atmosphere so perfectly i could almost smell the London i ache for daily.

Great content thanks for posting :)

Always my favourite RU-vidr..... Along with Kai Man Wong....thanks John 👍

Thank you John Definitely Magick in the air xxx

Thanks for another cracking vlog very interesting 🧐 🎉

Wonderful video as always John. 👍

Great Video. Really Enjoyed. Thank You.

A pleasant stroll through the West End. Thank you John.

Mr. John Rogers, Thank you... Always look forward to your Sunday walks. 🌿🌾🍁

Thank you John. Enjoyed your walk, I've not done those spots in London for ages. I do have a lovely photo of my Dad and me in Trafalgar Sq in the early 60s, when you could buy peanuts to feed the pigeons. I looked quite dashing with a long coat on and a beret, for a six year old lol.

Your vids are the best advert for London . Always fascinating .

Gaby's on CX Road was famous for its wonderful salt beef sandwiches.. The first call for the hung over musician who needed to be able to do the biz that day.. I think Nelson may have said "Kismet, Hardy" (as in "Fate", but I admit "OUCH, that really hurt" is also a strong contender.. I was really hoping for a John Rogers vid today, to cheer me up, and you certainly delivered! Nice one John. 🌟👍

Great stuff thanks John

John Mortimer was always a great source of info especially Rumpole. The Old Bailey. . Again thanks John .

Omg John, I was in T Square on a London day trip the same time as you that day, but sadly never spotted you! I would have loved to have had a quick chat, I love all your London videos!

Friday's walk of sorts was Elephant and Castle then getting a little lost in the Southward wedge finding a few places I hadnt walked before, including northbound over Southwark Bridge (tide nearly full but ebbing out on a slow turn) (Driven in and cycled southbound in the past), just different perspectives on the area , up to Fish Street visit a church (open for coffee day times). Buses on strike (344 from Abellio's Walworth Depot (referenced as such because it was a LT trolleybus depot at one time). and so told a few confused locals and visitors as the bus stops did not make it clear "may be disruption"

John I heard you mention in one of your videos that you went to the roller coaster gig at the Brixton academy in 92..blur,my bloody valentine,dinosaur jr and Jesus and Mary chain..well I went to the same gig but at the manchester apollo theatre..it brought back amazing memories..thanks for that...mick !

It’s a well known fact that Charles ll needed an extraordinarily long run when bowling 🤭

I always like the park in Agatha christie Poirot. Its called Charterhouse Square irl. Also I liked Berkeley Square Park in the 90s show Berkeley Square. Thanks for your great content!

Cenotaph turned 100 during lockdown, so maybe there were special commemorations.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Wow, what a video, you have captured the majority of the areas where I was born, lived and worked for roughly a third of my sixty odd years on this planet. When are we going to be able to get our grubby hands on your book?

I've no idea how i know of this,nor how much lore is involved, but apparently the dead Barbary Lion that Lanseer was using as his model was decomposing so much it was taken away,leaving him to use his cats paws as a rough guide for the lions paws

Thank you John . Always learning about London..Side note Great luck to England in the WC.

Oh wow! Come From Away! May I highly recommend going to see that play at the Phoenix. Very good reviews here in the US. And bless our neighbors to the North:)

Hi John, I really enjoy your London walks. From 1945, when I was born, until 1968 I lived in Hackney very close to Iain Sinclair not that I ever met him. I'm sure that I could give him useful information about that period from my own early walks. I now live in Kent and quite often come back to view some of the landmarks that you visit.

Nice one John...

Love west London at xmas thanks john 🎄

GREEN beanie not orange! Will have a word with management about this drastic change. The 4th plinth was always due for Queen Elizabeth II, the statue is currently being stored in Lambeth, she is sat on a horse.

Fabulous... 👍.