As a young soldier my mates and I spent a night standing up in phone boxes in Melbourne. Then we found a hidden ledge behind a bush across the street so we came back next weekend with sleeping bags and stored them in the train station left luggage lockers. Went for a few beers and came back at 11pm to find the left luggage lockers were locked up until 5am! So another freezing Melbourne night standing up in phone booths! 1978
hahahaha that brought back such memories, we did the same after getting stuck in cities after clubs...just jammed inside the telephone boxes and nodded off. The heat of 3 or 4 of us usually warmed us up in no time. What a hell of a way to rough it ha.
@@Damien616 that was the night an old tramp gave me a sip of his metho and orange juice! Rugged! He could roll a cigarette one handed, in his pocket! He was ex-Merchant Marine and had been on the Arctic Convoys in WW2. The souls you meet...
I went up to London a few years ago for a months "wild camping". Endless places to sleep. I slept in a lot of the major parks - Hyde Park, Battersea Park, Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath and few others. I also slept in many small open gardens (one of them I had to abandon when lawn sprinklers woke me up at 2am in the morning :)). I also slept on a lot of benches, particularly along the Thames embarkment. Never had any problems. Got moved on by park police on one occasion in Battersea Park, stopped by police from cooking with a gas stove in another park as they said it was a fire risk, and woken-up by motorcycle police to see if I was alright while sleeping on a bench in front of the MI6 building next to Vauxhall Bridge. The few encounters I had with police in that month they were always friendly and seemed more concerned with my wellbeing. Met a few of the many thousands that are rough sleeping all over London and was approached a number of times by people asking if I was ok and offered food and/or money. In my rucksack I carried a down sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping mat, military surplus bivvy bag, a military surplus tarp which I hardly used, tarp poles, cook kit, first aid kit, wash kit, multitool, legal carry Mora knife, spare clothes and waterproofs. I had a great time! The hardest part was trying to stay reasonable clean. atb /phil.
That was fun. 60 years ago I slept in the street in Adelaide South Australia, for tickets to the Beatles. For 3 days. Also slept outside the airport waiting for a group to arrive. Climbed over a tall wire fence to see the Rolling Stones. Those were the days my friend. Now I am an old grandma. My husband of 52 years jumped ship when his ship came to Australia. We are well past camping, but love to watch you. You have taught me a lot. ❤🇦🇺
@zonkypuff In the early 60's we felt safe enough to hitch-hike here in Australia. There were hundreds of people in Adelaide that slept in North Terrace in the city. It was policed as well, so that was good. There was no trouble from anyone either. No way anyone has done that in the last 60 years. I am 76 now, and it is all a happy memory.
I do really like your attitude. Thoughtful without being paranoid. I used to cycle camp a lot, great way to experience places and countries, the highs are extra good, the lows are extra bad.. Wild camping is the usual way when you are cycling because you have to set up wherever you end up with preferably half an hour before dark.. A lot of talent develops of being drawn to those spots that aren't overlooked, it's really good fun.. Worst attack of Midges in winter on the west highland way in Scotland and goat ticks on my balls in rural Gran Canaria! Ideally share trips with Girlfriends rather than alone, the best company for cycle stealth camping is your lovely dog!.. Make panniers so they can carry their own food and sleeping bag, one that zip locks round his neck t kept the damage to a minimum in the confines of a wee tent.! There is a good network of long distance off road routes that mix river paths, coast paths, canal towpaths disused railway lines.. (That crazy FOOL Beeching) bridal ways, ancient ways, long distance paths, always give way to pedestrians I say..
That was brave leaving your sleeping gear there. I run a small homeless outreach group and it really saddens me that I've lost count the amount of times our guests tell us their stuff had been stolen on the streets of London. It obviously belongs to homeless people and yet people still take it.
Sleeping gear seems like something only homeless people would take, no real value to it at all unless you urgently need something warm to wrap yourself in for the night. And you’d have to be very desperate to want to sleep in a strangers unwashed sleeping bag, if it’s been used a dozen or more nights since it was washed you might as well be wrapping yourself in a strangers unwashed underwear.
@@JazzFunkNobby1964 and the local councils too. They always clear stuff away. Especially In central London. It's not good for the tourists to see so often they'll clear it.
Could you have scaled the rear wall of Buckingham Palace and stealth camped there? That would be the Mount Everest of stealth camps. Great video. Cheers from Canada.
depends what time of year. mid winter can be hard. need the camping stove in winter. but i always kit out a bicycle with front and back racks and stash my tent, wait til its dark and put my tent up in the dark. take it down in the morning before anyone appears
That's not even uncommon in London, it's not even much more than where I live on the south coast! I had a bottle of Speckled Hen in a hotel bar the other day that cost £7!
Craig do you wanna borrow my ghillie suit? You might like it, nice and warm in there 🥵 you've got some balls camping there 😄 I wouldn't sleep a wink. Great fun stealth camping, thanks for taking us along. Love the new tat 🌲🌲🌲
Used to do this as part of my training. The first thing I got my grubby digits on was an alcohol burner. The flames are not visible and no smoke. A can of sausages and beans never tasted so good as when watching the "capture team" going round in circles. Had a nice cup of tea after too.
Love this content Craig ❤ I hope you would do lots of stealth camp or odd style or unorthodox camping as well. So fun and adventurous. Thanks for sharing this 🙏🏻 bless up!
no way.. i've been wanting someone to do a stealth camp vid of my stomping grounds where i grew up! awesome vid, thank you! not seen these places in a looooong time. cheers :)
it's funny for me because i have since escaped into the country instead.. it's far better out here, by a long mark... cities are now only worth visiting for a specific reason these days.
@@EastAnglianBushcraft all the cheers to you! :p i've had many a smoke in pretty much exactly the spot you were in haha (just didn't look so pink back then. was decidedly darker)
Fairplay for admitting that this is basically what homelees people do every night and being ex- forces makes it easier for you to deal with.(respect for your service)I'm not usually a fan of videos of stealth camping in urban situations ,but gotta say this was a good watch. A contrast to what you usually do is a good thing to do .Should of gone for river piss though 😊 to avoid that mistake. Liking the tattoo ,thats the bonus of putting yourself in a London situation 👌
Loved the video my man and the change of scenery. I am a little disappointed you didn’t snare a pelican though and get it on the spit, call yourself a bushcrafter? 😂
50 years ago we turned up a day early for a Hyde Park free festival we kipped in Regents park, we climbed over some railing behind some bushes. Woke up in the night to my mate shouting "call the dog off" The parks police just used to let the dog go into the bushes in those days. Although we were behind the railings, it had its head through and bit my friend's leg in his sleeping bag....they called the dog off and kicked us out
@@rosemariemann1719 bet you didn't complain about people camping out to see the queens coffin ......... They were also scumbags that left rubbish and tents everywhere people like this/us leave no trace that we have been there
What you have done looks great fun the freedom to camp anywhere with a little bit of risk just add's to it nice one mate I hope you do some more with it being London make's it more risky than anywhere in the UK.
Im from Hull East Yorkshire, & been into wild camping for a good few years now but failed miserably wild camping in Central London Lol. I was in London on the 1st June 2024 Tommy Robinson march. After not finding anywhere with all the Greenery is Gated & locked I was so Tired I had to doss down on a Bench Lol. Second night I pitched on the pavement up Camden Road, 3rd Night still couldnt find a Quirt spot so slept under my unerected tarp down the side of the canal tow path lol. You Did a better job of it than I did fella, Very Well Done. Im going Back for another go on the 27th July when I support Tommy Robinson Trafalgar Square. Iv done a goggle reccy with some interesting RVs to visit this time. Gr8 Video bro.
That was brilliant a quality stealth camp and that spot you couldn't find anywhere better going to sleep looking at the London eye🤯👍👍...and the tatt at the end I loved it... brilliant upload waiting for the next one 👌...
Dont apologise . That was living class. We loved it. Theres a lot of sticks rubbed together and firewood cut( I d o it every day) but that was Good. All the best K and H
This was awesome,nice to see you misbehaving and stealth camping. I think most people over think it, nost people aren't paying much attention to you I find. Just blend in then get in and stay in and be quiet! Cctv poses a bit more of a challenge but in general I find that to be true. The Zac look suits you :)
Made me remember over 40 years ago when I had to kip rough in London for a couple of weeks, luckily there was a lot more derelict places to plot up back then and no cameras. Funny how I crave the enforced adventure of those days now lol.
enjoyed that Craig - saw a bunch of tents at the top of Hyde Park Lane on Friday night - an established camp ! quite a few round London really. The warm San Mig story really made me laugh 🤣🤣 Keep on going mate, i don't comment a lot but watch all your uploads - quality
What a video 😂😂😂 loved this bro! What a way to end it too…. A new tattoo! Haha good on ya mate. Bushcraft or not we love your videos lol Ps….. I remember watching kerrs vid of not abandoning his mission to camp next to Buckingham palace 😂 quality! 🤙🏻🫶🏻💚
I think you stayed in the same spot my friends and I tripped out on haha. Best trip ever...and you can see why. We even went for a swim in the Thames at sunrise thinking it was a beach.
You are off your trolley brother, wouldnt get me within 50 miles of that place, but dont need to cos you did it for us, respect to you Craig, mental but great video
Good to see the RAF ALBATROSS watching over you. Pissed into a beercan? Yes! Drank from said beercan - not sure. Must be an armed forces thing. Leave no trace of your presence. Stay safe.
Camping on the street isn't illegal in London though, there are thousands doing it all the time. With or without tents. The police don't do anything because otherwise they have a duty of care to help those homeless.
Hey Craig 👋 Awesome video dude! What a place to go to sleep and wake up to! Wow! That tattoo is very cool as well! Hats off to the artist for getting in touch and at such a perfect time. Have a blessed week 🙏
It is actually those little parks and gated areas that are the most risky, Pall Mall area, and near government buildings. If you camped in the gardens across the road from where you slept, I'd give it hour before your moved on. They want to keep the homeless out or monitor activity through CCTV. Go and look shifty down Pall Mall at 1am and you will be approached. You could of just put your bag under your head and openly slept in Jubilee Park no problem.
We love your videos, Craig. Always delivered with a great attitude and sense of adventure. Loved the slip-up with the beer/wee combo, hilarious. Thanks and keep 'em coming! Martin from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Craig, that was enjoyable to watch, but get yourself back to the greenery. You're certainly a braver dude than I am... Camping in suburban areas is not even on my radar. Don't reckon i'd even get a bit of sleep, i'd just be on high alert all night. The views of the London Eye were outstanding to be fair though.
Buttons & urine. Great combo😂 Craig mate, this was awesome. Used to pop in to London town occasionally for a session back in 90's. Nowadays I tend to avoid if I can. As a Slough boy, London was only a 20 min train ride away. In the 70's & 80's spent a lot of time in Fulham seeing my dad's family. It's changed & I don't like it. Watch old episodes of Minder if you can. That's the London I remember. Cheers for sharing mate👍
I loved it, so different from usual content. You are my inspiration for camping wild. Leave no trace is my moto too. In Ipswich at moment staying with family and they back on to a forest, so it was perfect chance to bring out a light bit of kit and get stuck in. They think I'm mad cause they offered a bed and said I'd prefer the woods ha ha ha. Just dozing off to your videos and some music. Much love from a fellow wild man. Take care, jason xxx
I rock the night cat hammock/tent. Sometimes a tent. If weather is good. Simply a roll mat and sleeping bag. As long as I'm comfy, nature provides the rest
Crazy you managed to get a stealth camp done there, nice one! You had in me stitches with the can accident, may have done it myself on a camp once as well 😂
£3.50 for some red sauce is a joke mate, noticed the same the other day when i had fish and chips and they had none so debated hitting tesco for some until i seen the price! 🙈