i remember meeting my ex wife who lived in Leytonstone. i grew up in Romford. although my family from caning town. yet i alway see London as my home. always amazed me with the cows wondering around wansted flats!
Hello John, thanks for mentioning Patrick Hamilton, an extraordinary novelist, and chronicler of London (and Brighton) life. He deserves to be much better known and more widely read. Your videos are the highlight of my Sundays. Many thanks for all the work you put in..
In about '97 an old friend told me to buy in King's Cross. I could remember it in the 1970s and 80s, and thought he was pulling my leg. Having moved out of London by then, there was no way I was going to invest money in KX. How wrong I was. Curiously, I had very weird experience in a mate's Stoke Newington student flat, many years ago. Before being let, that had also been a brothel.
IM BACK rowing indoors again during the winter listening to your walks which relieve the boredom of a half hour staring at the wall. The well informed talk and charming delivery is pitched just right so as not to distract me totally and allows me occasional looks at the screen. I would like to walk London streets with Samuel Pepys as I used to live near Seething Lane and after reading extracts from his diary would go walking where he used to go. It’s amazing how much is still recognisable. How about that for another of your walks. I can no longer do it myself having retired to South West France and travel not being what it used to be.
The story about how for a time how all your walks ended on Ponders End is great. There was a time when, for some reason, I would often get lost in the Silverlake area and would inexplicably find myself on Effie Street and still have no idea where I was. So odd. Anyway, delightful walk, as always, John. I very much enjoy tagging along even on murky days, with all your wonderful stories! Great Q&A, btw 🙂
I’ve just sat down after dinner to watch your latest video. Imagine my surprise when I heard my name called out!! Cheers for the answer John, (Fresh fallen snow has now become a favourite piece of music for me). Keep up the great work.
Hi John, I love your videos! My son lives in Leytonstone so I know the area quite well. Always enjoy your walking trips, wherever they may be! Thank you for all your hard work, it’s much appreciated.
Might have been me on the Norwich suggestion John. Used to have a pub for every day of the year and a church. No longer the case but most of the churches have survived in some form. Try the garden of The Belgian Monk in the centre - rare ales and a church tower in the backyard ;-)
Enjoyed that video over a cuppa John. Look forward to the City of London walks. My friend lived in a haunted house in Chesterton Road, Plaistow. The temperature used to drop and the cat and dog stared at the same part of the lounge. She went upstairs one night to see a man in topper and greatcoat looking into the babys cot. She turned to the door and screamed for her husband then looked back to find the figure gone. Lots of other strange things happened in that house too. Would love to see you walking in Norwich. It's a fascinating city. Ipswich is interesting too as well as Colchester.
Excellent to hear you've taken your lad down to Adams Park. There's nothing like supporting a team where you really have roots. Side note you may be interested in - manager Gareth Ainsworth is turning on the Christmas lights (and playing a gig!) in the town centre this week.
Thanks, John! I am reminded of when I first moved to Seoul back in the 90s. I used to spend hours a day walking around the city. I would often go out for a drink at night on the other side of town and then spend two hours walking home because the metro was closed and I didn't like taxis! So much has changed since then, both in the city and in my life. I wish I had that much time to go walking now.
Hi, John! Fascinating Q&A...but just to show that you never can tell what someone will notice, because of your "up angle" with your camera, this American was fascinated (repeatedly) by the neighborhood utility poles that provided a single point of origin for lines that radiated out like spokes in a bicycle wheel. Odd and wonderful at the same time!
The poles are telegraph poles and those are phone lines going to the houses. In more rural parts of the UK power is distributed on poles and connected to houses in a similar fashion.
Consider this your formal invitation to Norwich. I thought maybe a walk along the River Wensum starting at Carrow Bridge (close to the site of much heartbreak for Norwich people at the moment) and then past the Cathedral and onto the city centre.
John, this really worked. I think better than being sat in one place. Thank you for answering my question towards the end of the video (David Williams, the Logistics one) I laughed at 14.35 when the lady in her front garden looked up as you were telling the tale of the drug dealers on the towpath. Lovely to see you on your home patch of Leytonstone. Top Stuff.
Years ago I lived in Ilford and I often walked to Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in Chingford. I followed the River Roding to Charlie Brown's Roundabout then up the The Castle pub in Woodfoed Green. There was a path through the forest which came out at Royal Forest Hotel. Perhaps you could recreate that walk one day.
Brilliant John, I love that area too- Leyton /Leytonstone. It's those lovely houses and places of interest, and easy access to further afield. Are they Edwardian houses? Very typical of old Leyton, Stratford, East Ham, and Forest Gate. Rented similar by Wanstead Flats, early 90's. Left the area 2006, Olympics decant.. Before gentrification and Stratford transformation. Few friends squatted around Leytonstone too, pre-M11 demolitions. Couldn't afford the rents now! Looking forward to next video!
Great to hear my home town of Sheffield get a mention, and Patrick Dickinson, who I also watch avidly, great video as always, well worth the wait. I particularly liked the drug dealing war zone story, it must have been nerve racking at the time, but for an after the event giggle, it’s priceless, all the best 👍
Walking with poet John Keats from Hampstead to Walthamstow where his sister lived, then back to the City (Moorgate) where he lived as a child before his parents died
I've watched many of your walks but this one triggered me, John. Firstly, I had a classmate (Goodall Road Secondary - demolished) called Fred Rogers who lived in Grove Green Road in the early 60s. Any relation? Secondly, I lived at 69 Ashville Road between 1959 and 1963. The roads you walked reminded me of my early teens, early girlfriends, experiences, etc. Thirdly, my 'inner pull' is anything within the Roman wall of London. I walk there every Saturday (for the last 12 years) with a friend, Lucy, and we rarely ever wander outside the perimeter of the wall but always discover something new. For some reason, I keep finding myself in Coleman Street, joining Gresham Street and London Wall. Fourthly, I am sure Lucy has a psychogeographic sensitivity. We visit the Museum of London and while in the restaurant, she becomes uneasy. The restaurant is below ground level. Fifthly, we both have a feeling of discomfort when we visit the charnel 'house' at Spitalfields which is also below ground level. It seems, whenever she is level with 'six foot under' along come the negative feelings. We both also have feelings of dread in Brushfield Street. Sixthly, I was born in Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, in a neighbourhood called Old Market Square (long since disappeared). Wonderful videos of your walks. Thank you.
Janes story of a lid getting tossed of the roof was a good one, I suspect it wasn’t the only thing to get tossed off in that particular building, given its illustrious past 🤣 Apologies, I couldn’t resist 🤣
I lived in Berlin John and it is indeed great for walking. Highly recommend it. Nice to see you mention Pretoria Rd. my first gf lived there. Is that large set of gates leading into an old courtyard still there? It might have been called Pretoria House actually. I never found out what the place was.
You would be surprised how many love your Vlogs both young and old. Twenty + years ago I met a really good friend at uni in West London when studying there in the late 90s/00s. She lived in Leyton, I would go and visit her always found the place facinating as I was a South London gir and East seemed a million miles awayl. We are still friends to this day, will never forget Leyton ❤️ Lovely vlog.
Norwich would be great. I was there in 2018 and found the place where my ancestor lived in the 1500’s, when he was sheriff and then mayor. Such a great city for exploring. One of his descendants married a Huntington and then one of those descendants made their way to America and signed the Declaration of Independence. So I’m fascinated with that city and I hope he does a walk there too.
You are one swell guy. Your contemplative meditations over the buried capital bring the place alive. One suggestion, please more South London, the areas of Forest Hill Sydenham Bromley Beckenham and Orpington must yield great places of interest.
Hi John, I was born in Edinburgh, which I recommend highly, however I visit Norwich every fortnight during term-time to see my daughter...it’s history dates to earlier than London and it has an enormous network of cycle-paths and so presumably walks....the centre is largely pedestrianised...I love it...if you can visit, please do 👍 really enjoy and appreciate your ditties.
Edinburgh is great, have been there many times. Have even said to my wife "Meet me at the clock, at Binns" Coming from London, that probably didn't have the same romance as a local, but it was nice none the less
I think the rising sun pond has practically dried up. There was a small stream that used to flow into it , maybe an overflow from the waterworks, but I think it was cut off. Used to fish there many years ago. Story goes it was dug by German POWs ,and also why there were so many good fish there,was due to a lorry transporting the fish to somewhere else broke down near the pond and the fish were put in the rising sun pond to save them. How much of that is true I’m not sure, maybe someone out there might have some more info.
Great Videos John.Just wondering ,where are all the trees and bushes in the different neighborhoods? We have so much on Long Island,NY even in the medium income areas Thanks again😎
john - do you remember the royal standard, opp- black horse tube, i was the under manager back in the 1980's it was a bikers pub at the weekends, lots of interesting people, neal kay rock dj, also had some good bands, - girl school, phil lynott, blues movie etc.. paul di'anno from iron maiden turned up one sunday lunch time and sang my mercedes benz....
Had a few good nights there when I lived in Leyton /Stratford! Remember "Limehouse Lizzy" - tribute band, pretty good as I never saw The Real McCoy.. Great pub, popular with biker mates of mine.
Hi I only ever went to the Standard once, when I was still at school and came up from Bucks in the midweek with my mate Johnny Lee's band and they were sure it'd be full of A&R men. That would have been around 87 so you may well have been there
Love the fact you get lost all the time. I deliberately lose myself in London. Because that’s the way to enjoy it. Such a great city never running out of new discoveries. Leytonstone is an area I ashamedly haven’t yet explored. I will though. Great Q&A. Thank you.
what type of footwear do you use although I know live in Cornwall I used to live in the Home Counties and lived in London for a few years I used to visit London and walk on a regular basis so brings back fond memories.
Hi John, great video as always, thank you! It was good to see the young lad recognise you. The drug gang on the canal walkway was fascinating, I suspect he was someone who had been killed in the area a few years ago, and he was now acting as your guardian angel, having noticed the possible danger ahead. People can scoff, that's fine, but I have had similar experiences and know others who have too, plus I'm a published writer on the cultural and paranormal.
Cities to walk around? Leicester is great because it has a lot of history and it's mostly on the flat. Lived there 1970-85. Durham is also great, and I live close-by nowadays, but definitely not on the flat!
Dartmoor sounds cool...it's only 365 square miles and mostly without roads. . That might take an hour or two...lol. But do go for it ! It is a amazing place for psychogeography..
Hi John, pleased to hear you have discovered the joys of Norwich. I'm lucky that I'm local to the area so often enjoy walks through its medieval streets and buildings, and I love that so much of the old city wall remains.
Hey John, you should contact Patrick Dickinson and team up for a trip down the Porter Brook or the Rivelin maybe up Sheffield? I've done the Porter Brook to the Megatron and its a sight to behold! I watch both of your channels and this would be ace!
Doctor Who not anymore in Sheffield. Now it's on Liverpool! Norwich is the other city i visited whilst in England and I absolutely loved it. Those medieval buildings and streets. Stunning! Would love your take on it.
You came from Australia or did you go over there for work.. you’ve travel a bit, even around London, I was born at Whipps X and lived in Leytonstone until about the age of 18. Live in Barkingside at the moment, what it like to move, further afield, where is ‘home’..
I was pi**ed off when Londerners had to lose there homes that they had had lived in for 40+ years for the olympic games,that was sickening for me !...people shouldn't lose their home for games nor profit !..that made my blood boil !
I enjoyed that John, something a wee bit different. Your "Charles Dickens" answer was pretty obvious; I actually guessed that would be your answer. I'm not nearly as "literature minded" as you but, after a bit of thought, I decided that Mr Conan Doyle would be an interesting companion. Thinking about it though, I was really meaning Sherlock Holmes. Don't know if a fictional character is a fair answer though. Having said that, Paddington Bear might be fun too.😂 I've mentioned before that I often follow along on RailMapsOnline or the NLS old maps site, while I watch your videos. Something I've wondered, with you being so familiar with London,: do you have a tube map in your head, or an A-Z? I really don't have much knowledge of London streets, with 95% of my geographical knowledge coming from the railways and UndergrounD. I can navigate pretty well, without needing to refer to a tube map, but then you'll casually throw in names like Clerkenwell or Pentonville and, with no stations, I quickly get lot. As a hackney driver, I passed "The Knowledge" on the whole of Highland Region but I'd have more ense than to try the proper version down there. I just wondered though, how you do it, how you think of places. When you mention Epping Forest for example, I think "Central Line", while others would immediately know the number of the bus routes. Curious to know what you use.😁 Cheers for now, Dougie.
If you do walk to Edmonton, take a look at some old pics of Edmonton Green in the 1950s and 60s. Chas & Dave's Green. Destroying that was a crime. Bounces Road/St Peter's/Eldon Road/Town Road on a sunny day takes you back.
Hello Ash. This is Den from Cornwall and I'm watching this on holiday in Funchal, Madeira. I lived in Oakdale Road until I was 8 years old. It's all fascinating for me. DEN.
PS I'm English but currently living in Springfield, IL., I walk regularly on the old disused railroads here, they are fascinating and I often find old railwayana.
Do you remember when the Scala was a cheap place to party. Or how Hackney Wick when it was a squat rave hub of shit drugs, poor music and occasional fights or police raids? Let us not forget the old Reclaim the Streets movement against the M11 link Road, the 491 Gallery used to be fun, like The Admirial Nelson, I hosted parties at both venues back when I was still Idealistic and would think conscious awareness could be raised through bringing people together and debates; then I realised they were doing exactly the same as me if I went out raving for a dance. Becoming jaded doesn't take much time when people are constantly asking you if you are just being a dictator? Apparently the correct answer is not: "If I a true Dictator I would have a capital D, you'll be dead and this subjective peaceful protesting would be killed off and burned in Epping Forest!" Funny that, apparently humour, irony and other hyperbolic expressions are not favourite for the self deluded intellectuals... 🙄
Excellent stream John as always I do miss the Pie Mash Shop in Leytonstone. When back in East London I always pay them a visit. Look forward to your next stream Best wishes Stay safe Lee 👍🏻😁
Hi John, just found your channel and immediately subscribed. Your passion for the subject seems effortless, and your vocal delivery puts many in TV land to shame. Scratching my head as to why producers aren't knocking on your door! A great advert for appreciating our local areas, what could be greener?! Enjoyed your interviews with Robert Elms, another of this country's great wordsmiths.
Hi John, Actually, I'm not suggesting your face is unphotogenic, but I think it would be very interesting to see a walk looking forward as you experience it! 😉 p.s. How do you pass the time when not out filming: are you still "gainfully employed"?
Just a thought if you do decide to do a walk around the Waterloo area. A brilliant source of reference is the film from 1971 called Melody. Music by the Bee Gees and starring the 2 boys who played Oliver and the Artful Dodger. Filmed completely in the Lambeth road / Battersea area. Some fabulous shots of the architecture of the Archbishop Temple School and the surrounding area. Probably most of it unrecognisable today
Wanted to offer an updated thank you for these walks John. I found them when lockdown first started and it’s no exaggeration to say they quickly became a key part of my “survival” strategy. They gave me a healthy way to let go of the reality of the pandemic and, as it were, escape. I got then (and still get) a real sense of time and place as well as a lovely feeling of nostalgia for some of the places I knew back in the late 70’s and 80’s. I’m sure they were a must watch for many people during those difficult times and it’s a tribute to you that you’ve retained such a loyal following. God bless you. Just as an aside. Funny you’ve mentioned Ralph Brown from Withnail and I. He used to live on Blackstock Rd in Finsbury Park and for a while drove a big old Humber Sceptre I believe. His brother lived on the same Rd and we used to knock about together.
Interesting questions and requests here. I would be interested in explorations of places where well known people in history lived, such as Thomas Cromwell- Putney to various high end homes, Charles Dickens, (although Derek Jacobi did a really interesting programme about his life), etc. his homes and places where he worked. I’m sure many people in history had London links, as it has long been a key place of central power.
No mention of rising knife crime and the failure of Sadiq Khan to tackle this issue in the answer about the best Borough’s to live in. Disappointed you ignore this.
If you visit Sheffield I'd recommend the Kelham Island Museum. It's free (donations suggested) interesting industrial heritage, and general area. There are classic real ale pubs nearby.
I’m in Sheffield, I was just going to suggest Patrick’s videos then you mentioned him 😄 I’d love to see videos of you walking round my city and telling its history. I’ll look forward to that! Take care, thanks for the videos.
They are all expensive now to live in,or buy a house ! i've lived in Wanstead Stratford Chingford and Walthamstow ! now live in Scotland,it's not like it used to be price wise !
An amazing answer. Your description of the canals as a warzone juxtaposed with beautiful quaint images of the canals had me laughing out loud like a mad person!
When you showed the camera flipped around, on your chest (roughly the 13:10 mark), it reminded me of a scene in Wim Wenders' great film 'Lisbon Story.' If you've not seen that film - check it out... some of what you do is like the film maker character in that story! cheers - love the walks!
Loved it, thanks for the great video. I used to walk over Waterloo Bridge every day to to get to work at Tommy's, avoiding the tourists throwing their Ipads into my hands to take a pic of them and Big Ben.
Completely agree about Norwich ! Went for the first time a few weeks back for no other reason than Greater Anglia railways were doing £5 each way tickets from Stratford and it is absolutely wonderful ! Talk about unheralded gem.
It has baffled me for years how you have some of the most beautiful, assessable, historical, churches in the entire world, yet have majoritively become a nation of non-believers. How did that happen?
catching up, not watched a video of yours for a few weeks now..loved the rain at the end and it all looking a bit cold, me in my shorts and singlet having a cold beers in 32 degrees Thailand, Cheers John...
Have been watching your marvelous videos for a couple of years now on and off , they are absolutely brilliant and so interesting and informative , so when asked about doing possible other one offs in other cities . As a scouser I was so happy to hear you mention Liverpool , would really love to see you spend a few days up here and give a wonderful informative walk not only just the city center but also some of the districts , like out along the river to Waterloo and Crosby , the warehouse districts of the old docks north and south with maritime history , the lovely parks and over the water as we say not across the river lol to the historic Wirral , you would obviously need to do your homework on local history which I'm sure you would do justice . Please consider to do it sometime in the future
