Everything you wanted to know about London, walking, history, pubs and more. Thank you for submitting more than 200 questions for this massive Q&A. There was a huge range of topics from London history, gentrification, favourite walks, historic pubs, lost rivers, London books and so much more including walks outside London and why I make YouTube videos. Part 2 of this video will be uploaded soon.
Some Questions answered in this video:
have you considered going on a walk spanning
more than one day?
I also love reading fiction books that have London as their main setting,
I’d like to know which ones are your favourites and why.
I’m currently reading The Rivers of London Saga and I’m loving it.
Thanks for your wonderful videos.
Would love to hear your thoughts on Wood Green
and Green Lanes managing to avoid some of the gentrification
that neighbouring areas have faced in the last few years
terry :davies
If you had to make a life or death decision on which type
of last walk to take, would it be in the city or the country?
Have you ever had any ghostly experiences on your treks
as you visit many ancient places?
Any plans to complete The London Loop in 2023?
Favourite section of the loop and why?
Hi John. I’m a London cabbie and love your videos.
Have you a favourite place in London to walk?
Have you considered doing a lost river walk WITH Ben Aaronovitch
if he is interested.
Have you ever done a walk, got home and thought
well I wouldn’t do that again !.
You’ve explored some of the major “place making” new developments
in some of your videos – North Greenwich, Olympic Village,
Barking Riverside being some. Can you think of any that have come
before them that you would mark down as a success?
I am really curious to learn from whom you inherited
your clearly infinite curiosity and passion for history from?
What part of London has surprised you most,
or specifically where were you when you turned a corner
and were just awestruck.
Hi John love your videos. As you’ve done an Oxford video
would you consider doing a Cambridge one?
You once told me you’re considering walking the length of the New River.
It’s a huge task. Do you think you’ll ever do it?
What’s the lifespan of your walking boots
Which river would you be the deity of?
Do you enjoy every bit of the walk or are there parts you want to
hurry through? Or is it possible to find something to like anywhere?
I’m just enquiring if you were aware of the Friends of West Ham Park’s
campaign to stop the City of London Corporation developing the old
plant nursery site, next to the park, with a block of flats?
while making your videos over the last several years,
what ways do you feel this process has enriched your life?
John, what motivates you to keep making the videos you do
and how much planning/time does it take to make your videos?
Hello John What is your inspiration for the path you have followed ?
What are some of your favourite/most memorable pubs
that you have visited on your walks around the Herts, Essex
and North London area?
Do you think Psychogeography could have a part to play in Archaeology?
Maybe a different way of looking at past environments.
would love to see you
walk the river darent from maybe Dartford to Sevenoaks one day.
Hayes and Harlington has changed a lot since your last visit.
New Crossrail. So many new developments.
Thanks for your great videos. I love them and London.
I’m going to the Natural History Museum soon with a mate
and wanted to know if you could recommend a good pub as
I don’t know this area too well. Thanks for any advice
Is there such a thing as PUB ETIQUETTE?
Music:
The Burdens We Carry – Gavin Luke
from Epidemic Sound
Thanks to my supporters on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JohnRogers
Please subscribe for regular videos: http://bit.ly/1EJjIB8
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1qvhkPMbF703QHR8qj8og/join
London Loop videos
http://bit.ly/3X3SBAf
Maps:
Open Street Map “© OpenStreetMap contributors” using data available under the Open Database Licence
_________________________________________________________________________________
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JohnRogers
My shop: https://teespring.com/stores/the-lost-byway
My Book: This Other London http://amzn.to/2zbFmTd
Audiobook & Kindle: http://amzn.to/2xLGb8s
Blog: The Lost Byway: http://thelostbyway.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fugueur
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelostbyway/
Make a donation to help support the channel https://paypal.me/JohnRogersLondon – many thanks!
Shot in 4K on a Olympus OM-D EM-1 mark 2 with audio recorded with a Rode Wireless GO
My Walking kit (amazon affiliate link – I earn a small commission on purchases)
https://amzn.to/2Xky2UA
source
Wow I used to live on filly brook
Thank you so much John, that was so interesting. All those different questions and totally honest of the cuff answers was entertaining and enjoyable. I look forward to the New River walk when you do that one. The Albion pub was at the top of my street, Malvern Terrace and my Nan who lived in Ripplevale Grove plus my older cousins living around there also used it as their regular haunt when I was a kid. Thank you for mentioning it. I used to like the Apples and Pears and the Charlie Chaplin at Elephant n Castle after work in the City on friday nights in the 60's with a group of girlfriends, it was our nught out and loved it. Take care 💕🇦🇺
First of all, I used to love the Louise in High Holborn, great pub. As to feeling safe, 20 odd years ago I lived in Hainaut Road and I never felt threatened or unsafe late at night coming home from the Hitchcock or Blackbirds. I’m sure if you feel frightened it shows in your body language. Now we live in a Perth suburb just up the road from the Bayswater Hotel, again it feels safe.
Thanks for yet another excellent video John. Just on your recollection of the disappearing individual on Hounslow Heath…prior to relocating to Melbourne my wife and I lived on the edge of the Heath and she had a job at a pub the other side of the Heath (the Warren). When she finished her shift I would meet her…there were 2 routes home..the long way along Staines Road or directly across the Heath. With the light pollution it would never get completely dark but there would frequently be a mist to around knee height. The atmosphere walking along the misty paths at night was unlike anything I ever encountered in London, and not in a pleasant way. Needless to say we didn't always take the shortest route.
Keep up the good work
If someone is looking for old pubs and their stories, Robs London has done great entries
John! Great video. It would be great if you made more longer films. So entertaining.
Hi John – You mentioned Wightman Road – I lived on Duckett Road in the 1970s and it had a river running through it – have you ever investigated the New River, which is sizeable as far as I remember. I'd love to know where it goes……or comes from!
Really enjoyed this QA learned so much. I have not done too much walking in London but one I enjoyed was when I went to a book signing by the great Deryn Lake in The Old Bell Tavern in Fleet Street. I spent most of the day walking up and down the Strand and Fleet Street going in and out of the various alleys and passageways-so much history to see.
John, yes we understand you like to make as you doing and making videos. In our side we just don't watch the videos john made but we get the knowledge of the context of the videos with a beautiful narration. I wish you all the best. Keep going John.
Really enjoyed this! What comes across from these Q&A sessions is how wonderful the contributors are to this great channel.. Really nice, well informed and interesting people. A real community spirit. Nice one John! 🌟👍
Wonderful! Thanks for tha Q and a John, I look forward to the next part!
Day off today so just watched the epic.. so interesting and I imaging you took a well earned intake of encouragement from those who watch your walks. Thank you John it a pleasure having virtual walks with you my friend
How kind to get your info on PUB ETIQUETTE. Thank you so much. Your videos absolutely contribute to our plans for London. Very exciting and helpful. Much appreciated, y'all! 😊
Thanks John for answering my paranormal question😂
That's crazy you experienced that bloke on hounslow heath maybe he was looking to go with you for a pint haha 😂
If ur eva in Avesbury have a pint at the red lion and sit on the well table in the main eating area. Seriously strong energy emanates from that ancient well.
P.s I am one of them awful students who studied at bucks University 😂 you made me laugh at your comment in your high Wycombe video.
Thanks John, a fantastic Q&A marathon from you.
I grew up in Clerkenwell and attended Hugh Myddelton Infant and Junior Schools so the New River has always been something I've known about, so I was really happy when we manged to walk a stretch from Hertford to Cheshunt a few years ago.
My parents lived in Norlington Road in Leytonstone so your walks around your local area are fascinating as so many of the places are so familiar. Thanks for the videos – I'm studying genealogy and also have a real interest in London's history, particularly the area around Clerkenwell so I always learn something.
Another great show , these q and a' s fill in any gaps from any previous episodes. Fantastic please keep up the great work
The history of UK is so much longer than US. We go back 200 years (in most places) and then it's not your history anymore it's the Native Americans and most of that has been wiped out.
I heard that in Roman Britain it was so much warmer that they had vineyards.
I think you would be a river god who helped people who got turned around
John loved your Q&A,video,sorry I missed getting question ready.however lots of stuff answered I would have asked.cant wait for second book.
Oh PLEASE do a walk with Ben Aaronovitch! I learn so much about London from both of you.
An incredible lot of questions for you to answer great video looking forward to you next one. Have a great Week
Where do you consider the north south divide to be, if it exists at all?
Thank you so much for this and for all your videos John. One of my great joys through my life has been urban walks. Unfortunately a disability means that it's no longer possible and I deeply miss London wanders in particular (walking from work in Bloomsbury to my then home in Wapping via Smithfield and the Barbican and the city a particular favourite) so your videos bring me such joy. So thank you!
People don't leave the Barbican because they can't find the exits.
This was great fun!
The only thing I don’t like about the change to the Brunswick Centre is that all small independent businesses have been banished in favour of chains (who can afford the increased rents), which for me detracts from the character of a place.
Lovely – thanks for the pub recommendations & etiquette!
Awesome effort, John! Deeply interesting and enjoyable! 👍
Listening in slow-mo: EVP 55:57 'Snak med The Völve' ('Speak with The Völve'). Thank you
Lullingstone Roman Villa – well worth a visit too. Good bit of mosaic!
Thanks John! Nice to have a look round Leytonstone again, I love those old residential streets. Lived in a similar house in Forest Gate once, right by Wanstead Flats, complete with roaming cows! Great mix of Q +A, I like how you tie in history, music, walking and creativity with your output, and it does feel like we, as an audience, are joining in. Your route round the Olympic Park totally befuddled me, I lived for many years off Temple Mills Lane up till 2006. I recognised nothing of the environment, despite spending a lot of time cycling Hackney Marshes and walking around the so-called "wasteland" near the Eastway. It was long time the ambition of Newham Council to create "Stratford City" next to the old town, but it took the 2012 Olympics to start the Gold Rush and provide the investment. I hope new residents are happy, I "chose" to be "decanted" away to the outer London area, although the Thames Gateway development (Barking Riverside /Beam Park) is coming ever closer. The ever changing nature of London, people need homes.. Great to watch your tours and see what is still here from history, the pockets of beautiful landscapes and the stories of our people. Thanks John!
Dot.
Thank you John for showing us your London, and beyond. Looking forward for your videos every week 😊.
I live in Sweden, and have been visiting London more times than I can remember, but I always long back (we try to visit at least a couple times per year).
Watching your videos made me make up my own city walks, researching a bit more than I used to beforehand. And thanks to you I also discovered some truly genuine London places, for example the Regency cafe, which we absolutely love!
Also looking forward to your new book, I really enjoyed the first one!
/Eva
Thank you John!
loved it John, had a music interlude half way through though…I am a Stand at the bar man, same as at the football, but I stand at the end of the bar so not to be in anyone's way….got to think of a question for your next Q and A…
My old squat in Upper Clapton sold for 1.3 million a few years ago.
John,a walk along at least part of The Ridgeway would be great but please NO TENTS. Comfort has priority. Book yourself into a nice b+b every night. One reason of your films being so compelling is that you have a kind of wizard spirit in you that communes with the "psychogeography" of places. A book I'd recommend is "The World My Wilderness" by Rose Macaulay. I found it in a charity shop. The author paints what is I feel sure an accurate picture of a bombed out and not yet restored London in 1946 with people actually living among the ruins. And despite having watched soaps etc all my life I didn't guess the twist at the end. Its really good.
Also an author called Gillian Tindall has written lots of books bringing areas to life from the old documents and several are about London. Lots of "gentrification" where I live. I'd like to revile it but it does make areas nicer,of course it pushes the not nice elements somewhere else and those are ones who often need help and support but in this world you don't get it.Thats just how it is
John, I have followed you for quite a while and you were a godsend in lockdown for me and the wife. All these questions you are being asked, I've not heard anybody or yourself mention about the state of your legs, ankles or knees after these walks. Do you need to recover after all of these exertions?
Great Q&A John.. When you did the Portobello Live stream I recommended the Earl of Lonsdale.. also a Sam Smith pub!
When Virgin Megastores went bust, the buying teams were based at Blyth Road, in the EUK offices in Hayes – We were told it was all over by Deloitte and that we were out of work as of now, clear your desk and go… we all trouped out with as many freebies, CDs DVDs Games Stereos etc. we could bag up (and there were some very big bags) and congregated at the Hayes Wetherspoons for a farewell libation or two ..
John, firstly thank you very much for answering my question, much appreciated! secondly… the strangest part – literally the night BEFORE you released this video I had been to our "spoons" with my wife (up ere int' north – my profile pic actually reveals which one) and after plenty of umming and ahing over the menu, for the first time ever i ended up ordering… a Tennesee burger. thirdly – keep up the good work, i have zero affiliation with London but I find your walks really interesting and theraputic, and now also bizarrely coincidental!