Here’s the video of the talk I did with the brilliant Travis Elborough at Bookseller Crow on the Hill bookshop in Crystal Palace about my book, Welcome to New London, all the way back on 28th March 2024.
This is becoming an annual tradition. Well it’s the second year I’ve gone for a vinyl inspired Record Store Day wander starting at the brilliant Dreamhouse Records on Francis Road, Leyton. The final live act had just finished when I arrived at shortly after 3pm and pints of local beers were being swilled and clearly had been for a few hours.
I then followed my trail of last year, along Vicarage Road, across Lea Bridge Road, Markhouse Road to Vinyl Vanguard at Crate St James Street, Walthamstow. This place is such a treasure trove that it’s impossible to leave empty handed and after contemplating spending £78 on the Cornelius Cardew Memorial Concert record, I decided on this beguiling John Cage, Luciano Berio, Ilhan Mimaroglu album of electronic music made for magnetic tape for a more pocket-friendly £12.
Record purchase complete, I took St James Path through the towers of New Walthamstow, up the high street as the market traders packed away and climbed the hill to Walthamstow Village. I’d been carrying a pang for a pint of local craft beer since the start of the walk at Dreamhouse Records, so turned into the Ravenswood Industrial Estate with its plethora of brewery tap rooms.
Pillars Brewery Malt Haus was rammed, and likewise the other spin offs and gin houses elsewhere around the estate. It was like a festival. The noise, the crowds, the smell of beer and burnt meat. It was intoxicating. But a bit much for the vibe of my stroll. I’d decided at this point to head for the Hitchcock Hotel on Whipps Cross Road with a table looking out across Leyton Flats wondering if that’s actually the source of the Leytonstone branch of the Philley Brook. And a great choice it was.
On 29th March I had the great pleasure of joining Andrew Kötting and Iain Sinclair on stage at the brilliant Wanstead Tap to discuss Andrew’s contribution to the London Adventures series published by Three Imposters – The Dead Wait.
“In the sixth contribution to the London Adventures series, writer and filmmaker Andrew Kötting revisits a tragic episode from his family’s past as he follows his great-grandfather on a trail across London from Lewisham to Henson. Iain Sinclair and photographer Anonymous Bosch keep him company.”
An audio recording of the event is available on my Patreon page for members.
Some of the questions in this massive Q&A
- What are the most underrated London walks for folks visiting from out of the country?
- Have you ever seen something “paranormal” on a walk?
- Perhaps a look at mythical London?
- What is the most difficult walk you have done and are there any walks you wouldn’t do because of logistics issues such as lack of public transport?
- Any chance of a walk covering the history of the London Punk scene?
- Is there a chance of a walk or two around some of London’s oldest football grounds, both existing and defunct?
- Which areas of London do you think have changed for the better over say the last 20 years?
- Are there any parts of London you’ve never been to?