London History

The London History Podcast, hosted by Hazel Baker from London Guided Walks, explores the rich history of Seven Dials in London during the 1920s and 1930s.

In this episode, Professor Matt Holbrooke discusses his book, 'Songs of Seven Dials,' which delves into the cultural history of the area through vibrant archival research. Seven Dials was a diverse and vibrant community, home to migrant communities, working-class families, and bohemian nightlife.

The episode covers the significant libel trial involving Sierra Leonian café owner Jim Kitten and his English wife Emily against a right-wing newspaper, highlighting issues of race, class identity, and urban redevelopment.

The podcast also touches on the local cafés, clubs, and nightlife that shaped Seven Dials' reputation, the key conflicts and tensions, and personal stories of its residents, providing a detailed glimpse into this colourful and dramatic part of London’s history.

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🌐 Website: ⁠⁠https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠
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Exploring the Vibrant Legacy of Seven Dials: An Intimate History with Professor Matt Holbrooke.
In this episode of the London History Podcast, Hazel Baker hosts Professor Matt Holbrooke, a cultural history expert from the University of Birmingham, to delve into his latest work 'Songs of Seven Dials'.
The conversation explores the rich history of Seven Dials during the 1920s and 1930s, highlighting its unique cultural diversity, the struggles of its migrant communities, and the nightlife that defined the area.
Key topics include the impact of gentrification, the pivotal libel trial involving Jim and Emily Kitten, issues of race and the colour bar, as well as the personal stories and vibrant communal life in this storied London neighbourhood.

📜 London History Podcast | Victorian Britain & Pandemic Fear
In January 1892, London went dark. Theatres closed. Streets filled with black crepe. A young royal heir lay dying — while thousands of ordinary Londoners froze, starved, and quietly disappeared.In this episode of the London History Podcast, we explore one deadly week during the Russian Flu pandemic, when Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, died in royal luxury — and the poor died alone in cold East End rooms. This is a story of pandemic fear, medical inequality, quack cures, and Victorian society under pressure — including the extraordinary legal case that still shapes contract law today.

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🌐 Website: ⁠https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast⁠
📱 Instagram: @walk_london🐦 Twitter: @guided_walks 📘 Facebook: London Guided Walks

Step back in time with the London History Podcast as we revisit one of the city’s most daring and heartwarming moments. On a cold, smoggy evening in December 1952, bus driver Albert Gunter faced the unthinkable when Tower Bridge began to rise beneath him. With 40 passengers on board, Gunter made a split-second decision that would make him a local hero and capture the imagination of Londoners everywhere.

🏙️ About The London History Podcast
Hosted by London tour guide and historian Hazel Baker, the London History Podcast explores the fascinating, mysterious, and sometimes dark stories that shaped Britain's capital city.

From medieval legends to Victorian scandals, from royal palaces to haunted underground stations, we uncover the hidden history beneath London's streets.

🔗 Connect With Us
🌐 Website: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast
📱 Instagram: @walk_london🐦 Twitter: @guided_walks 📘 Facebook: London Guided Walks

Hosted by Hazel Baker from London Guided Walks, episode 145 of the London History Podcast explores nearly a thousand years of London's feasting traditions. The journey begins with medieval banquets at Guildhall, showcasing elaborate feasts that reflected wealth, power, and international trade connections through elaborate meals and public spectacles.

The episode then delves into the history of Christmas traditions, including the evolution of the Christmas pudding from medieval frumenty to the iconic Victorian dessert, and the development of mince pies from meat-filled pastries to sweet festive treats. The podcast also highlights the important roles of Smithfield and Leadenhall markets in providing festive foods, describing their transformations over the centuries and their lasting impact on London’s culinary culture.

Listeners are invited to explore how food has shaped social customs, political ties, and community celebrations in London’s tasty history.

London History Podcast Website