London's Peaks
31 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 5 years ago -A podcast about walking, London and life in general. London's Peaks sees hosts Rick Pearson and Isaac Williams walk to the highest points of the 12 inner London boroughs with the amazing, eclectic people who call them home
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Episodes
31 Brent – Feargal Sharkey
May 10, 2019 09:42 - 34 minutes - 46.7 MBFor the 31st – and final – episode of London’s Peaks, we take a walk to the highest point in Brent with the legendary singer Feargal Sharkey. En route, Feargal talks politics, rock’n’roll and why it’s high time we started looking after our rivers. Follow Feargal on Twitter: @Feargal_Sharkey
30 Barking & Dagenham – Matt Brown
March 04, 2019 11:49 - 21 minutes - 17.2 MBHe’s waded through the buried River Fleet and spent a night in a haunted plague pit. But, until recently, Matt Brown, editor-at-large at the Londonist, had never visited the highest point in the borough of Barking & Dagenham – to be found in Marks Gate cemetery. Join him for this epic ascent as we discuss whale bones and why everything you know about London is probably wrong… Visit the Londonist website: londonist.com Follow Matt Brown on Twitter: @mattfromlondon
29 Harrow – Jack Cornish
January 02, 2019 12:40 - 26 minutes - 21.1 MBA hike to the highest point in Harrow – and all of north London – with the Ramblers’ Jack Cornish. En route to the peak, on Bushey Heath (153m), we discuss the Don’t Lose Your Way campaign, which is looking to safeguard rights of way before they are lost forever. For more on the Don’t Lose Your Way campaign, visit the Ramblers website: ramblers.org.uk Follow Jack Cornish on Twitter: @cornish_jack
28 Sutton – Lucy Furlong
December 12, 2018 16:24 - 36 minutes - 29 MBHiking to the summit of Sutton with walking poet Lucy Furlong. En route, we discuss the suburbs, poetry and, er, Darth Vader’s gym. For more information on Lucy’s work, head to lucyfurlong.com
27 Kingston-upon-Thames – Bob Phillips
November 26, 2018 22:14 - 46 minutes - 36.9 MBA hike to the crest of Kingston with historian, author and local expert Bob Phillips. En route, we talk despots and David Bowie, uprisings and the greatest football team you’ve never heard of. Pick up a copy of Bob’s book, The Story of Tolworth, here.
26 Hillingdon – Tim Ingram-Smith
September 26, 2018 21:36 - 33 minutes - 26.9 MBJoin us on a walk through the hills of Hillingdon in the company of Tim Ingram-Smith. Tim is three-quarters of the way through walking the London Spiral, a 300-mile detour from King’s Cross to Gravesend, and talks about his curiosity for the capital and how walking here compares with walking in his native Scotland. For more information on the London Spiral, visit: londonspiral.wordpress.com
25 Hounslow – Alice Procter
August 15, 2018 21:27 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBThis time round, we’re hiking to the highest point in the borough of Hounslow in the company of Alice Procter, a tour guide and art historian. Alice runs the Uncomfortable Art tours where she looks at the troubling truth behind some of Britain’s most celebrated figures and artefacts. Our walk begins in the western fringes of Osterley Park, a hidden gem located just behind Osterley tube station. Take an Uncomfortable Art tour: theexhibitionist.org Follow Alice on Twitter: @aaprocter ...
24 Barnet – Maxwell Ayamba
August 08, 2018 21:54 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBMaxwell Ayamba, co-founder of the Black Men Walk for Health group, travels down from Sheffield to scale the Barnet beacon. Maxwell’s walking group encourages black men – and women – to embrace rural walking for the sake of their physical and mental wellbeing. He discusses whether the British countryside has a diversity problem and whether a similar group could flourish in London. Find out more about Black Men Walk For Health: 100blackmenwalk.blogspot.com Find out more about the Sheffield E...
23 Bromley – Andrew Stuck
May 17, 2018 22:05 - 34 minutes - 47.1 MBA walk to the highest point in Bromley – and, indeed, all of London – with Andrew Stuck, founder of the Museum of Walking. En route to the peak, at Westerham Heights, right where Bromley meets Kent, Andrew talks about why he believes walking is a creative act. Visit the Museum of Walking Listen to Andrew’s podcast Talking Walking
22 Havering – John Rogers
March 01, 2018 14:55 - 39 minutes - 31.3 MBAccompany author, filmmaker and psychogeographer John Rogers on a hike to the highest point in the borough of Havering. Following the London Loop over fields, streams and country lanes, John discusses ‘remote London’ and why he believes adventure begins at home. Pick up a copy of John’s book, This Other London, here. Check out John’s YouTube channel here.
21 Newham – Stephen Armstrong
February 08, 2018 22:56 - 33 minutes - 27 MBIn 2018 Britain, two thirds of families living in poverty are in work and nearly a million people work zero-hours contracts. In his new book, The New Poverty, Stephen Armstrong tells the stories of the most vulnerable in British society – and how we could, and should, be doing more to help them. All this and more en route to the Beckton Alps, a toxic spoil heap that also happens to be the highest point in the borough of Newham. Pick up a copy of The New Poverty here
20 Haringey – Emma Rosen
January 11, 2018 08:29 - 22 minutes - 18.2 MBDo you love your job? What are the ingredients of a satisfying career? And why are we picky about our partners but content to settle for unsatisfactory careers? These are some of the questions Emma Rosen contemplates en route to the highest point in Haringey, the roundabout at the top of North Hill (129m). Having recently completed her '25 before 25' initiative – which saw her try out 25 careers in a year, all before her 25th birthday – Emma believes many Londoners could benefit from trying ...
19 Merton – Joe Watson
December 21, 2017 10:56 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBWhat's in a view? That's the question discussed by the National Trust's Joe Watson en route to the highest point in the borough of Merton. Joe talks about the 'Points of View' campaign, which is looking to preserve and increase the number of the capital's protected views – particularly south of the river. Follow the National Trust on Twitter: @NTLovesLondon Contact the National Trust about its Points of View campaign: here
18 Bexley – Tim Waterman
December 07, 2017 07:09 - 37 minutes - 30 MBTim Waterman is a landscape architect and theorist whose work explores the interconnections between place, food, taste and democratic society. Born in the US but based in London, he takes a walk with George Bull to the highest point in Bexley – Langdon Shaw – talking anarchism, planning and Peter Kropotkin. Pick up a copy of Tim's latest book, Landscape and Agency, here. Follow Tim on Twitter @tim_waterman
17 Enfield – Richard Godwin
November 23, 2017 08:52 - 33 minutes - 26.8 MBRichard Godwin is a journalist and author whose latest book, The Spirits, investigates the art of the cocktail. He takes a walk to the highest point in his home borough of Enfield, talking booze, the 'burbs and the simmering rivalry with neighbouring Barnet. Pick up a copy of Richard's book, The Spirits, here
16 Redbridge – Martin Soan
November 09, 2017 08:38 - 27 minutes - 22.3 MBComedian and compere Martin Soan walks with us to the highest point in the borough of Redbridge – Cabin Hill, 90m above sea-level. On the way to the peak, Martin discusses comedy, the "naked balloon dance" and his old sparring partner, the outrageous Malcolm Hardee. Find out more about Martin's comedy night, Pull The Other One, here. Summit to laugh about: comedian Martin Soan at the peak of Redbridge
15 Ealing – Matthew Beaumont
October 26, 2017 08:00 - 29 minutes - 23.8 MBIn a first for London's Peaks, this walk takes place after dark. Why? Because this episode's guest is none other than Matthew Beaumont, author of Nightwalking: A Nocturnal History of London. En route to the peak on Horsenden Hill, Matthew discusses Dickens, deep topography and the night's ability to re-enchant places. He also politely points out to co-host George Bull that they may be going the wrong way, seeing as they are headed downhill rather than up. Pick up a copy of Nightwalking her...
14 Croydon – John Grindrod
October 12, 2017 06:41 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MBAuthor and proud Croydonian John Grindrod takes a walk with us to the highest point in the much-maligned south London borough. Having written Outskirts: Living Life on the Edge of the Green Belt, John is the ideal man to talk about the capital's outer limits. En route to the peak – the second highest of all the London boroughs – we talk Bowie, the housing crisis and why Croydon is much better than most give it credit for. Pick up a copy of Outskirts here Follow John Grindrod on Twitter he...
13 Richmond upon Thames – Andree Frieze
September 28, 2017 07:26 - 24 minutes - 19.8 MBGreen Party campaigner Andree Frieze takes a walk with us to the highest point in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, a hard-to-find trig point in Richmond Park. En route, she discusses air pollution, commuting and climate change. Website: greenparty.org.uk Facebook: facebbook.com/thegreenparty Follow Andree on Twitter: @andree_frieze Summit meeting: Andree at the trig point in Richmond Park
12 Waltham Forest – Will Ashon
September 14, 2017 06:31 - 29 minutes - 23.8 MBHaving written a book about Epping Forest and its attendant myths and madmen, Will Ashon is the perfect tour guide on a walk to the highest point in the borough: Pole Hill. On the way, Will discusses his book Strange Labyrinth and the role the forest plays in our collective imagination. There's also some chatter about tree climbing, carving and animal droppings. So something for everyone, really. Pick up a copy of Strange Labyrinth here Follow Will Ashon on Twitter: @willashon In Pole po...
London's Peaks: Series 2 preview
September 04, 2017 20:21 - 2 minutes - 2.32 MBRick, Isaac and new recruit George Bull give a sneak peak into what listeners can look forward to from London's Peaks: Series 2. Turning their attention to the outer London boroughs, there's promise of night walks and some serious summits. It all kicks off properly on Thursday 14 September with a walk to the top of Waltham Forest with author Will Ashon. Tune in then!
11 Hackney – Anthony Anaxagorou
June 09, 2017 08:55 - 58 minutes - 46.8 MBFor the final walk of the inner London summits – sob, sob – Rick Pearson takes a walk to the heights of Hackney with performance poet Anthony Anaxagorou. En route to the peak, on Seven Sisters Road, they talk politics, positivity and the role of the poet in society. @Anthony1983 www.anthonyanaxagorou.com
10 Lambeth – Danny Bent
May 21, 2017 11:32 - 19 minutes - 15.8 MBHaving cycled 9,000 miles to India, raised $550,000 for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and been voted as one of the top 100 happiest people in the UK, Danny Bent's perfectly placed to impart some positivity on the podcast. On a walk through Brockwell Park to the summit of Lambeth – Westow Hill, by Crystal Palace Park – we talk happiness, adventure and near-death experiences.
0.8 Tower Hamlets – Ivo Gormley
April 27, 2017 21:24 - 22 minutes - 18.3 MBFounder of GoodGym, short filmmaker and all-round lovely bloke Ivo Gormley joins us for an expedition along the Regent's Canal. Before we reach Tower Hamlets' mountainous 16m high point, Ivo discusses GoodGym's mission to combine fitness with community work, his inspiring short film The Runners, and the small matter of whether we, as humans, are intrinsically 'good'.
0.7 Islington – Jerry White
April 20, 2017 06:19 - 22 minutes - 17.8 MBLondon historian Jerry White takes Rick Pearson on a magical history tour of Islington. En route to the borough's peak, Jerry talks about "London's worst road", prisoner of war camps and why we should all pay better attention to our past. Those interested in learning more about London history are advised to read one of Jerry's many books on the subject: jerrywhite.co.uk
0.6 Kensington & Chelsea – Paul Sinton-Hewitt
April 14, 2017 06:57 - 15 minutes - 12.4 MBThe founder of parkrun – a series of free, 5K runs held every Saturday morning in parks across the country and indeed the world – Paul Sinton-Hewitt, joins Isaac for a stroll through Hyde Park. With over three million registered runners, parkrun has been credited with transforming people's perception of fitness and, with 47 events held across our capital, Londoners have embraced it like nowhere else.
0.5 Camden – Awate
April 06, 2017 10:42 - 23 minutes - 18.4 MBUp-and-coming rapper Awate talks about his memories of growing up in the borough of Camden – from being chased by members of the National Front to discovering music and a means through which to express himself. He's certainly had to overcome his fair share of challenges, but in doing so it's made him who he is: a brave, bold London voice fighting inequality wherever he finds it.
0.4 Westminster – Sophie Walker
March 30, 2017 12:04 - 20 minutes - 16.6 MBLeader of the Women's Equality Party, Sophie Walker, takes time out of her busy schedule to walk with Isaac to the summit of Westminster: a not-so-notable point on Boundary Road, just south of Swiss Cottage tube station. While the peak left much to be desired, the chat did not – with Sophie explaining why equality for women is the transformative issue for London.
0.3 Southwark & Lewisham – Will Hodgkinson
March 17, 2017 17:26 - 14 minutes - 12 MBAuthor, music critic for The Times and proud Peckhamite Will Hodgkinson takes a walk to the top of One Tree Hill. We know, it's not technically the summit Southwark and Lewisham (that's the shared summit of Sydenham Hill). However, it does provide a breathtaking vista of London and is located next to Walter's Way, a collection of self-build houses. Along the way, Will talks anarchism, walking and why he'd like Johnny Depp to fire his ashes out of a cannon.
0.2 Wandsworth – Dan Raven-Ellison
March 17, 2017 17:19 - 12 minutes - 10.3 MB‘Guerilla geographer’ Dan Raven-Ellison puts his navigation skills to good use as he and Isaac find their way from Richmond to the highest point in Wandsworth, Putney Heath. En route, Dan discusses his campaign to make London a National Park City, with a rallying cry for Londoners to “rip up their paving slabs.”
0.1 Hammersmith & Fulham – Shappi Khorsandi
March 08, 2017 21:58 - 16 minutes - 13.4 MBHumourist and humanist Shappi Khorsandi takes a walk with Rick to the highest point in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, which stands a dizzying 44m above sea-level. On the ascent, Shappi discusses addiction, her new book Nina is Not OK, and why she thinks stand-up comedy is "a disease".