I love visiting new places across the world and going on guided walks and my books are set in some of my favourite locations: Dubai, Salt Lake City, Venice, Jordan, Las Vegas but to London I will return again and again. I live an hour from London and despite it being practically on my doorstep I never tire of the big smoke. London gives me a buzz, there’s always something new to see and do and in the words of Daniel Defoe ‘when a man is tired of London he is tired of life,’ a statement that is so very true.
There’s nothing more engaging, stimulating and invigorating than joining qualified guide, Hazel Baker of London Guided Walks, on one of her jaunts. The walks last about an hour and a half and Hazel runs several a week. The walks are themed around the history of London. She is currently running an Oliver Twist walk from the Angel at Islington to Farringdon, exploring the secrets and curiosities of Victorian London – when parents put their children to sleep, not with Calpol but a tot of gin and when women died from wearing crinolines because they restricted the oxygen to the brain, caught fire and got tangled in the spokes of carriages. Last week Hazel did a Harry Potter walk passing the sights and inspiration from the films. Here is the link to her walks: http://www.londonguidedwalks.co.uk
I am always impressed by the sheer depth of Hazel’s historical knowledge and general knowledge on London related issues. She keeps up to date on what is happening in her city and researches very thoroughly. There never seems to be a question she cannot answer. London is brought to life on her explorations and she engages so well with the public. She’s warm, friendly and gets to know her regulars. She’s also a great public speaker. She uses vocal variety and energy, rather than talking in a dull monotone like Melvin Bragg on Radio 4, ‘In Our Time.’ And you wont strain to listen over the thrum of traffic.
You will be captivated by her stories. In her words “If history was told in the form of stories it would never be forgotten.” Her walks will stimulate a desire to learn more and as you go about your daily life in London, rushing along the streets, dashing into different shops and slugging beer in the pubs you’ll be more curious and begin to ask questions about all of the places you simply take for granted.
As you come out of Charing Cross Station have you ever stopped to look at the elaborate monument – one of the 12 Eleanor Crosses? These were designed by the same architect who designed the Houses of Parliament and mark the night resting places along the route taken when her body was taken down from Lincoln to London. As Hazel explained on one walk “the Victorians, in order to look forward had to look back.” They took inspiration from the past and through innovation made this country great.
As I stroll along the Thames on a Saturday afternoon, watching the entertainers along the South Bank, marvelling at the view around me – the result of years of change and development – I recall some of the things Hazel has told me on her walks. The Thames used to be a hive of activity. Nowadays the boats are mainly pleasure boats. Thames water was referred to as ‘Monster Soup’ and people died in their thousands of Cholera from drinking the water. The Thames is so different today. Dolphins, whales, porpoise and seals have been sighted in the Thames in recent years. It’s no longer a dirty river. But in 1858 the smell coming from the Thames of human and industrial waste gave it the name ‘The Big Stink.’
Charles Dickens walked six miles a day from from Camden to the Borough High Street and saw all of society and he wrote about what he saw. Modern authors like myself write about what we see around us. Material is everywhere for us to note down. When I look at the Thames I try to imagine what it would have been like during the Little Ice Age when it used to freeze over, at times between the 17th to the 19th century. Frost fairs were held on the ice until 1814. To test the ice was unbreakable the Victorians put an elephant on the ice. They had hog roasts on the ice and all sorts of entertainment and they put pieces of carpet down to stop people slipping.
Next time you enjoy a cocktail in London think about the Temperance Halls in the Victorian age serving colourful drinks laced with arsenic. Next time you hurry along think of what lies beneath the streets – an elaborate sewer network, built during the Victorian age and still crawling with rats.
You’ll learn lots about different places through my books. Wherever I go I take detailed notes and weave these into my novels. ‘Holiday’ is set in Yellowstone, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas and ‘The Catholic Woman’s Dying Wish’ has scenes in Dubai, Venice, Jordan, Ireland, Paris and Rome. Here are the links to my books:
“Holiday” https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holiday-Can-sync-will-sink-ebook/dp/B01MXYJJ3V/
“The Catholic Woman’s Dying Wish” https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catholic-Womans-Dying-Wish-Things-ebook/dp/B014DP7HQW/
“Every Family Has One” https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Family-Has-Warrington-Joanna-ebook/dp/B015RUZL7Y/
Thank you for reading!