Living outside the UK, audio podcasts about London have been a lifeline supporting my interest in the city.

In the mid-2000s, Rev. Robert Wright’s free London Walks series in particular was a joy (see Londonist’s 2006 review). I followed him vicariously on his 65 live-recorded itineraries (smiling when he’d say to “… cross over at the crossing, remembering to look left, and then right …”), nerdily adding every route in red marker to my battered A-Z map. While Rev. Wright’s audio files are no longer online, the walk descriptions are, plus how to obtain a CD by mail (worth every penny).

Happily, there is a banquet of free podcasts about all things London available now. (London audio tours and apps are glorious subjects for another post.)

Here is a sampling of my favourite London podcasts.

1. 32 Londoners

One night in May 2014, an extraordinary event took place on the London Eye (which I missed, alas!). Curated by A Curious Invitation and Antique Beat, in each of the Eye’s 32 capsules a talk was given by an authority on a notable born-Londoner, including Thomas Becket (Saint), Michael Faraday (Scientist), David Bowie (Musician), and Queen Victoria (Monarch). (32 Londoners was held again in 2015, although I’m not finding any audio files online.)

Here’s a short video about the event.

Enjoy City of Westminster guide extraordinaire Peter Berthoud on A-Z Inventor Phyllis Pearsall.

2. Londonist Out Loud

N Quentin Woolf hosted 190 (!) episodes of this weekly podcast (2010-2017, now on hiatus) devoted to life, history, and culture in London (also on iTunes and Acast).

The podcasts feature a dazzling array of guests and topics, including Caroline Shenton on The Day Parliament Burned Down, Sarah Wise on Rookeries of London, Yannick Pucci with A Tour of Art Deco London, Jane Young at Guildhall Art Gallery (plays best in IE), and Tina Baxter on The Waste Land.

Here’s Henry Eliot on Curiocity.

…. and Mike Paterson of London Historians Inside St Sepulchre.

3. Bishopsgate Institute

Bishopsgate Institute runs a diverse range of courses for adults, hosts cultural events, and maintains an outstanding library. Much to the benefit of those of us with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), Bishopsgate Institute has made 71 recordings available of their talks and presentations (also on iTunes).

Historian and broadcaster Dr. Matthew Green has presented on A Time Travelling History of London, and “Spitalfields Life Chit Chats” have been held on Billingsgate Market and Smithfield Market.

One of the most memorable talks I attended, during my research on London’s underground public toilets (if you’re interested here’s my dissertation), was journalist Mark Simpson on Cottaging and Cruising in the Capital.

Enjoy!

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