This Other London
Adventures in the Overlooked City
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This Other London
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Narrated by:
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John Rogers
About this listen
Join John Rogers as he ventures out into an uncharted London like a redbrick Indiana Jones in search of the lost meaning of our metropolitan existence. Nursing two reluctant knees and a can of Stella, he perambulates through the seasons seeking adventure in our city’s remote and forgotten reaches.
Foreword written and read by Russell Brand.
When John Rogers packed away his rucksack to start a family in London he didn’t stop travelling. But instead of canoeing up the Rejang River to find retired headhunters in Sarawak, he caught the ferry to Woolwich in search of the edge of the city at Crayford Marshes.
This Other London recounts that journey and many others – all on foot and epic in their own cartilage-crunching way. Clutching a samosa and a handful of out-of-date A-Zs, he heads out into the wilderness of isolated luxury apartment blocks in Brentford, the ruins of Lesnes Abbey near Thamesmead, and the ancient Lammas Lands in Leyton.
Denounced by his young sons as a ‘hippy wizard’, Rogers delves into some of the overlooked stories rumbling beneath the tarmac of the city suburbs. Holy wells in Lewisham; wassailing in Clapton; a heretical fresco in West Ham. He encounters the Highwaymen of Hounslow Heath, Viet Cong vets still fighting Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket in Beckton, Dutch sailors marooned at Erith pier; and cyclists – without Bradley Wiggins’ sideburns – at Herne Hill Velodrome. He heads out to Uxendon Hill to witness the end of the world, Horsenden Hill to learn its legend, and Tulse Hill to the observatory of the Victorian Brian Cox.
This Other London will take you into the hinterland of the city. The London that is lived in; the London where workaday dormitory suburbs sit atop a rich history that could rival Westminster and Tower Bridge. In an age when no corner of the globe has been left untrampled-upon by hordes of tourists, it is time to discover the wonders on our doorstep.
This Other London is your gateway through the underexplored nooks of London. As Pathfinder wrote in 1911, ‘Adventure begins at home’.
©2013 John Rogers (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
‘Leave the Oyster card at home and set out in your walking shoes with Rogers as a companion – and be prepared to see London in a whole new way.’ Time Out
‘Rich with surprises …Rogers conjured up magical little worlds that we would otherwise pass by.’ Metro
‘The author’s love of exploration is infectious. Anyone who reads This Other London will find themselves with an unexpected itch to visit the Welsh Harp Reservoir or Hounslow Heath … [John Rogers is] the Brian Cox of topology, inspiring wonder and curiosity.’ Londonist
What listeners say about This Other London
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bazz
- 03-10-22
funny and informative
what a fun and informative jaunty around the outer reaches of London, we especially like the forays in and around Leyton and Walthamstow as my wife lived there in the early part of her life and we have now started to re explore.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Peter Mitchell
- 21-12-22
John exemplifies the eccentric Englishman
Fascinating mix of history, geography, sociology and just being a curious person who enjoys walking.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brian Lavelle
- 03-01-17
A fascinating book read brilliantly by its author
I'd previously read John Rogers' excellent collection of walking narratives (into some of the curiosities of London that don't automatically jump off the map) when it was published a few years ago. But this version, read by John himself, adds another dimension to the book: the author's naturally engaging voice, drawing out the wit and wisdom of the writing, is perfect for this one. As with the author's brilliant walking videos, it's an absolute pleasure to accompany John on these walks, warts and all.
Episodes of history, cultural movements, esoteric knowledge and social commentary are all here, with a fine take on humour, too. If you've any interest in hidden places and their stories, consider this a must.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- T. Chapman
- 15-11-22
Excellent book, shame about the voice
The book is excellent & maybe I will buy a print copy and read it again. It has to be said that John Rogers doesn’t have an unpleasant voice either … just a quite flat, monotonous voice that instantly causes me to zone out or fall asleep no matter how hard I try to concentrate.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jonathan T
- 09-02-22
Wonderful offbeat journey
I came across John from his great YouTube videos. Having run or walked up the River Lea and its surroundings so many times I have an affinity with his walks and stories. The detail and humour he puts into his nuggets of history bring his adventures alive. Quirky explorations of gritty urban beauty amongst the decay.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Janice
- 16-06-23
Great stories, great narration
Loved the mix of personal anecdotes, stories, history and geography. Would highly recommend a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jason
- 18-06-18
A Great Listen - Buy This Book Now!
I love this book. Very informative and fascinating. The author also gave a brilliant performance while narrating. I think this may be my favourite audio book now and one I will return to.
Full marks, a great listen.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- scott Dessert
- 30-03-21
Fascinating Funny Fantastic
Such a great book, John really turns what we see as mondaine into highly entertaining material and added to this has a great sense of humour.
As an enthusiastic hiker I always tend to leave the city in search of a days walk, this book really made want to explore my surroundings more in depth which is perfect in this lockdown era.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 24-05-21
Walking with John
I discovered the author on YouTube, so was delighted to come across his book which I've now listened to many times enjoying the London walks every time.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Richard
- 06-11-13
Not enough juicy facts
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
The guy seems like a nice enough chap but I'd assumed "Adventures in the overlooked city" meant I'd read about some hidden interesting facts about London. Whilst there are a few, they're bogged down in the authors political opinions and hidden behind wispy autobiographical stories. It should be called "An autobiographical journey through overlooked London by John Rogers" or something of that ilk.
I have an incredibly small brain so perhaps I'm missing something, should I know who John Rogers is?
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6 people found this helpful