London is a city shaped by its traditions—and just as much by those brave enough to break them. In this episode, Hazel Baker uncovers the comic, sometimes outrageous history of umbrella-toting pioneers in London: from Jonas Hanway dodging cabbies’ missiles, to satirical cartoons by Gillray, to the Duke of Wellington’s battlefield bans. Explore four millennia of social resistance, ridiculous trends, and eventual transformation—when Londoners moved from mocking umbrellas as foreign folly to embracing them as city essentials. Discover why every innovation in London seems, at first, scandalous, and how mockery drives progress. Tune in for real tales of Georgian gentlemen, Victorian entrepreneurs, royal umbrella endorsements, and cheeky street urchins—and meet the original Londoners who changed the city, one soggy stroll at a time.

Step into history with Episode 140 of the London Guided Walks Podcast! 🎙️Join London tour guide Hazel Baker as we uncover The Duke of Wellington. Discover his ingenious survival tactics, fascinating gadgets, and the surprising story behind the famous Wellington boot.

Episode 139: Downing Street — A Microcosm of London

Step down one of the world’s most famous addresses. Downing Street isn’t just the seat of power; it reflects London’s history, politics, and social change. Discover the stories that shaped a nation from this iconic street.

This episode reveals London's hidden connections to some of the most remote places on Earth – from the icy fjords of Spitsbergen to the vast Southern Ocean. Discover how whale hunting shaped everything from street lighting to women's fashion, and why this brutal yet economically vital trade ultimately came to define London's position as a global maritime power.

Perfect for listeners interested in: Maritime history, London's hidden past, Arctic exploration, industrial history, Victorian society, fashion history, and the complex relationship between commerce and conservation.

The Remarkable Story Behind the World's First Underwater Tunnel | London History Podcast Ep. 137

In episode 137 of the London History Podcast, join host Hazel Baker and guest Katherine MacAlpine, Director of the Brunel Museum, as they delve into the fascinating history of the world's first tunnel under a river - the Thames Tunnel.

Built by the pioneering father-son duo Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the Victorian era, this podcast explores the challenges, innovations, and engineering genius that made this groundbreaking project possible.

Learn about the tunnel's construction, its transformation into a pedestrian foot tunnel and later a railway tunnel, and the legacy of the Brunel family.

Discover artifacts, stories, and the impact of this historic achievement on modern engineering. Don't miss out on exclusive glimpses into the Brunel Museum's exhibits, including Mark Brunel's personal items and the intriguing events surrounding the Thames Tunnel.

00:00 Introduction to the London History Podcast

00:43 The Brunel Family and the Thames Tunnel

01:58 Challenges and Innovations in Tunnel Construction

05:43 Financial Struggles and Public Perception

23:44 The Tunnel's Legacy and Modern Impact

31:02 Upcoming Exhibitions and Events at the Brunel Museum

34:05 Conclusion and Special Offer

More content at https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast

🎙️ London's Printing Revolution & the Birth of Children's Literature | The London History Podcast

Join Hazel Baker for a fascinating journey through 1740s London, a city alive with ink, ambition, and innovation. In this episode of The London History Podcast, we uncover how a tiny chapbook, Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, helped transform childhood reading – and how a widowed woman publisher, Mary Cooper, quietly reshaped literary history from her shop on Paternoster Row.

📚 Discover:

• The buzz of London’s book trade around St Paul’s Cathedral

• The Statute of Anne and how it revolutionised copyright

• Mary Cooper and Thomas Longman – trailblazers of modern publishing

• The engraving artistry of George Bickham the Younger

• What was inside Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book – and what was lost

• Why only two copies of the book are known to survive

• How nursery rhymes travelled from street cries to storybooks

• The hidden role of women in the eighteenth-century print trade

This episode is packed with rich detail – from political tensions of the Jacobite rising to the changing face of children’s literature, and from the smells of damp paper to the sound of rhymes still sung today.

🎧 Whether you are a book lover, historian, educator, or simply curious about the untold stories behind everyday culture, this episode will leave you seeing nursery rhymes – and London itself – in a whole new light.

🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode
💬 Share with someone who loves history, literature, or London
🌐 Find bonus content at: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast

Who was William Beckford, and why does his name still spark debate today? Born in Jamaica in 1709, Beckford became one of the wealthiest men in Britain through sugar plantations powered by enslaved labour. Twice elected Lord Mayor of London, he was a towering political figure in Georgian society—renowned for his opulent lifestyle and his bold speech to King George III in 1770.

In this episode of the London History Podcast, we uncover the life and legacy of William Beckford, exploring his rise to power, his deep ties to the transatlantic slave economy, and the impact of colonial wealth on the City of London. We ask: how did Beckford shape London’s political and cultural life, and why does his story matter today?

Join us as we examine the complicated history behind one of the most influential—and controversial—figures of 18th-century London.

Welcome to the London History Podcast. In this episode, we journey through the cobbled streets of Victorian London, where the sound of barrel organs and the chatter of Italian voices once filled the air.

Join Hazel Baker as she uncovers the remarkable story of Little Italy—a vibrant immigrant enclave in Clerkenwell, shaped by migration, resilience, and transformation. We’ll walk the lanes immortalised by Dickens, meet the artisans and street musicians who brought the city to life, and explore how their music became the soundtrack of London’s streets.

From the crowded workshops of Eyre Street Hill to the legal battles over street music, this is a tale of hope, hardship, and the indelible mark left by London’s Italian community. Tune in for Episode 134: Organ Grinders of Little Italy

For all other episodes visit London Guided Walks