A relaxing Stroll around Covent Garden & St Giles / London Walking Tour (4K)

[@turnfordguitars]

Steve Cook????? Surely you mean Steve jones!

[@normanswift5048]

..or Paul Cook?

[@turnfordguitars]

@@normanswift5048 but it was Steve that lived at 6 Denmark St! Not paul!

[@normanswift5048]

@@turnfordguitars You're right of course Chris - just pointing out the easy confusion. I was in the same year at Christopher Wren school as both of them. Some stories I could tell...!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s an unforgivable error - I’m so sorry

[@turnfordguitars]

@@JohnRogersWalks it's OK! We'll let you off, this time! 🤣🤣

[@CthulhuInc]

Thanks once again for your great content, john!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks for watching

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much for your generosity

[@thewalkingman777]

The woman roller skating in the square at 16.48 with the music playing over is amazing! What a serendipitous thing to capture on film! It's almost like she's there but no one knows she is...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks - it was such a wonderful dreamlike moment

[@AMcF54]

Gutted to see what they've done to Denmark Street. Bought my first set of guitar stings there, back in the '60s. Have purchased many guitars there, since, and numerous other instruments. Great clip of the brilliant Henry Scott-Irvine, who did so much to try and save Tin Pan Alley. Like you, I loathe that plastic lego building right by St Giles. What were they thinking? Much uplifted, though, by the remainder of your excellent walk around the area. Always so much to see and learn. Thank you. And I look forward to the next one, wherever that may be.

[@johnbettano6026]

Oh man another great walk and history lesson for those of us who can never get to London from another land across the pond.

[@RedStickLouisiana]

What a lively, interesting, and historical area of London, I remember walking through part of it. An Anglo-Saxon walk would be wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

[@suecondon1685]

Yes, I'd love to see a Saxon stroll too ☺️

[@scottwallace901]

Are you the real Fred Basset?

[@marty9011]

I enjoyed seeing Covent Garden, a place I've heard of & read about . Nice to see the theatre where the " Mousetrap " is still running.

[@cdeldn2012]

Great video John!

[@Lola-AreaCode212]

If I could go back in time I'd go to the mid to late 60s and hang around Denmark St, hoping to bump into Steve Mariott, Ray and Dave Davies, and other musical greats in their younger years.... 💗 I've read so much about it in the auto/biographies.

[@wadeslea]

I'd love to have seen Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane busking on the streets of Manor Park and Forest Gate.

[@MF-fg3cg]

Great video great to see aldwich and Bush House with echoes of the BBC World service before they moved out due to tory cuts.

[@Bones-breaks]

Well worth the wait thanks John! You always make the streets we walk down a thousand times new and magical. You got to love London

[@mheuman]

So much fun, loved 5he stories. Thanks, John!

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another cracking trip around London very interesting 🧐

[@keithprater310]

Wonderful tales ,a haunt of mine back in the 70s.sci fi shops with wonderful names one called dark they were with golden eyes.may you walk forever.

[@JBLewis]

Our visit to Covent Gardens was too short! Our day started at Sir John Soane's museum, then lunch at the café in Lincoln's Inn Fields. In the afternoon we took in the London Transport Museum, with supper at Seven Dials market. It was during the mourning week, and we found ourselves down at Trafalgar Square, drawn back through the Admiralty Arches, somehow, almost magically right up to the gates of Buckingham Palace as the day's last light faded away. I think I could spend the entire day recreating John's walk from Temple Underground station up and around Seven Dials. So many more things to see and experience in London!

[@williamrobinson7435]

John Rogers at his brilliant best! The blend of factual info and spontaneity in this superb film is simply stunning. I shall comment properly on this tomorrow, so be warned.. Don't even THINK of reading William Comment The Second unless you are prepared for some WORDS!! Til then, nice one John! 🌟🌟🌟🌟👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much William - will look forward to the next comment

[@touriel8943]

Lindsey Davies has done several 'Falco' books (A Body in the Bath House, The Jupiter Myth etc) set in London toward the end of the Roman occupation and done extensive research on the original lay out.

[@davidstarling4334]

There use to be a pub in Ipswich called the Cock and Pie also known locally known as the Prick and Pastry, great video as usual. from David Starling.

[@mungmungie]

Viewer #2 today. Gin Lane must have been quite the place in Hogarth's time. Though his illustrations often had a rich humour to them, the tragedy was that people were so inebriated they couldn't work. Some of my ancestors were seen as part of the solution--they made stout, which though well into the double-digits of % alc./vol., allowed workers to do their jobs, perhaps in a less debilitated state of inebriation. Even Mayhew's book "London labour and the London Poor" alludes to such working conditions, though much after the fact.

[@dominicrivron2306]

Love the shot up the building frontage in Strand Lane! Has a strangely disconcerting, dreamy quality.

[@kafetzis31]

Being a passionate Anglophile your channel is a blessing for me!!I come from Athens- Greece and honestly I know more of the U.K.history and traditions than the Greek ones..I was blessed to live in London for a while and that was the best time of my life!!Thank you for the lovely videos!!Best wishes!!Cheers!!

[@brucehosie5344]

Played at the Rock Garden as an awe struck teenager in the late 80's, and have met a gazillion folks through the years outside that very same station as a non Londoner. Do enjoy your vids, relaxing but good, like a nice Guinness.

[@michaelmiller641]

What a great sumptuous video that was John! Thankyou very much!

[@hognatius_valentine9057]

Well this brings back memories. Around 1979-very early 80s when I was a kid, I used to go to Denmark Street to go to Forbidden Planet before it went all corporate 😄. Also, in that alleyway used to be a shop that I used to go into that used to be filled with memorabilia like Annuals, vinyl records, toys etc. used buy Beach Boys singles in there, books, Man From U.N.C.L.E. annuals and things like Six Million Dollar Man action figures. I felt a bit like Mr. Benn going in there because I don’t remember anyone else being in there when I went other than the bloke who ran the place.

[@LeungGeum]

Thank you for this John. I used to work at Trafalgar Square for a Government agency during the 90's and used to spend so much time around Covent Garden. I loved being there and still do.

[@PerfumedByTheSea]

Oh this is Saturday night bliss for me, I have been waiting for this video. I feel such a connection to the Seven Dials area, such a small village feel in the big city of London. There’s a warmth to these shops, and so much character. I can tell I will be rewatching this soon: have a great Easter weekend John & family.

[@alltheteam69]

Thanks John, even when you know a place well, there’s always something to learn………easy informative watching

[@AFCManUk]

Great walk, John, around one of my favourite parts of London. There were so many quirky little comic, toy and nic-nak shops crammed into that small area. It's still a bit of a Nerd-vana...a geek's paradise.

[@seanjamescameron]

That’s an amazing redevelopment outside LSE, will have to check it out. Am keen to get the rambling boots back on now the lighter evenings and drying weather is back.

[@billiejoemcallisterwaspushed]

Yet another enlightening & informative meander. Good to see that Seven Dials & Covent Garden has remained relatively intact and therefore still has some soul, sadly the same can’t be said about what’s to become of Denmark Street. The mention of the Rock Garden reminded me of a now probably forgotten venue that was near Covent Garden tube in Neal Street, The Roxy. A fair few bands played there as well as the place where Don Letts (later a film maker) cut his teeth as a DJ. These historic parts of London continued to create their own history for later generations. I wonder if the same will be said of ‘modern’ London?

[@crieff1sand2s]

Interesting walk about in an area I knew and worked in 36 years ago ..... fascinating info, I wonder if that miasma that I used to feel around 7dials was because of its marshy history ? ...thanks for the vid👍

[@JTTW1455]

So many important cultural references on this walk - you had me googling. Very pretty area thank you for sharing.

[@davidwormleighton2839]

John that was such a pleasure to meander along with you around Covent Garden, the time just flies by with all of your factoids, brilliant stuff mate. And have you ever thought about doing a walk around Greenwich and the newly developed woolwich arsenal ( the old armament factory site ) which has a significant number of grade 1 & 2 listed buildings within it. Keep up the great videos John and thank you for taking the time to do them and stay safe David 👍👍

[@wolvoman1]

Thoroughly enjoy joining you on your walks, educational and gets me out of the house lol When each video comes to its end its like the end to the day. Looking forward to the next walk, wherever that may be.

[@EllaOstrova]

Hi John Rogers! How I love London! I can have amazing strolls because of you! Thank you for sharing the exciting atmosphere of London with us. Good luck!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Ella!!

[@danieladams9950]

Used to work in Kingsway... never failed to astound me how tourism increased several thousand percent a few streets away at Covent Garden.

[@elizabethhammond5545]

Great walk! Thank you, John.

[@philburdett]

Sad to see my old beloved Denmark St. being ruined...(NB: if you are ever in a pub with me, don't get me started...ha!) - I played the 12 Bar a few times back in the day...used to stalk the Seven dials pubs too...great stuff as ever, sir!

[@neilbaugh4218]

Yet another lovely walk John. Having moved out of London 34 years ago your videos bring back so many memories which included singing on an anti Vietnam record recorded In a studio in Denmark Street aged 12. Luckily two of my children now work in London one in Bleeding Heart Yard ( you’ve mentioned in a few walks) and another in the Aldwych so I now return to London on a more frequent basis. I’ve also learnt a lot about historic London. Thank you.

[@williammorrison5678]

Thanks John great job as usual!

[@lindasueanderson8024]

Well THAT was very much worth the wait!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s great to hear Linda Sue - many thanks

[@Micktyb]

Excellent thanks

[@ruthbrierley1798]

Used to love spending a morning in Denmark St when I was a music student in London in the mid-90s. Wandered that way in 2021 and agree it's a sorry sight.

[@bt5080]

My goodness, what a interesting walk. I'll be a tourist one day. I do say I'll be one of those that goes around to touristy sights. Thanks to you I might even know where I'm going. My son says he'd love to see The Mouse Trap. Sounds funny but I'm wondering about the potatoes everyone raves about! I look forward to your walks every week. It's OK when you take breaks, we all know you're planning something,

[@davidhumphrey1558]

I saw something about the listing of orphans around covent garden during the 1800s. So interesting how a place like his can change. In Copenhagen Nyhaven was previously run down, But is now where most tourists spend a nice afternoon on the harbor. Times do change!

[@davidbeatts6036]

I spent 18mths working in CPN...my second home. Nyhaven is awesome in the summer. The Tourists go into the bars and the locals brings their supermarket beers and sit around the water.

[@davidhumphrey1558]

@@davidbeatts6036Walking Nyhaven to Norreport is one of my favorite things to do in the world. Take a nice break at the Rosenborg castle gardens, Stop off at NVK art exhibition, Make it over to Coffee Collective and walk by the grave of Sorren Kirkegarrd. What a nice day!

[@davidbeatts6036]

@@davidhumphrey1558 I stayed in Norreporte a fair bit. Torrevahallene is an amazing market - the Tapas place serves awesome Calamari. And the just down the road is La Fiorita, amazing Pizza. And the first Sticks and Sushi is there too. CPN is a great walking city. Cant wait to go back. Winter there is good too...the Glogg in Hviids Vinstue is great to warm up!

[@maryalford5417]

Thanks for the lovely stroll. As a Brit who lives in Texas I enjoy revisiting old haunts. Each time I visit London I am rewarded with discovering something new. London never disappoints and neither do you.

[@TelBil2010]

Thanks John your videos always make me ache to get back to my London that I love so much

[@unecafe]

The land of a thousand stories! The evolution of history, mystery, and grand ideas! It's no surprise that it became a music hub, theatre land, and performance space. It inspires each of its visitors to tell stories. Well done at capturing them on film! P.S. I'm honoured to have been the inspiration for the mini video! Thanks for the shout out. Talking of coming full circle; I am often, (as I am today) watching your videos from the Duchess Theatre! If I listen really carefully I can hear the sump pump downstairs draining our basement of the marshland!

[@anthonypontremoli5943]

Flat Iron on Denmark Street is great for a steak. Keep making the great guides.

[@morriganwitch]

It’s Saturday !!! Wow treat xxx

[@robbojax2025]

Never heard of Cock and Pie Ditch. Well done yet again.

[@gwenlillianlondon3772]

Re music venues, do you happen to know what was that little club, I think in Chelsea maybe, called something like 606 ? There was just a door you knocked on, led straight downstairs to quite a dark basement as I recall, mainly for after hours musicians, could get a hot meal.

[@petewebb6952]

Very enjoyable thanks. Having lived, studied, worked and relaxed in that area for 18 years, your videos evoke great memories. I have to admit though walking around, unless with a friend, for more than two hours at a time, could be exhausting (hope that doesn’t mean I was tired of life).

[@amandabrown3946]

Lovely video john and a sad one for me,my daughter had lost her dad when she was 12,he was a good guitar player.loved Denmark st,took my daughter couple years after she played guitar in a shop there, shop assist was brilliant (scot I think),sorry not the same now.

[@richieixtar5849]

I've visited that 'roman' bath on many occasions and like you I have shown visitors and friends the site. Those windows have always been filthy despite the helpful light switch you can illuminate the interior with. I don't suppose anyone feels like giving them a clean occasionally. it would be nice. That place, however old it is, is fascinating.

[@ianmaddams9577]

I remember buying the Melody Maker and NME magazine When I was at school . Before iPods and mobiles phones . Whilst blasting out nirvana on my Sony Walkman. Fantastic walk John 👍🏻

[@yeswap57]

Great video of my usual walks. Remember the Rock garden. Still have the tee shirt 😊

[@markofsaltburn]

I have very happy memories of the Rock Garden at about the time you would’ve been there. I regularly dined there with a friend with an underbite and a loose jaw, and he (deliberately) turned the simple act of eating ribs into the funniest outdoor alternative cabaret act in London.

[@paulsheehan9050]

I remember the Garden club, also the rock bar you had to go down stairs to in Garrick street, the Sussex pub next to stringfellows, and Limelights on charing cross road, all gone.

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Another great walk, loved the extra about the Cock & Pye ditch, last time I was in London with a friend we went to Covent Garden, & got lost in all the streets! a great area though, thanks John😊

[@lizstevenson7801]

Brought back so many lovely memories for me from 1962 - 74 when myself and friends enjoyed many a great show or just a drink in the pubs meeting other friends, good times. Thank you John 💕🇦🇺

[@JohnRogersWalks]

So glad you enjoyed it Liz

[@happycitywalker]

Great video😁😁Im really enjoyed to watch😊😊 Greatings from Norway🤗😎👋👋👋

[@michaeldillon3113]

I love this walk John . All of the Covent Garden area is but a stage and we the actors as we pass through the stages of our lives have our exits and entrances . I had a wonderful interlude in St Paul's churchyard once where I was accosted by a marvellous Montgomery Flange type ( if it wasn't for the Chokes I would have been the memorable Hamlet and not Larry or Johnny ) who proceeded to tell me interesting tales about icons like Diana Dors .

[@markofsaltburn]

There are many versions of “me past” that are still playing out their lives in Convent Garden.

[@mamnisel4815]

Lovely video John round the alleys and Byways of Covent Garden.I love that area and it's good to see there are still historic buildings being used today.Fascinating walk as ever!!

[@matsimpsk]

Hah! The nerd in me was a little disappointed that you didn't give Forbidden Planet a little shout out when you were on Denmark Street, so good to see you included the current location ;)

[@welcome_Moscow_walks]

Thank you for nice walk in London 😊

[@touriel8943]

7:11 this little glade of trees in a pavement sea is truly beautiful. Compare this gentle combination of sunlight and lime trees 13:06 to this total travesty of jolting paintwork 12:52 Who'd have thought colour could be so offensive!

[@grahampratchett8207]

The Messonic Hall was also used in the BBC Drams series of Spooks. It was used as the MI5 building Great video as usual. Brings back so many memories of when I was driving my 7.5 Lorry around Soho and surrounding area. Collecting Waste Medical. And all around UCL too. Great video. Thanks

[@davidbeatts6036]

There's a great ghost sign on the right hand side of the The Angel. Also, (and not in this Vid), The Hardy Tree in St Pancras Old Church is no more. The grave stones are there, but the tree either fell of became unsafe. Shame, as it was amazing. I think I was on the walk where is went to see it on the day I met John near Ludgate circus when I was doing a 'Stonking' pub walk.

[@rolandayers6726]

The tree fell over Christmas, but its trunk is to be kept in the churchyard.

[@JohnC2009Edin]

Thank you for a great video! Im down to london for the marathon soon.. shall try to hobble round some of the landmarks the next day!😂

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Best of luck John

[@doghouse100148]

George Bernard Shaw also lived in Henrietta st mate👍

[@nige_breaks_bikes9782]

Definitely worth the wait 😊... not overly enamoured with the Covent Garden Piazza but the streets around Seven Dials are really very special and best enjoyed on a warm summer Sunday afternoon. ❤️

[@2Sugarbears]

Thanks John, another lovely trip down memory lane. Haven't seen this area in many year. Cheers.

[@raymondrichards4888]

What a super walk!!!

[@sjsull]

Wow, John. Great video. I regularly walk Seven Dials, as a treat, and will do so now with a new eye. Love your enthusiasm, your knowledge, and your thirst for more. Off to grab my camera……

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Stephen

[@andrewhulson4000]

I've been watching your videos for around 5 years and I just love them. Thank you very much for making them.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks for your continued support Andrew

[@milobell5525]

Wonderful as always. What i find particularly comforting - for me - is that i can FEEL your videos. I can taste the air, breathe in the smells and by paying attention to the background i can usually deduce the day and time of day before/if you mention it. Its the energy around you. And that, for this reluctant exile, is of incalculable importance. Thank you again.

[@wadeslea]

Cock and Pye Ditch - what a name - and the pub in the area was the 'Marshland Ditch'? Crazy to think Covent G was a 'rural hamlet'... Great video John. I like the main room in that new Outernet building. Sat in its animated walls at 6am last month. Just me and a security guard, area deserted. John, I must have walked couple of miles along the Ingrebourne yesterday- reminds me of the Roding.

[@markriley4665]

I managed to get into the ‘Roman Bath’ last summer. A fascinating spot. Love the Bloomsbury/Cock & Pie walk John. It’s always great to add another palimpsestic layer to London.

[@joannaryan9805]

Yeah , I can’t watch it yet because my husband is doing a gig he’s a lead singer in a foo fighter tribute and we like watching your videos together , but I’m looking forward to seeing it as I love all your videos

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s a brilliant reason to wait Joanna

[@joannaryan9805]

@@JohnRogersWalks Actually he played a gig in Islington last week

[@insertpie]

I'm home now!!😂 time to watch

[@rossybink]

Brilliant video John. The Rockgarden was a right of passage for many bands in the 90s. It was the first place that would actually issue you with printed tickets 🎫 that you could hand out to people and get a cheap pint of hoegaarden 😂 nice one!

[@josebenito15]

Wonderful Video. I enjoyed very much watching it. And the weather was just perfect for shooting it. Keep on posting more Videos and Greetings from Spain 💯

[@brianlevett5893]

Great walk john , more covent garden please .

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Lovely - lots of fond memories of walking around the area on my visits.

[@heidismit5261]

Where I always get lost...always..lovely video and I will watch this later...happy Easter !

[@chrisblay]

They’ve got a Seven Dials in Brighton as well. I’m sure the inspiration for it probably came from the London one. Another interesting walk. This one crisscrossed areas that I’m familiar with and others that I’m not. Cheers

[@normanfairbrass7275]

Ah, Rays's Jazz shop. Still going in Foyles.

[@councellingthecouncillors]

There was a wonderful chinese market in the basement of the tea rooms many years ago and I loved it.

[@greaves70]

Only recently found your channel John, your historical knowledge and videos are absolutely fantastic ! keep up your great work. I used to live in Naphill Bucks be great if you could do a video around there sometime as my Dad was based at Strike Command. I loved the video on High Wycombe and West Wycombe you did.

[@janinetregelles8518]

Thanks

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks very much Janine

[@CaroleMora22]

Lovely walk, and I'm especially enjoying the music in this one.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Another great stroll, packed with nuggets of information which add that extra dimension of interest and enjoyment. Thank you!

[@388Caroline]

Love to go into the pub. Thanks 🙏

[@CthulhuInc]

that was brilliant, john - but i have a complaint about this one! i mean, i usually watch these videos before i go to sleep on sunday evening - but it's saturday afternoon, and i now can't keep my eyes open lol 🙃 looking forward to your next walk - wherever that may be 😉

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Ha, that's the kind of complaint I can live with. Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully upload at the regular time next Sunday

[@CthulhuInc]

@@JohnRogersWalks and thank you for taking the time to reply to your viewers! not everyone does, or can, but it's nice when it happens, cheers!

[@ashleysgaze]

Great follow-up walk(s) John! 👍

[@cineworm60]

Brilliant video thanks, John. One of my favourite parts of London. I used to work on The Strand and never knew about the Surrey Steps or Strand Lane! By the way, apart from Denmark Street, there's also a punk connection in Neal Street, which was the location for the celebrated, but short-lived Roxy Club (Dec '76 - April '77).

[@PasqualeDeRosa-n1v]

Surely the Roxy started earlier than December 76.

[@cineworm60]

@@PasqualeDeRosa-n1v Not as The Roxy, before Dec 76 it was a late night bar/club called Chaguaramas

[@PasqualeDeRosa-n1v]

Cheers mate.@@cineworm60

[@Slycockney]

Thank you John for an absolutely brilliant video and well worth waiting for. There was well over 20 years of my working life right there in your video, took me back around 40 years. I wouldn't like to estimate the number of pints of Courage Directors I had in the Angel at St. Giles (mostly during my lunch breaks) which was my work local for 12 years. I also remember when Covent Garden tube station reeked of rotting fruit and vegetables when the market was still there. More Covent Garden videos please.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Glad you enjoyed the passage back through time Reaper

[@touriel8943]

While I'm glad the old buildings are preserved, I'm sad that everything is so spick and span. The smutty walls and smelly gutters were part of the charm.

[@sianiswack633]

Beautiful walking around Neal's Yard - you really have to be one your toes there because there are so many alleys and short streets. I think of all the glimpses of people and faces in those yards. Did Longacre have a stationery shop which had an entrance and an exit on two different streets ? Maybe it did ! I hate the google bdlg - maybe someone can repaint or paint down those primary colours if g has moved out. Jacket potatoes ! Who would have thought !

[@taomahNEGEV]

I was most pleasantry surprised that this walk shifted into a thrilling lost river walk. What is with those locked gates in daylight around? At Christmas time the Covent Garden are must look and feel gorgeous.

[@michaelhoran5983]

Very good see you again