Alexei Sayle's Lockdown Bike Ride 5: Holborn to Buckingham Palace

[@gzk6nk]

"Gone through a red light... still, that's an act of anti-imperialism". Love it!

[@LoneKharnivore]

My favourite thing about these rides - and London in general - is the occasional little Victorian survival in amongst all the modern crap.

[@hisandhondas2393]

Wonderful seeing the old streets I used to ride day in, day out back in the eighties . I'm doing so again , through you of course . What a great channel ,

[@JohnDoe-rn6pz]

Well done Mr Sayle Bringing back a bit of class to KZbin very enjoyable series

[@prillewitz]

Never would have thought that I would be lead around the city by Jerzy the Landlord! Wonderfull video, you show me unknown parts of London, great!

[@clemlysergy3335]

"You can learn a lot from Transformers Movies" - Alexei Sayle, 2021

[@thisperson5294]

You can learn that you shouldn't make Transformers movies, I suppose.

[@chrissilverhand1]

These are outstanding, looking forward to more.

[@Anybloke]

Very enjoyable ride. A bit like Birkenhead to Wallasey via Four Bridges. I remember Sir Sayle at Glastonbury in 1983 saying "This is a CND festival so we don't have bouncers, we have social workers instead".

[@jayveebloggs9057]

i saw him at the comedy store in 81 doing that routine whch was great Neine Danke! In those days he used to mock the North London liberals, now he is one... I notice he doesn't live in Liverpool

[@Anybloke]

@@jayveebloggs9057 Yes, I still have his first live LP; Cak ! He goes on about the posh Hampstead socialists with barbs such as " Hampstead is where the rich left wing people live. They have same flashy cars and expensive furniture as the rich right wing people but they just feel more guilty about it".

[@chuckbradley1]

Never tire of seeing London streets, busy or quiet. Love the Brunswick as well.

[@afitzsimons]

Did you love the Brunswick in the 90's?

[@tomabraham8551]

I moved to the other side of the planet more than 5 years ago and this video makes me nostalgic for London. I find these cycle journeys very therapeutic and interesting. Great idea for a documentary series. Keep them coming Alexei

[@TheMarnaiz]

Such a lovely way to see the streets of London. Thank you, Alexei.

[@markleake5893]

Thanks Alexei another great video 👍🏻looking forward to seeing more ...

[@terrytalksmovies]

Buckingham Palace is fairly gaudy digs for a couple of OAPs to live in. Love your rambling odysseys through London. Keep up the good work, comrade.

[@garyr3788]

Thanks for the ride my friend, used to love you in the young ones years ago when we were allowed to laugh, but just you riding around on your bike is far more entertaining than the shite on TV now.

[@madmags6018]

Really enjoying these bike rides around London, informative and humorous. Think it would make great TV viewing aswell, a six part thirty minutes documentary 😀👌.. You could also have special guests too, yourself and Ade Edmondson on tandem would be absolutely hilarious 😂.. keep em coming Alexei👍

[@Akstergrind]

Thanks for another great video, mate! I lived in London for eight years donkey's years ago, and like a lot of periods of my life, I don't believe that I appreciated it nearly enough ( far more interesting to me was developing and nurturing my addiction to class A drugs). Anyway, now I'm 50+ and relatively substance-free, I find myself yearning to live there again. This ain't gonna happen, but your videos allow me to experience the place again vicariously, so thanks again for your videos, Alexei.

[@tonycox5625]

Worked in London for a while and bloody hated it, but I'm really enjoying these little ride outs with you. Cheers Alexei! 😊👍

[@nevillemason6791]

Glad to see you're still alive and very much kicking! (From a fellow Liverpudlian).

[@deannadove3505]

London is so beautiful in any weather. I so much want to visit.....maybe live. Thank you for the ride!

[@deancarr509]

I really enjoy it Alexei. Nice to explore London by bike with you.

[@avit24]

Great to find you Alexei maan! Been a long time fan and have enjoyed your input to the 80's etc! Good on ya bruvaah!

[@BLASTSFROMTHEPAST]

I used to work right around here - back when we had offices, so this is a real blast from the past! Many a hangover was credited to The Enterprise on Red Lion St

[@buickmclean8163]

I used to work in Red lion St. ( Legal Aid Board ) , I remember The Enterprise , The Coach and Horses , The Dolphin and a few more. The Fryers Delight has not changed a bit. Enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane , and we have both been spared the hangover.

[@sicahillmuqi]

That manoeuvre at 13.28 is hilarious! No fear Alexei! Can't believe I'm watching this but it's strangely addictive :-)

[@lordnevets9184]

Mr Sayle. You are forever epic mate. I'm in Bootle but I have done as you are doing with the Wandering abouts. I was stranded with £20 in West Hampstead for an Easter in the 90s and cycled about just wandering. Under the South Bank, zig zaggin the bridges. Ended up getting a painting job for 2 weeks in a gallery in one of those Squares that have a big gated garden in them. I thought it'd be funny to ask a gallery if they wanted me to give their Skirting Boards a quick lick. And they did. It was boss. Tided me over till college started again. I remember ending half way up a tree when a Hackney pushed me off the road in St John's Wood. Happy days.

[@richtunc27]

I love this...it's very Zen. And of course Alexei narration reconnects me with my former happier teenage 80s self 😔🙏♥️

[@patdaveydrums]

I've loved Alexei ever since he played the landlord in the young ones. Surreal and insightful x

[@yancoker659]

Hallo John got a new mottaaaahh !!!

[@brianclucas2013]

When you mentioned below the pavement the beach on Fleet St, I thought you were about to mention the river fleet flowed under it. Great video. Yate's wine lodge was surprise.

[@freddiefellows5121]

Getting a lot out of it! Keep ‘em coming.

[@mattday5241]

Loving your rides Alexei. Best thing on a screen at the mo!

[@gj8313]

Very relaxing to watch, thank you🚲👍

[@aidymcgrath4197]

Really enjoyed the whole thing! Thank you Alexei.

[@stevemstar]

I think your off the honours list again Alexei, chapeau Enjoying the content, keep up the good work Bicycles are ace

[@levitation25]

Favourite bits were about you being accepted into the delivery brotherhood

[@AirBallers31]

Very soothing and enjoyable, thanks for you sharing your thoughts and ride :)

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Enjoying the series. Nice gentle pace around the old haunts. For cycling in London especially maybe invest in a bright LED flashing light front and back even in broad daylight. You’d be surprised how much more of a wide berth traffic gives you when wearing lights during the day. You’d also be surprised how cars can pass within inches of your body when you don’t have them going. And a helmet is highly recommend even when going slowly around. My Father had to dodge a loose dog on a bike and skidded on wet ground falling off the bike and smashing his head off a curb. He was wearing a helmet which split in half. Better that than a skull fracture or worse.

[@trevellyanblack4101]

I have a blue mountain bike and when out with black helmet and fluorescent B&Q purchased workman’s jacket seem to keep getting mistaken for a police officer. Until I worked out why, I was at first bemused when I noticed little old ladies smiling at me and a momentary look of panic on the faces of groups of youths when I swooped Condor like towards them (especially if they’re smoking a crafty joint).

[@chrisbliss2034]

Worked there and cycled in London forty years ago . Now I'm back looking after an aged parent and it's shit! But your cycle ride elicited many happy memories too. Keep the wheels turning Mon Ami....😄

[@dubstar457]

very , very interesting ..thanks for posting

[@Mick_Holland]

You scared me fucking shitless in that traffic. Well done!

[@CrichieB]

The best thing on my telly! Much appreciated

[@peterobertson2086]

Enjoyable, thanks Alexei. London looks nice with less people and traffic than normally. Hope your cold gets better.

[@Ibis117]

Most enjoyable. Have a subscription. I caught myself doing a "drift" type monologue last year when riding my motorcycle back past Grenfell. Far fewer cultured references, but no less "cross". :-)

[@pj_naylor]

Lovely to revisit some old haunts. Thanks Alexei!

[@Ramblingdads]

Bloody shit hot these....! All the best, Jim from Huddersfield

[@getinthevantim]

The first one I've watched and I thought it most enjoyable, thank you. I found myself reminded of passages in Michael Moorcock's tome 'Mother London' where various protagonists wend their ways along the streets of the capital with a similar alternative eye for the imbued history. Bravo !

[@GrubStLodger]

'The People's Supermarket' is eye-wateringly expensive and I can't see how people could ever shop there - I went in for a sandwich after blowing my saved up money at Persephone Books. Also, the Sit John Soane is my go-to museum recommendation if someone asks me. Also, that big building site is where the Hunterian used to be, where you could see the skeleton of 18th century gangland leader, Jonathan Wilde and a pickled wolverine rectum. Bell Yard, the abandoned little nook, is where Mrs Lovett's Pie shop is in the original Sweeney Todd story.

[@philanderson5138]

I took my teenage daughter to the john soames house/museum a few years ago - blew us away. amazing. she now takes her mates there when they go to london.

[@Factory051]

Great knowledge with the info on the indie co-op supermarket.

[@afitzsimons]

I used to see you a lot, I used to run photographic companies in the Brunswick Centre and next to the Yorkshire Grey on Theobalds Road. This was from the late 80's to early noughts. You never reacted when I sang Hello John, behind you.

[@sunilmajevadia3865]

Really Enjoyed watching this episode thanks

[@overlandlmg3913]

I think I have stumbled across some sort of ASMR video here - utterly pointless but utterly enthralling - I've now subscribed

[@AJGeeTV]

Great video, Alexei. Would love to have met you on your ride and chatted with you. Maybe next time?

[@billbollins]

How you diddling! Fabulous work old thing do keep it up. When you spoke of the people who wandered the streets in no particular way it reminded me of when I was a delivery driver (no not deliveroo) in Scumdee (Dundee) I had my own car and everything! I had to take some Chicken chow mein or some shit to a junkie in the multis somewhere and I would just drive around taking no particular route, Jazz driving I used to call it, and I would get to my destination then back to the shithole (shop) and do some more jazz driving until closing time, ah the memories.

[@megadonis1]

Alexei Sayle you're a bleedin' legend , a proper geezer...any chance of singing a few lines from 'Ullo John gotta a New Motor on your next ride out -out ?

[@robertmaitland09]

I used to work as a despatch rider back in late 80's In london, never thought I'd see it that quiet, it was filthy back then, looks filthy rich now.

[@DestrosArms]

"fucking cunting gas lights" is a sentence I doubt I'll ever hear again, and I'm from Glasgow. I love the idea of The Derive, I often do this and take pictures of weird alleys and wrong turns but didn't realise there was a name for it and ethos behind it. Thanks for the vids, great commentary and beautiful turns of phrase and language man.

[@billyjo1148]

just nipped to the door for a delivery came back saw alexei on a bike he had lost a few stone thought good stuff Then I saw that we had shifted to a video 9yrs ago with him cycling London for the Guardian

[@ChrisDuffy_82]

Loved this. Disagree on comments about Islington closing roads. These closure are putting cars back on main roads where they belong and saving kids lives and breathing life back into communities.

[@ThinkingMadeVisual]

Yep. Plus all the research shows those that are 'outraged' are an absolute vocal minority who should be ignored.

[@ChrisDuffy_82]

@Rob no they are not. London’s air quality levels are illegal.

[@ChrisDuffy_82]

@Rob factually untrue. The ruling is about taxis driving in a bus lane. If what you were saying were true they would have been removed. London Ambulances and all emergency services passionately support LTN’s as they save lives as emergency vehicles can just drive straight through and bypass traffic. There is no downside apart from for small amount of people who still insist on driving cars.

[@ChrisDuffy_82]

@Rob I’m not sure we are ever going to be on the same page (or even planet) with this. I think there must be another ruling somewhere else on a parallel universe that I’m not aware of.

[@ChrisDuffy_82]

@Rob have a good weekend Rob. I’m going to spending the next few hours playing outside with my kids in my LTN with no risk of speeding black cabs and other loons.

[@christophersamuelson451]

Great to see you are doing well sir!

[@reeksyofoz]

20 odd years ago I used to regularly ride the streets from Hackney to Bloomsbury, where I first read about the Situationists😂 I recognise some of this (Holborn end) and remember seeing Alexei on the road too. I bet you he wouldn't recognise me now though. I have a different bike.

[@ledzep331]

Never liked that there London, but it looks better for the lockdown. Thanks for the tour Alexei!

[@lylahale5284]

greetings from Liverpool Alexei, another great video, cheers !, funny how there are tons of Police about (this video) when there is fuck all happening !...

[@auscomvic9900]

There is now a 'Derive App', which you can google and download to your phone - just so you don't get too independent! These looks at London are really fascinating entertainment. Thanks from Melbourne, Australia.

[@wk4max]

Glad to see you doing well i and getting out on ya bike yet old bugger!! Hehehe, greetings from Max on the Wirral mate!!

[@tomb407]

Enjoy these, Alexi

[@PaulGreenVlog]

Great video .... Thanks

[@womblechops]

I used to work on Lamb's Conduit Street and saw Alexei frequently in the street or in Luini's on Theobald's Road to the point where I'd say hello and he'd say hello and, well, that'd be that. The only other famous person I saw frequently there was Boris Johnson as he was editing that rag round the corner. I never said hello to him.

[@gingerbea]

Love this one!

[@catherinem7066]

I giggled when you called the AL taxi out for rightly being a dick. I also giggled at other stages. Nicely done :)

[@joemorgan4740]

Hi alexi love the cycling Rides though London. And great comment about Labour Party at the end your spot on . Keep safe take care Joe

[@bromptinowner763]

Enjoyed the ride Thanks !

[@HozOp]

Revolutionary biscuits of Italy, rise up out of your box!

[@wk4max]

Sings.... "" Borbon the revolutionary busicit!!! "" Lol

[@bobnot.]

Imagine the power surge at the electric and gas companys when the daft old goat legged bat gets back from Windsor and one turns the lights on and turns the thermostat up to put the radiators on at Buckingham Palace :D

[@andyb7339]

Alexei, can I borrow your bicycle pump? Inflation is a big problem at the minute especially when I don't have a pump

[@hamishwally4875]

"Would've been cheaper if I stabbed the c*%#" hahahaha

[@davidrobinson2776]

Alexei has to do a bicycle tour of the Jack the Ripper murder spots.

[@thisperson5294]

Yeah mass murder and mutilation of women lol.

[@davidrobinson2776]

@@thisperson5294 probably committed by a Tory MP of the day or a time travelling Boris Johnson.

[@zacmorrison4314]

Great books Alexei. Laugh out loud.

[@philanderson5138]

pigeon:'coo' squirrell: 'that's my seat alexei. fuck off! goose: 'honk' squirrell:'get off or i'll kick the goose.' pigeon: 'coo' 5 minutes later squirell: 'that didn't work lads, lets try a royalist'

[@ObviousSchism]

Just imagine how nice and peaceful the world would be if everyone rode a pushbike. Motorcycle deliveries cause considerable noise and air pollution

[@deanfawcett2085]

Hopefully they are replaced by electric versions soon.

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

@@deanfawcett2085 it will happen

[@livinupyourself6232]

Enjoyed it. Thanks

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

Alright Lex! This bike ride may have seemed boring to you but enjoy London like this while you can, cos hopefully when we all get the jab that place will be impossible to do a YT guided bike tour round when everyone’s back at work and the tourists are there too!!!!

[@andyb7339]

Your bicycle lanes are a lot cleaner than ours up north, no glass or nails lucky you

[@SpiritOfOrange]

Pop-up blockages, pop-up roadworks, pop-up toasters.

[@lucidjuicekid]

Scooter rider.... "Dick!" Haha that's so scouse.

[@johnbowkett5920]

I thought you had a new motor ???

[@barrylongworth4345]

Mr sayle do you think when lockdown is over you would consider coming back home to Liverpool would love to see some of your old haunts.

[@mungomidge1090]

Cheers Mr Sayle, really enjoying this series. Amazed that some people still employ a person (assuming a penny a lamp) to come and light their gaslamps, so like you said - fucking twats, indeed.

[@AdeJohnson]

Oooh he might go past my office, Ooooohhh look he's gone past my office!!

[@newdayyesterday]

Ha ha, that Knighthood is slipping away Alexei although you do seem to find a film crew with ease.......more 'Stuff' on its way we hope.

[@Thesimonwales]

Alexei (I drip snot on me lens) Sayle does an acceptance lap of honour round Buck Palace after being made an MBE

[@markwatkins8309]

A learning - people want certainty. How true Alexei - and yet everything in life is UN certain!!

[@Evemeister12]

Ello John, where's your motor?

[@chaimshamza5850]

I personally think Alexi's joke was basically sound. It bought up the fact that the two states did not have equal status at the prestigious European song contest. It also brought to mind the brightest and the best Palestinian musicians and songrighters of a more 'theatrical' nature working hard perfecting a suitable entry, had they not been bombed back to the stone age. Id of laughed, anyway.

[@daveconyard8946]

Thanks mate keep safe 😊👍

[@angusking9881]

When will head south of the river to discover if there is life in Peckham?

[@yancoker659]

You pointing out where things used to be is called "getting old" Alexei, it's regular occurrence for me these days..

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

By the way any chance of an Alexei dvd box set of all the comedy series and one off specials you did for the BBC in the 80’s and 90’s anytime soon? It’s been long overdue I think!!!!

[@alphaomega6062]

17:25 I met you once Mr Sayle when you came to support a week long vigil outside the Dpt of Trade back in the mid 90s protesting arms sales to Indonesia to the oppression of the East Timorese. I was desperate for a leek when you arrived so was only able to ask you when you were going to start speaking before I had to leg it to the gents in the underpass down the street. You said it was just a photo op. It is my lasting regret in life that when I returned you had already gone and I wasn't able to ask you about something that I was curious about. At the time you had a TV show where at one point you did stand up in front of a background of loads of bicycles for no apparent reason. I suspected this was a deliberate attempt to promote cycling subliminally. I'd still like to know. There were 3 Buddhists chanting and drumming and I had a peace dove image painted on the reverse of an estate agents signboard, mounted on my bicycle trailer which I invited passers by to sign to show support , you kindly signed it yourself. I'm enjoying these videos. Thank you.

[@hamdinger7145]

I like Alexei