Exploring Shoreditch & Hoxton in London's East End (4K)

An East End walking tour. Come for a stroll around one of the most interesting and lively districts of London as we explore the history of Shoreditch and Hoxton in London's East End. Located just to the east of the City walls, this area is bisected by the Roman roads of Ermine Street and Old Street. In the Elizabethan period it became a place of entertainment where James Burbage built his first theatre and staged plays by William Shakespeare before they moved to Southwark. The Curtain Theatre opened nearby close to the site of the Holywell Priory and the Shoreditch Holy Well.
Our walk takes us from Curtain Road over Shoreditch High Street into Old Nichol which because one of London's most notorious rookeries in the 19th Century. This led to the London County Council demolishing the poor housing and building one of the first council housing projects at the Boundary Estate with the beautiful Arnold Circus at its heart. We go looking for the Leon Kossoff Cherry tree planted to commemorate the great artist who grew up in the area.
We pass through St Leonards churchyard before walking into Hoxton Square. This was a late-17th Century development inspired by Bloomsbury Square built on the fields where poet and playwright Ben Jonson killed the actor Gabriel Spencer in a duel. The final stop on this East End walking tour is the site of the Hoxton medicinal spring in Charles Square.
Thanks to Heidi Lapaine for helping with this video.
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Dancing with Grandpa - Franz Gordon
Fields of Blue - John Utah
Lamna - Lo Mimieux
from Epidemic Sound
Maps:
Open Street Map “© OpenStreetMap contributors” using data available under the Open Database Licence
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[@osirusgtr]

Wow! That's my old neighborhood Arnold Circus Boundary Estate No: 7 Moseley House, Lived there from 1970 to 1978 with my mum two brothers and one sister, Brings back so much memories both good and sad.

[@bt5080]

It's incredible how development changes almost everything about its history and the look of a city. When you described how the wealthy moved out of the heart of London to build houses for peace and quiet, it's hard to picture what it was like. Then you have the beautiful gardens, and it shows how much peace and quiet is appreciated to this day. You do a grand job of editing out all the hassle and bustle you spoke about. I'm sure, with all the noise, it would be almost impossible to hear your voice. It would be nice to have a picture book showing London as you described it many years agol

[@janetburrows625]

I worked in the building next to the Horse and Groom pub from 1982 to 1985. My office was on the very top floor of the building. Other side wasn’t a façade either; back then the ground floor was a café. The Horse and Groom was a real Eastend boozer.

[@KH-nn6kh]

Ahh lovely... as a visitor to London, I had stayed at a flat in Charles Square, 3 times for 3-4 week, each time .. I consider it my stomping ground. Would sit in Charles Square, Hoxton Square and Arnold Circle, read books, people watch, listen to nature. In a busy loud city I have wonderful memories of the city. You caught the light of the streets well. Thank you for taking me back to great memories bookmarked in my mind.

[@AMcF54]

Deeply topographical, John. All that history, ancient and more modern, just below the surface. You do a great job of bringing it alive, in such a clear and delightful way. As I mentioned in a comment a while back: I have mobility issues, so going with you to these amazing places, albeit vicariously, is an absolute treat. I'm going to do my best, with the aid of my trusty partner, to get to the sanctuary of Arnold Circus - just to soak up the vibe. it's good for the soul.

[@GeorgeChoy]

The Jago, that reminds me of the jago hazard video i saw earlier

[@BarryAllenMagic]

A fellow Jago Hazard watcher here too. "Great minds think alike!"

[@peterclements8523]

Beautiful video, John, thank you. In my drama school days me and my pals lived just off Pitfield Street on Walden Street. We managed to blag a listed Huguenot house where we lived for a couple of years for decent rent - £500 each, which for the time, was a bargain. Landlord realised he should be charging triple that and we left that corner of East London for the warehouse district in Manor House. I love the area - fond memories, and where I fell in love with someone, too...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for sharing those memories Peter

[@mfranssens]

Love your walks, they’re so informative but not preachy. It’s as if your friend was by your side and said “do you see that building, the man who wrote the James Bond books lived in that house, Ian Fleming, yeah come on, keep up” then you’d chat a bit about that until the conversation moved on. A great skill to have.

[@williamrobinson7435]

I remember those tall red brick blocks in The Boundary Estate, when I was in a small studio for a couple of days, years ago. You can hear the birdsong so clearly, there's certainly a special feeling to this part of London, and so many layers of history. Another charming film John, and its great to see Heidi again too! 🌟🌟👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks William

[@dickranmarsupialmusic3184]

I know those streets like the back of my hand. Worked in Development House on Leonard St. for a few years. Rode a motorcycle there daily from my home in Bermondsey. Wandered those streets endlessly, thinking of new ideas and plans. Ate in all the decent places for lunch. Happy days!

[@GeorgeChoy]

John, you should contact Geoff Marshall for a railway related walk.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I'd love that George

[@RubbishGimpy]

I remember around 7-8 years ago I stopped for a rest in Arnold Circus. There was 2 streets shut off and a film crew was filming something. I never found out what it was. I remember there were some early cars there, its was something 'period', late Victorian or 1920s. Its that era of architecture.

[@touriel8943]

Yey! An architectural history of Drum and Bass

[@philroberts7238]

David Kossoff, a actor frequently on the radio during my childhood, was someone I'd always imagined was related to Leon. The Gospel According to Wiki doesn't appear to confirm this, but I'd bet there must have been a family connection somewhere along the line. (Back in the day, there was a lot of Yiddish spoken out Hackney way and Harold Pinter, ever the wordsmith, was apparently very particular in his use of it. Stephen Berkoff was another one who was a teenager in Hackney at much the same time and his eastender characters often speak a cockney dialect laced with Yiddish.)

[@philroberts7238]

Speaking of which, a suggestion has just occurred to me. Despite having no Jewish heritage of my own, I became fascinated with the Jewish contribution to the culture of East London, having lived for a while in both Clapton and Dalston. A walk in company with someone who was well versed in that subject would be of great interest to a lot of your followers, I'd say. One possibility would be to start in Whitechapel and move steadily northwards up to, say, Finchley or Edgware, following the community as it became more prosperous.

[@philroberts7238]

@@wordsSHIFTminds You're quite right, of course. I was going to check - but didn't!

[@htukram]

Spent 3 weeks pet sitting in this area a year ago. Watching this enhances those pleasant memories.

[@stephengraham5099]

BBC's excellent Secret History of Our Streets series covered Arnold Circus in 2012.

[@davidshearer8793]

Five generations ago, my ancestors managed to get away from Old Nichol. It was the Education Acts and the London County Council that turned the tide. If people tell you education is expensive, tell them to try the unmitigated poverty in places like Old Nichol.

[@robertbrierley7083]

Enjoyed your vlog as I always do but couldn't stop thinking about Basil Rathbourne as Sherlock Holmes as he battled against Moriarty and the Hoxton Creeper.😅😅

[@starlightlake9666]

Interesting.

[@rosemaryderham4749]

Thanks John, one of my favourite walks, I do it often. The Curtain theatre was indeed revealed during excavation for The Stage and a visitor centre and tourist attraction is planned for the future.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for the info Rosemary

[@rosemaryderham4749]

@@JohnRogersWalks Just caught a channel 5 program ' Jay Blades East End' shown on Tuesday which shows the excavation and remains of The Curtain.

[@rachelcaullay172]

Fascinating John, I love the history of London. Another walk on my bucket list.

[@eddiebosticco218]

Thank you John. I went to school in Hoxton Square - St Monica's in 1953/54. I have never known Hoxton Market (the square) to have a market. In my lifetime the main market was Hoxton Street. Still plenty of walking to do around the Hoxton area. Keep them coming. Thank you.

[@janetsherwood7210]

Thank you once more John Rogers & your beautiful wife Heidi for a walk around a part of London. Each walk is an amazing adventure for me. One of my life's regrets is never making it to England. Life's duties I let bar the way. So I enjoy every walk. Wish I could have walked along with Heidi & chatted a bit. Blessings from East Tennessee/ South Appalachia. 🌿🌸🌳🙋

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thank you so much for watching Janet. Hope I make it to Appalachia one day

[@peachmelba1637]

I love London nice to see different parts...i work in a theatre in Liverpool so I have a fascination for theatres.❤

[@john80c]

Another ace video John. The Kossoss family included David Kossoff a terrific actor in the 50s and Paul Kossoff tremendous lead Guitar with Free. For Hoxton I remember the old Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movie with Rondo Hatton as the scary killer The Hoxton Creeper.

[@garymcguire8529]

The face of the man with the vines, is a " Green Man", a classic name for a pub. The Green Man goes back into mythology , he was the wild man of the woods, a kind of British bigfoot. Also known as the "Woodwose" in medieval times.

[@garymcguire8529]

Ever thought of finding the Eel Brook of Sands End? There is an Eel Brook Common in West London, and an old map on the Internet of Sands End in 1898, showing a small river entering the Thames, which must be the Eel Brook.

[@SirSidley]

Great to see Hoxton where my wife’s grand uncle was born in 1852. Thanks for the tour 😊

[@GWJUK]

Curtain Rd - elbow rooms, many a good night in there

[@thedarkhorse166]

Wonderful video as always! I work in what was once the old Lipton tea warehouse on Shoreditch High St and love spending time in the quiet retreat of the Boundary Gardens, lovely to hear about the history of an area I spend so much time in

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks - that's a great lunch spot

[@peterbrittain9839]

Arnold Circus one of my favourite places in London!

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Very enjoyable tour of Hoxton and Shoreditch, accompanied by a very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Thank you.

[@OhanaFilms]

Made a pilgrimage from Chicago to Blue Note at the height of Metalheadz in the 90s. One of my best memories.

[@vjary8142]

Another amazing adventure showing us the history that London beholds and that John takes us too.

[@luis5984]

Thank you, John. Your videos never fail to make me happy and inspire me

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thank you Luis

[@formdemon]

This is a nice walk John. I am fmiliar with this area as I live nearby. There some interesting plaques going up Hoxton Street related to the Gunpowder Plot, The Britania Saloon and the wonderful Hoxton Hall (a fantastic music venue). This street was also the location of The Verve's video, 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'.

[@Flegmation]

At The Mission building, I think the woman has bird claws (rather than horses hooves) - she looks like a Harpy from Greek and Roman mythology

[@user-xc8pv4ip2f]

This is my favourite part of London ! Thank you for this walk John !!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure - it was such a great day and always good to revisit this part of London

[@thecoldend_official]

Another fantastic video John. Shoreditch and Hoxton are really interesting places. Such a mix of modern day buildings and historic architecture. My wife and I always enjoy your videos.... thankyou.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks

[@wendyHew]

I love a London walk, always something new to see. I was disappointed as I used to get the train into central London regularly and after going to london three times last week I checked my account and it had cost me forty five pounds. Very expensive and a shame as in the past I have traveled around London all week but not sure I can afford that now.

[@sarahjane8949]

My drinking days many moons ago curtain road 👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

great place to drink back then Sarah Jane

[@djlondon7956]

This guy is always just so interesting... So much I learnt. Very cool indeed.

[@ew4206]

24 and 26 Curtain Road are not 'facades' they are listed buildings. - No 24: early C18, 3 storeys and attic, 2 windows. Rounded gambrel roof, tiled, with dormer. Painted brick with parapet front. Gauged segmental arches to later sash windows. Early-mid C18 shop front, with slightly altered glazing, on ground floor. No 26: house of early C19 appearance, possibly with older core, 3 storeys and attic, 2 windows. Stock brick with parapet, slated mansard with dormer, Gauged near-flat brick arches to modern plate glass windows. Ground floor mid-late C19 shop front. The next door building The Stage is disgusting.

[@marty9011]

I enjoyed this walk, fascinating part of London. Loved all the trees.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Marty

[@TXMEDRGR]

I've heard about London's East End many times, but this is one of the few videos I've seen showing parts of it. Thanks, it was very entertaining and enlightening.

[@chrisgreen6259]

So happy to see another video!

[@louistracy6964]

Lovely walk, close to home. You do important work showing us what there is out there.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks Louis

[@angelenoof206]

So lovely in summer

[@robertmaitland09]

That was bliss, thanks John.

[@stevep1705]

Another wonderful walk Thank you.

[@phillbrown3823]

Thank you John, tremendously uplifting and interesting.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Phill

[@lindasueanderson8024]

What a sweet little walk this is!

[@2Sugarbears]

Thank you, thank you so much John, I haven't seen the Boundry Estates and Arnold Circus for at least 25 years. It still looks lovely. Thanks so much for this. Doing my happy dance.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thank you so much - it felt like a special walk

[@2Sugarbears]

@@JohnRogersWalks It was for me. Cheers.

[@stuartwray6175]

Gabriel Spencer, killed by Ben Johnson in the duel, is buried in St Leonard's Church.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Ah, thanks Stuart - I’ll try and include that in the Short

[@fireflies8841]

A lovely walk, thank you!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for watching

[@mheuman]

Hanks for the lovely walk, loved the garden squares and art history. Cheers!!!!

[@LANCSKID]

What? Was Tom there? Must have missed that …

[@waynehiggins16]

Love it. I have never visited these places but your stories and recollection of your time in these areas makes your videos really watchable. Fantastic 👍🏻😃

[@SouthLondonCyclist]

I remember going out in Shoreditch and Hoxton in the 00s, was definitely the place to go. Drinking around Hoxton Square and in the Blue Note or the bar it became perhaps.

[@pauljones5066]

you're a hipster man! love from the north

[@JohnRogersWalks]

you've rumbled me Paul!

[@michaelmiller641]

Absolutely wonderful ,John. Thanks for that

[@Radders123]

I was waiting for the Nathan Barley reference. Wasn’t disappointed.

[@lewiswalker7803]

You wouldnt have walked around the Jago in the 1860’s.. a lot of reference to the Jago in this area, flats etc, Old Nichol, the bandstand mound is built from the slum rubble.

[@marikacooper3133]

Arnold Circus is amazing

[@malcolmkinnon8436]

Thanks John . Another interesting video - became aware of the 'Jago' and the Boundary estate when researching my family tree -My great grandmother lived in half Nicol Street in the 1850's.

[@howarddavies9932]

Cracking - love the enthusiasm as ever - learnt a lot about Horton especially. Until at least the late 90’s if memory serves outside St Leonards church was the parish stocks and whipping post- a grim reminder of harsher times.

[@rickiehoxton]

This is where I live so really enjoyed hearing about some of the history. I always wondered about the residences around Arnold Circle. I often ride my bike through there on the way to brick lane for bagels!

[@anniec6420]

i enjoyed that walk...so many peaceful parks and spots..definately will visit when next in london.....

[@athoshadjiantoni6403]

Walk around Hackney and it's history, good job John Rogers.

[@athoshadjiantoni6403]

Great response

[@briancox4339]

Another great video John a part of London I know I worked all round that area on the building trade brings back memories thanks for sharing excellent.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks Brian - so glad you enjoyed it

[@CthulhuInc]

so nice amd relaxing - thank you, john. i can't say i know a lot about that area, and it is good to add more lore to the ol' noggin 😊

[@BJHolloway1]

Somewhere in KZbin there is a video about the history of the Boundary Estate, evidently famous for the "Jewish Rag Trade" carried out from their homes. They had "Home working" back then it seems. The reference to Kosov's bakery is of interest to me personally because I believe that when I was very young the biggest treat ever back then was for me to get a meringue from Kosovs situated opposite the Library in Essex Road. Which backed onto the Peabody Buildings estate where my Grandmother lived. Also my cousin got married in Shoreditch Church and I attended the ceremony.

[@joereynolds3099]

Excellent. Keep it up!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Joe

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Nice to learn about that area!

[@charlesjames799]

Thanks John I also enjoyed your walk around Hoxton and Shoreditch brought back some fantastic memories I was born in Pitfield street in 1952, I always remember what we kids called the candy shop although it was just a sweet shop it was the only only one I knew that had a candy floss machine. Also trips to Hoxton market every Saturday morning to buy some live eels. Days long gone and looking at your video I would have trouble finding my way around.

[@andrewhulson4000]

Brilliant. as always John. Thank you...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Andrew

[@waldorfstatler3129]

The Kossoff family in East London had quite a pedigree. I'm not sure if Leon was any relation but David Kossoff* the British actor and tv/radio presenter was a Hackney boy and his son Paul was the lead guitar in the rock band Free. David's older brother Alan was also an actor and DJ and Alan's daughter, Linda, was a model and friend of Jimi Hendrix. Sorry, slightly off topic there but I thought you'd be interested. *David appeared in the 1960s tv show The Larkins and he was the tailor in one of my favourite films of 1950s British cinema, A Kid and Two Farthings. David appeared in many films and as a boy, I remember him narrating Biblical and mythological stories on tv. Talking about mythology, that sculpture of a woman on the building 5:30 minutes into your clip which you wondered if those were horses hooves, they are her claws. She is a harpy, half human half bird.

[@sianwarwick633]

I listened to those recordings by David Kossoff at school, so thankyou for placing the memory

[@user-vx4zx1tf3r]

Another great video walking tour! We'll definitely explore Shoreditch and Hoxton when we visit town next month.

[@KOTDM1988]

05:38 is surely the pagan "green man"

[@ianmaddams9577]

I also thought this

[@user-tf5ev6nv4c]

Lovely walk John and it’s summer. Will watch it again in winter

[@robbojax2025]

Nice walk. My recent memory is Charlie Wrights in Pitfield Street. Good jazz on Mondays.

[@tracydaniel3714]

Charlie wrights is no more- now offices. and hoxton market is mainly food trucks now., the proper market died in the 90s

[@johndonald8692]

Worked in Bethnal green rd in early eighties Enjoyed the odd Jazz cigarette in the Arnold circus bandstand just as peaceful then Thanks for another splendid if too brief video

[@francis400]

Have you done one on limehouse? you can do a tour of 'Oranges and lemons'!

[@shiprapandey43172]

Really a nice walk of Hoxton and Shoreditch,❤with Ma'am.,good walk sir,really informative 👍,it's really good for poor people to arrange homes for living Really England 🇬🇧 is great,Great london❤

[@michaeldillon3113]

Enjoying this walk whilst doing a night walk through the hills and valleys nr Sittingbourne. I like to walk through the night when the days are long and the nights short . When you walk in a road that was frequented by Shakespeare 500 years ago then we have to feel that ' we are such stuff that dreams are made of ' .✌️

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's a wonderful image Michael - hope the walk went well

[@michaeldillon3113]

@@JohnRogersWalks The walk was lovely . Ideally it would have been backlit by the moon but that was not to be . My consolation was the chance to take some pics of a beautiful sunrise looking east from a high point called Dean's Hill 🌅. I watched your Shoreditch walk while waiting for the sun to rise.✌️🌅.

[@ashleysgaze]

A very engaging walk, John! Great! ❤

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Ashley

[@mamnisel4815]

Very interesting walk John through Shoreditch to Hoxton parts of East London that I've heard about but never been so will have to get my skates on.Your walks go from strength to strength!!!

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

Oooh looking forward to seeing this - love the smart new opening title too John 👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Steve - hope you enjoy it

[@philburdett]

Excellent stuff sir!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Phil

[@martinvegas1327]

I worked at Cordy House back in the day, drank in the Barley Mow both on this road👍

[@emmaem5684]

Great video as always John. Shoreditch and Hoxton is one of my favourite places in the city a great mix of modern and historic buildings. Look forward to the next video 😊

[@charlesjames799]

I would also like to say the area has changed so much from a poor working class neighbourhood to a trendy must see community.

[@CaroleMora22]

This an area I've explored a little bit while living there, but mostly the jazz clubs. Watching this channel has given me so much more interesting information about London and its history that I look forward to exploring again myself down the road. So many wonderful and interesting discoveries in this one -- thanks!

[@seanjamescameron]

I need to visit Arnold Circus.

[@cdeldn2012]

Great video John!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks

[@ew4206]

The reliefs at the mission at ground floor are recent (unwelcome) additions. Vine beard may be god Bacchus who rode in a chariot pulled by leopards.

[@ca32]

Proper london

[@charlesjames799]

I see someone else left a comment about St. Monica’s school I remember my brother going boxing their, that immediate area was full of cabinet makers and saw mills.

[@bananaman7638]

Hi John. Thank you for another interesting upload. I've been inspired by your videos to go on some walks myself and really enjoyed them. Following the Norwich video where you requested ideas for similar historic locations, may I suggest York and Edinburgh? A bit far from London, but perhaps at some point in the future?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

brilliant suggestions - many thanks

[@grahampratchett8207]

Great walk as per normal. One question Leon Kossof Was he in anyway related to the actor Paul Kossof and His Son Paul?

[@davidjohnson00001]

​@grahampratchett8207 Hi Graham, I think you mean David and Paul Kossoff. David's father was a tailor; they might be connected to the bakers, David came from nearby Hackney. Paul Kossoff was a favourite musician of mine in the 60s & 70s. Such a sad end to his life.

[@garylucas7050]

Worked round that area for many years

[@peterallen2904]

I watch and love all your walks, John but this one particularly interests me. I served at Shoreditch Fire Station on Old Street from 1967 to 1973 before relocating to Gloucestershire. The old place has changed somewhat in the past fifty years. Interesting and informative as always. Coincidentally, the curtain theatre featured on BBC yesterday.

[@luggylugworm]

My friends squatted that fire station later in the 70s.

[@RubbishGimpy]

Its changed somewhat in the last 15yrs. Nothing in London is standing still. I am still active in London but I am losing my waypoints and places, as development and change is relentless. All that's left is an area name and nostalgia.

[@mostlyindica]

Wow thats changed, used to work on Curtain road at the Exchange Telegraph Co in the 80s

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Another fascinating walk John 👍. Hello Heidi 👋