Straight Across London | An Urban Straight Line Mission

I try to cross Greater London in a day without leaving a corridor 500 metres wide.
Unlike the open countryside (check out the channels below) a city is pretty much impossible to navigate linearly. Every conurbation will throw up its own challenges, but this seems to be approaching the lower bound for London.
Check out the follow-up video on how I computed the straightest line across London: • How To Walk In a Strai...
My apologies go to Bromley Council for omitting your beautiful borough from the video chapters. Although I walked for over a mile along your border, I didn't actually cross it until the train journey home: www.planvu.co.uk/bromley/ Let it be known that the last 23 seconds was filmed in the London Borough of Bromley!
Other straight-liners you should check out:
‪@GeoWizard‬ (the OG)
‪@marcusthechessteacher‬
‪@archiefieldhouse‬
Music:
Get A Move On - HookSounds: www.hooksounds.com/
On the Way - Vlad Gluschenko
Horses & Trains - Jesse Gallagher
New Day - Ikson
Mozart: Turkish March Improvisation - Fazil Say
Water Lily - The 126ers
Locations:
00:00 - Overview
00:58 - Hillingdon
03:24 - Harrow
10:06 - Brent
13:57 - Westminster
19:17 - Lambeth
21:37 - Southwark
25:16 - Lewisham
27:15 - Greenwich
31:37 - Bexley
38:01 - Back of Beyond...

[@bigfish_]

i came into this video thinking “wouldn’t it be funny if he walked passed a viewers house” and he walked passed my house

[@oddishthoughts]

timestamp?

[@bigfish_]

@@oddishthoughts no thanks!

[@NorthamIncYT]

29:42 (imagine I coincidentally got it right)

[@bigfish_]

@@NorthamIncYThow??!

[@bigfish_]

@@NorthamIncYTnah i’m kidding. that would’ve been really funny tho

[@rosskennedy2595]

I really liked this video. Ok its maybe not a straight line mission from a purists perspective, but I found it an interesting snapshot of a day in the life of London. Highlights the massive variations between the suburbs of outer London, the urban inner city then back through the suburbs again to the boundary with semi rural Kent. Looks like a massive amount of planning went into it and a good bit of endurance!

[@amorembalming]

Hello mate! No idea why this was recommended to me, other than being a Londoner, this isn’t anything I’d watch. I watched the entire thing, completely gripped by it. Testament to how engaging you are I think. Subscribed and look forward to watching all your other content. Cheers.

[@simonwood6509]

Fantastic effort and great video. Not every straight line mission needs to be identical and urban ones are just as fun. Would like to see some more in this series! (Also great editing and storytelling...almost wish it was a longer series)

[@allys_adventures]

Well there are plenty more cities to explore! Paris next?

[@engineeringvision9507]

It's not a straight line mission because he isn't attempting to go in a straight line. You are allowed to deviate from the line a certain amount yes, but what defines a straight line mission is that you keep as close to the line as possible "in spirit". If you are just trying to stay within a certain boundary and not the line, then that's just walking. Still it's an impressive walk in terms of "real miles" covered.

[@sylvia9292]

@@engineeringvision9507 he should call it a squiggly line

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

do you know any identical straight line missions?

[@zt_1d45]

​@@allys_adventuresplease do more of these!

[@ShowRyuKen]

Bravo, and very entertaining video. I live in a very suburban part of north London and I'm always complaining to myself about how dull and tedious it is, yet from this video I can see that the vast majority of Greater London is exactly like this. Thanks for putting things into perspective for me!

[@AprilFool91]

Really interesting to watch. Really nice to see a straight line mission done while keeping to public rights of way. Interesting to manage a few rail sections too.

[@skalet66a]

Congratulations on your achievement! Nice video as well, thank you!

[@TheNails3]

What kept me watching was your humour right from the off, you made me chuckle quite a bit :D Really enjoyed the video!

[@utkucubukcuify]

Really nice video! Waiting for more episodes 💃

[@Contang0]

Big fan of straight line missions (geowizard), very happy to have found another.

[@bob_0146]

That was fun to watch man great video!

[@bluecheese1066]

Really enjoyed watching your mission, mate. Ignore the naysayers, they don't understand straight line missions or the layout of London, it seems. Looking forward to more! :)

[@ZenPossum]

Solid effort, and an interesting take on an urban version of the straight line mission. Definitely keen to hear more about the algorithm you used

[@engineeringvision9507]

No it isn't. He took a train.

[@CTSH1]

underrated! I love the urban setting

[@argyledart85]

really nice idea and enjoyed most of it, i do prefer the standard straight line missions usually as after a while this did just feel like a stroll with Ally as only taking public footpaths kind of limits and obstacles

[@raftermanhoward1883]

When I got into watching straight line missions, the trespassy bits were always the most enjoyable to me, but this is admittedly a more mature and sustainable approach to the genre.

[@Gabrielm624]

This is awesome, I’m London born and bred and love urban walking so I’ll definitely have to try something like this one time! I think the longest I’ve walked before is Euston to Harrow but that’s not even close to half of what you’ve done!

[@PodgyAsthmatic]

Loved that mate, I'm doing similar this year. I've done the London Loop, West to East (Ealing Broadway to Woolwich Foot tunnel) now I have North to South (Cockfosters To Coulsdon) and diagonals across London next. Good luck with your next trips. I look forward to seeing what you're up to next!!!

[@isaacconsadine3596]

randomly came across this video and i rreakky really enjoyed it. cant wait to see more

[@willtyler5118]

haha the intro is incredible, keep this up!

[@JanFreyberg]

Awesome mission, a straight line in my book 🙂

[@EziosBladez]

Are we going to get more of these adventures? The straight-line mission genre is amazing to see different places.

[@allys_adventures]

Absolutely - I have a more traditional mission already planned for October (although my editing turnaround is quite slow atm).

[@EziosBladez]

@@allys_adventures No worries, just take your time and the views will come, keep up the good work, this was a great first video.

[@geoffh2560]

Congrats on completing the walk, and on the algorithm-interesting!

[@matty206000]

As usual, I've no idea how this popped up but it did, thankfully. Good stuff!

[@RoSi4You]

Video well done. Thank you.

[@binowoo6268]

Loved this! At one point you were one street over from my grans house which was lovely to see, especially considering I know the area from going there as a child.

[@Tbor12]

great video lad! good job awesome content

[@nicholasbignell9702]

Excellent effort

[@MarkoCoomo]

Fair play, recently discovered straight line missions and although awesome entertainment, I grew up on a farm and not comfortable with some of the videos I've watched. This was a great adventure! Good job!

[@aspuzling]

Great video. I'd love to hear the details of the algorithm you came up with to find the path and what you took into account to choose the line.

[@peripheralephemeral2272]

interesting take on a straight line mission - noice!

[@JamesTheBell1]

Yes to obscure Monty Python references!

[@allys_adventures]

Glad they didn't go unnoticed!

[@Imalrightma]

great video pal well done on a terrific line success. your editing and commentary were always entertaining too. any more missions planned for the near future?

[@thememe6904]

great vid mate

[@malthuswasright]

Love all the comments from the uber-pedants saying "it's not a proper straight line mission", thereby missing the point entirely by several miles. Ignore the idiots and keep walking.

[@sillysciben8092]

hey good effort man, earned a sub. good job

[@respectedgentleman4322]

Wow I wouldn't even want to drive that as I know it would take ages. Great effort.

[@nanoqht285]

I’ve just started watching and having been to London once, I can’t imagine this’ll go very well. However, with those jokes at the start, I’m subscribing either way.

[@andyandy5978]

Mate good effort, but if you are sticking to paths and roads, why didn’t you cycle it??

[@andyandy5978]

To clarify, that’s not a criticism, just a suggestion. As you said in your intro, the rules on these type of missions are open to be set by the person doing the mission. As you are clearly doing something different from the ‘traditional’ SLM, you set different rules to GroWizard- always using public routes/land. I only meant by using a cycle, it would make it easier to do repeat runs to try and score a narrower run- since that’s the point of the mission (it’s not a walking endurance challenge). Good effort on the algorithm, looking forward to hearing more about it. Great editing and narrative.

[@andyandy5978]

*GeoWizard

[@allys_adventures]

That's a great question. Cycling might have made it easier, but I was limited by my filming set-up of all things! The camera had to be hand held for the entire walk. I've since bought a GoPro chest mount.

[@reecesang9978]

That's wot I was thinking

[@CragScrambler]

@@andyandy5978 Geowizard makes his rules up as he goes along, wanders well off his line, makes excuses, leaves the line completely and comes back days later. The last one where he was"dribbling" a football was laughable, then someone pointed out he was kicking the ball not dribbling so then he changed the title of his videos but still saying he's dribbling it in the actual video 🤣

[@jontom7787]

Not what i was expecting. Geoguesser standard straight line is what we expect when the infamus straight line title is used. Nice adventure none the less.

[@engineeringvision9507]

Train *shaking my head*

[@beautifulsmall]

Great to see a slm we can all try.

[@markfinn0]

Some years ago, I did a similar south-to-north walk in Paris. Not quite a straight line, and a much shorter distance (less than 20 km). A similar challenge was my walk in Sydney from the Harbour Bridge to Manly - but keeping as close to the coast as possible. At least 30 km.

[@comedyhunter]

bing bing Squirrels ! Ive subscribed as this was very enjoyable, will watch your Cardiff one next.

[@torspedia]

This is something for me to keep in mind, as a future project. Though I'd have to do it over several days. 🙂

[@firestarter1888]

Big Ben doesnt have a bell, big ben is the bell!

[@harryschofield6822]

Bing bing!

[@jackiechan8840]

That's mad. My feet would be in pieces. Good job

[@SamAronow]

I heard of the actor Brian Cox first because of _Rushmore_ and later _Zodiac._ And because I'm American.

[@robertcameron1738]

Excellent. A really fun video, and nicely edited. 38 miles of walking - wow! But how did you manage all those llamas?

[@ogelsmogel]

Not for me, but I watched a part of it. Cool to see London from a different view!

[@MikeBlair-in4eh]

Great video! it was strange when you walked within a foot of my building's door!

[@AFCManUk]

Second time of watching this amazing journey across London! Did you ever publish your final route anywhere online, so that others might follow in your footsteps? Might be something I'd like to try someday (or at least part of it). I'm also sure the delightful @JohnRogersWalks would be interested in this, if he hasn't seen it already :D

[@Nooticus]

Omg as a Londoner born and bred, this video was proper fucking epic! The editing was exceptional as well as the concept of having a 500m corridor. The execution was close to faultless and going right through Trafalgar square was so epic! It was also an incredibly cool idea to do it on the Jubilee weekend, such a lovely atmosphere :) I will now watch every other one of your videos and subscribe too! (also congrats to you for finding one of the VERY rare Mongolians in London hahaha!)

[@Nooticus]

Oh also, I forgot, huge huge props for keeping it super super respectful and not encroaching on any private property! We Londoners thank you!! I hope this sets the precedent for more respectful straight line missions!!

[@sylvia9292]

@@Nooticus did u have to swear and ruin your comment.

[@Nooticus]

@@sylvia9292 yes I did sylvia because I wanted to. If Alistair wanted me not to swear in his comments, then i'd change it, because its his channel, not yours. Weirdo.

[@MrBond249]

1:37 You just walked passed my old house.

[@adamsmithelec]

You walked down my road in Lewisham! (Hatcham Park Road). Was a bit worried on your route through the east end of the Old Kent Road as you came very close to a notoriously rough gypsy site!

[@YakyPeanut]

Great effort! I feel like we're twins as I also have the Vivoactive 3 watch and Adrenaline GTS 22 shoes haha.

[@TheNotoriouzBOB]

Music is a little loud during the intro

[@rde4017]

You walked straight passed my house in Pinner! 😃

[@skippysmom]

new sub here! love the video! very brave to do it in london!

[@Dan200]

He's just walking along public roads and footpaths, mostly through nice suburbs, what's the danger?

[@nickbrown5457]

@@Dan200 London can be a bit stabby. I almost got attacked by a group of 4 or 5 young 'gentlemen' on a train in Lewisham, merely for being white.

[@FOOKYOUTUBENUMBERS]

@@nickbrown5457 puddy hole

[@rjflores438]

I lived in London for a year in my mid 20s but left after the extortionate rent rise after my 6 month tenancy ended. The problem is is that I lived in zone 2, Wandsworth to be exact to be closer to where most things are going on. I would not like to live in places like Harrow, Bromley or Barnet that are further out even though they are cheaper as the are a lot less interesting.

[@benbrist]

GeoWizard has entered the chat

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Yes, I too am still watching though I know not why but it's another YT enjoyable oddity. It seems to me that there's an awful lot of vituperative comments here from what I imagine aren't entirely happy with their lives conmenters. You know the solution. Go for a bloody walk numpties. Thank you fella, good effort.

[@Radar139]

Why did I hold my breath the whole time 20:05

[@mrha9py802]

good video

[@geor00k]

You should have took the half hour to watch the parade and taken it off your time! Respect for the dedication however! I just stumbled upon your channel now

[@davidbrinkman7282]

wow cool man. I want to do this in my own city too😄(The Hague)

[@vapourmile]

London, I miss you. :(

[@gafrers]

Straight line? Not even a single bit. Effort put in the mission, filming editing, etc? Yes, a Lot Enjoyable? Very much so. 👍👍

[@Nooticus]

More people should really be subscribing! The fact that I have more subs that him (though hopefully not for long) is a travesty! This is true TV-quality content!

[@Hilqy]

music a bit loud at start

[@JoDyMa]

Very weird to watch someone on YT walk within 250 metres of my house 😅

[@KrisDouglas]

We need to know more about the mountain llamas.

[@RyanThickett]

video on the code for the corridor checker?

[@RyanThickett]

Ignore me, just watched the python video! Amazing stuff

[@Drew-Peacock]

Be careful.. this is how forest gump got started

[@ShawnGBR]

Nice little Monty Python references there.

[@magnusv5783]

I used to have an allotment at @8:41

[@will_n775]

You finished a few minutes away from where i live😁

[@FM60260]

10:47 That would be either the Wild West Misogynists Club, or the Wimbledon Wombles Medical Clinic. I am not too sure since alcoholic beverages are served at both of those venues.

[@jellywishmusic]

straight line 'mission' hmmm - relaxing walk across london, nice video though :)

[@spacemonster8954]

Great Video! Very fun intro. Practice to speak a little louder in the voice overs (try to imagine you talk to someone further away).

[@SmartStr33t]

10:50 Wombles with macular conditions.

[@kokobwild2413]

Fucking fantastic

[@PezGenesis]

Did you do this whole journey with no Earphones? Crazy man 🤣🤣🤣

[@Dan200]

Not everyone is conditioned to need music in their ear the whole time

[@malthuswasright]

I for one wouldn't walk through a major city deliberately depriving myself of one of my crucial survival senses.

[@managerialelitetoaster3456]

"You're meant to ignore private boundaries when doing straight line missions private! You think Britain conquered the World worrying about private bloody access? No Sir, not for a second and now we've succeed all to the Americans because Churchill got us in that bullshit war. Who cares if the Germans want to play Napoleon. Do as the Romans do. Rule Britannia." - Geowizard.

[@barryr7216]

It is strangely confusing as a Scandinavian to see Ø being used in English, puts my inner pronunciation completely out of whack. Great video, interesting to experience the dynamic of London area.

[@davidj009]

Trains are cheating! Jokes, I was just interested to see if it would be possible just walking in a day and by your times I'd guess not. It was interesting to see the difference between the outskirts and central London. Also jubilee street party's - must just be a London thing. Thanks for the video, enjoyed it.

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

That line across London is only the borough map. The urban suburban area is several times that.

[@matthewwhite4346]

Says the guy who lives in the sticks

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

@@matthewwhite4346 Define 'sticks'. Therein is the issue. Suburbanisation happens when people refer to 'the sticks' but mean suburban. For the record, I despise large cities.

[@AGoodBean]

Music was too loud on this I couldn't hear your speech

[@fernandovalner]

now do it moonwalking

[@carbonell123]

I'm confused. How is this a straight line mission? It's just a walk in London 😂 I feel robbed of my time

[@youtubeeee6682]

how is this a straight line? the original guy that did this thing actually had to stick to the line even when it meant going on private property, through lakes, rivers, etc. didn't even try bro

[@hoixthegreat8359]

Great video! Please buy a better mic though haha

[@ulisesplarocher9761]

Better would be with the music off

[@Cockdonut]

wait, so you're not gonna climb over private property and not swim in the Thames? bruhhhhh

[@nickcook7408]

It’s Willy Wonkas Medical Centre

[@sylvia9292]

you know your middle class when you dont even know what a workingmans club is.

[@voronazavr]

Soy public roads enjoyer vs Chad trespassing appreciator

[@pulsar3483]

Keeping masked on the tube too. Good to see ❤

[@Beyond-The-Noise]

Shouldn't be called straight line mission imo. Got a train! Constantly deviated. Sorry.

[@davidhenderson9707]

and wore a numpty mask

[@jnwms]

Why are you wearing a face mask?