The Incredible History of 8 London Streets

‘The Secrets Of London’s Oldest Streets’
In this video History Hit presenter Alice Loxton takes us on a tour of some of London’s oldest and most fascinating history.
From the grisly association between Whitechapel and Jack The Ripper, to the surprising origins of Piccadilly Circus, Alice tells some of London’s most interesting stories stretching back to its foundation by the Romans.
Tower Hill, Cornhill, Great Marlborough Street, Trafalgar Square, Tooley Street and Whitehall all feature in this tour.
Sign up to History Hit TV now and get 7 days free: access.historyhit.com/checkout
#historyhit #london #aliceloxton

[@shaunsteele8244]

I've been visiting London almost every year since 2002... there's always something new to see every time

[@steverennie5787]

How about a video showcasing the OLDEST streets from London's, including any that might still be around from Roman times. That would also be very interesting to me.

[@Stonewalljr1241]

They've done a couple I'm pretty sure

[@Joanna-il2ur]

Because London was hardly occupied between AD400 and AD900, there are very few. London Wall runs along the Roman wall, and I believe Queen Victoria Street is Roman. There was a cathedral on Tower Hill, from Roman times, but it fell down in the early medieval period. St. Paul’s cathedral is built on top of a temple to Mercury.

[@TooLittleInfo]

There is another channel on here that has a series called Walking Britain's Roman Roads, have you seen that one? It was so interesting

[@RogerOThornhill]

Yeah, this video is just all over the place. Really sloppy.

[@sirloin8745]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn3UfYKMfdqVqpIsi=PicHnIoC27M7Or1M

[@AndreasViklundOfficial]

History told with true enthusiasm is always a joy to watch! Thanks for letting this random nobody in northern Sweden learn a bit more about the history of London...

[@sureshot8399]

4:07 If anyone ever doubts the amazing courage of Shackleton and his crew, they only need to look at the ship he explored the poles in.

[@jpete190]

I absolutely love learning about the history of London.

[@edwarddavidson868]

More Alice was just what I needed today. A+

[@srice8959]

I really do hope that she does more of these types of videos. It’s so interesting to learn about some of the history and quirky things of history also

[@bobhaze5324]

Check out her Instagram channel, instagram.com/history_alice/

[@thylacinenv]

I new this would be good, it's the way Alice at the beginning luxuriated in her pronunciation of "grisly", more Alice please!

[@cleverusername9369]

Haha she made a meal out of those two syllables

[@peecee1384]

That’s a “new” way to spell “knew” 🤣

[@thylacinenv]

@@peecee1384 new......oops!

[@163london]

Why, how do you pronounce it? As a Londoner I find it entirely unremarkable.

[@thylacinenv]

@@163london perhaps emphasis rather than pronunciation then.

[@Andrew.W75]

Great video, good to see Alice's enthusiasm which is almost bubbling over at times! And she looks lovely in that summer dress as well!!

[@williamrobinson7435]

Alice is a STAR! These bite size history films are great. This whistle stop tour is well worth a revisit and gives plenty of scope for those of us who wish to go deeper into the excellently chosen topics. Nice one Alice! 🌟👍

[@williamrobinson7435]

Well said, Fool. Whilst we are on the subject of Alice, we have a thing we would like her to look at, which concerns Joseph, Chevalier de St George, noted Classical composer and champion swordsman of France. This guy was a celebrity, touring with an orchestra; for a time, he taught Marie Antoinette music.. There have possibly been some attempts to disguise his birth & death dates, in order to disguise the extent of Chevalier's relationship with Mozart, because Joseph de St George, Chevalier de toutes France ahem was a black guy.. 🤔🇫🇷👍

[@CBTheMechanic]

Does anyone know if she's single?

[@isabellesullivan-appleton7521]

@@CBTheMechanic you definitely are

[@beachcomberbloke462]

Wow!!I learned more about Historic London in under 10 minutes than i ever did with my history teacher .Alice Loxton,s enthusiasm and vibrancy really bring history alive.❤

[@stephenlane9168]

This was great. I enjoyed this. Nice work Alice 👌👏

[@scottoreilly4785]

I absolutely love English history. I'm so glad you do these programmes in a fun and interesting way that engages a younger audience. London is such an interesting place, so bravo for your efforts to tell the world what a great country we live in.

[@danielanimal]

Hooray for Alice Loxton! Star of History Hit and headed for the BBC.

[@mat4263]

Why the BBC? She announced she is leaving History Hit? :(

[@megancrager4397]

Hope not

[@CBTheMechanic]

BBC? Really? 😵I can't keep up with those. 😑

[@denniskavanagh3075]

Thank you Alice for this interesting and informative video, very well presented.

[@melvincain5012]

Woah! Woah! Woah! Slow down. Editing much too fast, I couldn't take it all in. Brain overload. But as ever very interesting. Alice again so engaging.

[@chappyhall6682]

great content, excellent work from everyone involved

[@delosny]

Every time I watch this channel I get anxiety thinking about all the strangers that would be listening to me talk on crowded streets. Glad you are brave enough lol

[@johncamp2567]

Very interesting and informative….excellent documentation and presentation!!

[@tommunyon2874]

So interesting. I wish I had been able to spend more than a couple days in London. The most exploring that I got to do was the time between rehearsal and performance at Methodist Central Hall, which was only a few hours. I saw an analogy in the seemingly haphazard arrangement of the London streets and those of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe had its origins around paths that were laid down by indigenous people long before the arrival of the Conquistadors, just as London grew up around roads and paths established centuries ago. London, of course, has grown to a scale that far outstrips that of Santa Fe, but therein lies a cautionary tale of how it may become necessary to restrict traffic into such areas as they grow over time.

[@grahamturner1290]

Excellent, thanks for this! 😊👍

[@dianalynnelizabeth780]

I love Alice Loxton’s presentation style! Give us more docs with her in them! ♥️

[@murrayscott9546]

Steady, lad !

[@danq.5140]

Always a joy to watch Alice present.

[@Richard-fv7rq]

Enjoyed that crazy history tour!

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

I know London pretty well, having studied and lived there (many!) years ago and also as a frequent visitor thessdays. However of course there is *so much* to learn and this vid was a delight... interesting and engaging. I particularly liked the fact that Marlboro cigarettes are thus named... who would have guessed? Subscribed!

[@robbiecrossing9447]

Love watching Alice. So eloquent and easy to listen to

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou for sharing. Very interesting.

[@musicloverlondon6070]

1:33 "Cute couple alert". 😄 Didn't know the Sally-Anns started at the Blind Beggar pub. Very interesting video!

[@distantbabble]

Alice Loxton needs to be tagged in these so I can find more of her videos, she's hilarious and charming!

[@milesvanrothow2067]

What do I have in common with Charles Dickens? I also was a court reporter in Marlnorough Street Court.

[@carola.h.5689]

This was so fascinating!!!!!!

[@Jay-ql4gp]

That was very interesting, thank you!

[@IsabellaMason-fy6ow]

Your attention to detail and storytelling skills are top-notch! Loved this video!

[@suddieparry3940]

This is right up my street

[@BuzzSargent]

Alice is a wonderful person to talk about history. Charming, exact and good voice. Happy Trails from Florida

[@Nerd4LifeTV]

Absolutely love the History Hits YT channel! A big thank you Alice for adding another great video to it!

[@hiramabiff2017]

Take a walk down Bow Lane just off Cheapside, and that gorgeous looking old lane/ally will not only take you back in time it will have you stumbling across a " hidden gem " of a butchers shop that has been on the same spot for over 100yrs. Unlike most English butcher shops who did not adapt to changes in trade this one offers a lovely hearty cooked breakfast with hand made sausages etc. You will have to que up for food, but well worth a look if your passing.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

It's near my office and I can also recommend it. They only brought in the hot food about four or five years ago, but as you say, it's been a success.

[@rayfinkle8860]

And then you get mugged!!

[@rayfinkle8860]

@Hiram Abiff ... What is they say about fools and assumptions?? 🤔 Actually I'm from London and have lived here my whole life, I know where you speak of,, it was called a joke, most people from London would've understood that. Now tell me, what sandbag sh,thole do you hail from?

[@54mgtf22]

Love your work 👍

[@HRJ1411]

Another good vid! I had thought All Hallows’ by The Tower was site of earliest London Church

[@gmdhargreaves]

This was a good watch- slick edit,

[@katesleuth1156]

When in London in April, sat on a bus, not the double decker tourist one, and saw lots of London, including parts Roman wall. Inexpensive tour.

[@retrorevival1]

mentioning Joseph Merrick and not showing the building he lived in or the Royal London Hospital where he spent much time and where his skeleton remains are displayed (random weird shot of the new hospital though?), mentioning the Battle of Cable Street and not showing Cable Street or the fantastic commemorative mural painted there. It's a shame that Alice's enthusiasm can't be paired with good quality b-roll and cutaways.

[@MB-gs7pk]

youtube actually recommended something good for a change. subbed.

[@O-sa-car]

nice and concise

[@franciscojose6496]

No words one fantastic channel congratulation

[@hayleystratus7713]

Loves these

[@davidsavage6910]

Wot no Brixton Road. London General, Charlie Chaplin, first department store in UK, first street with electric lights....etc. It is like whenever anyone does a programme on volcanoes, they always go to the same ones.

[@greghelms4458]

What a great channel.

[@karenclare4241]

Thanks Alice thoroughly enjoyed

[@dustykeleher]

This was a lot of fun.

[@jackiereynolds2888]

Over here in the States the only history that I have really been able to my arms around is our expansion west, - most notably of course being the Old West - and I am very passionate about that 50 to more realistically the approx. 35 years following the war. Of course prior to this WE ALL had to come from somewhere else ! In England I feel that there is tremendous age and substance, oldness and real history beneath my feet and all around me wherever I go ! It's a very unique feeling and altogether different from the relatively brand new streets and buildings here in America. At sounds weird I know, but it doesn't feel like I possess any 'real' roots here in the states. I feel like I'm just visiting someone's house they just bought brand new !

[@tomcarl8021]

I'm a New Yorker and I don't feel the same as you at all. New York history is epic. All of the east coast has amazing history.

[@Ater_Draco]

The other 3 countries in the UK have a diverse, rich history, in addition to England. It amazes me sometimes when I stop to think about how many generations have lived and worked in the area that became my home town. We are fortunate, you are right 🙂

[@dawnkindnesscountsmost5991]

I once read a saying about one general difference in perspectives between a person from the USA and a person from the UK: the former thinks 100 years is a long time ago, and the latter thinks 100 miles is a long distance to travel. The European-based history in the USA is pretty new compared to the histories of the UK, Europe, and the Indigenous Peoples in the Americas, all of which goes back so much farther.

[@danieldravot341]

What a superb little video. Concise, pithy and very much to the point. I hope you do more of these on London . . .

[@DigitalDistortion]

Pithy ❤

[@andyadventures2841]

Great video very interesting ❤️

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you enjoyed

[@Mr_GoGs_Official]

more of london and the UK & empire please.

[@juanhunglow2220]

I’m a born and bred Londoner. I ran a pub in Tooley st in the 80s. The Antigallican, sadly, no longer there.

[@kariannecrysler640]

Our hostess is so wonderful! But I think Caesar would be getting the better end of the deal in that pairing. lol

[@boum62]

Enjoyable presentation

[@moniquem783]

More recently she says, then mentions 1848. Only 60 years after the beginning of recorded history in Australia. It boggles my mind. I suspect if I'd been a Brit, I'd be a historian. It's so fascinating.

[@arturodalessandro7813]

great content, one tiny thing - the video could use some colour correction during editing to make the colours more vibrant!

[@chrisbond7324]

❤ to watch Alice all day long

[@penelopestrack7520]

I agree with Steve Rennie, the oldest streets would be a very interesting video.

[@HairByJamesAnnabel]

Amazing

[@barbarahannon6033]

Loved the map.

[@nickanderson966]

Good video. I hated london the first time I visited but am starting to think I didn’t research enough. This helped.

[@GrahamPlays]

Yeah if you love history its bizarre to hate London.

[@robbath1]

Silly question - but why is Big Ben (incorrectly) placed in the opening map (c. 37 seconds), but not featured in the video?

[@stenbak88]

Alice so amazing

[@jonathanlong6497]

Very good! But how old is that map you use? Around 1750? Earlier?

[@richardthompson9836]

Always love watching you here in Orlando Alice. More please.

[@coding7196]

I once read that Scotland Yard was a garden where Scottish monarchs walked while visiting London and their apartments were next to Scotland Yard.

[@peterwhittington1054]

More Alice please

[@richardsingh5827]

Good video

[@kev3d]

I live near Denver....where there were once some cowboys and natives, also there's an amusement park.

[@Patrickmc_92]

We Love Alice ❤️

[@CartoonHistory]

anyone interested - you have to read "London: The Biography" by Peter Ackroyd. Amazing!

[@TheSilmarillian]

Great presentation indeed and well researched

[@saiyanaurag8845]

More Alice please!

[@asterixdogmatix1073]

Whitechapel is my old station. Used to to live on Newark Street, Whitechapel, E1 2ES.

[@paulpowell4871]

More history in 20 minutes than a year in High School!!!

[@joshubrook324]

Thank you, you are a must watch for me when I see your name in know I’m in for a treat ! thank you Alice keep them coming please

[@1888swordsman]

beautiful

[@dereks1264]

The north-east corner of Trafalgar Square is also the home to one set of the official Imperial System measurements (inches, feet, yards, chains, rods, perches, etc., etc.)

[@kami3000]

Alice has a little bit the same joy and enthusiasm like Jessica Knappet. I mean this in a good way ;)

[@qed456]

Alice is so clever knowing all this stuff

[@65stang98]

been watching a lot of travel vids lately and tis crazy that pretty much every country has roman architecture for gov buildings that are new not built by romans. crazy how long that style has stuck around

[@qwertyuiop98320]

Whitehall palace is still around but most people never know. The old cellars are still in use and, just as a bonus factoid, the COBRA room is in there.

[@frankrowland]

Ever been in the banqueting room,part of Whitehall Palace?

[@77heraclitus]

Neat video. 😉

[@christopherdoyle9074]

Alice’s enthusiasm is fantastic for history

[@user-tn8io4mc1n]

More of Alice! This was great!

[@Obiter3]

Watching this I feel like I just tried to see London on the back of a rocket. Better to go, I just went this month and it was fantastic. This vid doesnt even begin to cover the wonders of this city.

[@omicroneridani7456]

This chick looks just exquisitely British and might well make a credible medieval damsel. Very nice output and accent, regardless.

[@captainhindsight8779]

Alice is awesome, great presenter!

[@bern444]

Have you thought of doing the colour grading that log capture requires?

[@danielforget9311]

Great video !!! Is there any part of London with buildings older than 1,000 years ? Any old pictures of this ? Did WW2 demolish precious buildings ?

[@RighteousReverendDynamite]

The Church of All Saints by the Tower, from its tower in 1666 Samuel Pepys watched the oncoming Great Fire, has remnants of the 6th Century Saxon original church in its crypt. St. Pancras Church was built on site of one of the earliest Christian churches in England, 314 AD, has been rebuilt a few times. But for complete buildings, Westminster Hall and The White Tower will be 1000 years old in a few more decades.... if they survive. The Roman Wall is probably the oldest ruin. 1900 years old!

[@AG-io5wr]

Enjoyed this. Great host.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Stephen Fry lived in Piccadilly, but don't know where. I think he liked to think that somewhere close by, he might walk out for a stroll and run into Bertie Wooster.

[@jimarmstrong1271]

Please look outside of London. Every city, town & village in the UK is teeming with history especially the North. We have kings, saints, battles, Vikings, castles, stone circles & stone age settlement to name a few.

[@murrayscott9546]

What about the North Road that starts around Soho as Tottenham Court Rd. , then changes names about 3 more times before reaching Hampstead.

[@mikeymike276]

Marlborough Street Magistrates (now the Courthouse Hotel) is at numbers 19&21, not 20&21. Would be weird to split it across the road.

[@elhombre2711]

Charles the 1st was 'headed'? Did I hear that correctly?

[@adrianmadden]

Nice to see the Boys getting a mention.......