The London Society Podcast

Episode 3 of London Explained tells the story of Marble Arch, one of London’s loveliest historic monuments which has been marooned on a roundabout at the western end of Oxford Street, severed from the park it once formed an entrance to and disconnected from its regal past. But now big plans are afoot to restore the arch to its former glory, make it the focal point of a tranquil new public space and tackle some of the traffic flow that blights it. Journalist Dave Hill tells the story of the area, once a grim location for public executions but later a famous meeting point for the expression of free speech. Drawing on interviews with key figures behind the plans – including Simon Loomes from the Portman Estate and Lucy Musgrave and Tess McCann of urban design firm Publica – and a wealth of archive material, the podcast illuminates the complex challenges the plans address and what is needed to put them into effect for the benefit of London as a whole.The podcast is researched, written and presented by Dave Hill, editor and publisher of the website OnLondon.co.uk, and produced by Andrew McGibbon for Curtains for Radio Ltd. It was supported financially by The Portman Estate, with The London Society retaining full editorial control.

Episode 2 of London Explained takes a deep-dive into the Fleet Street Quarter, examining what makes this part of London so historically important and the huge impact that the pandemic has had on local businesses. The times they are a-changin’ and so Dave Hill has conducted a series of interviews that reveal some of the new projects that are underway to bring a bit of magic back to Fleet Street. This work is vital to encourage people to return to the City, for work and leisure. He also speaks to the custodians who are ensuring that the built heritage of the area is preserved and actually made more accessible through a considered public realm strategy. London Explained is a series which explores why and how areas of London have changed and what the future may look like. The episode is written and presented by Dave Hill. The producer is Andrew McGibbon. It’s a Curtains For Radio Production for The London Society. It was supported financially by the Fleet Street Quarter with The London Society retaining full editorial control.

Episode 1 of the London Society's new podcast, London Explained, will investigate ideas for regenerating Earls Court, a place of legend in inner west London. Little has been achieved beyond the flattening of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which gave the area much of its life and character. Now, a new development company with a new approach is putting a new plan together. It says it wants to create a sustainable, affordable, mixed-use scheme that has community support and will, in its own words “bring the wonder back” to the area. Dave Hill tells the story of a unique part of the capital, explores the latest vision for its renewal, and asks local people what they think.London Explained is a series which explores why and how areas of London have changed and what the future may look like.The episode is written and presented by Dave Hill. The producer is Andrew McGibbon. It’s a Curtains For Radio Production for The London Society.

London’s West End, so vital to the capital and the country, took a huge battering from Covid-19. But it is recovering slowly and also adapting to changes brought about and accelerated by the pandemic. Dave Hill, London Society trustee and editor of On London, went into town and spoke to three people about the new West End that is emerging: John McRae of architects Orms, designers of the radical new entertainment venue The Outernet: Grosvenor’s Heather Topel, who talks about plans to transform the South Molton Triangle; and Geoff Barraclough, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic development, who Dave met on Oxford Street. The West End’s latest reinvention is taking shape. The podcast tells you how.

Listen to the winners and runners-up entries from the first Love Letters to London writing competition organised by The London Society.There were nearly 500 entries from all ages and from all around the globe, writing on the theme of "recovery and resilience", a celebration of the capital as it emerged from lockdowns.We’re biased, but we believe London is the greatest city in the world. It is the nation’s capital, but woven from hundreds of separate communities; the economic powerhouse of the UK with a richly diverse demographic. It has an amazing history, but is constantly evolving; it offers world class art, music, theatre and other live performances. It is ‘home’ to nine million people but attracts dozens of millions more each year as visitors. Love Letters to London was our way of trying to celebrate this wonderful, glorious, infuriating city.The pieces are read by Laura Adams and Tim BarronOpen Category and Overall First Place T C W Davies: The Lost CityPoetry Vicky Hill: Low TideInternational Jillian S Cadell: City of Forking PathsUnder 18 (Primary schools) Arhaan Khan: Why I Adore LondonUnder 18s Faith Cunningham: "how to warm up cold ears"

A new powerhouse for innovation, creativity and learning on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 'East Bank' is a unique collaboration between world-leading universities, arts and cultural institutions that will transform this part of east London.In this first podcast from The London Society, Dave Hill talks about the development and meets some of the people involved in the vision.

Broadcaster Robert Elms gives The London Society's Banister Fletcher Lecture"The poor, the marginal, the young, the creative and the bohemian are the lifeblood of urban life, but they are being excluded, expelled, exiled from our great urban centres by the process of making everything luxury, exclusive, designed and desirable.We must desist from ‘developing' every area to within an inch of its life; Kings Cross, once a dangerous wonderland is now a chic but sterile designer mall. Punk once happened on the Kings Road. Pushing people to the periphery, like in Paris, is disastrous for the health of a city which is hollowed out.Cities need areas of arrival, they need slums, where people from all around the world and all classes can settle and start their journey. Notting Hill, Spitalfields, Camden Town, Brixton, these were all considered ‘slums' in living memory but are now gentrified and atrophied by affluence."