London beyond time and place

18/08/2026

WHAT IF A BUILDING COULD CHANGE THE PEOPLE AROUND IT?

Nicholas Hawksmoor's churches have fascinated Londoners, historians and writers for centuries.

And in the work of Peter Ackroyd and Iain Sinclair, they become something more:

Places of power.
Places of memory.
Places where history seems to repeat itself.

Around Hawksmoor's East End churches, real and fictional murders begin to overlap.

The Ratcliffe Highway Murders.
The Limehouse Golem.
Jack the Ripper.
The Thames Torso Murders.

Coincidence?

Or something darker?

Our "Nicholas Hawksmoor: His East End Churches" self-guided walk explores the stories, places and literature behind this strange connection.

Limehouse → Wapping → Whitechapel → Spitalfields.

Would you walk it?

17/08/2026

THE HAWKSMOOR WALK IS BACK.

Six churches.
Four centuries of London history.
And some of the darkest stories ever told about the East End.

Our "Nicholas Hawksmoor: His East End Churches" self-guided walking tour takes you from Limehouse to Spitalfields, following a route through Hawksmoor's extraordinary architecture, the Ratcliffe Highway Murders, the Thames Torso Murders, Jack the Ripper, Peter Ackroyd's "Hawksmoor" and "Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem", and the mysterious idea of London's genius loci – its spirit of place.

This isn't simply an architecture walk.

It's a journey through the places where history, crime, literature and legend overlap.

📍 Limehouse → Wapping → Whitechapel → Spitalfields
📖 Self-guided digital PDF
🚶 Explore London at your own pace

What if Hawksmoor's churches influenced the places around them?

Or were they simply built where London's darker stories were destined to unfold?

Find out for yourself.

👉 Available now from LONDON BEYOND TIME AND PLACE.

https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/product/nicholas-hawksmoor-east-end-churches-walking-tour/

Explore Nicholas Hawksmoor's East End churches on a self-guided London walking tour through Limehouse, Wapping, Whitechapel and Spitalfields.

16/08/2026

This is Crispin Street in London's East End today.

But in 1769, this area was at the centre of a violent conflict between London's silk weavers.

At No. 39 Crispin Street stood the manufactory of Lewis Chauvet, a Huguenot silk handkerchief maker. When weavers attacked his factory and destroyed dozens of looms, Chauvet offered a substantial reward for information about those responsible.

Two men, John Valline and John Doyle, were subsequently arrested and eventually hanged.

Their executions did not calm the situation.

Thousands of angry weavers marched through the East End and attacked Chauvet's premises, believing that his actions had helped send their fellow workers to the gallows.

The building itself disappeared long ago, but the street remains.

Dorothee and I visited Crispin Street while leading the Official East End Conference Walk in 2024, one of the many places that show just how much history is hiding in London's ordinary streets.

📖 The story is based on research discussed in David Charnick - Writings's "The Dark Side of East London", a book I highly recommend if you're interested in the less familiar history of the East End.

London is full of stories like this.

You just have to know where to look.

15/08/2026

Some of Dickens' London is gone. Surprisingly much of it is still there.

Step away from the noise of Holborn and you suddenly find yourself somewhere else.

Staple Inn.

Its timber-framed façade dates back to the sixteenth century, and when you stand here today, it's remarkably easy to imagine the London that Charles Dickens knew.

Dickens himself described Staple Inn in The Mystery of Edwin Drood as a place where, after leaving the "clashing street", the pedestrian suddenly feels as though the noise of London has disappeared.

And that is one of the great pleasures of exploring Dickensian London:

the city sometimes still looks back at you.

📖 My Dickensian London self-guided walk takes you through the streets, buildings, pubs and literary locations connected with Dickens and his London.

https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/product/dickensian-london-a-self-guided-literary-walk/

Explore London beyond the obvious.

14/08/2026

Some reading to refresh the memory… 🔎📖

I'm currently revisiting a little Sherlock Holmes — for a very good reason.

Toby Virgo of Carter the Cabman fame and I have been working on a new project together, and we're both getting rather excited about where it might lead.

It's still very early days, so I won't reveal too much just yet… but let's just say that Baker Street, Whitechapel and a certain famous detective may have something to do with it. 🕵️‍♂️🌙

More to come.

06/08/2026

August 1888.

This is the entrance to what was once George Yard (today Gunthorpe Street).

In the late hours of 6 August (or early hours of 7 August) 1888, Martha Tabram walked through this archway for what would become the final time.

She was found brutally murdered on the first-floor landing of George Yard Buildings only a short time later.

Although historians still debate whether Martha Tabram should be counted among Jack the Ripper's victims, her death marked the beginning of one of the darkest chapters in London's history.

Today, countless people pass this spot every day without realising what happened here more than 130 years ago.

🎥 I explore George Yard and many other key locations in my narrated Whitechapel night walk on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/9QZcjU27d0g?si=WDX5ph9BNbRH4Jr5

📖 If you'd like to explore the East End yourself, my self-guided Jack the Ripper's East End experience is available through London Beyond Time and Place.

03/08/2026

THE LONDON BEHIND IRON MAIDEN

Before Iron Maiden conquered stadiums around the world...there was London.

There were smoky pubs.
Hidden streets.
Historic churches.
War memorials.
Ancient monuments.
Stories waiting to be discovered.

Many of them found their way into Iron Maiden's songs.

Over the past months I've brought together my passion for London history and my lifelong love of Iron Maiden to create something I've wanted to make for years:

Iron Maiden's London – A Self-Guided Walking Tour

This isn't simply a tour of places connected to the band.

It's an exploration of the city that shaped their music, their ideas and many of the stories hidden inside the lyrics.

📍 Instant PDF download
🎵 Includes a curated Iron Maiden & Bruce Dickinson playlist
📖 Beautifully designed guide
🚶 Explore at your own pace

The journey starts now.

https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/product/iron-maiden-london-walk/

Iron Maiden London Walk – A Self-Guided Walking Tour Through the History, Music & Inspirations of Britain's Greatest Heavy Metal Band

31/07/2026

A new Carter the Cabman story has arrived... and, of course, I couldn't resist reading it straight away.

I won't give anything away, except to say that Toby Virgo has done it again. His remarkable ability to bring Victorian London to life never ceases to impress me. Rich in atmosphere, beautifully written, and full of those little historical details that make the city feel wonderfully real.

If you have not yet discovered Jeremiah Carter and his adventures through the streets of Victorian London, I can highly recommend giving them a try.

On a personal note, Toby and I have also been having some fascinating conversations recently and are currently exploring a few collaborative ideas. It's still early days, so there's nothing to reveal just yet—but I'm genuinely excited about where those discussions might lead.

In the meantime, congratulations, Toby, on another superb story!

26/07/2026

At first glance, there's nothing unusual about Goulston Street.

Office workers hurry past. Visitors make their way through the East End. London simply goes about its day.

And yet, this street witnessed one of the most mysterious moments in the Jack the Ripper case.

It was here that part of Catherine Eddowes' apron was found on 30 September 1888, beneath a now infamous piece of graffiti that has fuelled debate for well over a century.

Also, Dorothee Schröder and I told the story of Joseph Lipman here on our Whitechapel Walking Tour at the East End Conference 2024, who died nearby of neglect (thanks to David Charnick - Writings for the inspiration - the story is part of his brilliant book 'The Dark Side of East London.')

Goulston Street reminds us that London's history often hides in the most unexpected places.

📖 Discover the wider story of Victorian Whitechapel in my self-guided "Jack the Ripper's East End" walk.

🎥 Or explore these streets with me in my narrated Whitechapel night walk on YouTube.

https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/product/jack-the-rippers-east-end-self-guided-walking-tour/

Photo: Dorothee Schröder

12/07/2026

🇬🇧 Visiting London for the first time?

London is incredible—but it can also feel overwhelming.

Should you start at Westminster or the Tower of London? Which museums are worth your time? How do you fit everything into just a few days without spending half your holiday on the Tube?

That's exactly why we created "London for Beginners".

This practical 4-day itinerary includes:

🏰 London's most famous landmarks

🌳 Beautiful parks and riverside walks

🍺 Historic pubs and great places to eat

🏛 Museums and cultural highlights

🚇 Practical tips to help you travel with confidence

It's designed to help you experience London's classics without feeling rushed, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the city's atmosphere.

📥 Instant PDF download.

London for Beginners: Discover the best of London with our 4-day itinerary for your first visit. Explore iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and local spots.