

London History
londonguidedwalks.co.uk
The London History Podcast uncovers the stories, people, and places that have shaped London over 2,000 years.
Hosted by historian & tour guide Hazel Baker, each 20–40 minute episode feels like an audio walking tour, covering everything from Roman Londinium and medieval guilds to Dickensian streets, Georgian scandals, and modern social change. Perfect for curious Londoners, visitors, students, and history lovers who want to go beyond the usual tourist highlights.
Hosted by historian & tour guide Hazel Baker, each 20–40 minute episode feels like an audio walking tour, covering everything from Roman Londinium and medieval guilds to Dickensian streets, Georgian scandals, and modern social change. Perfect for curious Londoners, visitors, students, and history lovers who want to go beyond the usual tourist highlights.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 11, 2022 • 27min
81: Voltaire in London
What would Voltaire make of London today? The great enlightened thinker spent a couple of years enjoying London's charms.
Of course, London has changed a lot since then, but some things never change and Voltaire would doubtless appreciate the city's sense of irony and humour.
Join Hazel Baker as she talks with City of London tour guide Ian McDiarmid to discuss Voltaire and his life in London.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/81-voltaire-in-london/

Mar 4, 2022 • 21min
80. Disability in Tudor Times
How much of our thoughts about those with disabilities comes from the Victorians? Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Phillipa Connelly and disability in the Tudor period.
This podcast explores the world of disability in Tudor times, and highlights some of the challenges faced by those living with a disability as well as the successes of a few remarkable individuals.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/disability-in-tudor-times/

Feb 25, 2022 • 20min
79. Landladies of Georgian London
Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Dr Gillian Williamson as they discuss what it was like to be a landlady in Georgian London and how our view of them may be warped by those who held a pen.
Find out why Mary and Charles Lamb were outraged when they received an unexpected bill from their landlady and who would have been the worst lodger to have in your home.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/episode-79-landladies-of-georgian-london/

Feb 18, 2022 • 20min
78. Georgian Lodgers and Landlords
Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Dr Gillian Williamson as they discuss what it was like to be a lodger and a landlord in Georgian London. How living conditions encouraged the rise of coffee houses and how lodging houses had their own micro hierarchy.
Find out what James Boswell did to get kicked out of his lodgings in Downing Street and how a fire in Soho provided a real life account of the assorted neighbours.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/episode-78-georgian-lodgers-and-landlords/

Feb 11, 2022 • 24min
77. The Delaunes of Blackfriars
Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Lesley Russell about the DeLaune family who has researched connections to several Huguenot families who came to England as refugees from religious persecution in 1572 and who made their home in the ruins of the former Blackfriars Priory. Learn more about the families, the area the in which they lived and their community.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/delaunes-of-blackfriars/

Feb 3, 2022 • 20min
76. Elizabeth and Mary: Tudor Cousins
Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Dr Daniella Gonzalez about the latest exhibition at the British Library: Elizabeth and Mary: Royal cousins, rival queens.
In this episode we look at two of the most powerful women in Tudor history; Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Their relationship was a complicated one. They were royal cousins and rival queens. Extraordinarily the women never actually met and yet their lives were entwined. We take a look at their story as presented in the British Library's latest exhibition.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/elizabeth-and-mary/

Dec 10, 2021 • 20min
75. The Christmas Cracker - A Victorian Invention
Join Hazel Baker as she looks at how the tradition of Christmas Crackers began and developed to become the traditional event we repeat each year.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/christmas-cracker/

Dec 3, 2021 • 20min
74. Christmas in 1950s and 60s London
London is a bright and eventful place all year round, but especially during the build-up to Christmas. Streets and squares fill up with elaborate light installations that transform urban spaces while changing their atmosphere for Christmas time!
Join Hazel Baker as she looks at how the tradition of Christmas Street lights began and evolved and became fixed within children's literature.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/christmas-in-london/

Nov 26, 2021 • 21min
73. Great Ormond Street Hospital
Join host Hazel Baker as she speaks to guest Helen Baggott about postcards from the past she has found and researched, showing the early history of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/great-ormond-street-hospital/

Nov 19, 2021 • 24min
72. Drs William and John Hunter
The Hunter brothers may be names you know but how much do you know about their London lives?
Join Hazel Baker and Ian McDiarmid discuss these talented brothers whose individual skills and expertise lead to significant progress being made in anatomy, dentistry and obstetrics.
Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook.
Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/william-john-hunter/


