London calling.
London Walks connecting.
This… is London.
This is London Walks.
Streets ahead.
Story time. History time.
A very good evening to you London Walkers. Wherever you are.
And here’s your London vitamin shot for today, Sunday, October 5th, 2025.
Today’s a canapé special, not the usual Sunday roast. Three tasty bites and we’re done.
First, two nibbles from the date itself: a needle-drop at Abbey Road in 1962… and then, 1969 – something completely different flaps onto BBC One. I’ll read those in a tick.
Then we’ll duck into the London Walks Book Club Corner: Adam’s pick is James Herbert’s Rats – perfectly seasonal. In Adam’s words: “I’ll say no more. Apart from: ‘be afraid’.”
And to round us off, a swift guest spot from Ann – this time on dogs. A change of collar for her, as she usually treats us to cats; her Cat Tails: A Feline Take on London History – the niche walk of niche walks – purrs back on October 10th.
Right, napkins on laps, let’s serve the first two bites… then I’ll hand the mic to Adam, and after that, over to Ann.
Here’s your first London canape for October 5th. It’s 1962.
A sound heard ’round the world. The Beatles release “Love Me Do,” cut at EMI, Abbey Road. It only reaches No. 17 – but it lights the fuse.
What’d you think? Tasty wasn’t it. Now try this one.
It’s October 5th, 1969. And how did the saying go, “And now for something completely different. Monty Python’s Flying Circus premieres on BBC One at 10.55 pm. Episode 1, Whither Canada?, sneaks on air and rewires British comedy.
Ok, here’s Adam. And I have to ask you, was ever a book review more irresistible? One tingle, one tap – Rats downloaded – and me braced to be scared out of my wits.
[Adam’s review of Rats follows]
Ah, many thanks, Adam. And one thing’s for sure, we’re not alone. Nobody knows for sure, but pest-management sources say are millions of rats in London. The middling average is ten million. That’s one rat per Londoner with a million rats left over. And you can depend on it, wherever you are there’ll be a rat keeping you company. No more than about 13 metres from where you’re standing, sitting or stretched out.
But let’s call time on London’s rats. There they go, scuttling off-stage – whiskers twitching, tails vanishing down the nearest drain. And padding in to take their place, all bright eyes and tails wagging from here to Christmas, come Ann’s dogs. A welcome change species, a change of energy: from gnawing and gnashing to panting and playing.
Here’s Ann.
[Ann’s piece of dogs follows]
You’ve been listening to This… is London, the London Walks podcast. Emanating from www.walks.com home of London Walks, London’s signature walking tour company.
London’s local, time-honoured, fiercely independent, family-owned, just-the-right-size walking tour company.
And as long as we’re at it, London’s multi-award-winning walking tour company. Indeed, London’s only award-winning walking tour company.
And here’s the secret: London Walks is essentially run as a guides’ cooperative.
That’s the key to everything.
It’s the reason we’re able to attract and keep the best guides in London. You can get schlubbers to do this for £20 a walk. But you cannot get world-class guides – let alone accomplished professionals.
It’s not rocket science: you get what you pay for.
And just as surely, you also get what you don’t pay for.
Back in 1968 when we got started we quickly came to a fork in the road. We had to answer a searching question: Do we want to make the most money? Or do we want to be the best walking tour company in the world?
You want to make the most money you go the schlubbers route. You want to be the best walking tour company in the world you do whatever you have to do to attract and keep the best guides in London – you want them guiding for you, not for somebody else.
Bears repeating: the way we’re structured – a guides’ cooperative – is the key to the whole thing.
It’s the reason for all those awards, it’s the reason people who know go with London Walks, it’s the reason we’ve got a big following, a lively, loyal, discerning following – quality attracts quality.
You’ve been listening to This… is London, the London Walks podcast. Emanating from – – home of London Walks, London’s signature walking tour company.
London’s local, time-honoured, fiercely independent, family-owned, just-the-right-size walking tour company.
And as long as we’re at it, London’s multi-award-winning walking tour company. Indeed, London’s only award-winning walking tour company.
And here’s the secret: London Walks is essentially run as a guides’ cooperative.
That’s the key to everything.
It’s the reason we’re able to attract and keep the best guides in London. You can get schlubbers to do this for £20 a walk. But you cannot get world-class guides – let alone accomplished professionals.
It’s not rocket science: you get what you pay for.
And just as surely, you also get what you don’t pay for.
Back in 1968 when we got started we quickly came to a fork in the road. We had to answer a searching question: Do we want to make the most money? Or do we want to be the best walking tour company in the world?
You want to make the most money you go the schlubbers route. You want to be the best walking tour company in the world you do whatever you have to do to attract and keep the best guides in London – you want them guiding for you, not for somebody else.
Bears repeating: the way we’re structured – a guides’ cooperative – is the key to the whole thing.
It’s the reason for all those awards, it’s the reason people who know go with London Walks, it’s the reason we’ve got a big following, a lively, loyal, discerning following – quality attracts quality.