Hello John! I was a featured artist at Soul At St James (the choir event at St James’ church), and I saw you walking past but didn’t get a chance to say hello. Love your videos, they helped me through the lockdowns of 2020 especially.

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

that's wonderful - hope you had a great day - such an amazing venue

This walk was certainly an eye-opener for me. Despite having lived in London all my life (75 years, seeing as you asked!) I did not realise that there was so much hidden away in the St James's area. A little exploration of my own is called for!

William Huskisson PC was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Liverpool. He is commonly known as the world's first widely reported railway passenger casualty as he was run over and fatally wounded by Robert Stephenson's pioneering locomotive Rocket.

@HonestSonics

8 ай бұрын

'worlds first train victim' would've been far more exciting than 'statesman'

The passage from Green Park into the back of Selwyn House - colloquially known as milkmaid's passage, harking back to the time when cows grazed in Green Park & the milkmaids would use the passage to deliver milk to the grand buildings.

What a wonderful walk with a treasure trove of hidden ally’s steps and courtyards. London has some real gems to offer

Great walk! About 2:37 p.m in East Tennessee. Enjoying the walk all the same at 6: 37 GMT London. Blessings to you and family Mr. John Rogers. 🙋🙂💜

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Janet and also for that vignette of East Tennessee

Great nostalgia walk for me. Much of the late 60s early 70s were spent around here. Many nice pubs some of which had good music.

William Huskisson was widely noted as the first notable railway fatality having been run over by Stephensons Rocket during the opening of the liverpool manchester line . Being representative for liverpool at the time he was a great advocate of the railways . There is a statue to his memory in st georges square park pimlico within the grounds of the new england kindergarten where Lady Diana Spencer worked . Might be a good area to do a walk around .

During my first job out of university I used to take that passageway to Green Park on my daily commute. Instant nostalgia! Great video as always, John.

Nice and engaging video, as always, Pickering Place is such a special place. The embassy of Texas found a place in that building, until 1845 when they joined the United States. It was only a small embassy, the office was behind the door on the right side of the passage entering from the street. You can see a memorial plate on the wall too, at 18:43 on the right. Another maybe interesting fact, Napoleon the Third used to live there during his exile, and they say he usually took his walk in that small courtyard.

So many interesting alleys and lanes. Love seeing the Hello Fresh, I also found it very easy and felt like I was eating at my own restaurant. Even better seeing the garden, lovely Stag Horn tree you have there.

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Sean, the garden needs a bit of attention before the winter I feel but it was the natural place to film that segment

Fascinating area that. I often get lost around there in those little Warrens of alleyways, and end up in places I wouldn’t have seen. But its lovely because it goes eerily quiet all of a sudden. And the architecture is so mixed. Imagine those prices. Such grand properties. I like the way all those parks link too, Kensington, St James’s and Green all so pretty and quite different. My favourite sit down is the Italian gardens as you would say Majestic. People watching and It’s fine fountains and there’s that neat cafe there now. The trees are a fine mix in our parks, especially autumn approaching, they are a sight not to miss. Lovely walk. I can see you enjoyed this one. I did. Thank you.

Gosh, that takes me back my old haunts in the early 80's!! Amazing. I first worked in Winston Churchills former rooms on Bolton Street.

BELLISSIMO AS ALWAYS! THANKS MAN! FROM ITALY....

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Massimo

Born and raised in SW1 and those streets were new to me. Many thanks for sharing that walk and I look forward to bumping in to you, where ever that my be.

For many years I was involved with the St James Conservation Trust, who campaign to protect the special character of the area. The Blue Posts Pub is a rarity in London - it was closed while the building it is in was redeveloped, but then it actually returned and reopened, which happens so infrequently.

I always really enjoy the Central London video's you do... So much to see that you'd normally miss... More of the same please

John, I must have walked this area a hundred times, passing many of these little passages and wondered “could I, should I?” Now I know…. Thanks so much. Great vid.

Thank you John. I've been living in the States for a long time now but I still miss London. It's been a while since I trod the pavements of St. James and there are places there that have been put up since I left, but the soul of the place hasn't changed and there was still enough there that I felt that old pang of nostalgia for the 'Big Smoke.' Take care mate.

I've photographed some of those buildings when I was an architectural photographer working for a firm of architects. The wavy white building you passed, and certainly Spencer house. That area was so familiar to me at the time! Thanks for that reminder, John. As you say, it hasn't changed since the mid eighties when I was there with my large format camera!

@EddieRiff

8 ай бұрын

Wow, large format, linhoff? Horseman? Gandolfi half plate? Scheimplug principle, tilting standards...Who cares ...Absolute luxury!

Even though St. James' is essentially an enclave for the super rich I've always enjoyed walking around it and getting lost. It has a transportational quality to it that is unique and it feels historic.

@adoculos4521

8 ай бұрын

Nope. The St.James's ward has council flats and housing association ones in it.

@thekentishpilgrim

8 ай бұрын

Well, you would strike the public housing jackpot to get offered something there. Of course you're now in an extremely unaffordable place to live so it may not be so great.@@adoculos4521

Fascinating walk, thank you. Especially enjoyed seeing a little of St James church, my 3 times great grandparents were married there in 1805. It’s on my bucket list if I ever get to London from here in Australia. Bucket list has increased though after seeing all the interesting places you’ve shown. Really enjoyable!

St James' is an excellent place to wander. When I was a London busker, years ago I used to work morning and evening, and would frequently chart almost exactly this walk mid day, just for the sheer pleasure of it. Thanks so much for this, especially because you must be extra busy with the book launch right now John, for which I wish you the very greatest of success. I shall be getting my copy too, if poss by the lo tech method.. Waterstones I hope! Hello Fresh does indeed do some lovely food, and its a doddle to cook. Nice one John! 👍⭐

What a fun walk. The architecture is beautiful. I am always amazed how you are virtually alone so often in such a busy city!

Hi John, I don't like the distortion of your camera.

Thank you so much, John. This, for me, is one of your loveliest walks and served to remind me what a truly beautiful city London is.

Apart from the tube from Picadilly circus to Covent garden I walked from Holland Park to Tower Bridge on Friday via Kensington High St, St James, the strand.

This is a great walk John. I love the staircases and passageways. I know some parts of this stroll but excited to see bits I have not seen before. I need to revisit this area again. Thank you.

Such an enjoyable walk. Amazing architecture. Loved the alleys, stairs, passageways. Lovely to see streets & buildings that come up in books set in London.

You missed the doorway to the legendary 60s club The Scotch of St James in the corner of Masons Yard - it was where Jimi Hendrix sat in with the house band on his first night in London! It's still there but a private members club now. Also, just to say it's possible to book a visit to Spencer House - well worth seeing inside - lovely rooms.

@Mistydazzle

8 ай бұрын

I was just researching that fascinating yard, and saw that John Lennon met Yoko Ono, in 1966, at number 6 Masons Yard where her artwork was on show. Hendrix was at that funky looking #13. Fascinating!

Wow, I have that book, bought it years ago, and it's a great source of information! Love St James' church. Hub and I had our first date there - we saw Bronski Beat play in the summer of 1984! Thanks John!

Loved the walk, but not the 360. I thought I was stoned with the distorted viewing

Well that was a delightful walk, many little passageways I had never been down most of them. Interesting history to go with the buildings you pointed out. I hope you will include a few more walks from that book through time. Thank you John, I did enjoy that. 💕🇦🇺

I used to work in St James's on St James's Street, loved walking around the area at lunch time. The church was my respite of peace and calm, if lucky there would be a concert on or carols at christmas. the hidden passages were great for finding decent places to get food or the old Red Lion pub.

Hi John, I am a bit of an anomaly really, I tend to hate London, but it has always been by car or train with the maddening crowds, but I really love your guided walk in your selected part of London In this video.- Many thanks for the video and for showing me what I have been missing.

Excellent walk. You missed the brass plaque on Pickering place...something to do with Texas I believe.

@warrenstanford7240

4 ай бұрын

The Republic of Texas legation was housed for a few years within one of the houses in the yard.

Nice one John, such great short cuts Cheers mate...

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Cheers Ralph

@luapnosboh7421

8 ай бұрын

Your not one o those scooter thieves I hope 😂 great viewing tho John 👍

Great walk, I really enjoyed it, I’m taking my missus on this root soon xxx

I think at the Palace of St. James, there was the old Privy Council room with the intricate ceiling (which had some star-geometric designs) and nicknamed the "Star Chamber". I was renovated and the ceiling is now up in Cheshire at a hotel manor house lounge. Perfect place to arrange a meeting with your daughter's new boyfriend so you can grill them to see if they are worthy!

Hi John, I did lots of photography for the London library back in the early to mid 2k's and some of the bashes were held at that very rear courtyard of the library. As you first walked down into the rear of the courtyard dead ahead of you to the right of that building "Nine" was a little club/bar and that was where John Lennon met Yoko Ono. A celebrity/trustee of the library, who will remain nameless told me this. The door at the time of being told was a rather scabby black wooden job, it was there in 2011.

Great video John! I love those little alleyways and courtyards.

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Ed

Hello! I'm back...been at a bit of a low ebb recently but your videos are always a bright spot in the week...long may you run sir!

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Great to see you back Phil - often listen that CD you sent

@philburdett

7 ай бұрын

Cheers sir! Will be trying to flog my 2nd novel next year so I empathise with your current promotional duties ha! I'm ordering your book when my money comes in next week by the way...@@JohnRogersWalks

Love the video, but the new camera made me woosey.

My wife and I are long time watches of your channel and look forward to your weekly uploads. We must have promoted your channel to everyone we know by now. Having grown up in North London but moved to the east coast of Canada 40 years ago there is a feeling of nostalgia and discovery when watching your walks. Keep up the great work. Only one criticism - the new camera seems to distort and distract. Are you really wedded to it?

19:50, surprised you missed the plaque on the side of Berry Bros and Rudd, in the alleyway, commemorating the Texas Embassy to the Court of St. James' s 1842-1846. Your camera just about caught it, but......

Hi John, When you turned right "between numbers 12 and 13" (off Duke Street St James), that art work on the wall to your right was a reminder that Yoko Ono first showed her stuff in the Indica Gallery (which was a counterculture art gallery in Mason's Yard (off Duke Street), St James's). It was here that John Lennon climbed the ladder, put his head into a white box, and read the word "Yes".

Great walk on a Monday evening, a lovely stroll through St James's, what a treat, love your enthusiasm, thank you as always John 😊

Fascinating tour around St James 's John going up and down the alleys with a gem of a building historically at the end of every one.Great video as always!!

Thanks John, always a treat when a video drops.

Thank you for yor great details about London, so much History,the little lanes that take you to hidden gems. So many beautiful places, Will keep watching, I am loving it. Kind regards. Liz from Scotland

Another fantastic video of hidden London, John. This has inspired me to take my Dad out on this tour - pubs included, of course. He's a fan of yours too. All the best!

Great walk! Was there last week and felt I needed to discover more. Inspiration!

Great video as alawys. I was in St James only a few weeks ago and now realise how much I missed! Keep up the good work.

So glad you got some sponsorship! Go You! Loved this walk.

Dukes hotel famously where Ian Fleming would drink. Now serves one of the best martinis in London and a great Vespa. St James is an amazingly historic part of London. Thanks for all the little allys. Some I knew some I can't wait to explore

Great walk. Don't like the new camera

That really was a secret walk John I know the area quite well nevertheless most of those passages I’ve walked past so often never even knew that they were there… I do struggle with the amount of wealth in that area, but such is life. I really like that camera though . I think it’s the sound of passing people all the sounds it makes me feel at least I’m alongside with you😊

What a great walk that was. Thanks for your continued enthusiasm and the excellent quality of your videos.

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Bob

Great walk that one, thanks John. I have visited a few of the pubs in the area but have never ventured down many of the passages, incredible!

The prescribed walk missed a few: The Mark Master Masons Hall on St.James's Street, Sir Isaac Newton's plaque, The memorial to Charles de Gaulle opposite his wartime HQ, the memorial to Giro, the German ambassadors dog, The Royal Society, home of Science, the column with the Grand Old Duke of York, the Guards Crimea memorial.

Great wee walk . Enjoyed that one . Love it when you find unexpected gems 👍

Wonderful as always - thank you!

fantastic stuff John. You deserve a bigger audience. And well done on the promo partnership!

Now that was enjoyable John ! Thankyou .

Fun fact for you, when Texas was an independent country their 'legation' was on Pickering Place. You can see the plaque at 18:43 on the right hand side (the brass thing)

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

that's a really wonderful fact thanks

Great walk John i do photo walks around different parts of London and you have just found my next one for me, thank you 👍

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Great location for a photo walk Kevin

Absolutely loved this treasure of a walk❤

Terrific stuff, John. So many hidden gems in that area, and positively dripping in history. My partner and I will soon be following your footsteps along those mysterious passages.

Another great educational walk.

Thanks for showing another undiscovered part of London, such wonderful architecture.

A great tour, thanks for showing it !

Isn’t London wonderful! Thanks for this video John. You’ve inspired me to follow in your footsteps this weekend.

Really great, John! Highly enjoyable! ❤️

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Ashley

Thanks for that John. I love that area of London and visited almost all of the courts, though one at least I didn't recognize. Cheers. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

Another enjoyable video, John. I have always loved London and thought I knew it fairly well, but this video has shown some really interesting and out of way places I had never stumbles across. I can't wait to visit again soon and re-trace some of this walk. Really enjoyable. But I don't think I can order anything from Hellofresh; they most likely don't deliver to Reno Nevada. Cheers, John. Richard in Reno

@Mistydazzle

8 ай бұрын

HelloFresh is "America's #1Meal Kit". If they deliver to Woodland Park, Colorado, they must deliver to Reno!

Jermyn St is known also for fine aromas coming from Paxton & Whitfield and Floris

Hey John congrats on the sponsor, I'll see if they are available in U.S. l like all the hidden passages.

Beautiful. You can really get turned around in St. James. Alleys, dead ends, second guessing ones self. You can find yourself completely lost in a quite small area. Great vid. Thanks man.

I love that Andrew Duncan book. I have used it many times to find interesting places to explore. Great walk, so many little surprises!

What a fabulous walk! I went to London this year and I loved it! Want to go again next year!

Fantastic video! This is one of favourite routes when we're in London (with a "rest" at the Three Crowns)

Fascinating walk. It was nice to see such an interesting area. Piccadilly Circus, I remember. I never will go near there again.

Really enjoyable video, thanks for sharing.

Great video John and a great T-shirt ! thanks man

Great stuff. I worked near Trafalgar square for a few years and one of my favourite lunchtime walks was down Pall Mall, past St James's Palace and Clarence house and into Green Park through the passage you exited the park from. Re the lack of tourists/interest around St James's Palace, somehow I think it's a bit of a forbidding place - the sentries by Clarence house with their guns contribute to that general sense - and I never felt that comfortable hanging around for long

Really superb video John. A “tranquil” part of London. Some lovely hotels, costly no doubt. Thank you.

Thanks for another lovely trip round the mystery’s of London 😊

Hi John thanks for a wonderful video, what a great place St James is. Your knowledge always amazes me, Bob

Fascinating hidden gems. Thanks again John in Chicago

Fascinating! Sadly,I can't do london anymore, my knees won't allow it.😊

A lovely new walk, thank you. And I’ve got the Secret London book. I’ll have to dig it out 😅

That was a joy John. So very many things I've never seen before .Brilliant .PS The food looked well worth a try as well.

Love these kind of walks 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

Like the camera view, gives a different feel to the walk!

JOHN FORGIVE ME IF I AM STELL BANAL, REPETITIVE GUY FRO ITALY, BUT THIS IS FANTASTIC AGAIN! BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL THE LONLYNESS WICH LIFE IS MADE OF.... GRAZIE GRAZIE GRAZIE MAN!!!

@JohnRogersWalks

7 күн бұрын

cheers Massimo

I'm excited to watch this thanks, don't know that spot well even though I live in Central London 🎉😊

A great book - and an excellent video!

Great video, really enjoyed that one.

@JohnRogersWalks

8 ай бұрын

Many thanks

Great video John. I once spent a happy afternoon wandering this area reading the blue plaques. Ended the walk in Piccadilly bought a packet of tea at Fortnum & Mason so I could get an F&M bag

Another great video. Got a copy of Andrew Duncan's Secret London earlier in the year, so defiantly be doing this walk. Looking forward to the book.