Do London Differently by London National Park City

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Do London Differently is a podcast series hosted by London National Park City Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling. Have have relaunched in 2025 with a new format - sharing how Londoners are making the city Greener, Healthier and Wilder.

  1. The History of Walking with David Harrison from Footways

    1d ago

    The History of Walking with David Harrison from Footways

    Episode type: London Walking Festival 2026 Special (final episode) Recorded at: Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, London Guest: David Harrison, co-founder of Footways and creator of the Historic Ways map In the final walking festival special of the series, Michael talks to David Harrison at St Bartholomew the Great about the deep history of walking in London. David traces the surviving evidence of the city's pedestrian past, from Portland stone pavements at Lincoln's Inn to an 18th century "low traffic neighbourhood" at Queen Anne's Gate. He tells the remarkable stories of Ben Jonson and John Taylor, who both walked from London to Scotland in 1618 by entirely different routes, and maps out the lost medieval pilgrimage route from London to Walsingham. The conversation takes in Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims, Dickens and Bob Cratchit, 400,000 Victorian commuters, the wealth of medieval monasteries around Smithfield, and the modern revival of pilgrimage walking through the London Walking Festival. In this episode: Early pavements surviving in London at King's Bench, Lincoln's Inn and St Paul'sQueen Anne's Gate as an early low traffic neighbourhoodSamuel Pepys' walking commute across LondonLancelot Andrews walking from Cambridge as a studentBen Jonson's 1618 walk to Edinburgh via the east coastJohn Taylor the Water Poet's Penniless Pilgrimage via the west coastThe Canterbury Tales route along the A2The lost medieval pilgrimage route from London to WalsinghamThe Greenlink Walk from Epping Forest to Peckham RyeWalking Post's London Diagonal routeThe Essex Way from Epping Forest to Harwich400,000 people walking into the City of London daily in the Victorian eraBob Cratchit and Dickens walking from Camden to the CityThe monasteries of Smithfield and ClerkenwellFilth and Health conference, 26 June at Bart's HospitalFootways  Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    21 min
  2. Will Norman on London's New Walking and Wheeling Action Plan

    2d ago

    Will Norman on London's New Walking and Wheeling Action Plan

    Walking is London's most common form of transport, but it rarely gets the attention it deserves. In this London Walking Festival special, Michael Shilling sits down with Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, to unpack TfL's new Walking and Wheeling Action Plan. Will explains why wheeling is now named alongside walking for the first time, what the plan's three new targets mean for Londoners, and how half a million daily car trips could realistically switch to walking. They discuss the Oxford Street pedestrianisation, the push for 1,000 new pedestrian crossings by 2031, side road zebra trials, the transformation of School Streets across 800 schools, and the creative approaches needed to get more children walking independently. The conversation also explores how walking connects to London's green and blue spaces, the role of grassroots community groups, the promise of a new strategic waterway walking route, and why Will has become addicted to the Merlin Bird ID app on his walks through the city. Will shares his top three London walks and reflects on nearly a decade of quietly making active travel the new normal. Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    38 min
  3. North Paddington Nature Pilgrimage - The Natural Way

    May 23

    North Paddington Nature Pilgrimage - The Natural Way

    Filmed on location along the route by Michael Shilling, with Lola May (Community Climate Action Coordinator, Paddington Development Trust) and Eman Asir (Library Officer, Westminster Libraries). What is The Natural Way? A fully accessible, six-mile circular walking route through North Paddington, inspired by the Camino de Santiago and Europe's pilgrimage trails. Walkers collect stamps designed by local children at stops along the way, visiting libraries, community centres, gardens and places of worship across Westbourne, Queen's Park and Harrow Road. In this episode, Lola and Eman walk the route and discuss: How the Camino de Santiago inspired a walking trail through one of London's most deprived neighbourhoodsThe Europe Challenge and how libraries and community groups are collaborating across EuropeWhy local young people didn't know the Grand Union Canal was on their doorstepMeanwhile Gardens: frogs, frogspawn and the first skateboard bowl in LondonGerry's Pompeii: a secret sculpture garden 30 years in the makingSwift nesting boxes on the Amberley Estate and what swifts symbolise about migration and belongingWildflower meadows, bat forests and the biodiversity growing out of the concreteThe Nature of Things salon nights at Mason & Fifth hotelWhy "starting to notice" is the most important skill the walk teachesThe right to joy: reclaiming a neighbourhood's story through walkingLibraries on the route (maps and stamps available): Paddington Children's Library | Paddington Library (reopening soon) | Maida Vale Library | Queen's Park Library Key stops mentioned: Grand Junction (Grade I listed church and community centre) | Grand Union Canal towpath | Meanwhile Gardens | Gerry's Pompeii sculpture garden | Beethoven Centre | Queen's Park | Urban Wise (urban study centre) Digital route: Available on the Go Jauntly app Upcoming events: Guided walks, bat walk and planting session, bird song walks, trip to the urban beaver sanctuary. Check Eventbrite and Instagram for dates. The Natural Way is a project of: Paddington Development Trust and Westminster Libraries, supported by The Europe Challenge (Arts Council and European Cultural Foundation). Links: The Europe Challenge project page: theeuropechallenge.eu/north-paddington-nature-pilgrimageGo Jauntly: North Paddington Nature PilgrimageExplore more London National Park City Podcasts

    39 min
  4. Pavements, Parking and the Pedestrian Pound: Catherine Woodhead and Emma Griffin on Why Walking Matters

    May 19

    Pavements, Parking and the Pedestrian Pound: Catherine Woodhead and Emma Griffin on Why Walking Matters

    Episode: Walking Festival Special Recorded at: London National Park City Visitor Centre, Mortimer Street Host: Michael Shilling Guests: Catherine Woodhead, CEO, Living Streets Emma Griffin, Co-founder, Footways Episode Summary: A National Walking Month special exploring the state of walking in London and beyond. Catherine Woodhead shares the near-100-year history of Living Streets and its current campaigns around school streets, women's safety and pavement parking. Emma Griffin makes the case for strategic walking networks and shares findings from the Footways pilot project across five English cities and towns. Key Topics and Takeaways: Living Streets is approaching its centenary in 2029. The charity created the zebra crossing, contributed to the Highway Code and the introduction of drink driving offences. The Pedestrian Pound (third edition) demonstrates the economic value of walkable high streets. A monthly market closure in Swansea drew 3,000 people per day and led to new shop openings. Walk to School Week runs 18-22 May with a secret agents theme. 130 London schools signed up so far. Happy Shoes Day falls on the Tuesday. Walk Out on 29 May encourages women to walk for themselves, not just for errands or other people. Nine out of ten women and girls feel unsafe walking in the dark. Pavement parking prohibition is moving forward in England, following Scotland's lead. Transport Minister Lillian Greenwood confirmed moves towards giving local authorities the power to act. Footways' pilot project across five English cities and towns has produced findings around walking network hierarchies: strategic routes (train stations, hospitals, workplaces), secondary routes (GP surgeries, schools), and wider networks. Side road zebras are being trialled in Westminster. They are inexpensive, do not require Belisha beacons, and reinforce pedestrian priority at side road junctions. Central London's walking conditions have been transformed by connected improvements: Seven Dials, Holborn, Covent Garden, Mansion House. Bank Junction and a Regent's Park to St James's Park route are currently under consultation. Links: livingstreets.org.uk  livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school  livingstreets.org.uk/walkout  footways.london londonwalkingfestival.com Credits: Do London Differently is a London National Park City podcast. Hosted by Michael Shilling. Recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, Mortimer Street. Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    1h 1m
  5. London Rivers Week | Thames 21

    May 14

    London Rivers Week | Thames 21

    London Rivers Week turns 10 this year, and we are celebrating with a special episode. Liz Gyekye, Communications Manager at Thames 21, joins host Michael Shilling to talk about the festival, the charity's work protecting the River Thames and its tributaries, and how you can get involved. Running from 23 to 31 May as part of the London Walking Festival, London Rivers Week features around 40 events across the capital, from guided riverside walks and low-tide explorations to citizen science surveys and family creative days. We talk about how Thames 21 has evolved from pulling shopping trolleys out of rivers in the 1990s to running large-scale restoration projects and water quality monitoring. Liz shares the story behind the successful campaign to ban plastic wet wipes, backed by 142,000 wet wipes collected from the Thames foreshore over five years. We also discuss wildlife surprises in the tidal Thames, favourite London rivers including the Wandle and the Hogsmill, the water vole reintroduction near Tolworth, and what individuals can do to make a difference. Events are filling up fast. Visit thames21.org.uk for the full programme. Links: London Rivers Week 2026: thames21.org.uk/joinacampaign/london-rivers-week-2026/ London Walking Festival: nationalparkcity.london/london-walking-festival Thames 21: thames21.org.uk London National Park City: nationalparkcity.london Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    24 min
  6. Wellness Walks with The Proper Blokes Club

    May 11

    Wellness Walks with The Proper Blokes Club

    Episode summary: Michael Shilling talks to Scott Oughton-Johnson, founder of The Proper Blokes Club, about how a single walk in Southwark in September 2020 grew into a network of 25 to 30 walk-and-talk groups for men across London. They discuss men's mental health, the power of walking side by side, how to start a new group, and plans for a new Pimlico walk as part of the London Walking Festival. Guest: Scott Oughton-Johnson, Founder, The Proper Blokes Club Recorded: May 2026 Key topics covered: Origin story: Scott's personal experience with mental health, getting NHS support, and realising that walking and talking to people he did not know was the combination he needed. The first walk in Southwark where only one person turned up 15 minutes late. The founding motto: if two turn up, the walk happens. Scale and ambition: Around 25 to 30 walks a week across 12 London boroughs, with plans to reach every borough. Registered as a Community Interest Company. Scott now works on the project full time. How the walks work: Informal format. Meet at a start point, walk for about an hour, no pressure to talk. Walking side by side and avoiding eye contact helps bring barriers down. No advice given, just listening and signposting to professional services. Who attends: Predominantly men aged 45 to 65. A mix of backgrounds. Common ground in shared experiences: family, relationships, work, money. Friendships that extend well beyond the walks themselves. Starting a new walk: One hour a week at a regular time. Scott recces the route, does risk assessments, runs a launch campaign, and attends the first walk. No red tape for volunteer-led walks. The magic number: Three is ideal for walking conversation. Two works, but three means the conversation can flow naturally even if one person is quieter. Seasonal patterns: Summer brings new members, winter is when people need it most. Men who discover the benefits in summer tend to keep coming through the colder months. Work-life balance: Scott working long days, learning to trust his walk leaders, and the quote from London National Park City: "A movement is not a movement until it moves on its own." Pimlico pilot: Eight walks funded as part of the London Walking Festival, stretching into June. Riverside route, well lit, with the aim of building a permanent group. Drop-in spaces: New daytime sessions for men who are less mobile, retired, unemployed, or on shift work. Dad's groups also running during the day. Links: The Proper Blokes Club: https://www.theproperblokesclub.co.uk Find a walk near you: https://www.theproperblokesclub.co.uk/walks London Walking Festival: https://nationalparkcity.london/london-walking-festival London National Park City: https://nationalparkcity.london The Proper Blokes Club on the London Walking Festival: https://nationalparkcity.london/walk-talk-connect-join-the-proper-blokes-club-this-may Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    24 min
  7. The Walking Festival Conference preview with Dr Tom Cohen

    May 8

    The Walking Festival Conference preview with Dr Tom Cohen

    Episode summary: Michael Shilling talks to Dr Tom Cohen, Reader in Transport Policy at the University of Westminster, about the London Walking Festival Conference 2026, the work of the Active Travel Academy, the evolving language of "walking and wheeling," road safety, delivery riders as the new folk devil, and why Disney World might be the most walkable place on earth. Guest: Dr Tom Cohen, Reader in Transport Policy, Active Travel Academy, University of Westminster Recorded: May 2026 Key topics covered: London Walking Festival Conference 2026: Friday 15 May, University of Westminster Marylebone campus, 10am to 6.30pm. Free. Organised by the Active Travel Academy in association with Footways. Conference speakers and programme: Keynote from author Iain Sinclair. Panel with Morag Rose, Harriet Thomas, Katie Penwick, and Syra Nisey. Participatory workshops on art, research, and campaigning. Afternoon panel featuring Andrew Gilligan, Councillor Rowena Champion, Steve Gooding (RAC Foundation), and Bronwyn Thornton (Walk21 Foundation), chaired by David Harrison. Showcase of London walking schemes including Regent Street, Silvertown Way, and Camden projects at Holborn and Bloomsbury. Walking and wheeling terminology: Why the active travel community has adopted the phrase. How it promotes inclusivity and higher standards in public realm design. Katie Pennick's choice to use "walking" as a wheelchair user. The Active Travel Academy: Founded in 2019, directed by Professor Rachel Aldred. Research on low traffic neighbourhoods, the Propensity to Cycle Tool, the Near Miss Project, and the Travel Well project. Open-access journal Active Travel Studies with lay summaries. Safety and walking: The difference between collision safety and personal safety. Why people feel deterred from walking by dark or lonely streets. The role of "eyes on the street." Michael's Disney World comparison. Delivery riders and road justice: Why riders have become the latest folk devil. Precarious working conditions in the gig economy. The need to address systemic problems rather than blame individuals. Current research: The Hierarchy of Road Users and whether it has changed behaviour since its 2022 introduction to the Highway Code. A new Active Travel England-funded project on level of service, aiming to compare the experience of walking versus driving on the same street. Links: Book your free ticket to the London Walking Festival Conference: https://www.ticketsource.com/active-travel-academy-university-of-westminster/london-walking-festival-conference-2026/e-jzqvjr London Walking Festival: https://nationalparkcity.london/london-walking-festival Active Travel Academy, University of Westminster: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/active-travel-academy Footways: https://footways.london Active Travel Studies journal: https://activetravelstudies.org Walk21 Foundation: https://walk21.com There's a Walk for That podcast (Harriet Thomas): search on your podcast platform London National Park City: https://nationalparkcity.london Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    46 min
  8. Urban Tree Festival Special Series: London Walking Festival 2026

    May 6

    Urban Tree Festival Special Series: London Walking Festival 2026

    Michael is joined by Paul Wood, co-founder of the Urban Tree Festival and author of Tree Hunting, and Sarah Hayes, festival director and public artist, for a conversation about the festival's ninth year, its new home at Art Hub Studios in New Cross, and the growing movement to celebrate and protect London's urban trees. Key topics The origins of the Urban Tree Festival, growing out of the GLA's London Tree Week in 2017. The festival's growth during lockdown from a three-day weekend to a nine-day programme. The transition to a Community Interest Company (CIC) in December 2024. This year's first-ever physical base at Art Hub Studios, New Cross. The Urban Forest art exhibition with 65+ submissions. Paul's Tree Hunting walks in North and South London. Peter Coles' always-sold-out mulberry tree walks. Community Stewardship of Trees panel discussion at Camelford House, 13 May. The Grapefruit Tree heritage walk in Battersea. The Happy Man Tree film screening in Vauxhall. Partnerships with the Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities, City of London Corporation, and Street Trees for Living. Goldsmiths University student internship programme. Events for City of London housing estate residents with Age UK. International and online events reaching beyond London. Fruit tree harvesting and the London National Park City training programme. The dream of a borough-based festival model for the 10th anniversary. Self-guided tree walk resources including Go Jauntly, Tree Talk and Footways. Tree-themed meditations opening and closing the festival with Mel Sutton. Urban Tree Festival: urbantreefestival.org Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

    37 min
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Do London Differently is a podcast series hosted by London National Park City Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling. Have have relaunched in 2025 with a new format - sharing how Londoners are making the city Greener, Healthier and Wilder.

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