The Alternative Guide to London’s Boroughs

Central London had never seen anything like it; hollowed out and empty, the tourists were gone, the offices shut. The throng of a global city - a centre of commerce, trade and finance - dulled and quietened as we all locked-down in our homes. This bunkering down in the face of a pandemic shrunk our worlds as our daily lives and routines were carried out within a considerably smaller radius. Months were spent within a few streets and parks, Londoners limited to their boroughs. In light of this, rather than the traditional festival guide, this year's book - The Alternative Guide to the London Boroughs - brings together 33 essays and five highlights from each borough. But does London really need another guide and what’s so alternative about this one?

For this episode of the Open City podcast, we speak to the guest-editor of the book, critic and author, Owen Hatherly, who talks about why this guide and its focus on the extraordinariness of the more ordinary parts of London, is a rare find when talking about the capital’s architecture. We discuss pertinent topics such as London before, during and after lockdown; the disparity between how London is imagined and viewed, compared to how it is lived and experienced across the boroughs; and the unique spatial configurations of this city that shapes the lives of Londoners.

The episode is a refreshing and optimistic take on London and Londoners, why so many people build a life here and the architecture that supports and enriches this.

To listen and subscribe go to Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or check out open-city.org.uk/podcast for more information!

Click here to buy The Alternative Guide to London