London’s researchers revealing new histories, secrets and fresh perspectives on the city.

Friday 17 April – Sunday 19 April 2015 |
Across London | tickets £5.00 | 

We may feel that we know London pretty well but what do we really know about the stories and experiences hidden around the city? The Culture Capital Exchange (TCCE) is delighted to host its second annual walking weekend, Walking the City, with several of its members’ academics sharing their unique knowledge and passion about the capital in a series of walks.

Walking the City presents an eclectic range of unusual and inspiring walks taking place between 17^th and 19^th April in areas throughout the city including: King’s Cross, St. James’s, Bloomsbury, Mile End, Whitechapel, Stratford and Harlesden. Subjects covered are diverse, ranging from the role that London’s Gentlemen’s Clubs have played in Literature to the changing nature and landscape of King’s Cross neighbourhood to the history of the shared South Asian and Jewish presence in London’s East End.

Professor Jeremy Strong from University of West London will lead the leisurely stroll through London’s club-land. He says, “My principal research area is literary adaptation, though I also write about food and culture. This walk relates to research I undertook on ‘James Bond: International Man of Gastronomy’. Strong is also the author of ‘Educated Tastes: Food, Drink and Connoisseur Culture’.”

Jennifer Daley from King’s College London will lead a walk to unearth the stories behind some of key female figures in the historic neighbourhood of Bloomsbury. Jennifer says: “I am passionate about educating people on the remarkable history of Bloomsbury and this walk incorporates everything that I enjoy: history, story-telling and interaction with people.”

Evelyn Wilson, Director, The Culture Capital Exchange and Curator of Walking the City adds, “Walking is an activity that so many of us enjoy and there is always so much to discover about our city, its history, identity and how we inhabit it today. Our research communities are continually at the forefront of revealing and generating fresh and compelling knowledge about so many facets of our city, past and present. Walking the City therefore acts as a bit of a lever to get some of that amazing information and insight out of the lecture theatre and onto the streets, bringing to wider public attention some of the outstanding work taking place in our universities.”

Each walk lasts between 60 to 90 minutes and costs just £5, with bookings available online.

Press contact:

Neha Matkar | neha@tcce.co.uk | 0207 420 9444

About The Cultural Capital Exchange:

TCCE is a well-established company that specialises in developing projects in the fertile ground between academic research and the cultural and creative sectors in London. It promotes the exchange of its members’ knowledge and expertise with the capital’s business, cultural and creative sectors.  Its annual programme of activity includes The Inside Out Festival which takes place every October (www.insideoutfestival.org.uk)

TCCE’s members are: University of the Arts London, City University London, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, King’s College London, Kingston University London, Middlesex University London, Queen Mary University of London, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Holloway University of London, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and University of West London.

TCCE website / Facebook / Twitter

PROGRAMME OF WALKS:

Friday 17^th April

• 11am – 12.30
  King’s Cross, A Changing Landscape: A Walk Through History
  Walk Guide: Andrew Breer, King’s College London
• 2pm – 3pm
  London Clubs in Literature: A leisurely stroll through London’s club-land
  Walk Guide: Professor Jeremy Strong, University of West London

Saturday 18^th April

• 11am – 12.30
  Gentrification: Changing the Face(s) of the Harrow Road
  Walk Guide: Ekua McMorris, TECHNE

• 2pm – 3pm
  A Sensory Walk Through Self-Perception: re-discover your own sensory “self”
  Walk Guide: Dr Fatima Felisberti, Kingston University London

Sunday 19^th April

• 11am – 12.15
  The Women of Bloomsbury: Walk the Historic Neighbourhood of Female Figures and Notable Neighbours
  Walk Guide: Jennifer Daley, King’s College London

• 2pm – 3.30pm
  Whitechapel Encounters: Tracing Migrant Lives in the Pre-War East End
  Walk Guides: Dr Rehana Ahmed and Dr Nadia Valman, Queen Mary, University of London and Dr Sumita Mukherjee, King’s College London