The London Society Podcast

The latest episode in the London Explained series takes a look at the River Thames and asks if London is making the most of the waterway that gave it life - particularly the part of its north bank, where it flows past the Houses of Parliament and the Victoria Embankment. Could that section of the riverfront - and further east to Blackfriars and beyond - be made more attractive to Londoners and vis...

What role do civic societies really play in shaping London? Are they powerful defenders of local communities, or are they unfairly blamed for blocking the homes and infrastructure the capital desperately needs? In this episode of Talk About London , Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon are joined by architect and former RIBA President Ben Derbyshire to explore the history, pu...

London's local elections have reshaped the political map of the capital, bringing in new councillors, new administrations and new priorities. But what happens after the votes are counted? In this episode of Talk About London , Dave Hill, OnLondon and Leanne Tritton, The London Society are joined by Karen Alcock , one of London's most experienced public affairs professionals, to explore the practic...

The Mayor of London is one of the most important roles in the country - shaping how the city grows, lives and works. But is there another way to run London? In this episode of Talk About London , Peter Murray joins Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon to argue that London’s future hinges on something often overlooked: the built environment. With a housing crisis deepening and...

In this episode of Talk About London , the focus is on the upcoming council elections in London. Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon are joined by Professor Tony Travers CBE , Director of LSE London at the London School of Economics , and Dr Nick Bowes FRGS , Managing Director, Insight and Public Affairs at LCA , to unpack what’s at stake. Nick has served as a local councill...

Dave Hill from OnLondon and Leanne Tritton, The London Society talk to Tim Reeve, COO of the V&A , about how culture can shape the future of London—and why it matters for the city’s next generation of places. Drawing on the V&A’s work at East Bank in the Olympic Park, Tim shares how projects like the V&A East Museum and Storehouse are rethinking what a museum can be: open, accessible a...

London’s Southbank Centre isn’t just an iconic cultural landmark — it’s a living example of resilience, innovation, and community spirit. In this episode, Elaine Bedell, CEO of the Southbank Centre, reveals how this historic space is navigating today's funding crisis, shifting public priorities, and the urgent need for capital repairs. From pandemic survival strategies to celebrating 75 years of c...

In this episode of Talk About London, hosts Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon discuss the ongoing housing crisis in London with guest Rowan Moore, renown journalist, architecture critic and author. They explore the historical context of the crisis, the role of government in providing affordable housing, and the need for innovative solutions. The conversation emphasizes the...

In this episode of Talk About London, hosts Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon engage with Professor Greg Clark to explore the global perception of London. They discuss the city's historical significance, its challenges including Brexit and COVID, and the unique issues it faces compared to other major cities. The conversation also touches on London's reputation for crime an...

In this episode of Talk About London , Leanne Tritton, London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon talk with Muyiwa Oki , the youngest-ever President of the RIBA , about the evolution of architecture — and what London might look like in the future. They discuss whether the age of glass and steel is coming to an end, the rise of sustainable materials, and the collaboration between architects and scienti...

In this episode of Talk About London, Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon discuss the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation with its chair, Dame Karen Buck. The conversation covers the current state of the development, its significance for London's future, the importance of food production in Park Royal, the role of railway infrastructure, procurement partnerships,...

In this episode, hosts Leanne Tritton , Chair of The London Society , and Dave Hill , founder and editor of OnLondon, are joined by Nicholas Boys-Smith , Chair and founder of Create Streets . Together they explore the state of London’s streets — from rubbish and “street scars” to the vital role they play in health, community life, and civic pride — and discuss what can be done to make them cleaner...

Hosts Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill,   OnLondon , as they delve into the intricacies of London's planning system with planning expert Mike Kiely . Discover how planning impacts housing, infrastructure, and urban development in the capital city. This episode demystifies the planning process, explores the role of local councils, and discusses the influence of the Mayor of Lon...

Explore the future of world renown Wimbledon in this episode of "Talk About London." Hosts Dave Hill, OnLondon and Leanne Tritton, The London Society are joined by Heather Topel , Estate Director for the All England Club , to discuss the ambitious expansion plans that promise to transform the iconic venue. Discover how the development of 38 new grass courts and a 27-acre public park will enhance t...

In this episode of Talk About London, Leanne Tritton and Dave Hill's guest is Graeme Craig, the chief executive of Places for London , to discuss the evolution of Transport for London's (TfL) land management strategy. They explore the establishment of Places for London, its role in housing development, and the importance of joint ventures with commercial partners. Graeme shares insights on major p...

In this episode, Leanne Tritton and Dave Hill discuss the pressing issue of housing in London, focusing on Greenwich Council's successful strategies to reduce homelessness and reliance on temporary accommodation. They are joined by Leader of the Council, Cllr Anthony Okereke and Assistant Director Housing Needs and Tenancy, Shaun Flook, who share insights on the challenges faced during the pandemi...

In this episode of Talk About London , we return to one of the capital’s most talked-about regeneration projects – Earl’s Court. Once the site of a world-famous exhibition centre, the area has stood empty since 2015. But now, the Earls Court Development Company (ECDC ) is leading a new plan to bring life, jobs, homes and cultural energy back to this long-dormant corner of London. This conversation...

In this episode of Talk About London, Dave Hill, Editor and Publisher of OnLondon and Leanne Tritton, Chair of The London Society talk to Amos Simbo OBE and Dave Rogers about the challenges facing the construction sector in meeting the new targets for house building as well as the demands for commercial office space and infrastructure across London. Much rests on being able to attract young people...

In this episode, we discuss what we are trying to achieve with this podcast series about London and how plans and policies around the built environment shape our lives. Sometimes for better, sometimes not. We also learn hear from the co-hosts, Dave Hill and Leanne Tritton about their motivates for making the world of the built environment more interesting and easier to understand. You will also le...

Dave Hill, editor and publisher of  OnLondon.co.uk , and Leanne Tritton, chair of  The London Society , hear from their guest  Alexander Jan , a brilliant expert on the workings and economics of central London. Many plans have been made to solve the problems of London's famous Oxford Street, but not many have come to fruition or worked for long. Many have called for its pedestrianis...

In this episode of  TALK ABOUT LONDON , co-hosts  Dave Hill  ( OnLondon ) and  Leanne Tritton  (Chair,  The London Society ) are joined by award-winning landscape designer Charlotte Harris  to explore the growing momentum behind London’s green revival—and how one of Britain’s most beloved institutions, the  Chelsea Flower Show , sits at the heart of it. Char...

In episode 2 of Talk About London, Dave Hill, editor and publisher of OnLondon.co.uk , and Leanne Tritton, chair of The London Society , discover what Jules Pipe CBE does all day (clue: it's a lot), the difference last year's change of national government has made (clue: it's a big one), why urban planning is very, very complicated and what the chances are of a lot more homes getting built in Lond...

In the fifth episode of this series, Dave Hill explores Brick Lane, which runs through the heart of Spitalfields in the East End and has a special place in London's history. For centuries, the narrow street and its surrounding area has been a place of industry and of sanctuary for incomers from other parts of the world. In recent decades, this avenue has transformed into a creative and leisure qua...

The London Society and OnLondon.co.uk welcome you to the podcast series called  Talk About London  in which co-presenters Leanne Tritton, chair of the London Society, and Dave Hill, publisher and editor of On London, explore big themes about the capital’s built environment, including housing, transport, architecture, planning, culture and all else that goes with it with the help of exper...

In our fourth podcast, we explore the five different neighbourhoods (and their blurred boundaries) contained within the Central District Alliance, stretching from Clerkenwell to Tottenham Court Road. Presenter Dave Hill takes us on a journey through both the history and geography of the area which features a wealth of private and public spaces covering hundreds of years.  Religious orders, ma...