The London Society Podcast
The London Society is an independent forum for all who love London, founded in 1912. The podcast translates and clarifies complex issues affecting London's built environment and the people who live and work there. It brings together voices to debate key questions about the future of the capital. Listeners can discover discussions on important matters facing the city and be part of the revival.
Episodes
Talk About London | Is London the Higher Education capital of the world?
In this episode, Leanne Tritton, The London Society and Dave Hill, OnLondon talk to Liz Hutchinson, CEO of London Higher, and discuss London's position as the global leader in higher education, the sector's impact on the city, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. She shares insights on international student attraction, the diversity of institutions, and the importance of collaboration for L
Talk About London | Inside the plans to transform Oxford Street
Oxford Street is recognised around the world and is often described as the UK's high street. More than just one of London's most famous streets, it is a global destination whose success shapes perceptions of the capital and the country as a whole.In this episode of Talk About London, Dave Hill, OnLondon and Leanne Tritton, The London Society are joined by Nabeel Khan, Chief Executive of the Oxford
London Explained | Making More Of The Thames
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
Talk About London | Civic Societies are in the news – what power do they have?
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, purp
Talk About London | After the Elections - How London Gets Back to Business
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 practical
Talk About London | Peter Murray OBE: The Man Who Would Be Mayor of London
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 60
Talk About London | London’s Looming Local Government Earthquake
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 councillor.T
Talk About London | V&A, Olympic Park and the importance of Culture
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 and
Talk About London | The Southbank Centre - London’s favourite public space turns 75
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
Talk about London | How did we get in this housing mess?
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
Talk About London | What does the rest of the world think about London?
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
Talk About London – Architecture and What Will London Look Like in the Future
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 scientists
Talk About London | Old Oak Common and Park Royal - London's Regeneration Giant
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,
Talk about London |The State of Our Streets
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, saf
Talk About London | Planning Basics
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 London
Talk About London| Can Wimbledon expansion make everyone a winner?
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 the
TFL - One of London's biggest landowners
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 pr
Talk About London: How Greenwich got its homeless out of B&B's
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
Talk About London: Earl’s Court Update - Regenerating a Lost London Landmark
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 pic
Talk About London: Who will build the homes we need?
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
Talk About London: Introduction to the podcast series
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
Talk About London: Oxford Street Pedestrianisation
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 pedestrianisation,
Talk About London: Chelsea Flower Show & The Green Revival in London
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.Charlotte, a
Talk About London: In Conversation with Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London
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 London
London Explained: Brick Lane
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 quar
Talk About London: The London Growth Plan
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 expert
London Explained: Central District Alliance
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, mark
London Explained: Marble Arch
Episode 3 of London Explained tells the story of Marble Arch, one of London’s loveliest historic monuments which has been marooned on a roundabout at the western end of Oxford Street, severed from the park it once formed an entrance to and disconnected from its regal past. But now big plans are afoot to restore the arch to its former glory, make it the focal point of a tranquil new public space an
London Explained: Fleet Street Quarter
Episode 2 of London Explained takes a deep-dive into the Fleet Street Quarter, examining what makes this part of London so historically important and the huge impact that the pandemic has had on local businesses. The times they are a-changin’ and so Dave Hill has conducted a series of interviews that reveal some of the new projects that are underway to bring a bit of magic back to Fleet Street. Th
London Explained: Earls Court
Episode 1 of the London Society's new podcast, London Explained, will investigate ideas for regenerating Earls Court, a place of legend in inner west London. Little has been achieved beyond the flattening of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which gave the area much of its life and character. Now, a new development company with a new approach is putting a new plan together. It says it wants
Georgia Gould - the 2023 Banister Fletcher Lecture
The live recording of Cllr Georgia Gould's Banister Fletcher Lecture, given to an audience of 300 at RIBA in Portland Place.The chair of London Councils and leader of Camden sets out a powerful agenda for change ranging from drawing on the strengths of communities to transforming relationships with national government.In her 50-minute address Cllr Gould sets out a range of imaginative, already-eme
The Future of the West End
London’s West End, so vital to the capital and the country, took a huge battering from Covid-19. But it is recovering slowly and also adapting to changes brought about and accelerated by the pandemic. Dave Hill, London Society trustee and editor of On London, went into town and spoke to three people about the new West End that is emerging: John McRae of architects Orms, designers of the radical ne
Love Letters to London 2022
Listen to the winners and runners-up entries from the first Love Letters to London writing competition organised by The London Society.There were nearly 500 entries from all ages and from all around the globe, writing on the theme of "recovery and resilience", a celebration of the capital as it emerged from lockdowns.We’re biased, but we believe London is the greatest city in the world. It is the
East Bank Story
A new powerhouse for innovation, creativity and learning on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 'East Bank' is a unique collaboration between world-leading universities, arts and cultural institutions that will transform this part of east London.In this first podcast from The London Society, Dave Hill talks about the development and meets some of the people involved in the vision. Hosted on Acast. See a
"Cities Need Slums"
Broadcaster Robert Elms gives The London Society's Banister Fletcher Lecture"The poor, the marginal, the young, the creative and the bohemian are the lifeblood of urban life, but they are being excluded, expelled, exiled from our great urban centres by the process of making everything luxury, exclusive, designed and desirable.We must desist from ‘developing' every area to within an inch of its lif
