TWISTS & TRANSFORMATION: Dicken’s London Borough.

Tonight TWISTS & TRANSFORMATION: Dicken’s London Borough.

Meet at John Harvard Library, near Borough tube at 6pm, to finish near London Bridge 8pm

This walk through the streets of Old Borough, follows the ‘Twists and Transformations’ of Dickens’s early childhood, revisiting early Victorian London South of the River. By encountering the traumatic twists in Dickens’s early years, as he took his first tentative steps into this new city of opportunity, we reveal something of his restless spirit, manifest in his compulsive night-walking and his feelings of ‘houselessness’.

We imagine again the old ground of the Borough, around the debtors prison of Marshalsea and in the places Dickens frequented: the quiet graveyard of St George the Martyr, the bustling fruit and veg market, Horsemonger’s Lane Jail, and Old London Bridge. These places where his imagination grew, fed by the energy and incident of this rapidly growing city. We become aware of his acquaintance with Victorian ‘low life’, and with the frequent twists in life, those unexpected hardships. These grand themes and encounters that he later transforms into some of the most vivid characters and plots in London’s celebrated literature: Little Dorrit, Oliver Twist, Nancy, Bill Sikes. By exploring these concealed aspects of Victorian London we come face to face with the inspirational back stories that gave birth to Dickens’s extraordinary fiction.

Transport to Start: Borough Tube (Northern Line)  Buses: 35, 40, 133, 343. C10

John Harvard Library John Harvard Library Entrance – 211 Borough High Street  SE1 1JA  is 1 minute from the tube exit across the junction and by St George's Church.
Edited Walk as  part of Southwark Hidden Stories Walks in partnership with CoolWalks.  Tel: 020 77012696        

Rebels & Revolutionaries Friday 26 August 2.30 - 4.30pm.

CoolTan Arts CoolWalks invites you to join us on a free guided walk around Kennington and beyond to learn about the area's rebellious past and some of its famous revolutionaries.  Learn new things, make friends, get fit and have fun.

Start at Brandon Library at 2:30pm and finishes near Lambeth Palace.

Dates: 26 August 2016 starting at 2.30pm

The walk is approximately 2 ½ miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing. 

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please check the blog

contact Charlie on 020 7701 2696, or via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.

Changing Walworth

CHANGING WALWORTH 

CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S LONDON

CoolWalks free guided walk explores Walworth’s changing landscape through the lens of Charlie Chaplins’ extraordinary childhood. The walk navigates the streets round Elephant and explores the hidden childhood stories of South London’s greatest Cinema star. Beginning with the birth of cinema we follow Charlie Chaplin before he transformed himself into the little Tramp with the swinging cane; tramping carefully through the streets of SE17 we encounter Chaplin in East Street market, in the back streets and at London’s unique Cinema Museum, housed now in Lambeth’s old poorhouse, where he and his family were committed in the 1890’s. Then the walk detours off the Walworth Road to follow in the footsteps of his music hall family.

In its heyday the area had nearly fifty music halls presenting all manner of acts. But as Charlie grew the golden age of music-hall faded, metamorphosing into the new-fangled picture houses; as films superseded live acts. Exploring the little tramps origins, his rise from rags to riches, this walk traces and recreates something of the up and down fortunes of South London’s Piccadilly Circus.

We start at East Street Library, (168-170 Old Kent Road, SE1 5TY) at 6pm and finish about 7.30pm at the Elephant and Castle.

The walk is approximately 3 miles and is suitable for all walkers.  We would ask participants to bring a bottle of water, wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please check: coolwalksblog.blogspot.co.uk or contact Charlie on 020 7701 2696, or via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.

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CoolTan Arts SHS & CoolWalk Strange People

6pm Tuesday 28 June - meeting at Stockwell Tube Duration of walk: 2 hours (6pm-8pm) Finish at 8pm by Brixton Tube

Strange People traces post-war Brixton’s other histories through the changing and changeable gaze of the legendary David Bowie. Born just after the Second World War, David Jones spent the first 6 years of his life here, gently soaking up the faded glamour of South London’s best known shopping hub. His early childhood dreams were fed by his half-brothers love of avant-garde jazz, and fostered by his father’s love of popular entertainments.

While David Bowie decamped to the suburbs with his parents, young Terry stayed on in Brixton, estranged from his stepfather, battling his divided self; becoming a constant reminder to his younger half-brother David, of the other side of London and its people; the strange and the uncanny with all its changing and changeable faces.

This walk will trace the places both brothers would have known in the 1950’s but also look at how the area has changed and continues to change ‘identity’, from the early 20^th Century, through post-war decades until the present. Exploring the faded opulence, popular culture and the hidden stories present in the streets and markets… Asking now, what future for Bowie’s Other Brixton?

At the end of the walk, you can stay for an evening meal in one of Brixton’s vibrant covered markets.

The walk is approximately 2 miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.  

Meet at exit Stockwell Tube Station, London Underground, Clapham Rd, London, SW9 9AE Stockwell Tube Northern Line or Buses 2; 50; 88; 155; 196; 333; 345


If you have any queries or would like any further information, 
check the blog coolwalksblog.blogspot.co.uk
contact Charlie on 020 7701 2696, 
via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com 
Or tweet @CoolWalks.

Peckham: Art, Literature & SE15's Green Spaces

CoolTan Arts CoolWalks welcomes you along on our free guided journey through Peckham's hidden rural and literary history and to discover SE15's amazing number of green and open spaces.  

Learn new things, make friends, get fit and have fun.

We start in Peckham Library at 10:30am and finish at the Rye, Peckham Rye around noon.

Date: Saturday 11th, June 2016

No need to book - just turn up.  The walk is approximately 3 miles and is suitable and accessible for all walkers.  We ask participants to bring a bottle of water and to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing. 


Peckham Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR
Bus: 12, 36, 37, 63, 78, 136, 171, 177, 197, 343, 345, 363, 381, 436, P12, P13  
Rail: Train to Peckham Rye

If you have any queries or would like any further information Charlie on 020 7701 2696, or via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.

Pictures ©Rob Larkin-Frost

Nunhead Library - Myths, legends and tall tales.

CoolTan Arts' CoolWalks welcomes you along on our free guided journey through Nunhead. 

Together we'll explore, discover and share the area's hidden myths, legends and tall stories taking in the amazing Nunhead Cemetery and the views from Honor Oak.  

Learn new things, make friends, get fit and have fun.

Start inside Nunhead Library, at 11am and finish at Honor Oak around 1pm.

• Friday, 27th May 2016

Nunhead Library, Gordon Road, SE15 3RW

Bus: P12, 78  

Train to Nunhead

The walk is approximately 4 miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and to bring plenty of water, sun cream and a sun hat - we are very optimistic! 

For more details, contact Rob Larkin-Frost on 020 7701 2696, by email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or Twitter @CoolWalks.

CoolTan Arts Eccentric Dulwich CoolWalk

Interested in London’s hidden histories?  Then join CoolTan Arts, CoolWalks, on their free guided public walks around all of Southwark.  We explore, discover and share Southwark’s rich history, outstanding architecture and the amazing stories of its residents down the years. 

May marks CoolWalk’s return to Dulwich, starting in Dulwich Library a legacy of Edward Passmore. From there, together, we’ll explore the rest of Dulwich’s rich history and the eccentric characters that have lived and been associated with this fascinating corner of Southwark. 

On this free guided walk we’ll look at the area’s architecture, the college, public art, the art gallery, its many parks and much more besides. 

Come along, it’s free - although donations to support CoolTan’s work are always welcome. Together we’ll learn new things, make friends, get fit, and have fun!

Starts inside Dulwich Library at 11:00am and finishes around 1pm

368 Lordship Lane
SE22 8NB

Bus: 12, 40, 176, 185, 197
Train: East Dulwich (then 40, 176, or 185)

Saturday, 14th May 2016 meeting inside Dulwich Library

The walk is approximately 3 miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.  Participants can leave at any-time. 

If you have any queries or would like any further information please contact Robert on 020 7701 2696, via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.

Camberwell's Freedom Fighters

CoolTan Arts CoolWalks invites you to join us on a free guided walk around Camberwell and beyond to learn about the area's links to freedom fighters of the past.  Learn new things, make friends, get fit and have fun.  Whether you know the area or not, CoolWalks encourages shared experience – add your local knowledge or discover something new!

Date: Friday 29th April 2016.

Start at Camberwell’s New Library at 11am and finishes at the Camberwell Green about 90 minutes later.

The walk is approximately 2 ½ miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.  Participants can leave at any-time.

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please check the blog

- coolwalksblog.blogspot.co.uk or contact Robert on 020 7701 2696, or via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.