The Tower of London has watched over the city for nearly a millennium. If you are a priceless Jewel, the Tower is your protector. To countless of the city’s accused, a captor.

Royals, regals, religious, and rogues. The Tower has seen them all.

Many have been famous, and many more have been lost to history.

Holding in all of these secrets is a challenge for the Tower, and, late at night, after the tourists have gone, perhaps the fortress wants to release some of its tension. Perhaps some former tower residents, want to stand as witnesses and keep memories - even ghastly memories - alive.

In this episode we share stories of two lesser known Tudor ghosts, and we bump into some more along the way.

Take a look at our SHOW NOTES for images, sources, and more.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how we deal with vampires in old London Town,’. - Ben Aaronovitch in Rivers of London

We start this episode in the London neighborhood of Highgate. It’s famous cemetery, exuding Victorian design and extravagance, is the setting for our first story, about a potential paranormal experience and the long term metaphysical feud that resulted.

We’ll delve into mainstream horror cinema of the 1950s and 60s from London’s own Hammer Films, with special emphasis on its vampiric offerings.

In Dracula, Bram Stoker’s count moved far and wide around the city. We’ll trace his footsteps and learn hidden coding to the novel’s London locations.

What’s a modern vampire to do in the city? We highlight some haunts for those interested in exploring the city as a creature of the night.

And, as intro, we share a brief memorial to our late, beloved pod-pup, Boo.

Photos, links and more at our SHOW NOTES here.

Until very recently, only London held the distinction of hosting the Summer Olympics three times, more than any other city in the world. The Games in London have been pivotal, memorable, and marked by very significant historical context, beginning with the early 20th-century growth of the modern Olympics in 1908, to the intense symbolism of post-war recovery in 1948, and finally the modern legacy of the 2012 Games.

In this episode, we are stepping back in time to explore all three London Olympiads. We will take a look at some of the great athletes and notable moments of the Games, but our focus will more deeply center on the symbiotic relationship
of London to the Olympics. For better or worse, depending on the perspective, this global spectacle of sport has definitely made a permanent imprint on the city; at the same time, London has absolutely made a lasting imprint on the modern games - arguably more than any other city in the world.

Ready to run, swim, and jump into London Olympic history with us? Follow along with our show notes, and visit Yesterday’s London Times on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more information, images, sources, and fun!

In this episode, Jen and Mares take a moment to reflect on their journey as podcasters, and take a look back at episodes in their catalogue that both examine and celebrate London over time during the hottest months of the year. For both new listeners and veterans of the community alike, there’s something for everyone this summer in the city. We will highlight:

• virtual walking tours of past episodes, featuring the East end as sung in “Oranges & Lemons” and a “choose your own adventure” style romp through time and place in London
• the challenges of summers past, particularly during the plague and blight of the summer of 1858
• joy expressed through summertime pomp and celebration, with a focus on jubilees of the past as well as the legacy of Pride in the city
• the vibrancy, innovation, and wonder of the Swinging London summers of the 1960s
• holiday journeys outside the city, from medieval pilgrimages to Butlin’s Holiday Camps

This episode has it all: bougie soirées, fish mongers, epidemics, sewer systems, Victorian plant manias, Mary Quant, Mr Teezy Weezy, Gay’s the Word bookstore, Billy Butlin and more! These are just some of the people and places that have triggered our curiosity and given us hope as we’ve explored their place and relevance within London history. We couldn’t be happier or more humbled that YOU, the YLT community, have joined us on this ride for the last three years. Cheers to you, and cheers to summer!

For your convenience, links to each episode discussed and its show notes are pulled together in our SHOW NOTES.

Mares and Jen have enjoyed playing a game of luck called “Underground Roulette.” The game is easy to play. Just select a tube stop at random, keep a curious mind, and hit the streets! It’s an engaging way to get a sense of place and all that the city offers.
But, what if we could add the dimension of time, seeing not only the neighborhood as it is, but as it was?

In this episode, we explore the underground stops with stories involving the theme of luck.
London: a city where fame and fortune may await, given talent, drive, privilege, connections, and sometimes it comes down to luck.

Our three stories feature:

• horseshoes, normally associated with good luck, but not this time,
• counteracting the bad luck of the number 13, and,
• when what seems like bad luck can be the best fortune yet.

Along the way, we’ll visit an iconic location synonymous with luxury and spend time with some of the most famous people in modern history.
Follow along on our SHOW NOTES. You’ll find photos, recordings, sources, and ways to find us.
Enjoy playing Underground Roulette. With a little luck, you’ll have a lot of fun!

Wildlife on the Tube: it’s not just on the Northern Line at night. It’s everywhere. Throughout the Underground, flora and fauna show up intentionally - and unintentionally - in the most surprising places. In this episode, we will:

• explore the gardens maintained voluntarily by TfL employees
• discuss the history of the London Underground In Bloom competition
• learn about a subspecies of mosquito that dwells in the Underground tunnels
• meet pigeons who seem to intentionally and intelligently use the Tube to navigate the city
• examine the tough lives of Underground mice, whose reality is a stark contrast to their cozy portrayal in popular culture

In addition, we will:

• ponder how the city would be different if the Tube had never come to fruition
• ask tough questions about the safety of air quality on the Tube
• compare and contrast the impact of public and private transportation methods on the environment in general
• look at steps taken by TfL and the City of London to make the Tube safer for employees, patrons, and the environment

The impact of the Underground on the city of London is indisputable. But how deeply does the system impact the ecosystem of the city as a whole? Join us for a journey into the natural world that adapts, survives, and sometimes even thrives within this human made modern marvel that is the London Underground.

See our SHOW NOTES for photos, videos, links, sources, and more.

“Is it worth anything to you, guv’nor?”

It’s boots on the street in city centre as we pinball through time … from the 1600s, to 1912, to current day. We’ll think and wonder about how unknown treasures might exist even in the heart of an urban area.

Along the way we’ll …

• park ourselves in Cheapside, and learn of its history,
• shine a light on the work of a group of navvies, who excavated below the streets as railroads, underground trains, and construction projects transformed the cityscape,
• experience the thrill of uncovering a buried treasure, and gape in awe at its contents,
• consider the ownership of found objects,
• meet George Fabian “Stoney Jack” Lawrence, who had the right skill set for a specific period,
• explore theories about the hoard: Who hid it? Why didn’t they ever return for it?
• peek into the world of modern day detectorists

The SHOW NOTES are an absolutely must as you enjoy this episode. You’ll see photos of the hoard, links, maps, videos, links to stories, and of course, our sources. So much to discover. Treasures await.

Providing up to 5 million passenger journeys a day, the London Underground is integral to the city's infrastructure. It's impossible to imagine how the city would function without it.
But why would something built for purpose become a source of admiration and entertainment? A Transport for London style guide provides powerful evidence: "Every Underground station should include at least one moment of delight and surprise, to improve customers' journeys and the working environment for staff."
A-ha!
Let's meet some Tube superfans.
Jen tells a story about Underground trainspotters and highlights the Tube in pop culture, while Mares looks at people who attempt the citywide Tube Challenge.
We'll think about the nature of challenge, the history of tube spotting and racing challenges, and some of the unique and engaging personalities for whom the Tube (and Overground) truly is a constant delight and surprise.
See our SHOW NOTES for photos, links, sources, and more.