Issue 3 - London

IT’S ALL ABOUT LONDON

 

I’ve been living in London for just over 3 years now. My English husband lured me over from New York City and though I by no means can claim I’ve cracked it, from my experience of living here and after all of the research we put into this issue, I can now say I know a few things to be true about London.

 

1. It is not ‘just like New York City only with a British accent.’

 

2. The food is infinitely better than any reputation (good or bad) I’ve heard it has.

 

3. The London we see on TV and read about in the newspapers is completely different from the city that I live and work in.

 

4. It takes a long time to get to know it, just like the Londoners who live in it.

 

Though it isn’t war torn like Sarajevo or facing the huge economic crisis that Detroit is, London has its problems and the further we got on this issue, the deeper we found they run. But the thing that continually amazed us was the number of people with enough passion and energy to do something about them. Whether it is capturing moments on film from both sides of the recession, working at a youth club in the evenings after training for the Olympics, or setting up an organization to educate the residents of Peckham about local issues, these people work hard. Yes, London has some big challenges on its plate, but it also has the best people for the job, and these are the things we wanted to share.

 

When my friends and family come here to visit, my tour-guiding rarely leads them to the typical historic London spots. It’s because the expected route to Big Ben and Buckingham Palace doesn’t resemble the London I want to show them. What I hope we captured is something closer to the real essence of London and the people living here.

 

Erin Spens, Editor

Video

Short Documentary - A Tale of Two Craftsmen
Film-maker Miles Langley tells the story of two craftsmen reviving old London trades. Miles follows Jake Burger of The Ginstitute in Portobello Road and David A. Smith, an ornate glass maker who is creating mirrors for the gin museum.

Features

London, Nick Hornby

London, Nick Hornby

We were honoured to have multi award-winning author Nick Hornby introduce the London Issue. Hornby’s London is about an evolving city that easily remembers Dickens’ London but soon forgets the shop that shut down on the high street last week. From a very personal perspective, Hornby scrutinises the fleeting cultural memory of the city.
One Cut, Jon Ronson

One Cut, Jon Ronson

Jon Ronson’s moving contribution looks at the harsh spending cuts London has had to suffer at the hands of the government in recent years. Ronson follows the closure of Youthreach (a counselling service for 11-25 year olds) and the potentially life-threatening effects of such a cut.
Five Londons, D’arcy Doran & Elizabeth Dalziel

Five Londons, D’arcy Doran & Elizabeth Dalziel

Five Londons is a stunning photo essay that reveals some of the extraordinary communities hidden in the city. These authentic interviews and photos present a select view of five Nigerian, Muslim, Russian, Buddhist and Chinese subcultures that look as though they could have been taken a million miles away from London.
Lace up, Rob Boffard

Lace up, Rob Boffard

Rob Boffard looks at trainers and what London’s ubiquitous footwear can tell us about its people. Stealing glances into the clashing worlds of youth culture, serious collectors and office workers, the story of trainers and the people who wear them is shown to be as diverse as the story of London itself.
Landscapes of Innocence and Experience, Simon Roberts

Landscapes of Innocence and Experience, Simon Roberts

This stunning series contrasts photographs taken inside financial institutions in the City of London, alongside landscapes of protest where groups like Occupy London have been reacting against the austerity measures implemented by the coalition government.
Diana Athill, Erin Spens

Diana Athill, Erin Spens

Erin Spens speaks to publishing legend and author Diana Athill, 94, about life, London and Kindles. Throughout the interview, Diana’s grace and humour shine through and offers insights into a courageous and rich life, as well as revealing a few publishing secrets along the way. 
Top Deck, James Pearson-Howes & Will Robson-Scott

Top Deck, James Pearson-Howes & Will Robson-Scott

Life looks very different from the top of London’s double decker buses. This stunningly shot photo essay captures small but infinitely telling moments of London life, while Justin Quirk ponders how long we may have left to see the city from this angle.
Everybody Loves Conrad, Davey Spens

Everybody Loves Conrad, Davey Spens

Davey Spens met 400m athlete Conrad Williams during his training for this year’s Olympics. As he prepares to make his first appearance at the games at 29, we talk late-starters, role models, and riots.