I steeled myself yesterday for a heavy morning at Ministry of Stories, volunteering as a writing mentor for 8-year-old inner city kids in Hoxton, the southern end of Hackney that almost meets the City. I needn’t have bothered; the children of Whitmore School were wonderful. Ministry of Stories follows in the same mould as San…
Author: Simon Cole
‘Sounds of Hackney’ on Urban Vignettes
Urban Vignettes is a new website which captures the essence of cities all across the world. This week’s theme is sounds and they asked if Hackney Tours would like to contribute something about this diverse borough. Here’s the piece on the Urban Vignettes website. It starts one way, but finishes in another. Hackney: it’s not…
Sport suffers by the Lee as Olympic security zone expands
It’s reasonable to suggest that to make a global spectacle omelette, you need to crack a few eggs. The London 2012 Olympics will be one mightily large dish, presented on a multimedia platter and sampled by some 4bn across the world. But when the Games mean the loss of your own amenities, it leaves a…
Hackney Tours on France 24 Olympic Report
This report from France 24 last week opens with yours truly and goes on to ask some good questions about what is being done for local residents before – and pertinently after – the Games: France 24: 100 Days to Go
NEXT ‘NEVER MIND THE ‘LIMPIKS HERE’S HACKNEY’ WALKING TOUR
“NEVER MIND THE ‘LIMPIKS HERE’S HACKNEY” WALKING TOUR, AS SEEN IN GUARDIAN ONLINE: Sat 21 & 28 Apr; 5 May 2.30pm Hackney Wick Rail 2hrs; ends at Olympic Park View Tube (Pudding Mill Lane DLR) £10 (£8 concs) in advance (book here) or £12/£10 on the day. It’s huge, it’s in Hackney
Redbridge Book Festival: Around the World in 80 Books
Like travel? Like books? These are the good people of Oxygen Books who publish the superb city-lit/city-pick series. Mind you, I would say that, I’m in the Berlin & Dublin editions 🙂 See you at Wanstead Library 24th April! http://www2.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/news_and_events/events/2012/april_2012/around_the_world_in_80_books.aspx
Run Dem Crew & Berlin Half Marathon: A Running History Lesson
When I heard my running partners and East London legends Run Dem Crew were heading to one of my favourite cities to complete today’s Berlin Half Marathon, I had to write something
Good Gym: Mission Possible 2
On Monday I got another chance to lead a Good Gym mission, this time on my own turf in Hackney where I lead my walking/running/cycling tours. With 12 volunteers we headed north from Bethnal Green and up to N16
Hackney Tours Makes Guardian Newspaper Again
We’re in the Guardian again, this time leading a Good Gym mission. If you don’t know them, it’s two guys with a fantastic community initiative pairing runners with the vulnerable and isolated. And once a month, we run somewhere and do a good deed in the community. It’s great fun and very rewarding. Find out…
Walking Tour of London 2012 Olympic Park as seen in Guardian newspaper
NEVER MIND THE ‘LIMPIKS WALKING TOUR, AS SEEN IN GUARDIAN ONLINE: Sat 10 & 24 March 12pm Hackney Wick Rail 1.5-2hrs; ends at Olympic Park View Tube (Pudding Mill Lane DLR) £10 (£8 concs) in advance (book here) or £12/£10 on the day It’s huge, it’s in Hackney
NEVER MIND THE ‘LIMPIKS WALKING TOUR SAT, AS SEEN IN GUARDIAN ONLINE
The walking tour we gave the Guardian newspaper is now online, and we’re running the tour this Saturday, so come on down and check it out! NEVER MIND THE ‘LIMPIKS WALKING TOUR, AS SEEN IN GUARDIAN ONLINE: Sat 25th Feb, 11am Hackney Wick Rail 1.5-2hrs; ends at Olympic Park View Tube (Pudding Mill Lane DLR)…
Steamy Stepney Valentines: Hackney Tours Goes Guerilla Gardener to Lead Good Gym
There’s a cutting edge project in Tower Hamlets that’s been pairing runners with isolated people in the community for over a year now. Once a month – to publicise their innovative scheme – the Good Gym guys organise a group running session that incorporates a good deed somewhere in the borough, or sometimes neighbouring Hackney….
Hackney Tours: East LDN Creative Exploration 