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Do Not Alight Here: Walking London's Lost Underground and Railway Stations
Abandoned tunnels, derelict stations, old trackbeds and much more; all are included in "Do Not Alight Here", an entertaining and informative book that guides the reader through London's many remaining disused Underground and main line railway structures. They can be viewed in a series of 12 guided walks and short tube and train journeys, devised and investigated by the author, each of which takes in a sample of these forgotten and fascinating remains, with most of the entries illustrated with recently taken colour photographs.
142 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 29, 2017
Great book of walks around London taking in lost stations and railways
July 31, 2015
Review Title: Here isn't there any more
A month into my business assignment to London I have learned to love the Underground and started to learn to ride it like a local (I know which car to ride to be closest to the "Way Out" at my home station; I walk instead of stand on the escalators; I slap my top up fare card on the reader and stroll on through the gates and around the tourists trying to figure out how to get through). And I've started to learn a little more about the history of the many lines and stops that make up this first and most famous urban underground rail system. To that end I bought Ben Pedrone's small book about stations that used to be but aren't.
The history he gives is interesting, but I was disappointed that the 12 different walks he describes are not provided with maps. It is appropriate that a book about railway stations in London would be based on walks because for all the Underground stops in London (there are over 400) it is still a pedestrian city. My journey to my primary work site here is about 4 miles, according to Google Maps. Even riding the Underground I still end up walking 1.25 miles of that.
London is also an ancient city with streets that don't follow straight lines and meet at right angle intersections. Away from the Thames, which provides a west-to-east boundary that divides north from south and provides a reliable compass, navigating the maze of streets is difficult even with a map. Trying to follow these walks without a map just by following the written directions would be nigh impossible.
The other thing to know about London is that it is a city under constant reconstruction, hence the several railway stations that have been abandoned, rebuilt, repurposed, moved or torn down that Pedroche describes. The view of central London from my hotel is a skyline of construction cranes interrupted by the occasional building. This means that walking directions may be impossible to follow as streets and sidewalks are closed for reconstruction or completely rerouted. Any book published four years ago like this one would be out of date in many of its walking directions. It would be wise to check online before setting off on foot.
The pocketable size of this book makes it convenient to carry, but the lack of maps and four year old walking directions make carrying it to carry out the walks a bit risky. Walker beware.
A month into my business assignment to London I have learned to love the Underground and started to learn to ride it like a local (I know which car to ride to be closest to the "Way Out" at my home station; I walk instead of stand on the escalators; I slap my top up fare card on the reader and stroll on through the gates and around the tourists trying to figure out how to get through). And I've started to learn a little more about the history of the many lines and stops that make up this first and most famous urban underground rail system. To that end I bought Ben Pedrone's small book about stations that used to be but aren't.
The history he gives is interesting, but I was disappointed that the 12 different walks he describes are not provided with maps. It is appropriate that a book about railway stations in London would be based on walks because for all the Underground stops in London (there are over 400) it is still a pedestrian city. My journey to my primary work site here is about 4 miles, according to Google Maps. Even riding the Underground I still end up walking 1.25 miles of that.
London is also an ancient city with streets that don't follow straight lines and meet at right angle intersections. Away from the Thames, which provides a west-to-east boundary that divides north from south and provides a reliable compass, navigating the maze of streets is difficult even with a map. Trying to follow these walks without a map just by following the written directions would be nigh impossible.
The other thing to know about London is that it is a city under constant reconstruction, hence the several railway stations that have been abandoned, rebuilt, repurposed, moved or torn down that Pedroche describes. The view of central London from my hotel is a skyline of construction cranes interrupted by the occasional building. This means that walking directions may be impossible to follow as streets and sidewalks are closed for reconstruction or completely rerouted. Any book published four years ago like this one would be out of date in many of its walking directions. It would be wise to check online before setting off on foot.
The pocketable size of this book makes it convenient to carry, but the lack of maps and four year old walking directions make carrying it to carry out the walks a bit risky. Walker beware.
January 13, 2014
For someone with just basic knowledge about London streets and rails but huge interest to find more (like me), this book is a good starter to point out what you can find practically everywhere. I just returned from London before I read the book, so for a while I have no possibility to go and look the places myself. Still this is a good appetizer for imagination. The information content is mainly just stating the facts, but thanks to this the small book has lots of them.
February 15, 2023
In 1981 I was at London University and several of us decided to travel out to commemorate the last day of service for the London Underground station at Blake Hall. It was way out in the country, one of those speculative stations built in anticipation of it becoming part of "Metroland". Also here is Aldwych, again one I recall as it was near my college (LSE). There are also homages to the British Museum stop and many others, gone but not forgotten.
March 21, 2024
Very good, made me want to walk these routes which I will be doing at some point. I bought a clearance copy with some errors so unfortunately I have no idea what route 11 involves but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.
October 24, 2019
Only for those who are really REALLY interested in trains. Of only passing interest to walkers.
March 26, 2022
An interesting book about the lost stations with some great walks. Could have done with some maps for the walks though.
December 25, 2024
A great little book, with lots of detail of how to walk these areas and up to date colour photos. At the end is included bus/train directions.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews