点评:We went on another fabulous walk with Jane around Hoxton recently. We're Londoners but had never explored this part of the city before, so Jane's explanation of how the area was settled and the numerous small businesses that had originally populated the streets was fascinating.
We sought out ghost signs (always fun, even though it must look intensely weird to passers by) and attempted deciphering the more faded ones. Jane explained that most are located in easy sight lines for the railways passing them by, or near major road intersections. Lots of the old businesses specialised in furniture or musical instrument cases ( such as the housing for pianos) and Jane has spent ages tracking down various family relationships and the history of them setting up and expanding as they became more prosperous.
The buildings are wonderful and the small streets are very atmospheric and we even discovered remains of some of the wooden cobblestones used to dampen the sound of the cart wheels.
We have been going on London walks for years and Jane is by far our favourite guide. Her walks are extremely well researched and she always brings the history of London to life, as well as finding amazing human stories to tell. She is very welcoming and her tours usually show us something we'd never seen before or even noticed.
Most walks are 2 hours and always start and finish in areas with good transport links.
Highly recommended, especially if you want a slight quirky, not formulaic, tour. There is always a subject to appeal to even the most jaded Londoner!
翻译:最近,我们和简一起在霍克斯顿进行了一次精彩的徒步旅行。我们是伦敦人,但之前从未探索过这座城市的这一区域,所以简对这片区域的发展历程以及最初遍布街头巷尾的众多小商铺的讲解让我们着迷。
我们寻找着那些“幽灵招牌”(虽然它们在路人看来一定非常怪异,但这总是很有趣),并试图辨认那些褪色的招牌。简解释说,大多数招牌都位于铁路沿线,方便铁路司机看到,或者靠近主要路口。许多老商铺都专营家具或乐器箱(例如钢琴箱),简花了很长时间研究这些商铺的家族关系以及它们如何随着生意兴隆而建立和扩张的历史。
这里的建筑很漂亮,小街巷也很有韵味,我们甚至还发现了一些曾经用来降低车轮噪音的木质鹅卵石的遗迹。
多年来,我们一直参加伦敦徒步旅行,而简无疑是我们最喜欢的向导。她的徒步路线经过精心研究,总能生动地展现伦敦的历史,并挖掘出许多精彩的人文故事。她热情好客,她的导览通常能带我们领略一些从未见过甚至从未注意到的风景。
大多数徒步路线时长为两小时,起点和终点都位于交通便利的区域。
强烈推荐,尤其适合那些想要体验别具一格、不落俗套的旅行的人。即使是最见多识广的伦敦人,也能在她的路线中找到共鸣!