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Marble Arch to Edgware

First transmitted in 1968, John Betjeman takes a journey from Marble Arch to Edgware talking about buildings of interest and reciting four specially written poems along the way.

First transmitted in 1968, the poet John Betjeman goes on a journey from Marble Arch to Edgware reciting four specially written poems: 'How beautiful the London air,' 'Ho for the Kilburn High Road,' 'The sisters Progress and Destruction dwell' and 'One after one rise these empty consecutives'. Along the way he pauses at places of interest such as the hidden Marble Arch police station from where, since 1851, a hundred policemen could lie in wait ready to emerge at the first hint of trouble. After bemoaning the loss of the Metropolitan Theatre of Variety to make way for a car park and reminiscing about the 1920s air pageants from Hendon Aerodrome, Betjeman arrives "at Edgware, a Middlesex small town that was."

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27 minutes

Last on

Wed 31 Jan 1968 22:45
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One

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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four London Collection

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four London Collection
This programme is part of a collection of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programmes celebrating the people and places of London. Available online now.Β 

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Betjeman Collection

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Betjeman Collection
Rediscover the documentaries that made Betjeman a much-loved figure on British television.


About Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Collection programmes

Programmes are selected, in part, for their historical context and reflect the broadcast standards and attitudes of their time, which may not accord to some current Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ editorial guidelines. We aim to select programmes which can be shown in their entirety but in some cases edits are required.

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    Planes, Trains and Automobiles

  • Sir John Betjeman

    Join Sir John Betjeman on his poetic journey to discover the essence of England's soul.

  • London

    A collection of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programmes celebrating the people, places and spaces of London.

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