General sound map
Recordings of background atmospheres and incidental noises from all over London. Some form part of a sound grid series recorded at evenly-spaced points across the city, each marking the centre of a square on the map below.
| 1 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 21 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 8 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| 3 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 39 | 21 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 49 | 43 | 58 | 38 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 8 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 41 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |||||||
| 6 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 |
Above: graphic based on a daytime satellite image courtesy of the Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. Each red grid square is 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers across.
Winding St Annes clock Soho 2:52
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 17th August 2017
Time of day: 1.10 pm
Location: St Anne's Church, Dean Street, Soho.
Description: A local volunteer winds the clock mechanism in the tower of St Anne's Church. After the winding is done, the clock ticks steadily.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Many thanks to Tony Shrimpton of the Museum of Soho.
Peabody estate Old Pye Street 1:55
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 25 November 2015
Time of day: 7.30pm
Location: In the courtyard of the Peabody estate on Old Pye Street, Westminster.
Description: Airplane drone, a mother speaks to her child as they walk out of the estate, voices from inside the flats, a door is closed, sound of crockery being washed, a car approaches slowly and a man coughs.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Lancashire Court W1 1:20
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 25 November 2015
Time of day: 6pm
Location: Walking northwards through Lancashire Court towards Brook Street, Mayfair.
Description: Footsteps, noise of fume extractors, voices of passersby and diners sitting outside a restaurant, recorded music playing outside a cocktail bar.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Constance Fund fountain Green Park 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 6 April 2015
Time of day: 2.30pm
Location: By the Constance Fund fountain in Green Park near the tube station entrance.
Description: Constant trickle of water from the fountain, voices and footsteps of tourists congregating near it or passing through, sound of a coffee machine from a nearby stall.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Cheap hotel central London 3:30
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West Endf
Recording date: 19 March 2014
Time of day: Midnight
Location: Somewhere in London WC1.
Description: Ambience recorded at nighttime inside a bedroom in cheap central London hotel. A guest in the bedroom next door slams the door shut, traffic in the street below, muffled voices from the corridor, a clock chimes midnight.
Technical guff: ORTF stereo. 2 x Rode NT1A mics, MixPre-D preamp and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
National Gallery Room 32 7:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 13 February 2013
Time of day: 1.30pm
Location: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square
Description: Murmur of voices in several languages with some speakers more distinct as they move close by, footsteps, low constant rumble of air conditoning, doors slamming.
Technical guff: Stereo. 2 x Rode lavalier and mics and Tascam DR-680 recorder.
Recorded by: Jonathan Prior
Additional notes: Many thanks to Jonathan Prior for sharing these recordings. Visit his 12 Gates to the City website.
Cartwright Gardens 7:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 16 February 2013
Time of day: 4.20pm
Location: Cartwright Gardens, Bloomsbury.
Description: Aircraft drone, birdsong, sounds of a tennis match in progress close by, traffic.
Technical guff: Stereo. 2 x Rode lavalier mics and Tascam DR-680 recorder.
Recorded by: Jonathan Prior
Additional notes: Many thanks to Jonathan Prior for sharing these recordings. Visit his 12 Gates to the City website.
Bar Italia Soho 3:20
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 24 December 2012
Time of day: 2pm
Location: Bar Italia coffee bar, Dean Street, Soho.
Description: Atmosphere inside Bar Italia, one of the last old-school Italian coffee bars left in the West End. Voices of staff and customers, the radio plays in the background, continuous faint hiss from the espresso machine.
Technical guff: In-ear binaural stereo. Soundman OKM II Classic/Studio mics and Edirol R09-HR recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Running water Victoria tube station 1:30
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 18 November 2012
Time of day: 7.40pm
Location: District and Circle Line platforms, Victoria Underground station.
Description: The sound of running water emanates from beneath an iron grille set between the tracks at the east end of the District and Circle Line platforms. Could it be the Tyburn passing underneath? Voices of passengers, a train approaches.
Technical guff: In-ear binaural stereo. Soundman OKM II Classic/Studio mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Paddington Station cab rank 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 13 October 2012
Time of day: 5.30pm
Location: Paddington station, central London.
Description: Loud roar of air conditioning vents at Paddington station's cab rank, sound of taxis moving slowly around the rank, a train leaves the station.
Technical guff: In-ear binaural stereo. Soundman OKM II Classic/Studio mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Mayfair voices 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 18 August 2012
Time of day: 7.40pm
Location: Shepherd Market, Mayfair, central London.
Description: Voices of drinkers and diners in the evening in Shepherd Market.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Church Street off Edgware Road 2:30
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 24 February 2012
Time of day: 8pm
Location: Walking westwards along Church Street, near Lisson Grove.
Description: Dustcarts and street-cleaning vehicles pass close by and recede, faints voices and footsteps, a siren and traffic in the distance.
Technical guff: Binaural stereo. Sound Professionals MS-TFB-2 binaural mics and Sony PCM M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: This binaural recording is best listened to using headphones.
Victoria coach station 2011 2:40
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 30 September 2011
Time of day: 7pm
Location: Outside gate 17, Victoria coach station.
Description: Coach engines idle as passengers begin to board one bound for Bristol, door slam, electronic beeping as one coach reverses, indistinct voice over a tannoy, one coach leaves the station.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: For contrast, hear this 1935 BBC radio recording of the sounds of Victoria coach station.
Regents Canal Lisson Grove 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 15 July 2011
Time of day: 6.40am
Location: Facing the St John's Wood electricity substation, Lisson Grove.
Description: Background traffic, birdsong, clattering sounds to the west, faint drone from the electricity substation.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x DPA 2006C mics, Sound Devices MixPre-D preamp, Sony PCM M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Grand Union Paddington Basin 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 30 June 2011
Time of day: 3.30pm
Location: Southern end of Paddington Basin, central London.
Description: Faint trickle of water, loud rush of air-conditioning units from surrounding office buildings, intermittent sound of a powersaw in use on a nearby building site.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x 2006C DPA mics, Sound Devices MixPre-D preamp, Sony PCM M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Westminster Abbey Chapter House 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 25 March 2011
Time of day: 1.15pm
Location: Inside the Chapter House at Westminster Abbey.
Description: Rumble of distant traffic, sounds of visitors walking and shuffling about and talking quietly.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO mics and Edirol R09-HR recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Westminster Abbey Poets Corner 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 25 March 2011
Time of day: 12.30pm
Location: By Poets' Corner, inside Westminster Abbey.
Description: Murmuring of visitors' voices all around, sound of an attendant's walkie-talkie, footsteps.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None
Piccadilly Circus at night 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 7 October 2010
Time of day: 10pm
Location: At the base of Eros, Piccadilly Circus.
Description: Heavy traffic, voices of tourists clustered around the Eros statue.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x AShure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Soho Square 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 10 October 2010
Time of day: 3pm
Location: Middle of Soho Square.
Description: Voices of people sitting on the grass in Soho Square, crunch of autumn leaves on the ground.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
National Portrait Gallery 3:09
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 13 October 2010
Time of day: 5pm
Location: Top floor, National Portrait Gallery.
Description: Recorded while walking around the Tudor Gallery. Escalator, footsteps and voices of visitors, sound of air conditioning units.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Wong Kei Chinatown 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 10 October 2010
Time of day: 4.15pm
Location: Downstairs at Wong Kei restaurant, Wardour Street.
Description: Hubbub of diners' voices in the basement dining room.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Wong Kei is famed for having rude staff, chucking people out as soon as they've finished eating: "You go! You go!" That afternoon they didn't seem rude, just briskly efficient.
Gerard Street Chinatown 1:59
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 10 October 2010
Time of day: 3.30pm
Location: Walking westwards along Gerard Street in Chinatown.
Description: Voices of Chinese speakers, constant roaring or rushing of extractor fans from kitchens, faint clatter of cutlery from restaurant doorways in passing.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Libertys department store 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 30 October 2010
Time of day: 6pm
Location: Inside Liberty department store, Great Marlborough Street.
Description: Voices of customers and staff, footsteps on Liberty's creaking floorboards, muffled noise of air conditioning overhead.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
New Loon Fung supermarket 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 4 September 2010
Time of day: 1pm
Location: Gerard Street, West End.
Description: Ambience inside a Chinese supermarket recorded near the tills, with voices of customers and staff.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Thanks to Wang Fei of BBC World Service.
St James's Park 9am 1:10
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 4 September 2010
Time of day: 9am
Location: Towards the east side of St James's Park, central London.
Description: Saturday morning in St James's Park with chiming of Big Ben and the bells of at least one other church nearer by, calls of waterfowl.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Thanks to Wang Fei of BBC World Service.
Cardiff fans Oxford Circus tube 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 22 May 2010
Time of day: 2pm
Location: Northbound Bakerloo Line platform, Oxford Circus tube station.
Description: A small group of Cardiff football fans sing and chant on a tube platform before heading to Wembley. Tube announcer's voice and distant sound of a train arriving at an adjacent platform.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp, Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Chanting football fans are a fairly common feature of the auditory scenes of central London tube and train stations, hence this recording has been added to the Sound Map rather than the Sound Actions section.
Westminster Music Library 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 5 May 2010
Time of day: 6pm
Location: Westminster Music Library, Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria.
Description: The librarian scrumples up some paper and uses a stapler, faint humming of air conditioning, traffic.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Charing Cross Library 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 5 May 2010
Time of day: 5.30pm
Location: Charing Cross public library, Charing Cross Road, West End.
Description: Constant voices, footsteps along the library's upper gallery, squeals of an automatic door opening and closing.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Mens toilets Victoria station 1:04
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 14 April 2010
Time of day: 5.15pm
Location: Men's toilets, Victoria train station.
Description: Recorded inside a cubicle. Sounds of hand driers, plumbing, a man struggles with the toilet paper dispenser in the cubicle to the right, in the cubicle to the left another man snores without interruption.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Westminster Reference Library 2:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 10 April 2010
Time of day: 2pm
Location: Ground floor of the Westminster Reference Library, St. Martin's Street
Description: Sounds of traffic from the surrounding streets, a man vigorously turns the pages of a newspaper, coughs, sniffs, faint footsteps.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x MM-HLSO/Sennheiser MKE-2 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Harrods ground floor 2:37
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 13 March 2010
Time of day: 5pm
Location: Ground floor of Harrods department store, Knightsbridge.
Description: Recorded while walking from the cosmetics and perfume departments through into the food halls. Voices of customers and staff, intermittent piped music.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. MM-HLSO mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Dawn Berwick Street 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 1 March 2010
Time of day: 7am
Location: South end of Berwick Street, Soho, central London.
Description: Clattering of market stalls, barrows and shop shutters as traders begin setting up in Berwick Street. Coughing and sound of a man hawking up phlegm, distant traffic noise.
Technical guff: Stereo. Audio Technica BP4025 mic and Fostex FR-2LE digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Thanks to Ed Lawrenson.
Rush hour at Victoria 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 1 March 2010
Time of day: 8.30am
Location: Crouched just outside the entrance to Victoria station.
Description: Announcement tones and voices from inside Victoria station, footsteps of passing commuters, trundling of wheeled suitcases.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics, PA-3SX preamp and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Thanks to Ed Lawrenson.
White Hart pub Drury Lane 1:12
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 11 November 2009
Time of day: 7.45pm
Location: In the White Hart pub, Drury Lane, Covent Garden.
Description: Busy, warm-sounding atmosphere on a mid-week evening in the White Hart pub near Covent Garden. Animated conversations from the clientele and the sound of glasses being collected.
Technical guff: Stereo. Tascam DR-07 digital recorder.
Recorded by: Dave Ackrill
Additional notes: The White Hart claims to be the oldest licensed premises in London, dating from 1216.
Oxford Street 2:39
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 28 June 2009
Time of day: 2pm
Location: North side of Oxford Street, walking eastwards from Oxford Circus.
Description: Crowd hubbub with footsteps and snatches of passing conservation, constant traffic noise along Oxford Street, a street sweeping vehicle passes alongside for a while, music plays from inside shops.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp, Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
British Museum 1:44
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: May 2008
Time of day: Not known
Location: Inside the British Museum, Bloomsbury, central London.
Description: "The ambience of the large spaces of the British Museum in London. Begins with the creaking of a chair. There are voices and lots of natural reverb due to the vast size and hard surfaces. There is also a general background noise from ventilation and heating systems." – ERH
Technical guff: Minidisc recording.
Recorded by: ERH
Additional notes: Recording by Freesound Project contributor ERH. License: Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0.
Edgware Road cafes 1:33
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 13 June 2009
Time of day: 11.45pm
Location: Walking north from Marble Arch along Edgware Road, past the North African and Middle Eastern cafes.
Description: Traffic, voices of passersby, and of the customers of several Middle Eastern and North African cafes, who sit outside at tables set up on the pavement. There is the sound, once, of hookah pipe bowls being tapped empty and refilled with hot charcoal. A homeless woman's voices is heard towards the end, as she argues with her companions over something.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX mics. Edirol R09-HR recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Outside Charing Cross 1:45
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 13 June 2009
Time of day: Around 10.30pm
Location: Outside Charing Cross train station, at the top of Villiers Street.
Description: A busker sings and plays acoustic guitar to a reggae backing. Sounds of night-time crowds in Villiers Street, traffic, and a police siren.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp. Edirol R09-HR recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
TQ 2835 8067 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 5 June 2009
Time of day: 4.50pm
Location: OS grid reference TQ 2835 8067. South Audley Street, near Grosvenor Square.
Description: Sound of traffic, mainly taxicabs, from Grosvenor Square and going along South Audley Street, faint voices of passersby, a taxi sounds its horn, light pattering of raindrops.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics. Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Trocadero Centre 2:01
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 2 April 2009
Time of day: Around 8pm
Location: Upstairs in the Trocadero Centre off Piccadilly Circus, central London.
Description: A cacophony of electronic noises and recorded music in the amusement arcade and bowling alley sections of the Trocadero Centre. Sounds of skittles knocked down in the bowling alley, cheers of the players, noises emitted by video game machines, including the one where you have to match the dance steps indicated on a lit-up floorpad, and a sharp thwack as someone bashes a test-your-strength machine with an outsize mallet.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp. Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Covent Garden midnight 1:52
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 23 July 2008
Time of day: Around midnight
Location: Walking south along Neal Street into Covent Garden.
Description: Hubbub of inebriated West End revellers, a woman warbles briefly in a mock-operatic style, followed by the sounds of successive buskers, including the ubiquitous outdoor bongo drummer.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp. Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Rickshaw bells Soho 1:17
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 23 July 2008
Time of day: 10.30-11pm
Location: Old Compton Street, towards Moor Street
Description: Sounds of the night-time crowds thronging Old Compton Street and Moor Street in Soho, central London. The bicycle bells of pedal-powered rickshaws are heard, their owners circling the area whilst looking for custom, and growing louder towards the end of the recording.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp. Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
South Ken underpass 1:00
Grid square: Knightsbridge, West End
Recording date: 11 February 2009
Time of day: Mid afternoon
Location: Walking eastwards along the underpass from South Kensington tube station to Brompton Road.
Description: Echoing sounds from the long, wide underpass at South Kensington. A busker begins playing and a crowd of schoolchildren whoop and cheer.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp. Olympus LS-10 digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
About general sound map recordings
The majority of recordings on the general sound map are simply of curious or distinctive sounds heard around London. Some also appear elsewhere as part of the 12 Tones of London statistical recording project, and here are subsumed into their appropriate grid squares.
These kinds of recordings always have descriptive file names which don't require any further explanation. But just over a hundred others have ones consisting only of the letters 'TQ' followed by eight digits. These are the Ordnance Survey co-ordinates marking the exact centre of each of the sound map's 112 grid squares, and so these file names tell you with some precision where the recordings were made. Reaching each point was done with the help of a GPS receiver and a willingness to scramble over fences and run onto golf courses. The contents of those recordings are summarised in the graphic below:
The key on the left-hand side shows the most common sound categories encountered. The louder a particular sound type encountered at the centre of a grid square, the darker its icon. More than one icon of the same kind means that sound takes up more of the recording's length. Despite the wide spacing of the recording points and the brief duration of the sound files, they seem to do a reasonable job of plotting in outline the common or persistent sound types heard around London during the daytime.