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.
South bascule chamber Tower Bridge 7:55
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 17th December 2017
Time of day: 12.30 pm
Location: Inside the south tower of Tower Bridge.
Description: A recording of a complete bridge lift cycle occasioned by a pleasure cruiser travelling upstream. Noise of rain on the walkway overhead; electric motors tilt the southern road section upwards, causing a huge counterweight to descend into the bascule chamber; the pleasure cruiser sounds its horn as it passes through Tower Bridge; the road section is slowly lowered again; road and pedestrian traffic resumes.
Technical guff: Spaced stereo array. 2 x DPA 2006C mics, Sound Devices MixPre-D preamp, Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Many thanks to the staff and management of Tower Bridge.
Centaur Street Waterloo 4:10
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 10th August 2017
Time of day: 4.15 pm
Location: Towards the southern end of Centaur Street in Waterloo.
Description: Echoing sounds where Centaur Street passes beneath the railway lines leading to and from Waterloo station. Children shout; trains rumble overhead; a passing emergency services siren; a man whistles as he walks by; a cyclist passes; two men talk together briefly.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Devonshire Square 2:15
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 4 November 2015
Time of day: 5.20pm
Location: Bench under trees in Devonshire Square about 100m South East of Bishopsgate, outside RBS offices.
Description: Footsteps and wheels of suitcases, some chatter, and distant traffic. Most human traffic exiting offices in square. Low wind mostly shielded in square.
Technical guff: Recorded on a Sony Xperia Miro mobile phone with the Smart Voice Recorder app.
Recorded by: Emily Best
Additional notes: Hear more recordings by Emily Best: chokedopen.bandcamp.com.
Red Lion Square 2:50
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 13 November 2015
Time of day: 3.30pm
Location: Middle of Red Lion Square, central London.
Description: Atmosphere in Red Lion Square with traffic noise from Holborn, airplane and helicopter noise. Voices of people sitting on benches in the Square, a busker with a saxophone approaches and plays.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Leather Lane market 5:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 2 November 2015
Time of day: 1pm
Location: Leather Lane, City of London.
Description: Recorded while walking northwards along Leather Lane market during a weekday lunchtime. Voices of passersby, sounds from street food stalls, nearby building work, the beep of a reversing van.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Roland R-05 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Great New Street to Shoe Lane 3:22
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 7 October 2015
Time of day: 4.45pm
Location: Walking from Great New Street through New Street Square to Shoe Lane.
Description: Banging sounds from a building site, followed by noise of aircon units on Great New Street. Voices and trickling from a fountain in New Street Square, sound of power tools and building work growing louder as the junction with Shoe Lane is approached.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Manzes pie and mash 4:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 2 September 2015
Time of day: 1.15pm
Location: Inside Manze's pie and mash shop, Tower Bridge Road.
Description: Weekday lunchtime atmosphere inside the Tower Bridge Road branch of Manze's pie and mash. Voices of customers and staff, clatter of cutlery, a bell rings as a dumb waiter brings up fresh pies from the kitchen.
Technical guff: In-ear binaural stereo. Sound Professionals MS-TFB-2 binaural mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Old Street station underpass 2:04
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 12 March 2015
Time of day: 6.40pm
Location: Walking through the station underpass beneath the Old Street roundabout.
Description: Voices, footsteps both within the station underpass and along the stairwell exiting it, calls of two newspaper distributors.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Escalator Liverpool Street 2:15
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 29 December 2014
Time of day: 12.30pm
Location: Escalator inside Liverpool Street station leading to the southern entrance.
Description: Loud metallic squeaks and squeals from the escalator, automated platform announcements, faint hubbub of voices, a man cries out once.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Olympus LS-14 mics.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Guys Hospital courtyard 3:30
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 29 December 2013
Time of day: Noon
Location: Courtyard just inside the Guy's Hospital complex off St Thomas Street, London Bridge.
Description: Constant hum and drone from fume extractors or aircon units, an electronic beep from somewhere sounds every 30 seconds, footsteps and sounds of desultory activity nearby.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
George pub yard in Borough 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 14 September 2013
Time of day: 9.30pm
Location: Yard of the George pub off Borough High Street.
Description: Slightly reverberant hubbub of voices of pub goers drinking outside in the yard of the George pub.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Bay beneath Tower Bridge 6:15
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 15 April 2013
Time of day: 2.50pm
Location: Underneath the road section of Tower Bridge in a structure termed a 'bay'.
Description: The sequence of Tower Bridge lifting and being lowered again recorded overlooking the river from beneath the road section. Three boats pass as the bridge is lifted.
Technical guff: X-Y coincident stereo. Audio Technica BP4025 mic and Fostex FR2-LE recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Many thanks to Helen Frosi and the management of Tower Bridge.
Skateboarders near Waterloo Bridge 6:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 12 February 2013
Time of day: 7.20pm
Location: South Bank, Waterloo
Description: Trundle and clatter as skateboards are ridden over low jumps, voices of their riders and of passersby, footsteps, distant traffic and a constant tone of what may be an air conditoning vent, a rustling noise like a bag being rummaged in or wash from boats on the foreshore.
Technical guff: Stereo. 2 x Rode lavalier mics and Tascam DR-680
Recorded by: Jonathan Prior
Additional notes: Many thanks to Jonathan Prior for sharing these recordings. Visit his 12 Gates to the City website.
Hungerford Bridge 2 5:05
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 12 February 2013
Time of day: 11.35am
Location: On the Hungerford footbridge, central London.
Description: Cries of gulls, footsteps, sounds of trains passing over the rail bridge to and from Charing Cross station, a child's voice.
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.
Corams Fields from Mecklenburgh Square 6:30
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 15 February 2-13
Time of day: 4.45pm
Location: Corams Fields, Bloomsbury, central London.
Description: Faint voices and laughter, birdsong, distant traffic and airplane drone, footsteps of passersby, a taxi comes to a halt nearby and its engine idles.
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.
Tower Bridge old machine room 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Borough, Waterloo
Recording date: 31 January 2013
Time of day: 11am
Location: Inside Tower Bridge.
Description: Recording of a stationary steam engine once used to raise Tower Bridge, allowing tall ships to pass through.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x DPA 2006C mics, Sound Devices MixPre-D preamp and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Many thanks to Mark Peter Wright for accompanying me, and to Chris Earlie of the Tower Bridge Exhibition (http://www.towerbridge.org.uk) for his kind permission and enthusiasm in allowing me to make this recording.
Tower Bridge bascule chamber 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Borough, Waterloo
Recording date: 31 January 2013
Time of day: 12 noon
Location: Inside Tower Bridge.
Description: Bascule chambers are large, closed spaces low down inside each of Tower Bridge's two main towers. In shape they're each like a 90-degree segment cut out of a millstone and stood on edge, about 50 feet high and perhaps 60 feet wide. They accommodate part of the roadway which tilts down into the space when the bridge is raised. You can hear traffic passing overhead and water splashing onto a tarpaulin.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x DPA 2006C mics, Sound Devices MixPre-D preamp and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Many thanks to Mark Peter Wright for accompanying me, and to Chris Earlie of the Tower Bridge Exhibition (http://www.towerbridge.org.uk) for his kind permission and enthusiasm in allowing me to make this recording.
Waterloo station at night 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 17 November 2012
Time of day: 10.30pm
Location: Waterloo station concourse.
Description: Sounds recorded while walking north across the station concourse. The station is busy with people going out for the night and heading home.
Technical guff: In-ear binaural stereo. Soundman OKM II Classic/Studio mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Tooley Street London Bridge 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 6 September 2012
Time of day: 9.30pm
Location: Tooley Street by the More London development.
Description: Water trickles down the sides of the rectangular water feature at More London, voices, traffic.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: Thanks to Nick Hamilton.
Borough bus voices 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 17 August 2012
Time of day: 9.40pm
Location: West end of Long Lane, Borough, south London.
Description: Voices of passengers on board a C10 bus bound for Canada Water.
Technical guff: In-ear binaural. Roland CS-10 EM mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Paternoster Square voices 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 17 August 2012
Time of day: 6.30pm
Location: Paternoster Square, City of London.
Description: Voices of large crowds of tourists and office workers clustered outside bars in Paternoster Square.
Technical guff: Headworn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Sony PCM-M10 recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Thames shore below Cousin Lane Stairs 2:09
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 8 October 2011
Time of day: Late afternoon
Location: On the Thames shore beneath Cannon Street station, City of London.
Description: Chris writes: "You can hear a train coming in over the bridge towards the end, and there is very quiet distant music throughout (from a busker on the Millenium Bridge?), but I was surprised by how quiet London was right here – shielded from traffic noise."
Technical guff: Olympus DS-75 recorder with internal mics.
Recorded by: Chris/dashanna
Additional notes: Many thanks to Chris/dashanna for sharing this recording via SoundCloud.
St Bartholomew the Great 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 10 October 2010
Time of day: 3.30pm
Location: Inside St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield
Description: The quiet inside the church is broken by occasional beeps from a tourist's camera.
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.
Sunday Up Market Brick Lane 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 10 October 2010
Time of day: 1pm
Location: 'Up Market' Indoor market off Brick Lane.
Description: Loud music plays over a PA, voices of shoppers and sightseers, food being cooked at stalls.
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.
Barbican foyer 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 6 October 2010
Time of day: 8pm
Location: Inside the Barbican Centre's main foyer.
Description: Hubbub of voices as people congregate in the foyer.
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.
Millennium Bridge 2:00
Grid square: City, Waterloo, Borough, Spitalfields
Recording date: 23 October 2010
Time of day: 3pm
Location: Walking southwards across the Millennium Bridge.
Description: Loud thrum of boat engines on the river below, voices and footsteps of passersby, a boat sounds its horn.
Technical guff: Stereo. Audio Technica BP4025 mic and Fostex FR-2LE digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Bow Street at night 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 17 October 2010
Time of day: 9pm
Location: Bow Street, outside the Royal Opera.
Description: Night-time ambience with vehicles, voices and laughter of passersby on a night out.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Fleet Street 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 10 October 2010
Time of day: 2pm
Location: Fleet Street near junction with Fetter Lane, City of London.
Description: Sunday afternoon traffic, beeping of nearby traffic lights when the green man comes on, bells strike the hour at St Dunstan-in-the-West opposite the recording point.
Technical guff: Stereo. Audio Technica BP4025 and Fostex FR-2LE recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Barbican Highwalk at night 3:38
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 6 September 2010
Time of day: 9pm
Location: Barbican Highwalk, City of London
Description: Recorded walking south along the Highwalk from the Baribcan Centre to London Wall. Voices and footsteps of passersby, fountains at the Barbican, occasional traffic.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Under Tower Bridge 1:20
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 26 September 2010
Time of day: 4pm
Location: Beneath Tower Bridge near St Katherine's Pier, on the north bank of the Thames.
Description: Deep sound of boat engines at St Katherine's Pier, small waves lap at the river wall, voices of tourists.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Spitalfields market 2:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 26 September 2010
Time of day: 1pm
Location: Spitalfields indoor market.
Description: Hubbub of voices, clattering of cutlery from restaurants and background music inside Spitalfields market on a Sunday.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Catherine Wheel Alley 2:55
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 26 August 2010
Time of day: 2.00pm
Location: Walking east along Catherine Wheel Alley from Bishopsgate to Middlesex Street.
Description: Loud traffic on Bishopsgate recedes and is replaced by the noise of air conditioning units along and above the alley. Cries of market traders and sounds of metal frame stalls being moved as the alley opens out onto Middlesex Street.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Tate Modern turbine hall 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 26 September 2010
Time of day: 3.30pm
Location: Turbine hall at the Tate Modern gallery, Bankside.
Description: Echoing ambience with voices of visitors.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
St Alphages Gardens London Wall 1:22
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 19 September 2010
Time of day: 10am
Location: St Alphages Gardens by London Wall, City of London
Description: Birdsong and sound of a small fountain nearby in a sunken garden, an alarm bell rings continuously in the distance, traffic.
Technical guff: Stereo. Audio Technica BP4025 mic and Fostex FR-2LE recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Gents toilets London Bridge station 1:45
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 18 September 2010
Time of day: 12.15am
Location: Gents toilets, platform 5, London Bridge station.
Description: Toilet ambience with sounds of men urinating, footsteps, a man apologises needlessly then farts a short while later, drone of the hand-drier.
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.
Smithfield meat market 1:15
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 4 June 2010
Time of day: 6.30am
Location: Smithfield meat market, Farringdon.
Description: Recorded while walking into the market building from West Smithfield and then along the central Buyers' Walk. Sounds of vehicles being loaded and unloaded, voices of market porters.
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.
Sun Street Passage aircon 1:30
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 3 April 2010
Time of day: 10pm
Location: Sun Street Passage, a walkway running alongside Liverpool Street station.
Description: Recorded while walking slowly past an array of air conditioning units belonging to a large office block. Faint sounds from the bus stops at the side of the Liverpool Street station.
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: Many thanks to Mark Peter Wright for telling me about this recording spot. See Mark's blog at http://mpwright.wordpress.com/.
Roadside snack bar Surrey Row 1:06
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 15 January 2010
Time of day: 7.30am
Location: Junction of Surrey Row and Great Suffolk Street.
Description: The snack bar owner hands over some change, sounds of an egg frying in a pan, occasional chinks from pots and pans, traffic, a train passes along the nearby viaduct towards Blackfrairs station.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Victoria Embankment 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 15 December 2009
Time of day: 1pm
Location: Victoria Embankment, alongside the ship 'The Wellington'.
Description: Water can be heard lapping up to the stairs that lead down into the river. Traffic is waiting at a traffic signal light near Temple Underground station, and moves off when the signal comes off. Pedestrians can be heard walking and talking.
Technical guff: Stereo. Olympus LS-10 digital recorder with internal mics.
Recorded by: Ben Cripps
Additional notes: None.
First Capital Connect train journey 1:52
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 15 December 2009
Time of day: Around 6pm
Location: On a northbound First Capital Connect Class 319 train from City Thameslink to Farringdon.
Description: The train makes all sorts of weird sighing, creaking and groaning noises but these are normal!
Technical guff: Stereo. Olympus LS-10 digital recorder using internal mics.
Recorded by: Ben Cripps
Additional notes: None.
Princess Louise pub High Holborn 1:35
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 11 November 2009
Time of day: 8.15pm
Location: In the Princess Louise pub, High Holborn, central London.
Description: Busy atmosphere with hubbub of conversation. Dave Ackrill writes: "The Princess Louise has a lot of glass, mirrors and tiles, which probably accentuates the harsher end of audio frequencies."
Technical guff: Stereo. Tascam DR-07 digital recorder.
Recorded by: Dave Ackrill
Additional notes: None.
Farringdon station 3:30
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 7 December 2009
Time of day: 12.45pm
Location: Eastbound Metropolitan/Circle lines platform at Farringdon station.
Description: Both Metropolitan and Circle line Underground trains and First Capital Connect National Rail trains can be heard, together with the (sometimes overlapping) loudspeaker announcements relating to both! Just after a minute, the crackling sound of the FCC train's pantograph lowering and disconnecting from the overhead power line can be heard. A passenger sitting on the bench next to me coughs. Other passengers converse with each other and one speaks into his cellphone.
Technical guff: Sony TCD-D7 portable DAT recorder with a Sony ECM-DS70P electret condenser stereo microphone.
Recorded by: Ben Cripps
Additional notes: None.
Elephant centre night 1:25
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 3 December 2009
Time of day: 8pm
Location: Upper gallery of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre, south London.
Description: The last shop units in the centre are pulling down their shutters. People talk and loiter in the upper gallery, watching the train departure screen for the adjoining railway station. Sounds of sirens from the streets outside.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Leadenhall drinkers 1:30
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 1 December 2009
Time of day: 7.30pm
Location: Leadenhall market in the City of London.
Description: Sounds of evening drinkers and passersby in Leadenhall covered market in the City.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics and Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Lambeth bridges 1:22
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 29 October 2009
Time of day: 5.25pm
Location: Railway arches, Carlisle Lane.
Description: Recording made on Carlisle Lane under the railway arches at Lambeth on the way towards Archbishops Park. The sound of trains passing and various other ambience.
Technical guff: Not known.
Recorded by: Stuart Fisher
Additional notes: None.
Whispering Gallery St Pauls 1:00
Grid square: City Spitalfields Waterloo Borough
Recording date: 2 October 2009
Time of day: 11am
Location: The Whispering Gallery, St Paul's Cathedral.
Description: Indistinct murmuring of visitors' voices from the cathedral floor below, occasional coughs, echoes.
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.
Hamilton Hall pub 1:00
Grid square: City Spitalfields Borough Waterloo
Recording date: 26 September 2009
Time of day: 10.30pm
Location: Hamilton Hall pub by Liverpool Street station.
Description: Loud conversation, clapping, occasional shouts and laughter in the Hamilton Hall, a large, very high-ceilinged pub.
Technical guff: Stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX preamp, Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Borough market 2:03
Grid square: City Spitalfields Borough Waterloo
Recording date: 25 September 2009
Time of day: 10.45am
Location: Walking around Borough market.
Description: The market specialises in high-quality, high-price foodstuffs and is already crowded before 11am on a Saturday morning. Crowd sounds, traders' voices, sizzling noises from stalls selling cooked snacks, grinding of trains overhead going to and from London Bridge station.
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.
Waterloo tunnel 3:07
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: Early December 2007
Time of day: Not known.
Location: Tunnel near Waterloo station, central London.
Description: "Recording made in early December 2007 in a Victorian rail tunnel a few hundred metres from Waterloo station." – Will Montgomery.
Technical guff: Not known.
Recorded by: Will Montgomery
Additional notes: Recording from soundtransit.nl, covered by a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Hungerford Bridge 2:34
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: Late January 2008
Time of day: Not known
Location: Hungerford Bridge, crossing the Thames between Waterloo and Charing Cross.
Description: "The bridge runs across the Thames between the South Bank complex and Charing Cross station. It is used by trains and pedestrians. The recording was made by attaching a contact mic to one of the bridge's steel stays. Some eq'ing applied." – Will Montgomery.
Technical guff: Contact mic.
Recorded by: Will Montgomery
Additional notes: Recording from soundtransit.nl, covered by a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Faraday Elephant 2:23
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: Early December 2007
Time of day: Not known
Location: Faraday monument, Elephant and Castle.
Description: "In the middle of the northerly roundabout at the Elephant and Castle in south London is a large, box-shaped stainless steel monument to Michael Faraday, the scientist, who is best known for his work on electricity and magnetism. Inside the monument is a transformer and electricity sub-station for the Northern line of London's Underground train network, which runs through Elephant. This recording was made in early December 2007 by attaching a contact mic to the monument. Some eq-ing has been applied." – Will Montgomery
Technical guff: Contact mic.
Recorded by: Will Montgomery
Additional notes: Recording from soundtransit.nl, covered by a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Ball games Commercial St 2:54
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 2005
Time of day: Not known
Location: A lane off Commercial Street, Spitalfields.
Description: "A group of children from the local Bangladeshi community playing ball games in a side lane off Commercial Street on a Sunday afternoon. Recorded for the D-Fuse project Undercurrent." – Matthias Kispert
Technical guff: Not known.
Recorded by: Matthias Kispert
Additional notes: Recording from soundtransit.nl, covered by a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Platform 5 London Bridge 1:18
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Borough, Waterloo
Recording date: 15 August 2009
Time of day: 10.30pm
Location: Platform 5, London Bridge railway station.
Description: Footsteps,a hen party shout, laugh and chant as they make their way along the platform, other voices, a train pulls into the station followed by a station announcement.
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.
TQ 3231 8067 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo
Recording date: 11 July 2009
Time of day: 12.15pm
Location: OS grid reference TQ 3230 8067. On the Thames Path, north side of the river, a few score yards west of Southwark Bridge.
Description: Traffic noise from Southwark Bridge, a pleasure cruiser captain's voice in the distance, sound of boat engines and wash crashing on the river shore, a beeping siren somewhere.
Technical guff: Stereo. Audio-Technica BP4025 mic and Fostex FR-2LE recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Bankside wash 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 14 June 2009
Time of day: Around 1.30pm
Location: On the south shore of the Thames at low tide, near Bankside.
Description: Pleasure cruisers on the Thames create a powerful wash which crashes on the shoreline. A helicopter clatters overhead, aircraft drone, and boats' engines.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics and PA-3SX mics. Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Grafitti subway Waterloo 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 11 April 2009
Time of day: 2.30pm
Location: A pedestrian subway running from Lower Marsh beneath Waterloo station.
Description: Youths rattle paint spray-cans and add to the already considerable quantity of grafitti and tags decorating a subway beneath Waterloo station. A speaker in an armoured cage mounted high up plays monastic plainsong, maybe to encourage a peaceful attitude. Sounds of traffic passing outside on Lower Marsh.
Technical guff: Head-worn stereo. 2 x Shure WL-183 mics. Edirol R09-HR digital recorder.
Recorded by: IM Rawes
Additional notes: None.
Cello and hotdogs 0:49
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: June 2008
Time of day: Mid-afternoon
Location: South Bank near Coin Street.
Description: Walking southwards, a cello-playing busker is encountered playing a melancholy tune, then a few yards further on a hotdog seller, with sizzling sounds from the hotplate and a few words from him for a customer.
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.
Elephant shopping centre 1:00
Grid square: City, Spitalfields, Waterloo, Borough
Recording date: 11 February 2009
Time of day: 4.00pm
Location: The lower gallery of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre.
Description: Walking around the lower gallery of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre, towards the exit on New Kent Road. Laughter and chatter of shoppers, and also birdsong, which turned out to be emitted by an intriguing range of wall-mounted electronic objets d'art sold from an indoor stall.
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.