London Clay

A lyrical meditation on landscapes and cities, vivid reportage, and a memoir. And also a beautifully realized and moving read.

A beguiling mix of history, geology, folklore, and memoir that captivated me from the first page.

What secrets lie beneath a city?

Tom Chivers follows hidden pathways, explores lost islands, and uncovers the geological mysteries that burst up through the pavement and bubble to the surface of our streets. From Roman ruins to a submerged playhouse, from an abandoned Tube station to underground rivers, Chivers leads us on a journey into the depths of the city he loves.

A lyrical interrogation of a capital city, a landscape, and our connection to place, London Clay celebrates urban edgelands: in-between spaces where the natural world and the metropolis collide. Through a combination of historical research, vivid reportage, and personal memoir, it will transform how you see London and cities everywhere.

Tom Chivers, with the forensic eye of an investigator and the soul of a poet, is an engaging presence, a guide we would do well to follow.