Explore London Islands with Carl Goes

Have you ever wondered what its like to live on an island in the Thames? Have you ever wandered along the Thames path and wondered what happens on those mysterious islands which are often off limits to the general public? Sasha Arms did. So much so that she wrote a book about them. Carl Goes London Islands, published by Carl Goes is a book telling the stories of these  islands and the islanders that live on them.

Did you know there are actually 65 islands in the River Thames?  When I asked this question to someone recently, they guessed around 5-6!  I imagine the majority of us including those who live along the Thames may think similarly.  This book tells the story not just of the islands but also the varied collection of people that inhabit them and call them their own.

My relationship with the Islands in the Thames began rather tentatively in the mid to late nineties when I lived in Twickenham and regularly wandered past the bridge connecting perhaps the most famous Thames Island, Eel Pie to the main land.  During that time I also went to a wedding on the wonderfully named Monkey island close to Bray.  I then spent some time living in Hampton and was aware of some of the islands on this stretch of the Thames, and often looked across at islands such as Taggs Islands and its collection of house boats when out walking.  However it wasn’t until a few years ago when with my husband, I was fortunate enough to own a small ageing motor cruiser moored on the Thames that I really began to appreciate just how many islands there were. I became increasingly curious about what happened on these little oasis in the middle of a busy city

Carl Goes London Islands takes you on a journey beginning at the mouth of the Thames on Canvey island in Essex and finishing at Monkey Island in Berkshire.  Each Island is given its own section, beginning with a map showing the exact location of the island.  The islands size and visiting details are included as well as descriptions and stories of the island past and present, along side some useful ‘Carls tips’ on how best to enjoy them.

“Islands aren’t just pieces of land surrounded by water, they’re places to breathe and get lost.  And they’re home to unexpected stories and lifestyles too” Sascha Mengerink

As I read through this book I realised how true this is.  Each Island, whether inhabited or not has a story to tell and so many of them are told in this guide.  For example, who knew that Westminster used to be on an island called Thorney Island?  Yes it did, this is where what is now known as The Houses of Parliament were built.  It was originally an inhospitable place fully of thorny vegetation…much like the Houses of Parliament today some might say!  As the level of the land rose the small streams were built over and so Thorney Island is now no longer visible.  The only remaining evidence is on a street sign called Thorney Street behind the MI5 building.

The book is filled with interviews with those that live on them, from sports stars, to rock stars to actors and artists to entrepreneurs and caretakers.  The stories are fascinating and give a lovely insight in to Island life.  There is a brilliant interview with Trevor Bayliss, perhaps the most famous resident of Eel Pie Island.  I also really enjoyed reading about how the owner of Tagg Island grew up on the island, left to fly helicoptors in Australia, came back and now describes himself as a ‘benign dictator’.  So many stories including that of Dean Macey the former Olympic and Commonwealth decathlete tell of those who were born on an island and despite doing amazing things with their lives always come back..

There is a romanticism to island living for outsiders like me who dream of endless sunny days, lolling about on boats with hands and feet trailing in the water. A carefree life lived in flip flops and shorts.  Clearly this is not the case and many of the stories in the book tell of long cold winters, having to drag 17 bags of shopping across the bridge to your home, emptying chemical loos and of course the risk of flooding.

However there is clearly an energy and clarity that comes from living so close to nature.  Mary Newing, a holistic therapist and business trainer who lives on Trowlock island puts it beautifully.

“Living on the island connects me to nature and the rhythm of the seasons.  I especially love being so close  to nature in winter; the mist over the water on cold mornings is beautiful.  I have to walk up the island and take the chain link ferry to get on to the mainland.  This process in itself makes me more aware of seasonal changes and the environment around me.”

The guide has some gorgeous photographs not just of the islands but of island inhabitants past and present. Both serve to bring the book and its stories to life.  I Ioved these as I recognised so many  scenes from my boating days but they also illustrate the space, and freedom of the islands which most of us rarely get to see.

This book will make you look just a little bit more intently, as you wander along the Thames. It will give you a better appreciation of Island living and who knows  at a time when so many are pursuing slow living , it may just encourage you to seek out an alternative lifestyle for yourself

If you are interested in Carl Goes London Islands, and would like to know more then do visit the website

The Carl Goes Guides are for entrepreneurs, creatives and the generally curious! If you want to find out about other guides or just where the name comes from then read more on the Carl Goes website.

You may want to read my recent post on Eel Pie Island

Thank you to the Editor Sasha Arms and the team at Carl Goes for gifting me a copy of this book.