LEYTONSTONE - Where South African Dreams First Landed

Hi everyone! Welcome back to the channel. This is a very special vlog to me. In this video, I visit the part of London where I first lived, travelled from and got my first taste of England as a South African living in the United Kingdom. The area is of course Leytonstone - a place where so many South African hopes, dreams and ambitions landed over the years. Join me on an emotional and nostalgic trip down memory lane as I see how much has changed and what has remained the same since the late 2000s. I start off at the station itself. I explain that even though I lived in Leyton nearby, the Leytonstone Underground Station was always the closest station. Travelling to Central London takes about 20-25 minutes, depending on your stop. I give my impressions of the station and share some of my memories. I talk about arguably Leytonstone's most famous son, the legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock. He was born in Leytonstone on 13 August 1899, and the station features murals of several of his iconic films including Psycho as part of the Hitchcock Gallery. I then exit the station on Church Lane and immediately get transported back to my time in London. I notice the same coffee shops, landmarks, bus numbers and fast food places where so many stories and legends were born. Leytonstone was also the birthplace of several celebrities, including former England football captain David Beckham and former England cricket captain Graham Gooch - they were both born in the Whipps Cross Hospital in the area. Furthermore, Steve Harris, the founder of the band Iron Maiden, was born and grew up in Leytonstone, whilst the band itself was formed in nearby Leyton. I explain that, for South Africans, Leyton and Leytonstone often refer to the same area and I also do so for the purposes of this vlog. With its position on the Central Line and its relatively affordable rent compared to other parts of the city, Leytonstone was such a desirable area for South Africans in London. Other areas popular with South Africans include the South West areas of Putney and Wimbledon - the latter even has the nickname Wimblefontein! St. John's Church is our next stop, where I learn that the church was designed and built in 1833. I explain that, before the arrival of the railways in Leytonstone in the 1850s, the area was very rural and Leytonstone itself a small village. The area remains a very green place in 2026, on the edge of the Epping Forest and access to several parks and other green spaces. I explain that this might also have lured many South Africans to the area. The Central Line arrived in Leytonstone in 1947 (i.e. after the Second World War) and that further transformed the area and provided excellent access to the rest of London. I share my own memories of travelling on the Central Line and explain that, depending on how your week panned out, you needed to think about what travel tickets you will need! I then make my way to the site of the former cultural and social hotspot of South Africans, namely Zulu's Bar. Today there is another pub on the same location, but what are the odds - as I explain what the pub looked like on the outside, another South African passes by me! I share my memories of working for a low wage and that the pub helped us with a lot of homesickness as that is where we watched rugby and other sports. I explain the culture shock of experiencing UK prices for the first time, in particular alcohol and meat. Next I walk up Leytonstone High Road and it is here where the unfamiliarity starts to set in. I notice several new businesses and potentially pubs I didn't encounter during my time in the area. I do however notice the O'Neill's that is still in the same spot (possibly with a new lick of paint) than the Green Man pub which existed in the area in previous centuries. I walk towards the High Stone of Leytonstone, which reportedly gave the area its name. I pass through several cycle lanes, walking paths and green spaces. At the Stone, I learn more about the history as well as the unfortunate story of a highwayman that passed through the area. Afterwards, I walk past the Tesco that fed so many South Africans over the years, as that is where many purchased their groceries. I walk back towards the town centre and in particular Leytonstone High Road, where I notice more changes that happened in the area. I also talk about why many South Africans left London. In the final stages of the vlog, I visit the same fast food place that still exists in 2026 and go on a culinary trip down memory lane by ordering the chicken and chips, with a soft drink. I explain that many South Africans experienced the dreaded 'Heathrow Injection' - let me know if you were an unfortunate victim! The vlog ends with me sharing my thoughts on the area and how much Leytonstone meant for us South Africans who lived there. Thank you Leytonstone. Please hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons and leave a COMMENT for me. Happy exploring! Willie