King's Cross looks finished. But the city is still being rewritten under your feet, behind the hoardings, and along the canal. Spend a Saturday morning reading it like a palimpsest, and end by toasting marshmallows together on a boat.
This is a Modernology (Kōgengaku, 考現學) walk: a slow, attentive way of reading the present city through close observation, treating the ordinary street as the most vivid museum there is. Over around two hours, in a small group of five to ten, we move at an observation pace. Each walker gets a Modernology Journal folded from a single sheet of A4, and whenever the Gleaming Pointer glows, we stop, look and record together.
What we will be sampling Rather than a fixed tour of landmarks, we hunt for the layers most people walk straight past, things like:
The toast at the end. We close aboard a houseboat, where everyone toasts marshmallows together while we debrief on what we noticed on the walk. Think of it as a double 考(烤)現: 考現, observing the present, meeting 烤現, toasting it. Same sound, both need patience.
Who it is for: Anyone curious about how cities are made, unmade and rewritten. No experience needed; newcomers are very welcome alongside seasoned observers. Adults only, 18 and over. Led in English.
What to bring and wear: Comfortable shoes for around 1.5 km on uneven ground. A water bottle, sun protection if it is bright, and a light layer for the canal breeze. A pen; the Journal and Pointer are provided.
Good to know
- Saturday 13 June, 10:30 to around 12:30.
- £10 students, £15 general admission. Limited to a small group of five to ten.
- Meeting point shared with you on confirmation, in the King's Cross area. The exact boat mooring is sent the day before.
- Allergy notice: We toast marshmallows together, so please tell us in advance about any allergies (gelatine, gluten, dairy, nuts) or dietary needs and we will adapt.
- Access: there is uneven paving, kerbs, a short step onto the boat, and unfenced water on the towpath. Tell us your access needs and we will do what we can.