Bears. Cute. Cuddly. 

But when we looked at them through the long lens of London history, it got complicated pretty quickly.

Join us as we take the ursine plunge, and think about….

• the bears that roamed Britain 7000 years ago 
• the Tower menagerie,
• blood sports such a bearbaiting, especially popular during the Elizabethan period,
• the invention of the stuffed bear and its significance in the Great War, 
• Pooh and Paddington, two special bears with London ties, and share unexpected commonalities

Plus, to kick off our exploration of underground and rail stations this year, we’re going to Paddington!

Our SHOW NOTES round out your listening experience, with photos, drawings, clips, links, sources, and more.