'Great Tours of London, Britain & Ireland'
About Your Guide
Whilst handling all English-speaking tours myself, I may not always be available to guide on a specific date, so this general information is intended to outline the background to our policy when recommending other guides. In the event that I was not available to assist, I would try to put you in touch with a guiding colleague. I would endeavour to ensure that this guide shares my enthusiasm and love of this country's rich historic and cultural legacy - after all, it is precisely this wealth that makes a visit to the UK such a rewarding experience. There are other criteria which would influence me and these may be of interest to you. For general walking tours and coach (big bus) tours, a guide would have lots of experience in handling larger groups, with safety in mind at all times, and an ability to ensure that all members of the group feel 'included' in the experience. This is not as easy as it sounds - believe me! For carrying out driver-guiding work, guide's vehicles must be late models, correctly insured and driven to a good, safe standard. Your guide should be registered with the appropriate Public Carriage Office, who regularly inspect both vehicle and records to maintain standards of safety, and he/she should have a pleasant, lively personality and be a good 'people-person', especially where family groups are concerned. It is always delightful to hear from clients after their return home and to receive comments about a tour. Receiving praise for kindness and courtesy, sense of humour or knowledge, never fails to please, but more importantly, it confirms that one is still on top-form regardless of the number of tours conducted. Perhaps you'd like a little more information how the Guiding Profession operates in the UK? Professionalising and enhancing the role of the Tourist Guide really began here and many countries around the world now run guide-training courses based on similar lines to the UK model. There are various guiding qualifications, but here's a brief explanation about the most important. |
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The City of London Badge is awarded to those who have completed an intensive course of both study and on-foot practical guiding techniques almost entirely focussed on the "Square Mile", i.e. the City of London. Whilst, these guides may often offer walking tours of other London areas, outside the City's square mile, the City or general London Tours as driver-guides, their main area of expertise is that of the old 'City'. They are also authorised to guide inside the major city sites, like Guildhall and St Pauls' Cathedral. (I gained the City of London Badge in 1992). |
The London Blue Badge is generally accepted as the most prestigious of the UK's guiding qualifications. A couple of years of very rigorous study, covering a wide range of subjects from current affairs, to political matters, the British legal systems, educational system, commerce, farming, social life, history, arts, etc., culminate in a week of written and practical examinations, by bus and on foot. The holder is qualified to guide in London and most places within a day's drive of London. Some guides extend their knowledge even further - this applies in my own case - and can therefore conduct tours just about anywhere in the UK and Ireland. (I gained the London Blue Badge in 2003). |
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The Regional Blue Badge, like the London Blue Badge is earned following much study and practical training based almost wholly on the City or Region concerned. Nevertheless, many Regional Blue Badge holders carry out guiding activities to a high standard outside their own regions because they have chosen to enhance their knowledge to include these additional areas. |