City of Westminster Guide Lecturers' Association

14/06/2024

It is time to take that step, make that commitment and change your life!!! Applications are now open for Westminster Tour Guiding Course 2024 - 25, the journey starts by checking out - # Prospective Students – London Heritage Training

If you have any questions, visit the London Heritage Training website where you can contact the course leader, Dr Caroline Dunmore who will answer any queries you may have.

Deadline for this Sunday, 7th July, don’t put it off any longer!

30/05/2024

With many thanks as ever to our Honorary President Steve Summers for expert chairing of our AGM.

And thanks to for hosting at City Hall. The views are always amazing!

17/05/2024

It was lovely meeting class of 2023-24 who now have their Saturdays free having completed their final exam last weekend.

An ‘Evening with the New Guides’ was held at Westminster Archives, introducing the Association and how we help with ongoing training and further benefits of becoming a member, and then of course we got to know each other a little bit better at the pub afterwards. Great evening.

Many thanks to Westminster Archives for hosting.

If you are interested in becoming a guide will be advertising the 2024/ 25 course soon.

16/05/2024

Our fellow City of Westminster Guide, Sarah Yates’s amazing new book “Great Estates”.

The patchwork of historic estates of London are a key component of the city’s unique character and heritage.

Sarah explains how “London’s unique identity as a patchwork of different neighbourhoods, built up over the centuries in and around the original twin cities of London and Westminster, was ultimately driven by political and social factors….London as a city emerged in medieval times, and especially from the 17th century, from the piecemeal developments of what were then bounded, self-contained estates under single ownership. Over the centuries these have gradually meshed together in a continuous townscape and been overlaid by other patterns of planning…”

09/05/2024

Good luck!

25/03/2024

Excited to be a part of the London Landmarks Half Marathon, Sunday 7th April, along with

book now for our Magical Beasties Walk, supporting

16/03/2024

01/03/2024

Brilliant evening at the Harley Street Business Improvement District launch of their “Rewards App”
The Rewards App offers fab rewards for locals, visitors and businesses alike.

Thanks to the lovely team from Harley Street BID for a superb networking opportunity.

Hope to see you all soon on one of our wonderful City of Westminster Guided tours.

27/01/2024

The association’s chair arrived in a suitable manner to Friday’s Winter Party. A good time had by all!

26/01/2024

Fantastic guided preview tour of the British Optical Association Museum, ready to open 5th February, many thanks to Dr Neil Handley, curator of excuse the pun but an absolute must see - would challenge anyone to not use a similar pun!!!

12/01/2024

Busy old 2023 and looking forward to an even busier 2024!

14/10/2023

It's that time of year again… great good luck to all the students on the 2023/24 Westminster Tour Guiding Course. Today they embark upon their first practical session and will be exploring Trafalgar Square & Whitehall this morning with their tutors. Have fun everyone!

05/10/2023

Workshop no. 2 marking the 300th anniversary of the death of Sir Christopher Wren.

Saturday 7th October, Paul Waddams and Rachel Anthony showcased the impact Wren had on Westminster, with our guides very busy taking notes throughout ... where do you think they may have visited?

With thanks also to Mary Enright who helped launch the project, but unable to make it on the day

03/10/2023

With our colleagues across London we will be hosting more free walks this Saturday!

Join us Westminster Guides for a wander around Covent Garden - free tours on the hour.

Details via the Local London Guiding Day website.

01/10/2023

Thanks to all the guides and guests on today’s Influencers tours in Covent Garden.

Pleased to be joined by Councillor Judith Southern and Councillor Shamshed Chowdhur. Judith is the current Old People’s Champion, the original position of Lady Christabel Flight!

25/09/2023

Go! The Westminster Tour Guiding Course class of 2023/24 launched upon their exciting new journey on Saturday. In two weeks they'll be on the streets with their tutors on their first practical session. Good luck to you all!

23/09/2023

The City Of Westminster Tour Guiding course 2023/24 begins today. Good luck to all the students beginning their new tour guiding journey! This morning they will be in the classroom in Marylebone and this afternoon is their first practical on-street tutorial. Have fun!

22/09/2023

Lots of free walks coming up in the first two weeks of October.
Found out about the influences of Covent Garden.

Full details on our website

09/09/2023

Well done to the amazing team who delivered today’s Secret Victoria tours as part of festival.

Nearly 200 guests joined our talented guides exploring the hidden gems of Victoria.

And of course 👏👏👏 to the team who pulled this all together and ran the reception desk.

Hot Hot Hot 🥵

you’ve all earned a 🍺🍷🍶🍹

04/09/2023

This Saturday 9th September as part of the association is running throughout the day a series of free tours - highlighting the secret gems of Victoria.

Details and how to book are all on our website!

https://westminsterguides.org.uk/walking-tour/open-house-secret-victoria/

31/08/2023

Well what an August we had!

The Association was delighted to have had been awarded funding from to run a series of free walks as part of their Inside Out Festival.

Our great team delivered:
25 walks
508 guests booked on
Tours across the borough from Millbank to Maida Vale
Highlighting Westminster’s cultural gems from to
Celebrating the borough’s diversity including a Black history & 🌈 tour

And some lovely quotes from guests:

Catherine’s Nursery Rhyme Ramble and Mary’s The Splendours of Regent’s Park tour - Both guides very knowledgeable and informative. I only wish I could have attended more.

Thank you! Fun, engaging and a very informative tour guide. Would definitely recommend
Stephen – Scientists & Monsters walk

I went on Peter Mujtaba’s Thames walk. Really well done and a lovely friendly group!

Cato Street Conspiracy Rosemary was a vivid and engaging detective story! Bravo!

Composers of the West End led by Barbara Wright - A very passionate and knowledgeable guide. Loved the walk! Thank you.

19/08/2023

The Association has been delighted to be part of Inside Out Festival. We have some great free tours and it’s not over yet!

Through the rest of August we have a range of tours showcasing the cultural offer across the borough.

Also keep an eye out for our free tours coming up in September & October!!

All details are on our website - including details of all our great, qualified and insured guides!

09/08/2023

Better weather on the way?

Time to come and enjoy the Inside Out festival. festival is through out August.

Use the QR code to find the full listings including the association’s free tours across the borough.

03/08/2023

A excellent start to our Inside Out August of free tours!

Catherine Gritz Nursery Rhymes tour with the Grand Old Duke of York brought out the crowds and the sun.

Caroline Mongan’s Murder, Mayhem and Mystery Tour was equally popular, but less lucky with the weather!

Our free tours are made possible via the support of Inside Out festival. Events run across the borough through the whole of August.

02/08/2023

Congratulations and many thanks to our very own Helen Naylor on a brilliant talk for Westminster Archives on the Life and times of Christopher Wren in Westminster.

01/08/2023

Hello August and it is going to be a busy one!

We are delighted to be running over 20 free tours through the month as part of Inside Out celebrations.

From Maida Vale to Millbank we have topics ranging from Whitehall’s monarchs and nursery rhymes, the West Ends theatrical and cinematic history and Mayfair’s monstrous literary past.

We are pleased to be celebrating the area’s diverse histories with black and gay tours through the month.

Details on our website.

22/07/2023

August is almost here and we kick off a month of free walks as part of Inside Out Festival!

The first week has a range of walks right across the borough!

All can be booked via the link in our homepage.

19/07/2023

Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates! See you on the streets of Westminster soon.

Thank you for hosting us.

17/07/2023

New week… new direction? There's still time to apply for the City Of Westminster Tour Guiding course 2023/23. Click here for more details: https://westminsterguides.org.uk/apply-for-our-training-course-deadline-23rd-july/?fbclid=IwAR0W5FfrMidqwWsuXS6f1p7ZRNXj1zPtIwoSEY523kmhSu9mDjkqg3CzLRw

“One of the most interesting and rewarding experiences I have ever had.” “One of the best learning experiences of my life.” “A great course for both the experienced guide and the newcomer.” “I loved every minute of it [and] I couldn’t recommend it more.” These are just a few of the...

10/07/2023

We are delighted to be running over 20 FREE walking tours through the whole of August as part of Inside Out festival.

The walks are aimed at residents, visitors and those working in the borough. The tours take place across the whole of Westminster - from Pimlico to Paddington! There is a huge diversity of topics celebrating the rich cultural history of Westminster.

Tours are selling out quickly so book-up! Details via the link in our header 👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽

Hope you can join us

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