Peter The Great Tours

31/10/2024

A day in the life.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EPR8ReBfc/?mibextid=UalRPS

27/10/2024

A beautiful day, but the barriers prevented my dash to catch up.

06/10/2024

Windsor, Stonehenge, Lacock and Bath with 70 passengers was both demanding and rewarding but you never know what’s going to happen next on a tour with me in Britain.

19/08/2024

St Paul’s Cathedral is the 5th church built on this site in London since AD604. Charles and Diana were married here and Churchill’s funeral was here.
I had the honour and privilege of guiding three friends all day from over the pond and we had lots of fun.
Only a qualified Blue Badge Guide can take you around St Paul’s, The Tower etc.
Make sure you and your friends and family look me up if you’re coming over.
The review is for a different tour.

Thank you!

14/08/2024

The altar stone at Stonehenge comes from Scotland according to new research!!

Famous Stonehenge stone came from Scotland not Wales

Stonehenge's famous Altar Stone came from Scotland not Wales as previously thought, new analysis shows.

12/08/2024

A tour anywhere in Britain will offer something for everyone.

Culture vultures, chefs, cooking fans and dog lovers!

This is a dog wheel. The dog ran in the wheel which was connected to the spit. The dog ran and the meat on the fire was turned so as to cook it evenly.

In Henry VIII’s place, Hampden Court, the dog was replaced by a human, often a boy.

When you hire a guide, they will know where the hidden tidbits of history are hidden. They will explain and illustrate often with contemporary stories and anecdotes; some funny, some sad, some gory, some scary… and some completely made up.

Share me with your friends, I’m here all year round.

Pete

❤️

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnspit_dog?wprov=sfti1

28/07/2024

Today I was back in the Cotswolds. Our usual itinerary had to be changed and that allowed me to sneak in a bonus visit to Bladen, the final resting place of Winston Churchill, and also a bonus visit to The Rollright Stones, an eerie prehistoric stone circle.
The legend says that the circle is made of soldiers turned to stone by a witches curse.
The photo is in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, the reviews are from my last post on Downton Abbey.

23/07/2024

Yesterday I was with a group in the Cotswolds and I asked Andrew from Alabama to get a snap. He also cheekily took a selfie.
The Cotswolds is an area of outstanding natural beauty typified by honey coloured thatched cottages and gently rolling hills.
If you, or your friends, would like to visit the Cotswolds I can offer bespoke tours tailored to you.

https://www.cotswolds.com/

12/07/2024

Britannia is the national personification of Great Britain and her image first appeared on Roman coins 2000 years ago.
Britain has a long and glorious history of female leaders from Boudica’s sack of Londinium around AD 60 to, Queens Elizabeth I and II, Victoria, even Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who ruled from 1979-1990.

For stories of great women, great men and the way they shaped our world, make sure you book me for your tours of London, I promise to inform and entertain you with my knowledge and distinctly British sense of humour.

https://youtu.be/sDtyJyidhlc?si=vhyz1nczP8gi1pWp

05/07/2024

Today I was back in the office with a lovely group from Buffalo NY.
You know me, the rain wasn’t going to dampen my enthusiasm and we were rewarded by excellent views of mounted troops and glimpses of the King.
We concluded with a walk from St Paul’s over the wobbly bridge to Shakespeare’s Globe and on to Borough Market via the Golden Hind. That’s the ship that circumnavigated the planet in 1577 rammed full of Spanish gold. (Chortle)!
I think my group had a great time. I did, so much so I didn’t think to take many photos for myself.
Apologies.

04/07/2024

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday America.
Happy birthday to youuuuu!

29/06/2024

Today is Armed Forces day.

I was young once and a soldier. The two old boys are Chelsea Pensioners. They live in The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Chelsea is a quarter in west London.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded in 1682 by Charles II. It is said his mistress Nell Gwyn inspired him. You will know if you have toured with me that she was an actress. An actress and a royal. Who would have known!

The Hospital provides food and accommodation to old soldiers and has admitted females since 2009. Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher is buried within the grounds.

My tours include facts, anecdotes and amusing stories of past and present personalities plus I always add a feminist edge, even singing a song where appropriate. I am a great raconteur and I love the funny stories best. If you or your friends are visiting my home town of London, let me entertain you!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Hospital_Chelsea?wprov=sfti1

26/06/2024

This evening I had a chance to relax and recce the ancient Hertfordshire town of Braughing, 42 miles north of London. The church dates from 1220 although there is evidence of an earlier building.
The church is of interest because of the amount of Roman brick, reclaimed by medieval masons, visible in its construction.
Braughing was the site of a pre Roman Celtic mint and settlement (C500 BC) and a substantial Roman town (C43 AD) along the river Rib and three Roman roads.
Its current population is around 1000, and it boasts many buildings from the Tudor period and an old school from 1574 (pictured).
I paddled in the ford and enjoyed the sounds and smells of an English country village on a glorious summers eve, meeting friendly residents and their four legged companions.
This is my England, my county, my home and my heritage.

As a professional guide I am available to share all this with you, this is the secret England that overseas tourists very rarely get to see and enjoy; serene and romantic, hauntingly beautiful, so very very far from the seething and stifling streets of London.
———
Thank you old chum Wayne for your friendship and help with the photos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braughing?wprov=sfti1 #

26/06/2024

Today’s group consisted of parents and children from Louisiana.
We saw The Changing of the Guard, St James Park, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Fleet St and St Paul’s.
I made them laugh and they enjoyed my strident Cockney tones.
Thank you Glynne, Tiffany, Ryan, Anna-Kate, feisty Ford and everyone else you were all lovely.

Thank you!

25/06/2024

Today I had a full day London tour. It coincided with the visit of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.
I asked my group of wonderful people, including a group of amazing high school kids from Tennessee, what they wanted to do and they wanted to see the king. That was good because so did I.
I had no official schedule of the visit so I had to fly by the seat of my pants but the gamble paid off and we had one of those days that no one will ever forget.
It was exhausting but the fun just didn’t end. We saw St Paul’s, the Crown Jewels, we did a guided boat cruise passing under Tower Bridge and concluded at The Eye, but the highlight was seeing King Charles, The Queen, Prince William and The Emperor and enough British pomp to bring a tear to anyone’s eye.
I think I’m getting the hang of this guiding stuff.
Shout out to Jeff for the photos.
I’m off for a pint.

22/06/2024

After my summer solstice power up, I was back pounding the streets of Windsor and London with a fantastic group from Nevada.
Their coach company had let them down and they needed the skills of a fantastic guide to rescue the day, but unfortunately non of them was available and they ended up with me.
Outside Buckingham Palace, I suggested that the coolest kids stood at the front of the group photo and I think it worked out perfectly…

A professional guide can duck and weave all sorts of problems and still conjure up a day that is both entertaining and informative, the negatives becoming just a small part of the memorable story.

21/06/2024

I was lucky. I did a summer solstice tour. It was crowded and very laissez-faire.
I persevered and hey presto…

11/06/2024

On a boat, on a coach or on foot, your guide will be aware of things going on around you so you can enjoy them.

12/05/2024

An excellent day with excellent people on a VIP tour of Stonehenge.
Jermain the driver was amazing.

04/05/2024

Out and about with friends.

24/04/2024

Today’s London coach tour took a strange toll when two terrified horses bolted past me at St Paul’s. I immediately suspected a stunt by extinction rebellion.
We continued our tour, unfortunately heading to Canary Wharf, when we met the poor magnificent beasts once again, restrained in Limehouse. One was covered in blood. I gave my passengers a warning not to look and we continued on. I was very upset. I hate seeing animals suffering.

Several soldiers and horses are injured after five threw off their riders near Buckingham Palace and raced through London.

20/04/2024

Bath is known as the Las Vegas of Georgian Britain.
Today there was a demonstration by Extinction Rebellion in the city centre. They are campaigning against our disregard for the planet.
I gave all my clients my number and I also had an ‘emergency rendezvous’ (ERV) in place in case it turned sour.
An ERV is a reminder of my military background but my plan B was not required as the demo was good natured and well managed.
We had a superb day and my clients felt safe knowing that their safety was my priority. They enjoyed my walking tour, the museum and the stories I tell which bring the city’s amazing history to life.

18/04/2024

Glorious Windsor.

21/08/2023

It’s a privilege to be able to guide here.
There are two types of client on the tour; those who are Downton Abbey fans, and those that are married to Downtown Abbey fans.
I combine plots from the series with historical facts and stories about British culture. This is interesting to both.

13/08/2023

Tonight’s pictures.

The most important person on a guided coach tour is the driver. With a confident and customer centred driver at the helm the day is always a success.

My driver slowed down at all the right places because he was listening to my commentary and accurately anticipated the points of interest I was covering.

We had a passenger with mobility issues and he accompanied her so she didn’t reduce the pace of the tour. He came to the stones and helped families get decent group photos.

The coach was buzzing despite the late finish. Everyone loves a joined up and mutually supporting team.