One of the nicest things to do in London is to take a Thames Clipper on the river to get a new view of the city. You don't even need to buy tickets in advance just use a credit or debit card to tap in and out.
Here's the view from a Clipper this morning. In case you're wondering, they don't go this fast, the film is sped up! #thames #boatlife
A very good morning to you from London. Here is the start of this morning's Changing of the Guard.
Before the Romans came, Britain had nothing of artistic value? True or false? It's all torc.
Here's a large sculpture called a moai from Rapa Nui (formerly Easter Island), called Hoa Haka Nanaia, meaning hidden one. It was carved about 1,000 years ago from volcanic rock and represents an ancestral head. It's in the British Museum, and is a contentious artefact, because the people of Rapa Nui have asked for its return.
Hello and Happy New Year!
I've never formally introduced myself so I thought what better opportunity to do this now and to give you the background to how I became a tour guide.
Well, I've been a tour guide since 2006, I've appeared on BBC and Sky national TV shows as a historian and had the pleasure of guiding thousands of people around London, from tourists to locals, schools to businesses and even TV and Hollywood celebrities.
I believe that history comes alive with guided walks that are educational, engaging and fun and don't assume prior knowledge because history should be for everyone and more than just a list of dates. It's most of all about interesting stories that fascinate all of us.
I give a range of guided walks, virtual tours and jogging tours of London which I research and write myself, so my tours are unique - get ready for some new stuff!
So how did I become a tour guide?
Well, it all began with a letter that never got a reply. I wrote a letter to the British Museum asking them to train me as an official museum guide. In return I would work for them free of charge (I told you I was passionate about this). When my letter didn't get a reply, I wrote another, then another, then another.
In the end the British Museum relented and one night they invited me in to the museum after the public had left and was led through the dark galleries by torchlight. It was a privilege to be trained by them and I got access to first-hand accounts and materials not available to non museum tour guides. When it came to giving the tours I loved it. I really enjoyed meeting the public, telling them about the stories behind what they saw and even hearing their opinions too. I even helped supervise sleepovers with the mummies!
Sometimes I would have to correct people on the tours. For example, on one occasion a lady came in with her young son and said, 'Oh look Johnny, this is a spear that the cavemen used to kill dinosaurs with. ' I whispered to her, 'Actually humans
Right now in Soho Square.
Or should that be So ho ho ho?
Sorry. ahem.
#christmas2022 #weather
The full moon beside London's tallest building tonight. It's freezing in London right now, or 'brass monkeys' as we call it. #winter #weather #coldweather #picoftheday
Walking past the Cenotaph this morning and seeing the poppies
This morning's Changing of the Guard. The rain's gone and we have a glorious London morning.
On the London Underground today
#queenelizabeth #londonlife #london #RoyalFamily #mourning