Nigel Smith - Guided Walking Tours

23/06/2025

Cannot recommend Saira Niazi’s new book Renegade Guides highly enough to anyone who leads tours. It’s both thought-provoking and inspirational and I’m not at all jealous that Saira got to enjoy long stays in New York and San Francisco as part of her research.

You buy a physical copy or download a free one via .

I’m looking forward to having many more conversations with fellow guides who’ve read the book.

20/06/2025

My Hackney History Festival talk about the borough’s cinemas in now online to watch.

video is now live on our YouTube channel!


https://youtu.be/bD9DzYt4pgI?si=vpSO8CNZah9vpfDN

14/06/2025

With news that the Camden Odeon is closing news I’ve written a few words for Camdenist about its heyday as the Parkway cinema in the 80s.

Silver screen history in Camden Town and loads of forthcoming festival action

06/06/2025

Fantastic morning at Islington Local History Centre delving into the archives for nuggets about the former Carlton Cinema on Essex Road.

05/06/2025

There’s something going on here…

02/06/2025

Weekend in Folkestone to walk the coastal path to Dover and my first ever visit to the castle.

27/05/2025

Another day on the Kent Coast Path - Dungeness to Folkestone

25/05/2025

Slightly odd leg of the today from Rye, via Camber Sands, to Dungeness - largely thanks to a massive detour inland around the Lydd Ranges - a huge military training ground.

Have never been to Dungeness before so enjoyed its strangeness (and Derek Jarman’s cottage). Tomorrow onwards towards Folkestone.

23/05/2025

Was in Oxford for work yesterday and couldn’t resist popping in to the Phoenix Picturehouse where I had so many formative cinematic experiences as a young teenager. Most memorably .jarmusch’s Night on Earth which served as a gateway not only to other Jarmusch movies but also Aki Kaurasmaki, John Cassavetes and cemented by burgeoning love of (confession- I think I prob went to see the film because was in it); also the the 90s re-releases of Mean Streets and Citizen Kane both left a big impression.

The cinema opened in 1913 as the North Oxford Kinema and became the very first in 1989. I didn’t have to time to stay for a movie but it was great to see so many relics of the cinema’s past still on display. Long may it continue.

18/05/2025

Fabulous portraits from on display in free exhibition until September (my crappy snapshots really don’t do these justice!)

16/05/2025

Islington was once full of cinemas…

Join me on Saturday afternoon to discover the stories behind these lost picture palaces on my Islington’s Big Screens walking tour.

Link in bio and Stories for tickets.

12/05/2025

Very disappointing news about Curzon Mayfair. One of the most distinctive cinemas in London if not the world.

One of London’s oldest is closing for good 😔

Curzon Mayfair, which first opened in the 1930s, and has been a long-time venue for big West End film premieres, will cease to run as a Curzon – although there are plans for a new cinema at the site

Read more: https://timeoutlondon.visitlink.me/owY90Y