Fully qualified Blue Badge tourist guide for South West, South & South East of England.
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Our ultimate goal is to ensure you and your group have the perfect day out. We fully customise all our tours to suit your exact interests, preferences and needs.
The Chilterns Walking Festival is on again from 15th to 30th October. I'm leading two of the walks, on Friday 21st and Friday 28th October. Still places available, so I hope you can join me.
Find out about our twice-yearly walking festival, showcasing the best that the Chilterns has to offer.
Three of us Blue Badge Guides in the Chilterns have created a Midsomer Murders Country Advent Calendar. The link is here: http://www.advientos.com/destinatarios-publico.php?codigo=40496-1284
Every day from 1st December, open a new window to read about a place in this area where Midsomer Murders has been filmed.
Have fun, and please share with your friends.
As a taster, here is something that doesn't feature in our calendar. But the location where it is moored does feature. Where is it?
The Ridgeway stretches 85 miles across the East to West of England. Choose a starting point from Avebury, Ogbourne St. George, Ashbury, Wantage, West or East Ilsley, Streatley, Nuffield, Watlington, Chinnor, Princes Risborough or Wendover.
Walks are tailored to your needs so get in touch to discuss your tour.
Get to know the incredible history of Calleva Atrebatum based in Hampshire. It is one of the most unchanged Roman sites in England and archaeologists are still making exciting discoveries.
Contact us today to discuss a bespoke tour around this fascinating Iron age and Roman town.
Henley-on-Thames: there is so much to see, do and explore in this historic town. Not least Market days, Ale Trails, indulgent foodie experiences, festivals, Henley Regatta, Midsomer Murder locations and more.
Contact us for a tailor-made Town experience for the full Henley-on-Thames experience.
Did you know…? Henley-on-Thames rose to financial prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries, by producing glass and malt, and trading in corn and wool. The town supplied timber and grain to London from the Chilterns, forging its relationship with the Thames.
Find out more by coming along to our Henley-on-Thames Town walk. Click here https://1l.ink/7BJB282
Travellers, farmers and armies have all walked, ridden and trudged along The Ridgeway path for thousands of years. Come follow in their footsteps and get a taste of the scenery and history of this beautiful trail as it meanders across the hills above the Thames and Kennet valleys.
Walks from 4 to 12 miles can be organised for your group. Contact us today to arrange a bespoke day out.
The local townspeople are proud of the claim that Abingdon is the oldest town in England. With a pre-Neolithic settlement and archaeological evidence, a town has been developing on this site for thousands of years.
Do you want to know more about this beautiful English town? Contact us today and organise a unique tour with us. Click here https://1l.ink/TZKC53Z
Medieval history, an abbey, two fascinating churches, the County Hall, the market place, the River Thames. We can discover a lot in two hours.
Some of the earliest signs that early humans lived in Abingdon are the objects that were found in the area, items such as hand axes. Early settlers were drawn to the region by food and trading opportunities brought about by the proximity of the River Stert and the River Ock with the Thames.
Learn a little more by joining our Town walks. Contact us today to discuss your bespoke visit to this town.
The Romans loved an amphitheatre, and they built one in Silchester between AD 55 and AD 75.
The site could entertain up to 7,200 people who’d travel to see gladiators in combat, locals taking on wild beasts, and public executions.
Explore what remains of this historic site. Contact us today and book your bespoke walk of this Town.
The Truth behind the Wars of the Roses 🌹 The Wars of the Roses were mainly due to Edward III’s many children! King Edward III’s sons went on to have so many surviving children that they took arms against each other! 👶👶👶
Just one of many historical facts you can learn more about in my specialist talk “An Heir and a Spare”, available for booking through my website - are you ready for a surprising history lesson? https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/an-heir-and-a-spare/
What are you doing tomorrow evening?
It's rubbish on TV now isn't it? The football and tennis have finished, and who wants to watch golf? (I know, some do).
But, good news, I'll be giving my "Royal Wives" talk at 8pm tomorrow (Friday) evening for an hour. Only £8 and you can easily book here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
If that one doesn't suit you, it's my Royal histories month. So, on Saturday 24th July, also at 8pm, I'll be talking about "An Heir and a Spare".
You seat awaits you in your own living room; much more comfortable than these.
I look forward to seeing you at either talk - or both!
Have you ever wondered how much you can learn about our monarchy by looking at the marriages of our Kings?
From the first Queen to take residence in Windsor in 1070, to the late Queen Mother, Elizabeth of Glamis... These are the stars of our upcoming talk “Royal Wives” - take a look on my website for more details of this talk and upcoming schedule: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/the-royal-wives-of-windsor/
Sunday 11th July. 8pm.
FOOTBALL-FREE ZONE
I know that many of you will be looking at the TV schedules and desperately looking for something else to do.
Join me online for an exploration of the royal town of Reading. Not only are we celebrating 900th anniversary of its abbey this year, but you'll also discover all these Bs (beer, biscuits, bulbs, bricks, Bayeux and Banksy) plus a whole lot more.
My Zoom talk costs just £8 and can be booked here
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
I look forward to seeing everyone who wants a break from the football.
Who Were the Lost Heirs?
Family disputes, early deaths, and the lack of a clear succession policy all contributed to the heirs who might have expected to inherit the crown but didn’t. Who were these lost heirs, and how might history have changed if they had ruled?
My illustrated talk “An Heir and a Spare” dives into the stories of those monarchs we never had. Find out more and book your place on one of my scheduled talks on my website - you never know what you might learn: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/an-heir-and-a-spare/
What are you doing tomorrow evening?
Friends, followers. I promised this would be a football-free zone. And I mean it. My next talk will be tomorrow evening, 8pm, and it won't be about football.
It is called "An heir and a spare" and it is about those heirs to the throne who never became king, and those spares who stepped up. Like the chap below, Prince Frederick, who was a cricket fan.
So, if you are going to be a football-widow or widower tomorrow evening, and you really don't want to watch the tennis, come here instead: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order and book a place in history tomorrow evening, Wednesday 7th July, 8pm. Just £8.
Football semi final - maybe 25 million viewers?
Today at Wimbledon - 5 million viewers tops.
UK population - 68 million.
Opportunity to watch Graham's talk - 38 million!!
See you all tomorrow.
What ARE you doing this summer? On line or for real, here are a few ideas. I hope you'll join me.
It’s July already. How did that happen? Time is flying by, even though we still seem to be standing still. In the world of guiding we are anticipating visitors from abroad coming back in 2022, and bookings for NEXT year are looking good. I can’t get there? But I can see it online In […]
165 million cups of tea will be poured today in the UK ☕. But do you know which Queen introduced the custom of drinking tea to Britain back in 1662, and how this came to be?
"Royal Wives" is a talk for history buffs and those curious about the wives of our kings - book your place on this talk through my website: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/the-royal-wives-of-windsor/
Eleanor of Castile, Isabella of Valois, Catherine of Aragon, and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz are just some of those who have made their mark.
You won't believe how deep our history goes.
Dedicated campaigners are often the ones to restore our history to its former glory, and the Kennet and Avon Canal is no different.
Although we make good use of the vibrant waterway today, the Kennet and Avon Canal was nearly closed for ever. In fact, it was only saved by reference back to an Act of Parliament written 160 years earlier.
The waterway today hosts several Sites of Special Scientific Interest and is a registered cruiseway.
Learn more about the history of the Kennet and Avon Canal through my specialist online talks.
View my website for more information and book your place: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/kennet-and-avon-canal-talk/
This illustrated talk explains how and why the canal came about, how it worked during its heyday, and what led to its decline.
The town of Reading is known locally for three B’s that formed it’s key exports across the British Empire:
🍻 Beer - produced by Simonds Brewery, which was prominently situated in the centre of town
🍪 Biscuits - until the 1970s, Reading was known as ‘Biscuit Town’ because of the fame of Huntley & Palmers biscuits.
🌹 Bulbs - thanks to Suttons Seeds was founded in Reading in 1806 by John Sutton and is now part of international seed distribution business Vilmorin.
But did you know there are some more, lesser known B’s, such as Bayeux Tapestry?
I explore these and more in my talk “Reading Abbey 900” - scheduled and available for booking through my website: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/reading-abbey-900/
This is a short preview of my talk - The History and Restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal. You can see the dates and times here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
Tickets from just £8.
The 29 locks at Devizes are one of the wonders of our waterways - but do you know why they are called the Caen Hill Locks?
Hear all about the fascinating lock system and what it has to do with one of England’s finest canals during my talk “The History of the Kennet and Avon Canal”. You’ll learn why the route was so challenging and how it survived despite all the predictions to the contrary.
Click here for more information and book your place through my website: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/kennet-and-avon-canal-talk/
This illustrated talk explains how and why the canal came about, how it worked during its heyday, and what led to its decline.
Welcome to tonight's football-free zone.
Yes, there is an alternative. At 8pm this evening, come and watch my online talk "Reading Abbey 900". I promise no football talk.
Instead, on the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Reading Abbey, 18th June 1121, I will tell its story and the abbey and of the town around it. We can go on a little virtual walk as well.
Tickets, just £8, are still available here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
I will keep the box office open until 7:45. I look forward to welcoming you.
Reading Abbey. It's 900 years old today!
On 18th June 1121 monks from Cluny and Lewes arrived in Reading and started to build King Henry I’s planned monastery. In 1136 their king was buried, as he wished, in front of the high altar. For over 400 years the royal community thrived. Monks prayed for the soul of the founder, and for his […...
Discover the secrets of Reading Abbey ⛪ With its recent restoration there has never been a better time to look for new insights in the celebrated 900 year old abbey.
Join me for an hour of interesting, historical insights on Reading Abbey as well as the town itself, and learn how the traditions of the Abbey are continued today via it’s neighbouring Church, which is partly built using stones from the Abbey ruins.
Visit my website for more information: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/reading-abbey-900/
2021 is the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Reading Abbey by King Henry I. So it’s an ideal opportunity to revisit this much-ignored town, discover the remains of Reading’s abbey and explore the rest of the town’s history.
Reading Abbey 900 - online talk
This is a sample of my online talk about Reading Abbey, and its 900th anniversary.
I'm giving this talk on Zoom on Friday 18th June and Saturday 26th June, at 8pm.
To book tickets please go to https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
Dare to peek inside Reading Abbey's 900 year old history? In its heyday the abbey was one of Europe's largest royal monasteries.
Turning 900 years old this year, and with its recent restoration, the opportunity to learn about the historic and much overlooked Reading Abbey is better than ever.
Book your place on my upcoming talk “Reading Abbey 900”: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/reading-abbey-900/
2021 is the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Reading Abbey by King Henry I. So it’s an ideal opportunity to revisit this much-ignored town, discover the remains of Reading’s abbey and explore the rest of the town’s history.
🌹Did you know 🌹The Wars of the Roses were mainly due to Edward III’s many children? King Edward III’s sons themselves went on to have so many surviving children that they took up arms against one other! 👶👶👶
Are you ready for a surprising history lesson? Explore my talks for more historical stories: https://tours2order.com/types-of-tour/specialist-talks/an-heir-and-a-spare/
Early deaths, family disputes and the lack of a clear succession policy all contributed to those who might have expected to inherit the crown but didn’t.
This is a preview of my talk "an heir and a spare" about the princes who, for one reason or another, never became king. I'm giving the talk this evening at 8pm. You can book tickets, from just £8, here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
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This is a short preview of my talk - The History and Restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal. You can see the dates and times here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order Tickets from just £8.
Reading Abbey 900 - online talk This is a sample of my online talk about Reading Abbey, and its 900th anniversary. I'm giving this talk on Zoom on Friday 18th June and Saturday 26th June, at 8pm. To book tickets please go to https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
This is a preview of my talk "an heir and a spare" about the princes who, for one reason or another, never became king. I'm giving the talk this evening at 8pm. You can book tickets, from just £8, here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/tours-2-order
Blue Badge Guide Graham Horn takes a look at some of the anniversaries that we are commemorating in 2021. This will be the last public showing of this talk before he starts to think about what to include next year's talk.
Blue Badge Guide Graham Horn will be giving a FREE talk on Facebook LIVE on Sunday 30th May at 8pm (BST). It is called "Anniversaries of 2021". This is a preview of that talk.
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