A New World

Despite having no paid work or income at the moment I am still keeping myself busy working on projects which I hope will bear fruit in a future where we are allowed out and about once more. Obviously there’s the podcasting where I have dipped my toe, but I am also revising notes, starting to…

Flying the flag

I hear the current incumbent of the White House doesn’t like the new United States Embassy building in London. I can’t understand why. To my eye it is far more pleasing than the one in Grosvenor Square, plus it’s in Vauxhall, or at least Vauxhall/Battersea borders, and Vauxhall is one of my favourite London neighbourhoods….

The Tower of London at Christmas

This is the lovely group of people who came on my tour of the Tower of London this morning. It was a perfect morning to visit the Tower: blue skies, a few morning skaters enjoying the ice rink that is in the moat until early January, no queue at the jewel house. The ravens were…

Where Light Falls: Coventry

Two cities; two cathedrals. London and St Paul’s; Coventry and St Michael’s. In both cities the cathedrals were and are strong emblems of unity and identity. London’s current cathedral replaces one lost in the Great Fire of 1666; Coventry’s one lost in November 1940 during the Blitz. A few weeks ago I attended a special…

Where Light Falls

This weekend has seen an extraordinary and very moving event at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. Where Light Falls is a light show which remembers and commemorates the members of the St Paul’s Watch who ensured the cathedral’s survival despite the terrible bombing during the Blitz. Keith Jarrett has written a poem to accompany the light…

Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

We’ve gone through the Keatsian days when it seemed ‘warm days will never cease’, and although the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ is still with us, there’s a nip in the air in the morning, the sun rises later and sets earlier. In London, every season has something to offer residents and visitors alike….

Simply Salisbury and Stonehenge

I have had the good fortune to take two contrasting groups to visit Salisbury and Stonehenge in recent weeks. On both occasions the weather was kind, and we enjoyed blue skies and sunshine. I hope everyone got good photos. The first group was a mix of children and adults from the US. The children were…

Through other eyes (for the teachers planning school trips)

Obviously when I am guiding somewhere it is a place I have explored and studied. Oh the late nights over guttering candles, the hours in libraries, the sore feet from investigating hidden corners. Not that I am complaining: absolutely not. I love my job. One of the joys is seeing somewhere familiar through other eyes….

Why Windsor?

Since the wedding last year between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Windsor has enjoyed increased popularity as a visitor destination. I advised one of my Irish cousins who was meeting friends from Canada in London to take the train and spend the day in Windsor. They all loved it. You may not get to see…

Animal Lovers’ London

Leading a tour of Greenwich yesterday I was delighted to see two mounted police officers coming our way. We weren’t in trouble, but meeting police horses on tours, or police dogs, or any horse or any dog has to be a plus. The officers had ridden over from nearby Lewisham and were relaxed about stopping…