The Institute of Tourist Guiding is responsible for accrediting professional training courses, setting standards for examinations, and awarding the coveted Blue Badge Tourist Guide. An increasing number of Blue Badge Tourist Guides are qualifying as licensed driver-guides offering chauffeur-driven guiding, ranging from antiques tours in the Cotswolds to looking after foreign clients. To become a tourist guide, one can take a travel and tourism qualification like a Level 2 Certificate or Level 3 Diploma in Travel and Tourism.
The British Guild of Tourist Guides has been training provider for various courses, including Heart of England, Yorkshire, North East England, Cumbria, and Chester. To become a registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide working in London, one must take a course and gain accreditation from the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Most training courses for guides last for at least two academic terms, with some, like London, lasting nearly two years. The courses are part-time (evenings and weekends).
To become a tour guide, one must complete a minimum of 600 hours of study, including 360 contact hours plus private research and learning. There are two qualifications available: the Level 2 Certificate or the Level 3 Diploma in Travel and Tourism, which take one and two years to complete.
In England and Northern Ireland, a course accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding and passing relevant exams at the end of the course is required. No formal qualifications are needed to be a successful guide, and no prior knowledge of the city is required.
📹 What makes a great tour guide and host? | Rick Steves | TEDxSeattleSalon
Learn why and how passionate teachers of their culture create experiences that are positive, vivid, and memorable. Rick Steves …
How to become an Oxford tour guide?
The Oxford Guild of Tour Guides requires new members to complete the Oxford Green Badge Training course, accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding. The course is held every four to five years and lasts until 2022/23. The next course will be announced on the Guild’s website. To be considered for the next course, complete and send the form, and your details will be stored and notified nearer the course date.
How to become a city of London guide?
The City Guides course is open to all, requiring no prior knowledge of the City or guiding skills. The course consists of 30 evening sessions and 15 Saturday sessions, with a project, practical assessments, and written examination. Successful candidates receive a certificate from the City of London Corporation, the City of London Guides Badge, and an Institute of Tourist Guiding Green Badge. The course is a year-long one, requiring 180 self-study hours. The application process for 2024-25 closes on 31 August 2024.
How do I become a personal tour guide?
In order to become a freelance tour guide, it is essential to identify a niche within the field of tourism, earn the relevant certifications, gain experience, acquire the necessary skills, and promote one’s services by focusing on one’s specific area of expertise.
How to become a tour guide in the UK?
Tourist guide training can be found through local associations or major tourist attractions. Guide London offers blue badge training, which typically takes 18 months. Heritage organizations like York Minster also offer their own training courses. An outgoing personality, speaking a second or third language, and experience in public dealing and presentations can help in job applications. For more information, visit the Institute of Tourist Guiding.
How do I become a certified tour guide in Europe?
A company is seeking local tour guides to work in European tourist destinations. The job requires fluency in English and previous experience as a tour guide or similar job. The company offers flexible schedules, long-term cooperation, competitive salaries, and a supportive network of office staff. The ideal candidate should be locally based in the destination, have a tour guide license if needed, and be fluent in English or other languages. Experience working with people is also a plus. The company is looking for experienced and dynamic individuals who enjoy working with people.
Is London a good place to start a career?
Job change is essential for growth and opportunity in the competitive London job market. Building and maintaining strong professional networks in every role is crucial for success. As someone who has experienced various roles and left different employers, they have developed a network of former colleagues they are still in touch with. Building and maintaining these networks throughout an organization is an asset that should be continued.
Joining interest groups, volunteering in professional associations, speaking at career events, and sharing learnings with colleagues and peers will provide continued access to insights, advice, mentoring, and referrals. Embracing job change and persevering with career goals can lead to great rewards and rewards in the long run.
Is Oxford hard to enter?
Oxford University’s acceptance rate is compared to the most competitive universities globally, with a range of 13-17. However, the application process is unique due to the UCAS limit of applying to only five UK universities per academic cycle and the requirement to choose between Oxford or Cambridge. Recent data shows varying acceptance rates, with 2022 having the highest at 13. 72, 2021 at 14. 52, 2020 at 15. 78, 2019 at 14. 27, 2018 at 15. 38, and 2017 at 16. 46.
How can a foreigner get into Oxford?
Oxford University accepts a range of international qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate, International A-levels, MOOCs, and foundation year courses. To apply for a place to study, applicants must meet the qualification requirements of their course, which may include A-levels or other equivalent UK and international qualifications. International students must achieve or be expected to achieve one of the listed qualifications, and some courses have specific subject requirements, particularly in sciences.
Transcripts and declaring international qualifications in UCAS applications are not required, and US qualifications should not be sent via the College Board. Students should check the requirements for their course and avoid submitting transcripts or certificates with their application.
Can anyone be a tour guide in London?
To become a registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide in London, one must complete a 18-month course and gain accreditation from the Institute of Tourist Guiding. The course covers major tourist destinations in the South East, including London, Windsor, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge, and Stratford. Language skills are also beneficial as many guides offer tours in multiple languages.
Applying for the course requires an exam and interview, with further details on fees and timelines available on the Institute’s website. The course content includes learning to develop and present highlights tours of London’s major attractions, including Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, and the National Gallery. Practical aspects include a City of London walk and panoramic coach tour. Lectures cover a variety of topics related to London, regional sites, and guiding techniques.
Is Oxford better than Harvard?
Oxford University, one of the oldest and first English-speaking universities globally, is ranked 1 and has consistently maintained its position since 2017. The university is home to the Oxford University Press (OUP) and offers admission across multiple disciplines through its 30 constituent colleges. Oxford’s global rankings show it beats Harvard in national rankings, but Harvard holds a better position in national rankings. Oxford’s acceptance rate is more selective than Oxford, with a 16. 8 acceptance rate compared to 3. 59 for Harvard.
To make a decision between Oxford and Harvard, consider these factors and apply without much ado. Once you have a clear understanding of the two institutions, you can decide to study in the USA or the UK based on your university choices. Oxford University is an example of modern-day teaching and research, offering admission across multiple disciplines through its 30 constituent colleges.
📹 ENGLAND TRAVEL TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS | 30+ Must-Knows Before Visiting England + What NOT to Do!
Planning to visit England for the first time? In this video, I’m sharing all my best England travel tips for new visitors, from important …
As someone from England I have to say your guide was excellent. I sometimes watch guides by non brits and often I find them quite amusing due to misconceptions being passed on as fact. Yours was spot on and i will make a point of perusal your other articles. Congratulations and THANK YOU for telling the truth and being honest and helpful.
As a Brit, reactions: 1. Premier Inn (note we pronounce the “Prem-” like “them) is a top recommendation, they’re everywhere. Book in advance for best prices. Pubs can be a bit variable… 2. Don’t worry too much about the accents thing, none of us can understand Geordies or Cornish folk, either 3. US English is familiar to us all, don’t stress it 4. Be careful commenting on the weather if it’s bad. An Australian colleague fid that once, and was told to “F**k off back to convict land”. Jokingly, I should add 5. “Ports-muth” is more accurate. And good luck with Mousehole… 6. The #12 ONLY applies on the Tube 7. The trains are FUBAR and much more expensive than the continent 8. Our food used to be terrible, but has improved and expanded massively 9. Nandos (“Cheeky Nandos”) cheap and cheerful. Chicken restaurant. 10. Top, top tip: Stonehenge is overrated. Avebury (very near) is better. York, Bath, Brighton are lovely. Cities like Bristol (my home town), Manchester and Liverpool have some great things going on. 11. Finally, don’t believe what you have heard, we are actually quite friendly and approachable. Especially if you’re Canadian rather than American 🍁, there’s still some love there
One of the biggest mistakes for most American visitors is to fly into Heathrow and then directly travel to the centre of London and start site seeing. You will be tired and jet lagged. I suggest you fly into Gatwick if possible. Catch the train to Brighton, stay in there for two nights, visit the lanes, and see the Royal pavilion. Bright Centre is small and easy to get around with some great places to eat. Get yourself used to the time difference. Then, after 10 in the morning, after the second night, catch the trian into London. Arrange with your hotel to drop off your bags early, then go siteseeing. You get more out of your visit. I have seen so many American visitors to London walk round in a daze or be so tired they go to bed late afternoon and miss so much
0:20 (first-timers in London) – One thing I’d add here is that, like Paris or Berlin, London is very day-trip friendly. Aside from the usual trips out of town like Windsor Castle and Stonehenge, within a 2-hour train ride you could be in Dover, the Cotswolds, Brighton, Cardiff, or a dozen other places. It’s so easy to get out and see the rest of southern Britain.
Living in a village in England I think this would be invaluable to people travelling to this country. A couple of tips I would add are 1. A must which even British people love is try the afternoon tea. This is served in most hotels and a simpler version in most cafes. In a hotel it often comes with Prosecco samwichs, cakes and afternoon tea. May be a bit pricey in some of larger hotels but is a real treat and quintessentially English. Google discounts which are often available for high end hotels such as Claridges in London. Or if you are visiting Kew Gardens try the Maids of Honour cafe. This serves a range of beautiful cakes dating back to Henry VIII’s time. Perfect end to a visit round Kew Gardens. Another thing if driving in rural areas be very careful. Most of the country roads can be narrow and high speed so I would suggest use the local buses. They are pretty reliable but the wait may be longer than in the cities. If you can take a black cab or if you take a mini cab have an idea of price before travelling or you may find it cost more than you expected. When driving brush up on the Highway Code as you do not want to have your trip ruined by being pulled over by the police for a driving infraction. Remember to always use your seatbelt and never use your phone while driving; instant points and a fine.
One thing to note in the UK is that out of season between October and March the days can get short. Durring the shortest days mid december the sun might not rise till 9 in the morning and set at 3 in the afternoon. The further north you go the shorter the days. However in northern England in the summer the sun can rise at 4 in the morning and set at 10 at night.
These are some of the best and most practical tips I’ve seen on Youtube for visiting the UK (take it from a native). Great job! Two things I’d add: 1) When visiting any city, make sure you check out the parks. One of the best things about the UK (I have lived abroad in several places so have been able to compare) is the parks. 2) On that same note, you really should visit the pubs. It’s a crucial part of the culture here, and you are really missing out if you don’t go. Weatherspoons is a good suggestion as a cheap option (and some of them are nice where they’ve bought older pubs). But really just stick your head in to any older traditional-looking pub, buy a drink and soak up the atmosphere. You wouldn’t go to Ireland without going to the pub, and the UK is no different – it is just as integral here. If you are planning to spend more than a couple of days anywhere, I’d say try and visit at least one traditional pub. It can also be a good way to get talking to locals.
Wow. This article is better than our own tourist board info articles. They need to hire you immediately lol. All of the points are amazingly accurate..this should be shown on all flights from US to UK. Sadly, we often find its the US citizens who make the biggest public mistakes. We don’t like to tut at folk but we will if triggered lol. Hehe. Who am I kidding, We love a good tut and bombastic side eye. 😂❤
This is a great guide! Like others have said, often these sorts of articles are full of stereotypes/misinformation (which is fine because they’re usually good for a laugh!) but it’s clear you’ve spent a lot of time here and gotten to know our strange little country very well. A couple of things to add: 1. Greggs is another good option for inexpensive food, particularly on the go. Pretty much every town has one and it’s also often in train stations/motorway services etc. Not the healthiest but definitely worth trying at least once. 2. As you said there’s a difference between UK/Britain/England, and remember: don’t call an Irish person ‘British’, don’t call a Scottish, Irish or Welsh person ‘English’, and don’t call a Northern English person ‘southern’… there’s every chance you’d start a riot! 3. Don’t call it a fanny-pack. Do not. That word means something VERY different in the UK. 4. Pubs and bars here don’t do tabs, you pay for each drink as you order it. 5. As a lot of people have said the trains here are terrible, but one good thing is you’re allowed to drink. Some shops even sell plastic glasses of wine with a foil lid over it like a yoghurt, and cocktails in a tin are common! (And honestly… if your train journey is going to be more than an hour long I’d recommend getting hammered…)
Really good advice here, very good vid. One thing about bus stops, at least in london, is to look at the sign – if it says ‘request stop’ that means that you do have to flag the bus down, otherwise it will stop automatically. But it’s safe enough to always wave at the bus as it approaches to be sure!
Good tip about flagging buses down: this is because in the sorts of places you are talking about, each bus stop may be used by several different services going to different destinations, so look up the number of the route going to your destination, and when you see that number on the front of the approaching bus, hold out your hand, and (unless they are full) they will stop for you.
Very impressive! We just left after a 2 month stay in Great Britain and your tips are all spot on. We did rent a car because we were all over the place and seeking small villages. Seriosusly, this is a really well done article – lots of information and all of it good. You deserve our subscription and our like!!
The bad food myth comes from the 2nd world war when food was rationed . When the US soldiers arrived they thought that the food was boring and dull, hence UK food = bad. This did not take into account the war was getting on a bit by the time US soldiers arrived, and that UK rationing meant that UK was one of few countries in Europe where the population did not suffer from malnutrition ( in fact more healthy than current !).
As an Englishman with a website promoting the Uk, I was very impressed by the amount of information you included in this article. Great advice for tourists. One comment – we English often find Americans speak rather loucly but also, as in this article, very quickly. We are a sedate race so I would have preferred the commmentary to have neen slowed up a little. not criticism but feedback. Thanks again.
Thanks for all tips and information. I wish to add something to what you have said in your article. I was in London in May 2024 and I discovered a nice place for breakfast, it is perfect for tourists on budget. I discovered Brockley Barge a restaurant/pub in Brockley. The breakfast there was superb and very cheap by London standards. The tea and coffee was unlimited, you may take as many coffees you want. I had breakfasts at quite a number of places in London during my two trips. Brockley Barge was the cheapest and the food was also quite good, I paid roughly 60% of what I would have paid elsewhere. This is actually a restaurant chain spread all over UK, as I was told. Each restaurant has a different name, only word common in all the names is the word Barge. I spoke to one of the staff members, he told me that they buy their supplies in bulk so they can keep their costs low. So budget travellers to London should look for Barge when they go out for breakfast.
Interesting to see how ones home country appears through the eyes of visitors. This is a really well made article. Couple of pointers on the pronunciations – the -mouth at the end of some coastal towns (so called as they are river mouths) being pronounced as -myth… it’s actually -mth… there is no y sound; so Bournemouth is not Bournemyth but rather Bournemth. Though we do have a town in the North called Cockermouth… but all except the locals do pronounce the last syllable as -mouth! Oh, in the subject of being a little inconsistent on place names – if you’ve been to the Cotswolds, you’ve likely encountered Cirencester – this one breaks the rule and the -cester is pronounced phonetically. There are some much, much weirder ones though – but don’t worry if you get it wrong, even the natives often do if they’re not from that given region – who would think Belvoire is pronounced ‘Bever’ or St Magdalene’s is ‘St Maudlin’s’ – hey, you can just make a game of it. Also, on the subject of hotels; worth noting that we don’t call the ground level floor of a multi-storey building the 1st Floor over here. In the UK the first elevation above the street level floor is the 1st Floor. The ground/ street level floor is just called the ‘Ground Floor’ – this will help you to get off at the right level.
The stereotype about English food probably came from WWII rationing and the generation that grew up with it. It was probably fair enough back in the day, but as that generation passed on and international travel got cheap in the 1970s things got better very quickly. You have to wave to get a bus to stop if it says “request stop” – but it does no harm even if it doesn’t. The difference between the National Trust and English Heritage is that the former tends to restore properties to how they were in their prime – great if you want to see sumptuous stately homes – and the latter tends to preserve them as they are – great if you want moody ruined castles.
Excellent article! As a Native Englishman I must say that London, although a must to visit, is not the only place. A lot depends on what sort of holiday you want. If you like hiking, then the lakes are beautiful and very popular. If you like seasides, the South coast is excellent. If cultural places are your thing, you can’t beat Liverpool and Newcastle. For canals, try Birmingham and for Oldie, quaint cobbled streets, York is a must. There is so much to see all over England, and Scotland and Wales are wonderful tourist destinations too. By the way, regarding travel, taxi’s are another option for short distances. They can be expensive for one or two people but for 3 or 4 people sharing the taxi, it can work out cheaper and more convenient than a bus or coach because you pay for the taxi hire not for individual passengers.
Really excellent vlog for first timers in England. I was prepared to eye roll my way through it – not one eye roll. Just good factual info. Apart from Wetherspoon’s which is poor quality cheap food. If you want good cheap food, go to an outdoor market – many of them have excellent stalls selling really great food.
Wetherspoons is not really a pub, but it’s a more than adequate substitute for a pub when the pub is Greene King. There is a strong correlation between how honest an Englishman is & how much he says he likes Wetherspoons. This is because liking Wetherspoons won’t win you any social brownie points, but it gives you access to a £5 full English breakfast. They’re charismatic & often like to mock how high the VAT on ale is by doing a sale in which they sell it for the price it would’ve been without tax (i.e. the American menu price).
You can get both National Trust and English Heritage vititor/tourist passes for a week or fortnight at around £45 each. No need to pay for a full year. You also get free entry into sites in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland due to reciprocal agreements with their respective organisations. Especially handy for anyone planning to tour the UK
Hello there, fellow Canadian here. Just stumbled upon your website! My wife and I are planning a trip to England/Scotland, for probably next spring. We would most certainly love to see a train/Britrail guide as that’s how we are planning to see the two countries. Any plans on doing a article on the various type of accommodation that they have over there? Ideally we would love to to stay in small town B&B’s and counrtyside castles. Great website!
As somebody who’s native to the UK. Many of these tips definitely vary depending on what part of the country you’re visiting. I’m from Cornwall and a lot of people don’t really expect tips. And Cash is still widely used today, not just card. Very few places only accept card now. No need to fully think there’s only card here 🙂 But this article was mostly quite accurate. Well done
I really like that you can book a specific seat on a train in Britain. I don’t know if that’s common in other countries as well, but it’s not in the Netherlands. Also, I completely agree that English food is delicious, Scottish food as well. But regarding driving, both my mum (in her 60s) and I found adapting to driving on the left pretty easy. Your first roundabout is probably a bit clumsy, but after that it becomes normal very quickly.
Re memberships for longer stayers, there is ‘Historic Royal Palaces’ annual membership (currently £65 adult) which gives repeat free entry to Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace which collectively would be (currently) £85 for a non member adult to visit, plus other HRP properties, discounts and online talks and events.
As someone from England, who has travelled extensively abroad also, and who has lived in the north and south of England this is such a good article for travellers coming to England! I’ve never been to Canada- do you have a article about travelling to your home country? I would love to here any tips you have!
If your staying close to or in London. Before you arrive book or plan some trips outside our capital. There are some amazing places to visit that are only a couple of hours outside London. Stately homes, Windsor Town and castle, Warwick castle Stratford on Avon, Hampshire, Bath and many other fantastic trips that show case England . London does not represent England or the UK..
Bear in mind that although most churches and cathedrals are free to enter no one heats them or maintains them for free. Thus you`ll often find a `donations` box in the porchway. Imagine owning a 750 year old house the size of a church – or even cathedral – and how much that would cost you to maintain.
Big NO NO from this article, DO NOT TIP and tell them to remove the discretionary charge unless you really feel like you want to and even then only tip a few £ and give it directly to your waiter/waitress. I hate how over the last few years chain restaurants have started to automatically adding tips to bills when this was never ever a thing in this country, staff are paid properly here so it is not necessary.
Your tips are really good, though I would say, people won’t always say something to you if you queue jump because not everyone likes confrontation but some will and regardless it will annoy people. Also buses and coaches are different, buses are regional and coaches will take you to different cities. The food stereotype comes from wartime when American soldiers came over, we were on rations so food wasnt great but English people take offence at that stereotype mainly because most think American food is awful so if you say that you might find a barb about your own food (English won’t necessarily know the difference between Canadian and American accents, though I think social media is helping) – they take it on the chin more from the French and Italians.
I’ve been binge perusal ur articles prepping for 1st X trip w/my daughter. Q for anyone: She’ll be staying in London for fall semester so while I’m there prior to explore Italy w/her, we also will have a huge suitcase w/her items for her 4 month college stay. Is there anywhere I could stash the huge bag in London while we travel lighter? Storage place? LT lockers? Any advice will be appreciated.
Hi Christina! I am from Texas. I’m going to London and Paris next year. First time to hear about Wise. I plan to get it. Will it automatically convert to the country I’m visiting? I only want to use it when I travel. You make good articles and very informative. Thank you for sharing. I’m very apprehensive on this money exchange. Hope this wise card will make it easier.
Fellow Canadian ehre. Such helpful tips for my upcoming trip in fall 2023. Can you recomend any bus routes that provide a nice scenic ride of major neighborhoods or sites in London? I heard that Bus # 11 from Liver pool station is no longer running. Also can you tell me where the uber boat stop is closest to Tower of London. Thanks!
The myth about the quality of our food probably originated during ww2. The country was at war and food was scarce so people made meals from what they could find. Visiting American troops had to eat the same and when they went home they told tails of the poor food. We have come along way since then but the myth persists.
Thanks for addressing the “shire” thing, but I’d shorten it further and drop the R on the end, as only parts of England pronounce the R (Rotive R, lookit up) on the end of a word: so it’s “Hampshu”, where the last vowel is a Schwa sound (look it up), half way between U and E. It’s really annoying when it’s pronounced York-shire, like it’s two separate words. But you’ve got “-mouth” wrong. It’s never pronounced “myth” except with an American accent: follow the rule you had with “shire”, and say “m’th” or “muth”.
Mouth at the end of a place name is not pronounced Myth as you said. It’s pronounced Muth. Borough is pronounced Bru not Burro. The Welsh for Wales is Cymru and it’s pronounced Cumree. Ys and Us in Welsh are usually pronounced that way. Have a go at pronouncing the Welsh LL sound. You will likely give people a laugh. Buses will stop if they are dropping people off and almost always at some stops but other stops are regarded as request stops which is why you need to flag them down. Also when many different buses use the same stop, the driver may assume people are waiting for other buses if they are not flagged down. To get the bus to stop at the stop you wish to get off at, ring the bell. You should then see a sign saying ‘bus stopping which confirms that your request has been registered. It’s not necessary for everyone getting off to ring the bell if someone has already done so and the ‘bus stopping’ sign is showing.
Correction: Rent a car… unless you’re just going from London to “other city X” (in which case who cares) then just rent a car. Trains will cost hundreds of dollars to go to a city in a different region. A car rental will cost $60 a day at most. The trains are almost always late, or delayed, or just cancelled. We hate them. They are the most unifying public issue. Just be sure to book an automatic gear shift and use a satnav, and avoid driving in or near urban areas between 8am-9.30am and 4pm-6pm.
Where exactly to Americans get this idea that English food is awful….so travel websites like here, feel the need to say something like do try English food because it is not as bad as its reputation (in the US). Who in the US is dissing our food? Which is a bit rich coming from a place where most food is more processed and plastic than ours, the bread has sugar in it and chocolate lacks cocoa.
I couldn’t listen to all of your article as you spoke too quickly. Any one with pidgeon English would never follow what your saying. I’ve read a few of your comments from us Brits, and they all seem to say that your facts are fairly accurate. what I did hear seemed perfectly sensible. As an aged public speaker, my advice is not meant in a nasty way but in a way of polite constructive criticism. I don’t mean for you to speak in a slow monotonous tone, just speak as you would in every day when chatting to a work colleague, or friend. I was taught that any speaker, that talks fast, either has something to hide or they are not quite sure about their subject. Or possibly very nervous. I hope you take my comments in the spirit they are meant. They are only meant to help. Pleaee don’t take offense.