On the Trail of Harry Potter
One of the things I enjoy doing most of all is tours on themes I am personally very enthusiastic about. In fact, when it comes to anything to do with music, TV, film or literary themes, I tend to only…
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Guiding experiences
Blue Badge Tour Guide FAQs
What is the Blue Badge? What is the benefit of hiring a Blue Badge Guide? What is the difference between the Blue Badge and a Green Badge? How much does it cost to hire a Blue Badge Guide? Can I…
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Q and A – Part 3
What’s the best thing about being a Blue Badge Guide? There are lots of things I like about it but I’ll pick just a few. Firstly, the opportunity to show off the best of our country to visitors from all…
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What is the benefit of hiring a Blue Badge Guide?
What is the benefit of hiring a Blue Badge Guide? As the highest guiding qualification in the UK, the Blue Badge amounts to a quality mark for guides. While guiding styles and personalities differ hugely, the badge shows that the…
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Q and A Part 2
So here are some more questions about me and my work as a guide… What do you do when you’re not guiding? Alongside my guiding, I work as a freelance German-English translator. I am fluent in German – which I…
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Are there any hidden extra costs?
There are no hidden costs, but there may be additional ones. If you book a Blue Badge Guide for a tour that involves staying away from home, you will be responsible for the cost of the guide’s accommodation, evening meals…
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Can anyone join your tours?
I offer two types of tours: public and private. The public walking tours are run by me and a colleague, Michael, and take place in Birmingham on Saturdays, and anybody is welcome to join these. You will find details of…
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How can I tell if my guide really has a Blue Badge?
Your guide should have a physical badge, like the one pictured. They will probably be wearing it, either pinned to a lapel or on a lanyard, when they meet you. If you can’t see it, you are entitled to ask…
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Can I book a Blue Badge Guide for just one day?
Of course! You can book a Blue Badge Guide for as long or short a time as you like – there is no minimum or maximum time limit. There may be a minimum charge however – if you book a…
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How much does it cost to hire a Blue Badge Guide?
The price for hiring a Blue Badge Guide varies from region to region, with London being the most expensive. It will also depend how long you require a guide for – booking a Blue Badge Guide for a 10 day…
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What is the difference between the Blue Badge and a Green Badge?
The Green badge is the second highest level of guiding qualification and shows that a person is qualified to guide in one particular city. The Blue Badge is the highest level of guiding qualification which covers several counties. A Green…
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What is the Blue Badge?
The Blue Badge is the highest level of qualification there is for guiding in the UK. It takes between one and two years of study to earn. Each badge covers one region, which includes several counties. For example, mine is…
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Blue Badge Guide Q and A
As a Blue Badge Guide, I’m used to answering questions on all kinds of topics. So I thought it would be fun to interview myself, and share a few secrets, suggestions and favourites in various categories. So here goes with…
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Academic tours…for all ages!
Guiding tends to be quite a seasonal job, with lots of bookings in the summer but nowhere near to many in the colder months. But this week has certainly been an exception. Tuesday and Thursday were school tours for Year…
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A Day in the Life of a Blue Badge Tourist Guide
I’m up early because I’m doing a Meet and Greet at Birmingham Airport this morning. I’ll be welcoming a group of 6 people from their flight, making sure that they have no problems, such as lost luggage, and then escorting…
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Harry Potter Studio Tour, Leavesden
A couple of years after the final film in the series was released, Warner Brothers opened their Harry Potter studio tour at the Leavesden studios where the films were made in March 2012. With original sets, a huge number of…
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Going for Gold…Guiding At The Olympics
The summer of 2012 was an amazing summer of sport, with the Olympics and Paralympics capturing the imagination of the entire nation over a six week period. While I hadn’t bought tickets for the games myself, I was fortunate enough…
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