Street Historians

For the past decade, Katie Wignall has been a prolific figure on the London guiding scene. Her articles and videos, along with her guidebook ‘Look Up London’, have become invaluable resources for those eager to learn the real stories behind the city’s streets and buildings. Her company specialises in original tours that explore different facets of the city and are known to sell out months in advance. On this episode, Katie shares how she went from posting historical information online to taking groups of people across London’s old alleyways and courtyards for over ten years. She reveals the origins of Look Up London, and how returning from university allowed her to see her hometown with renewed curiosity. She also divulges what goes into doing her own research, her love of turning dry facts into juicy anecdotes, and the joys of connecting with an audience on street level. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (02:25) Backstory (09:20) Sharing knowledge engagingly (13:20) Growing Look Up London (19:47) Digging deeper (28:17) Visuals vs storytelling (30:14) What next? (32:50) Outro If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Look Up London Instagram: https://instagram.com/look_uplondon Look Up London Website: https://lookup.london Jeremy's Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Jeremy's Tour Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

Lauren Barnes and Bex Newell are two guides who share a passion for London’s culinary heritage. They’ve each taken thousands of visitors to taste the many flavours of the city, uncovering the connections between food and history, one bite at a time.  In well-known spots, such as Borough Market, they focus on independent traders and the old traditions of the market. They also take guests to lesser visited neighbourhoods, including Brixton, where home cook Maureen Tyne serves up nostalgic dishes from her backyard. On this episode, Lauren and Bex share what drew them to food tours. They discuss the notable ways their role differs from other guides and they reveal the best times to visit the foodie hotspots. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (03:08) Backstories (07:35) Food tours ins and outs (14:41) Borough Market (24:26) The recipe for a great tour (30:58) Wearing multiple hats  (39:59) Things not going to plan (46:51) Outro If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Jeremy’s Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Lauren’s Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/laurenthelondonguide Bex's Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/bextakeswalks

Since 1982, Richard Jones has been one of London’s most treasured tour guides. Hundreds of thousands of visitors have discovered the old streets and buildings thanks to Richard’s guided walks. From his captivating voice, to his insider knowledge, his tours never fail to leave a lasting impression on those lucky enough to get a ticket. This episode looks back on the past four decades of Richard’s professional guiding career. We discuss his journey from postal worker to renowned London raconteur and his thoughts on what makes a great tour. Along the way, we explore the methods he uses to bring history to life for all age groups, and how to navigate obstacles, especially the British weather!   Chapters: (00:00) Intro (02:48) Richard’s backstory (04:58) “The Buzz” (09:25) Richard’s big break (15:01) The essentials (21:33) Making tours fun for kids  (30:50) “Do every tour like it’s your first” (35:23) Richard’s favourite routes (41:57) Famous faces (47:20) Outro   If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars.   Richard’s Webste: https://richardslondontours.co.uk Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Podcast Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

Rachel Cole-Wilkin and Bex Couper are two London guides who enjoy exploring the more under-the-radar facets of the city’s heritage. In Rachel’s case, she founded London’s first and only ‘Loo Tour’, a walk that uncovers the intriguing and beguiling lavatory history of the city and beyond. While Bex has been giving guided walks through the oldest part of London, focusing on the various women from centuries past who have left their mark on the city. In this episode, Rachel and Bex share the backstories about why they chose guiding and how they ended up crafting their own unique walking trails. They reveal expert tricks and techniques to make any tour a memorable experience and address some recent behavioural changes in the way visitors to London are imagining and navigating the city. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (03:06) Backstories of Rachel and Bex (07:35) Crafting a great tour (11:22)  Loo Tours explored (17:20) Making serious topics enjoyable (25:45) Keeping children engaged (29:01) Plans out the window (33:36) New expectations of the old city (39:39) Outro If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Rachel’s Loo Tours: https://www.lootours.com Bex’s Website: https://walkswithbex.com Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Podcast Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

Emily McFadyen and Dr Aaron Hunter are two London guides who give tours that are different from the norm. After years of living in a close-knit part of East London, Emily now gives experiential tours that focus on her neighbourhood’s vibrant cuisine, architecture and social history. Aaron uses his expertise in natural history to give family-friendly adventures that span London’s streets, museums and even a park that contains the world’s first ever dinosaur statues. In this episode, Emily and Aaron talk about the joys of showcasing the hidden parts of London, how they both used their earlier careers to pivot into guiding, and their shared passion for unique and quirky tours. Chapters (00:00) Intro (02:52) Backstories of Emily and Aaron (12:55) Elements of a great tour (18:36) Heading off the beaten track (32:37) On the buses (38:04) Expecting the unexpected (47:38) Top tips for newbies (51:00) Outro If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Dr Aaron Hunter’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/scienceguidelondon Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Podcast Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

Matt Gedge and Paul Harrison are two of London's most recognisable raconteurs, each with over ten years' experience revealing the city's heritage. They each have a unique ability to combine history with humour to create tours that are both engaging and enjoyable. On this episode, Matt and Paul share what led them to this trade, reflect on honing their skills on London's open top buses, and discuss how the adrenaline rush of tour guiding can be a double-edged sword. They reveal their favourite parts of the city to explore, and round up with some handy top tips. Contents (00:00) Intro (02:52) Backstories of Matt & Paul (08:33) On the buses (17:12) Adrenaline rush (23:27) Going from good to great (35:44) Tales of tours gone wrong (40:25) Failsafe places to visit (48:08) Top tips for newbies (51:04) Outro Matt’s Website: https://funlondontours.com Paul’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/thepaulharrison If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Podcast Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

Street Historians takes you into the fascinating world of tour guiding and uncovers what it takes to make history come alive. Go behind the scenes with author and award-winning guide, Jeremy John, as he and his guests reveal the secrets of the trade. Instagram: @londonwithjeremy