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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

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Walking Tours of London

freelance tour guide london

See our Calendar Below for All Tours, as well as Things to Do & Travel Tips

Featured tours.

freelance tour guide london

City of London & Westminster Tours

City of london & westminster tours highlights.

There are two parts of London: The City of London and Westminster. We offer two tours to give you a full London experience.

Spend the morning in Royal Westminster (Runs Wed, Fri, Sat at 10 AM) , where we'll see royal palaces, King's Guard soldiers, picturesque parks, beautiful buildings, and the most famous clock in the world!

Followed by our featured morning City of London (Runs Daily at 1030 AM and 1430 (230PM) tour that will take you through the oldest streets in London—from the Roman settlement 2,000 years ago to the newest (and tallest!)) buildings in Europe.

freelance tour guide london

Graffiti & Street Art

Graffiti & street art highlights.

  • Spitalfield's Market
  • Hanbury Street

freelance tour guide london

London's Ghosts & Gruesome Past

London's ghosts & gruesome past highlights.

  • Farringdon Station:  "Mind the gap" as you learn about the ghost of a girl that is said to haunt the station.
  • Smithfield Market:  This market was a place for public executions for centuries.
  • Charterhouse Square:  Learn how plagues changed London, how deadly they were, how doctors tried to stop them and what happened to those who survived.
  • Cloth Fair : Here your guide will show you where to pick up a drink before attending a public London execution.
  • St. Bartholomew the Great Church:   Surrounded by centuries-old tombstones as you find yourself standing in one of London's most haunted graveyards.
  • William Wallace Memorial : Hear the true story of William Wallace, of "Braveheart" fame, from the gory details of his triple execution to the later consequences for the UK and the inaccuracies of the film loosely based on his life.
  • St. Bartholomew's Hospital : You will be grateful for your current medical service when you find out what methods, tools and means the doctors here used in the past!
  • Holy Sepulchre Church : Empty pits are a reminder of the times, over two hundred years ago, when some people made a living by taking dead bodies out from their graves and selling them.
  • The Old Bailey:  At this legendary courthouse, your guide will introduce you to the "worst serial killer" England ever saw. And if you think it's Jack the Ripper - think again!

freelance tour guide london

Butterbeer & Magical Harry Potter

Butterbeer & magical harry potter highlights.

Enjoy a real bottle of Butterbeer on this tour.

  • Borough Market:  Borough Market was transformed into the setting for the Leaky Cauldron's entrance. The market's bustling atmosphere and historic architecture added an authentic touch to the magical world of Harry Potter and the Knight Bus scene that was filmed here.
  • The Clink Prison:  Considered an inspiration for Azkaban Prison, The Clink adds to the historical ambiance of the area, which was utilised as a filming location for scenes in Harry Potter.
  • The Globe Theatre:  Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Rebuilt by actor Sam Wanamaker, who is actually the father of Zoe Wanamaker who played Madame Hooch. In addition, David Tenant, who played Barty Crouch Jr. was married here.
  • The Millennium Bridge:  This iconic London landmark, built in the year 2000 (hence the name) was blown up by the Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!
  • St. Paul's Cathedral:  This is where Newt Scamander met Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts series and served as the set for the staircase to the Divination Tower in the Harry Potter film franchise.
  • The City of London School:  Daniel Radcliffe attended the prestigious City of London School, which has a reputation for academic excellence and notable alumni. His education at this esteemed school provided a strong foundation that complemented his burgeoning acting career.
  • Scotland Yard:  Here you will stand in the footsteps of the Trio as you explore the location where they infiltrated the Ministry of Magic in The Order of the Phoenix.
  • Trafalgar Square:  The site of the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 on July 7, 2011, attracting thousands of fans from around the globe. The cast walked from here, up the world's longest recorded red carpet, to Leicester Square for the final film screening and we will walk in their footsteps.
  • Godwin's Court:  Godwin's Court in London, with its narrow, winding alley and historic charm, is believed to have inspired the set designers' depiction of Knockturn Alley in the Harry Potter series. The atmospheric setting, characterised by its cobblestone street and period architecture, evokes the mysterious and slightly sinister ambiance of the dark wizarding marketplace.
  • Cecil Court:  Cecil Court, a quaint pedestrian street in London known for its antiquarian bookshops and historic charm, is widely believed to have inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. The enchanting atmosphere, lined with eclectic shops and Victorian architecture, mirrors the magical shopping district where wizards purchase their spellbinding supplies.
  • Charing Cross:  The entrance to Diagon Alley is depicted as being located on Charing Cross Road, a bustling thoroughfare in London known for its bookstores and proximity to the theatre district. This central and vibrant location adds a touch of magical realism to the series, blending the ordinary Muggle world with the hidden wizarding realm.

freelance tour guide london

Historic London Pub Tour

Historic london pub tour highlights.

  • Visit pubs frequented by London's most famous poets, writers, and free thinkers!
  • Follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth I and visit the hardest-to-find pub in London.
  • Explore parts of London as a local and get away from the tourist crowd.
  • Drink in a pub that has actual jail cells in the basement from medieval times.
  • See the first Irish Pub outside of Ireland.
  • Hear the tales of and visit some of the famed Victorian Gin Palaces!

freelance tour guide london

WWII London

Wwii london highlights.

Just some of the locations covered...

  • St. Paul's Cathedral
  • The ruins of Grey Friar's and the Memorial Garden
  • The Barbican
  • The Guildhall

Walking tours of London, including guided walks, free self-guided, and GPS-led audio tours, are a great way to experience the city.

We provide a platform for professional, freelance tour guides to lead affordable walking tours so that you can enjoy a quality sightseeing experience no matter your budget. 

Our model of live guided tours ensures that your guide strives to give his or her best on every tour, from our name-your-own price tours, where you choose how much the tour is worth, to specialty ticketed tours.

  • Guided Walking Tours
  • Free Self Guided Tours (written and researched by our team of professional guides)
  • Audio Tours (written, researched, AND recorded by the same guides!)

Pamela M

Everyone should be permitted to take a guided tour for a price they feel it is worth! We offer name-your-own-price tours and ticketed specialty tours to cover all budgets and interests.

  • Due to city regulations and the overall enjoyment of guests, we must limit our group size and have a strict Group Policy for groups 6+.
  • If your group is 10 or more, please refer to our private booking page
  • Some tours have a reservation fee to help us maintain group size for popular tours and support our State School Scholarship.

Searching Availability...

freelance tour guide london

REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURS

  • London All in One
  • Royal Westminster
  • Brixton History, Street Art and Culture
  • City of London
  • Harry Potter
  • Notting Hill Markets and Culture
  • Shakespeare's London
  • Graffiti and Street Art
  • Majestic Mayfair
  • Soho, Piccadilly Circus and Chinatown
  • World War II
  • Sunday Southbank
  • Rock n' Roll
  • Dark Side of London Ghost Tour
  • Jack the Ripper
  • Roman London

Food/Pub Tours Tours

  • Borough Market and Maltby Street
  • East London Food Tour
  • City of London Historic Pubs
  • Bermondsey Beer Mile
  • Pub Crawl and Cockney Sing-a-Long
  • Westminster auf Deutsch
  • Royal Kensington
  • London Christmas Lights
  • Twilight on the Thames Night Tour

PRIVATE ONLY

  • British Museum
  • Covent Garden and the West End
  • London Christmas Markets
  • London Docks
  • The Tea Tour
  • The Final Journey : Execution Walk to Tyburn

AUDIO TOURS

Can't make one of our guided tours?

No problem, we have recorded some of our best tour guides giving their tours and made them available to you at any time.  

freelance tour guide london

Here is how it works:

  • Purchase an Audio Tour
  • Receive a confirmation email with details.
  • Enjoy the tour(s).

Even if you don't download any tours, you will still have access to valuable information on sightseeing, eating, and playing in London.

Available Tours:

  • Royal London (Westminster)
  • Harry Potter Locations  (in English and en Espanol)
  • Rock N Roll London
  • Thames River Walk
  • Royal Borough of Greenwich
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Public Bus #11 (temporarily rerouted - unavailable)

Private London walking tour?

We also offer our guiding services for private groups where we can guide you anywhere in London. We are also experts in the region. 

Call us or email us and we will get back to you with a timely quote.  

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

  • Tours of London
  • Other UK Tours
  • London Travel Guide
  • Meet our Guides

Private London Tours

Our private tours in london are 5-star rated on tripadvisor, fantastic london private tours & uk tours with a local guide.

We offer professional local guides, delivering fantastic, in-depth  private London tours . Whatever you want to see and do in London , we can show you. Our team of expert guides know London like the back of their hands and so you will get to know the city like a local on one of our London Tours .

Whether it’s your first time visiting or if you’re just returning for a day trip , we have an expert guide waiting to make your journey unforgettable.

Our Most Popular Private Tours of London

Westminster abbey private tour, london highlights walking tour, tower of london & westminster abbey walking tour, why book a private tour with us.

  • All of our Guides are Blue Badge holders, this is Britain’s highest professional tourist-guiding qualification, they are the only external guides able to show you around the most famous attractions and museums
  • Skip the Line, we buy all our entrance tickets in advance avoiding long queues, leaving you with more time to discover those hidden gems
  • We pride ourselves on being able to tailor tours to your interest, your personal guide will bring your tour to life, making it enjoyable for all ages, groups and families.
  • Blue Badge guides are carefully selected for an intensive 2 year course culminating in an extensive series of exams in all aspects of British History, Art, Architecture, Contemporary Britain and much more
  • Your time on holiday is precious, let our expert team make it memorable for all the right reasons with our private sightseeing tours

Other Popular Tours Around the UK

As well as our central London tours , we also run other tours in the UK . We cover most major cities and our local private tour guide can deliver the same high standards that you can expect from our London tours . 

Glasgow Highlights Tour

Tour of edinburgh, bath highlights tour, private walking tours of london, let our private guide make your trip memorable for all the right reasons, tripadvisor reviews, grab your special london travel guide.

Your London Tours

  • Book | Enquire
  • Classic London Tour
  • London Tour Choice
  • Family London Tour
  • Family London Choice
  • Half-Day London Tour
  • Royal London Tour
  • Greenwich Tour
  • Your London Walks
  • Museum & Gallery Tours
  • More London Tours
  • Family Tours From London
  • Windsor Castle & Hampton Ct
  • Canterbury & Dover
  • Chartwell & Hever Castle
  • Oxford & Blenheim Palace
  • Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Stratford & Warwick
  • Historic Towns
  • More Tours from London
  • Magna Carta Tour
  • Mayflower 400 Years Tour
  • Battleships Ahoy! Tour
  • William Shakespeare Tour
  • Jane Austen Tour
  • Winston Churchill Tour
  • Harry Potter & Matilda Tour
  • British TV, Movies & Books
  • More History & Culture Tours
  • 4 Tours for price of 3
  • Jane Austen 2-Day Tour
  • Churchill 2-Day Tour
  • Cruise Shore Excursions
  • Study Tours
  • Sculpture Wars Walk
  • Prices | Pay
  • FAQs | T&Cs

Your London Tours

COVID-SAFE PRIVATE FAMILY TOURS OF LONDON & THE UK

CERTIFIED BY THE UK GOVERNMENT'S GOOD-TO-GO SCHEME TO OPERATE COVID-SAFE TOURS.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES

ALL OUR BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES ARE CONDUCTED BY E-MAIL ONLY

FAMILY LONDON TOUR – BESTSELLER

DEFINITIVE TOUR OF THE GREAT CITY TAILORED FOR YOUNG & OLD

FAMILY TOURS FROM LONDON

OUT-OF-TOWN TAILORED TOURS FOR KIDS AND THE YOUNG AT HEART

STUDY TOURS & FIELD TRIPS

A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Testimonials

Your London Tours - UK, 2023

Myra & George Dietz - USA, 2023

Malskis Family - USA, 2023

Sandra & Sally Hauger - USA, 2023

Angela & Whit - USA, 2022

Flemings Family - USA, 2022

Burke Family - USA, 2022

Frank & June, Virginia & Pat - USA, 2019

Linda & Alan - USA, 2019

Bremer Family - USA, 2019

Binenfeld & Loventhal families - USA, 2019

Ellie, Talia & Mayah - USA, 2019

Mills/Leduc/Washburn family - USA, 2018

Joan, Nate & Tammi - USA, 2018

Dorothy & Paul - USA, 2018

Mary & ‘Swanny’ - USA, 2018

Pat Majewski - Australia, 2018

Nolan family - USA, 2018

Laird Sanderson & friends - Canada, 2017

Jan, Lois & Pat - USA, 2017

Caramonta family - USA, 2017

Vicki Norby & Nancy Weller - USA, 2017

Jog family - Canada, 2017

Lelliott family - Australia, 2017

Joan, Elaine & Jim - USA, 2017

General Kenneth Israel, USAF - USA, 2016

Plax family - USA, 2016

Gaerlan family - Philippines, 2016

Keith, Vicky, Katelyn, Madison - USA, 2016

Gibson family - USA, 2016

Magazine Recommendations

Our tours covered in the following media:

● Sunday Times Travel magazine: Feature article. ● Travel Agent Central :  Feature article. ● London Evening Standard: Feature article. ● Luxury Travel Guide magazine:  Awards section. ● BBC News: UK news section of the website. ● Trip Advisor : ‘Things To Do in London’. ● Magna Carta Trails: Tours section of website. ● New York Times: ‘About’ section. ● Time Out London: ‘Around Town’ section.

freelance tour guide london

Classic London

Family london, royal london, canterbury & dover, the cotswolds, chartwell & hever, jane austen, winston churchill, shakespeare.

Private guided tours in London

Private tours in London

The city that never sleeps, my favorites, my visited tours.

  • Exclusive tours (3)
  • Highlights tours (13)
  • Friends and Family tours (13)
  • Royal city (5)
  • Market tours (4)
  • Chocolate or ice cream tours (3)
  • All our categories

client reviews

Magali “It was in fact excellent service and a wonderful experience!” Marianne, Finland, March 2016 Well done and a huge thank you! We couldn’t have enjoyed this trip without Magali.” Stacey, Australia, March 2016 “Overall the stay and ‘design’ of the trip was fantastic, 10/10”.” Mike, UK, March 2016

ALL OUR GUIDED TOURS

text

THE BEST PRIVATE TOURS IN THE WORLD'S LOVELIEST CITIES

  • The UTF experience
  • Who are we?
  • Press & Blog coverage

City of a thousand faces, London has been shining for centuries thanks to its blend of innovation and tradition. From South Kensington 's historic district to La City 's modernist architecture, the British capital has many sceneries and attractions to suit all tastes and interests. Want to make your stay in London unforgettable? Let our team of professional guides share with you their extensive knowledge. With our private tours in London, you will discover the best of the capital during a guided day or half-day. With our exclusive itineraries, you will uncover all the secrets of London through unique thematics. Immerse yourself in the Royal atmosphere of Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace , monarchs' residences since the beginning of the 18th century. In front of Buckingham Palace, you will also enjoy the impressive Changing of the Guards parade. And who knows, you might even spot the Queen ? The British Crown Jewels are part of the cultural and historical heritage of London. They are kept in the Tower of London, a fortress built in the 11th century listed today as a UNESCO World Heritage. The Tower of London is also a former prison and a place of torture where terrible executions occurred.  Part of the local culture, London's markets are full of treasures - from Notting Hill antiques market in the colorful Portobello Road - to the vintage items in Brick Lane and the artworks in Camden town . For more mouthwatering pleasures, indulge in an afternoon tea , one of England's most emblematic traditions. Unless you'd rather experience the sweeter London : enjoy our chocolate tours in Mayfair and Chelsea , or discover the best ice creams around Soho and Covent Garden ... Your taste buds will have plenty of choice! In the Westminster district , many historical monuments are worth a visit. Discover Big Ben , Elizabeth Tower 's iconic bell and part of the Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament); a UNESCO World Heritage, this former royal residence is located close to the Westminster Abbey , the most famous religious building in London where members of the royal family are getting married since centuries. Traveling with your family ? Our pedagogue guides have planned everything to keep them entertained - from the treasure hunt in the British Museum to the interactive journey into the world of Harry Potter !

Exclusive tours

Private shopping tour in London

Ultimate Girls' Day Out in London

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freelance tour guide london

  • Private guide : Charley 's team

More Exclusive tours...

Highlights tours.

Private tour of the British Museum in London

Explore the world with the Great Explorers

freelance tour guide london

  • Private guide : Ingrid Marianne

Private tour of the highlights of London

London Highlights Tour

  • Private guide : Denisa

Private walking history tour in London

Half-Day London Highlights Tour

freelance tour guide london

  • Private guide : Claudia

Private history tour in London

Half-Day City of London Tour

Private highlights tour of London's City district

City of London Highlights Tour

  • 1/2 day tour

Private tour of the National Gallery in London

A tour of the National Gallery & The National Portrait Gallery

  • 3.5 hrs tour

Private history and legends tour in London

Tower of London Half-Day Tour

  • 2.5 hrs tour

More Highlights tours...

Friends and family tours.

Private highlights tour in London

Ultimate Family & Friends Day Out in London

Private family tour of Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace in London

London Royal Family Tour

freelance tour guide london

  • Private guide : Magali 's team

Private family tour of Kensington Palace in London

Kensington Palace Family Tour

Private art tour for family in London

London Family Art Tour

More friends and family tours....

Private tour about the history of the monarchy in London

Wonders of Westminster Abbey Tour

More royal city..., market tours.

Private tour of London markets

London markets Tour

More market tours..., chocolate or ice cream tours.

Private chocolate tour in the Mayfair district of London

Mayfair Chocolate Tour

  • Private guide : Jennifer

Private sweet treats tour in the Chelsea district of London

Sweet tasting experience in Chelsea

More chocolate or ice cream tours..., professional guides & guarantee of a quality tour, prepare your tour in advance with your guide, 100% private tours.

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London Private Tours and London Small Group Tours

London Private Tours and Experiences Hosted by Local Experts

  • Popular Tours
  • First Time in London
  • Off the Beaten Path
  • Food Lovers
  • 3 Days in London
  • Solo Traveler

Sites and Insights: An Expert-Led London Welcome Tour

Sites and Insights: An Expert-Led London Welcome Tour

Newly Added

Shakespeare in London Audio Guide

Shakespeare in London Audio Guide

Churchill War Rooms Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Churchill War Rooms Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Tower of London Tour

Tower of London Tour

British Museum Tour: A Guided Crash Course

British Museum Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Full-Day Cotswolds Day Trip from London

Full-Day Cotswolds Day Trip from London

Half-Day Royal London Tour with Changing of the Guard and a View of Buckingham Palace

Half-Day Royal London Tour with Changing of the Guard and a View of Buckingham Palace

Eats and Treats: A Culinary Tour of London Audio Guide

Eats and Treats: A Culinary Tour of London Audio Guide

Full-Day Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip from London with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Full-Day Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip from London with Skip-the-Line Tickets

London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey Skip-the-Line Tickets

London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey Skip-the-Line Tickets

London Food Tour: Essentials of British Food Culture

London Food Tour: Essentials of British Food Culture

London in a Half-Day Tour: Highlights from Big Ben to St. Paul's Cathedral

London in a Half-Day Tour: Highlights from Big Ben to St. Paul's Cathedral

London private tours : authentic experiences in london.

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Tour Guide London

Best Tour Guides

Tour Guide London

Enjoy our fast and easy services!

freelance tour guide london

Welcome to London

Tour Guide London for panoramic or museum tours. As well as for day out trips from London.

Who we are?

We are a UK travel agency based in the City of London. Our hospitality experience is been offered to the tourism market since 2012. Our team is young and modern.

What we do?

Tour Guide London, plus cars for your tours, plus all tickets and restaurants bookings. We do everything for you to have a great time in London. Enjoy with a pleasure!

How much is it?

You pay for the tour guide’s time. You hire a tour guide. It doesn’t matter how big is your group. If you are a single tourist or family or school group the prices for your tour guide stay the same. And here they are.

  • For London panoramic tours up to 4 hours from £210.00
  • For London panoramic tours 4 – 8 hours from £300.00
  • Any museum tour in London from £210.00
  • Trips outside London up to 5 hours from £280.00
  • Trips outside London 5 – 12 hours from £300.00

We do charge on top of prices above 20% our commission.

Prices for Mercedes E / V / S Class or similar

  • Transfer Heathrow ⟷ London from £80 / £100 / £100
  • Transfer Gatwick ⟷ London from £110 / £145 / £150
  • Transfer Luton ⟷ London from £110 / £145 / £150
  • Transfer Stansted ⟷ London from £125 / £170 / £175
  • Per hour in London — from £35 / £40 / £50
  • Per hour outside London — by request

Minimum hire is 4 hours. You have a car with the driver. And this is separate from your tour guide. For transfers prices per one trip and one way only. And to central London.

For transfers, we charge £30.00 our commission on top of the prices above, and for the hourly bookings is 20%.

If you’re visiting attractions with paid entrance, you have to pay for your entrance tickets. You do NOT need to pay for your tour guide’s tickets as licenced guides do not need them.

It is always a good idea to ask us to buy tickets for you. When we do it, we charge 15% on top and this is to cover our labour.

We also can book restaurants for you, and we charge £10.00 per booking.

Mercedes S Class

Mercedes S-350

How to book?

Do contact us! You can chat in WhatsApp or in Telegram . Email Us or Call Us . As well as using the booking form below.

Accept an offer

We then make you an offer. All bookings are different, and we provide customised and flexible services with options for you.

Once you accepted our offer, we will send you a payment link for your booking. You can pay any bank card. Privacy .

freelance tour guide london

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walking tours london

Walking Tours and Experiences in London

Westminster walking tours london

Free Royal Westminster Tour*

Explore the history of the Royal family and Parliament as you see London's most famous sights, from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben.

     Schedule  - See Calendar

     Meeting Point - The Clermont Hotel

     Duration - 2.5 Hours

City of London walking tour

Free Historic City of London Tour*

Learn the story of the City of London's evolution from Roman trading port to the most powerful financial district in the world.

     Schedule - See Calendar

     Meeting Point - Tower Hill

free London landmarks tour.jpg

Free London in a Day Tour*

Explore all of the London Landmarks in one tour ! Everything from Big Ben to the Tower of London and everything in between!

     Schedule - Private Tour Only

     Duration - 5 - 6 Hours

jack the ripper tour

Free Jack the Ripper Tour*

Travel back to the Autumn of Terror 1888 and investigate a series of murders that sent shockwaves through London.

     Duration - 2 Hours

street art tour

Free Street Art of  Shoreditch Tour*

Enter a world of possibility, where the walls are blank canvases and the flick of a spray can inspire rebellion and revolution.

     Meeting Point - Shoreditch High Street

harry potter tour london

Free Harry Potter Wizarding Tour*

Leave your inner muggle behind and discover the magical secrets hiding right under your nose.

     Meeting Point - The Palace Theatre

ghost tour london

Free Ghosts, Ghouls and Ghastly Murder Tour*

Hear the terrifying tales of London’s worst villains, who killed and were killed and then came back to kill again.

     Meeting Point - Cleopatra's Needle

soho walking tour

Free Rock and Roll Soho Tour*

Explore the birthplace of London's Rock and Roll scene, the heart of the old Red Light District and hear tales of debauchery and drunken misadventure through the ages.

     Meeting Point - Golden Square

walking tour london

Free Sherlock Holmes & the Art of Deduction Tour*

Grab your deer stalker hat and explore locations visited by Sherlock Holmes in the books, films and tv show!

     Meeting Point - Piccadilly Circus ​

james bond tour

Free James Bond & The History of Espionage Tour*

Join and step into the shoes of the world’s most famous spy!

    Schedule -  Private Tour Only

    Meeting Point -   The Clermont Hotel

    Duration -  2 Hours

lgbtq tour

Free Queer & LGBTQ+ History Tour*

Explore London's queer hub & home and uncover 2000 years of LGBTQ+ history.

    Schedule -  See Calendar

private tour london

Private Tours

Booking a tour for 8 or more people? Whether you're a school, friends or family, get in touch about our different packages.

free walking tour london

What our Customers say:

"Excellent free walking tours of London. Did three of them. The guides were great. Their knowledge and understanding of the subject they were speaking of was fantastic. Would recommend this company to anyone, especially the tour guides Olivia, Joel and James. Thank you for bringing London to life!"

WHAT IS A FREE TOUR? *

We run all of our walking tours of London on a pay what you think it’s worth basis. We've all had the experience of paying for an activity up front and then later on, feeling like it was not worth the money. We take that problem away. There is no booking fee for our free tours, and no payment is required before the tour begins. If you have fun then you can decide if you would like to tip your guide. The value is up to you, whatever fits in with your budget. This makes our tours affordable to everyone, regardless of their finances, but also incentivises our guides to never stop trying to improve, as the system rewards the guides who provide the best quality tours. Tipping is always voluntary and our guides will never pressure you into it, but this is their job so if you have had fun, we ask that you take a moment to consider what it was worth to you.

London Tour

Look Up London Guides

Hi, I’m Katie! I created Look Up London back in 2015 to provide the type of fun, history-filled walks that I – a born and bred Londoner – would love to join myself.

Since completing the Blue Badge Tourist Guide training course I’ve been lucky to meet some other incredible guides who – like me – are totally passionate about London’s hidden history. Along with me they’ll be leading public weekend walking tours across London!

Come, meet the team!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “As always an excellent tour around the parts of London  even   locals aren’t aware of. I love the way Katie tied in all the various people we heard about throughout the walk and saw buildings and sites that knitted all this history together.” – Maggie, Tripadvisor Review

Look Up London Guides - Katie

Another Katie (aka Katie 2.0 – not my idea!) Katie studied History at Cambridge University then trained as an Actor at the Oxford School of Drama before gaining her Blue Badge. As her mentor throughout the course I immediately saw her flair for story-telling, expert knowledge and wonderfully personable nature first hand.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It was the perfect blend of history, architecture and social context.  Katie  ( 2.0 ) helped us see this area in a whole new light. Cannot wait to join more tours.” – Danny A, Tripadvisor Review

freelance tour guide london

Emily is a ray of sunshine on your tour! Fun, energetic and full of the most wonderful descriptions that make you look at things with new eyes. Emily and I trained together on the Blue Badge Guiding course and she always pointed out a new angle or detail which I hadn’t considered. She first worked with Look Up London presenting her ‘Female Rebels of the Tate Modern’ tour, a inspiring and uplifting tour about the galleries epic artwork by women.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Emily’s tour of  female artists at Tate Modern was excellent! So thought-provoking, carefully curated, and moving. Emily is an incredible storyteller, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and learnt many new things despite being a Tate member and frequent visitor. Highly recommended!” – Moring, Tripadvisor Review

freelance tour guide london

Born in the US, Emily has lived in Central London since 1991, working as a freelance travel writer. Don’t let the American accent fool you, Emily is as knowledgable as any born and bred Londoner and I had the pleasure of training with her on the Blue Badge Guide course. She is full of passion for London’s history, especially the colourful characters and literary figures and always tells stories in the liveliest ways with fascinating details and enthusiasm.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Emily  was fabulous – energetic, enthusiastic and had great tales to share. Her selection of characters was fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk, the history, the anecdotes and would thoroughly recommend both  Emily and Look Up London.” – Rona Cruikshanks, Tripadvisor Review

freelance tour guide london

Muriel was born in France but now lives in Marylebone, training together on the Blue Badge course it was impossible not to fall in love with her charming accent and wonderful way of explaining history. She was Guide of the Year and knows London inside out!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  “Thank you to Katie and Muriel for organising and presenting a wonderful tour for my daughter and I. From the first point of contact, to delivering a unique guided tour, we were personally, and professionally looked after. Muriel is passionate and so very knowlegable” – Helen, Tripadvisor Review

Look Up London Walking Tours

Look Up London runs regular weekend public walks, starting at 11am and covering areas like The City, Bloomsbury, Smithfield, Clerkenwell, Spitalfields, Kings Cross, Bermondsey and Soho. The public walks are led by Katie.

Tickets are £20 per person and the walks typically last around 90 minutes. Browse all the available public walking tours here .

All guides are also available to hire for private bespoke tours, get in touch using the contact form for more information or read more here . Private tours start from £250 for a couple or small group.

Private Tours

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freelance tour guide london

WELCOME TO LONDON

Let one of our 500+ qualified and knowledgeable blue badge tourist guides show you the best of london and beyond., popular tours.

freelance tour guide london

London Food Tour

Eat, experience and enjoy during a London Food Tour! Now one of the World’s Culinary Capitals, London has it all, […]

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London Virtual Tour

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St Paul’s Cathedral Tour

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Kensington Palace Tour

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Classic London Tour

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London Architecture Tour – Modern & Contemporary

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Churchill War Rooms Tour

Tour the Churchill War Room and discover the nerve centre of Britain’s wartime operations – and the man who led […]

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Major London Sites

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Beyond London Tours

Recent blog posts.

Classic Routemaster being used for Afternoon Tea Tour. Photo Credit: © Ursula Petula Barzey.

The Classic Routemaster Double-Decker Bus: History & Fun Facts

For many visitors to London, one of the iconic sights of a trip to the capital is a traditional London red double-decker bus. Known as a Routemaster, these buses was designed in the late 1940s and manufactured until 1968 when production stopped, mainly because their open back doors – which were one of the attractions for many Londoners – made them unusable by those in a wheelchair. They were still used on many routes until the early twenty-first century and some can be seen occasionally on routes such as the Routemaster Heritage Route 15 which runs from Blackwell to Trafalgar Square.

Pen and ink drawing of Sir Winston Churchill by Paul Trevillion.

Sir Winston Churchill: A Soldier, Statesman, and Symbol of Strength

Winston Churchill is undoubtedly Britain’s most revered politician. He was born in 1874 at Blenheim Palace as a member of a major aristocratic family and is buried in a modest grave nearby. His statue stands opposite the clock, which everybody refers to as Big Ben (actually the name of the bell behind the clock). Chartwell, his house in Kent, is is an important money earner for the National Trust, who welcome around a quarter of a million visitors there every year.

Two mothers with their young children, pushing prams along the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle in the distance. The Long Walk was commenced by Charles II from 1680-1685 by planting a double avenue of elm trees. The central carriage road was added by Queen Anne in 1710. It is a little less than three miles long. To the south of Windsor is The Great Park extending over some 14,000 acres of which 8,000 acres are forest. The public areas are predominantly woodland or open grassland.

Day Trip To Windsor From London – Things To Do In Windsor

Which is the best place to visit outside London on a trip to the United Kingdom? Windsor is one of the most exciting towns to visit with its large royal park, attractive shops, cosy pubs, and tea rooms. It also has Windsor Castle, the oldest castle in the world still occupied by the family for whom it was built – the British royal family.

freelance tour guide london

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Free Tour of London

Book the original London free walking tour and visit many of the city's highlights with a local guide

ABOUT THE Free Tour of London

No other tour covers so many major London landmarks! Have your cameras at the ready as we walk past Westminster Abbey and the Big Ben, and see where the King Charles lives as we stroll past Buckingham and St. James’s Palaces. On this 2.5-hour free walking tour you'll tick off many of London's must-see sites.

Your gratuity-based London Free Tour starts in front of the Apple Store in Covent Garden and finishes by Westminster Abbey.  We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.

Homes of the British royal family

Around every corner is another piece of royal history on this gratuity-based free London walking tour! Your expert local guide will take you to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of His Majesty King Charles III (some tours will even see the changing of the guard!), and you’ll walk past St James’s Palace, where Princes William and Harry grew up. You’ll also see Westminster Abbey, where the Queen was crowned, Princess Diana was farewelled, and Kate and William were married. However, it’s not only the current royals who feature on this London walking tour – you’ll also hear about other kings and queens who left their mark on Great Britain.

Some of the world’s most iconic monuments

Of course though, it’s not just the royals who helped to shape London, the UK and indeed, the world. Your guide will tell you about Winston Churchill as you walk past the Churchill War Rooms, talk about Guy Fawkes as you stroll past the Houses of Parliament, and tell you about Admiral Nelson as you visit the Nelson Column on Trafalgar Square. With other must-see sites like Covent Garden, Horse Guards Parade and of course, the Big Ben, this London gratuity-based free walking tour shows you many of London's major landmarks.

Gratuity-based Free Tour concept

The gratuity-based model of the Free Tour allows guests to support and reward only the highest quality tours, and to ensure that the tour fits within their expectations, and within their budget.

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The gratuity-based London Free Tour starts in front of the Apple Store in Covent Garden

  • See the homes of King Charles III, Buckingham and St James’s Palaces respectively
  • Stand before the stunning Westminster Abbey, site of royal coronations, weddings and funerals
  • Learn about Guy Fawkes and his attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament
  • Look up at the iconic Big Ben
  • See Nelson’s Column on Trafalgar Square
  • Hear about Winston Churchill outside the Churchill War Rooms
  • Stroll down the famous Horse Guards Parade

TOUR SCHEDULES

Click on 'See more dates' to check availability

london free tour group walking in st james park

  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Gratuities for the guide (optional)
  • Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we’re proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world’s best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That’s why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
  • Wheelchair accessible

buckingham palace in london

Customer reviews

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Wonderful, Informative Free Tour gives a great overview of London

Our guide, Trevor, really made the tour worthwhile! He was knowledgable, friendly and entertaining and Trevor's love of history and the city of London was evident throughout the tour. Given that this was a free tour our expectations were fairly low, but this was significantly better than some paid tours I've taken in the past. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Sandeman's Free Tour to anyone and plan to take their other tours in the future.

Really enjoyed our free tour of London with our guide "Big Ben". As a historian, he knew a ton about Royal history and told some great stories that I thought were hilarious. Would definitely recommend for first time visitors to London like myself as I gained some great knowledge and seen some places that I plan on going back to see in my remaining time here.

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Our experiences with this company were absolutely amazing. The tour guides are very fun, outgoing, and knowledgeable. They knew a lot about what they were talking about and they provided other ideas for things to go do if you had extra time. We had Charolette in London, and she did a fabulous job!

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Did a free walking tour with amazing tour guide Angus. It was nice to hear interesting stories about the different sites and the monarchs. I love this concept so much and plan to take more Sandeman's walking tours in other cities as well.

Excellent free tour

We took the free tour with Rob, who was fantastic. Excellent way to see the city and explanations were excellent. Best guide tour in the city. Free means you pay as you decide. Of course we paid, it was worth every penny.

Sandemans London Free Tour

I did the free tour with David Flannagan and absolutely loved it. His love for history showed. It was both entertaining and interesting.

Rob was my guide and he was very informative and entertaining, and also great at answering general questions about the place or certain attractions. Would highly recommend if you are newly arrived in London and want a good tour to get your bearings and get some info behind some of the monuments.

My husband and I did the free tour and the old town tour, both with Angus as our guide. We really enjoyed the two of them. We got to walk the city and learn about all the history of it. Angus is a great storyteller and very fun, definitely recommend.

What is a gratuity-based Free Tour?

The gratuity-based Free Tour is the best introduction to London! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 3 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.

The gratuity-based Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!

We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of London's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveller.

Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?

  • The route covers many of London's major landmarks
  • The meeting point is centrally located in Covent Garden
  • The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
  • The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time

WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN LONDON

  • Select Tour
  • Private Tour

St Paul's Cathedral in London

London Old City Free Walking Tour

Discover major London landmarks on this 3-hour London Old City Tour!

London Street Art Tour Guide

London Street Art Tour

Join a 2.5-hour walk through East London to see and understand some of the city’s best street art

Invitation to Hogwarts

London Harry Potter Tour

Discover the magical world of Harry Potter with local experts

freelance tour guide london

British Museum Small Group Tour

Enjoy a semi-private guided tour through some of the British Museum's most interesting artefacts

Discovering Oxford with SANDEMANs Tours

Oxford Day Tour

A day tour from London to the beautiful and historic city of Oxford

Tower of London at night

London Jack the Ripper Free Tour

Discover London’s darkest history – including Jack the Ripper – on this 2-hour walking tour

People dancing in the club during the SANDEMANs Pub Crawl in London

London Pub Crawl

Have a great night out in some of London's best bars and clubs!

freelance tour guide london

Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.

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freelance tour guide london

2-hour London Highlights Private Tour

Make the most out of your visit and discover London's main attractions with your private tour guide

freelance tour guide london

3-hour London Private City Tour

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of London's fascinating history and must-see sites with your private ...

Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

Lisbon Free Tour group facing the guide

Free Tour of Liverpool

The Edinburgh Free Tour Group Outside St Giles Cathedral

Free Tour of Edinburgh

Thank you! Your support means more to us than we can express in words. Chris Sandeman and the SANDEMANs Live Community

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freelance tour guide london

Brit Music Tours

  • Tour Guide Jobs

Looking for a fun exciting career?

We have a limited number of freelance tour guide jobs in London, Manchester and Liverpool for well-presented, articulate musicians, actors and experienced tour guides who can provide an entertaining and informative commentary to customers on our music themed coach and walking tours.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS REQUIRED

We collect your information in the following ways:

  • A clear-speaking voice in English
  • First class communicator
  • A good general knowledge of history of the area you wish to be a tour guide in e.g. London, and a real passion for music
  • Excellent customer care and interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to gain a rapid understanding of a tour route (i.e. about music history / trivia, places, landmarks)
  • Good presentation, time-keeping and ability to work under pressure.
  • Motivated, energetic and comfortable keeping a potentially large group of people entertained and happy for between 2-3 hours depending on the tour
  • Comfortable with responding to spontaneous changes in tours e.g. traffic delays, accidents etc and keeping the tour guests happy
  • Can learn and retain information provided by a script and also from own research

Preferable skills / experience

  • Previous tour guide experience
  • Fluent speaker of foreign languages including French, German and Spanish
  • Have interesting anecdotes about music

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a CV and cover letter to [email protected]

Last updated: 5/2/2023

DISCOVER OUR TOURS

Our tours & experiences in Liverpool, Manchester & London offer a perfect blend of public and private tour options! We’ll show you the highlights & hidden gems – fully immerse yourself in all things music!

Do you have any questions or wish to get in touch?

freelance tour guide london

  • Tours of London
  • Tours of Liverpool
  • Tours of Manchester
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INFORMATION

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ARE YOU IN?

  • Private Family Tours
  • 2 Hour Free Oxford Walking Tour
  • Oxford University & City Tour with Alumni Guide
  • Christ Church With Extended University Tour
  • Harry Potter Tour of Oxford
  • Oxford Ghost Tour
  • London To Oxford Express Tour
  • Oxford Bike Tour
  • Oxford Bike & Walking Tour
  • Oxford to Stonehenge and Bath
  • Blenheim Half Day Tour
  • Private Day Tours
  • School Group Tours
  • Foreign Language Oxford Walking Tours
  • All Our Oxford Tours
  • Cambridge Free Walking Tour
  • Cambridge University & King’s College Tour
  • Private Family Tour of Cambridge
  • Group & Student Tours of Cambridge
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  • School Groups Tours of London
  • Day Trips From London
  • Bath Free Walking Tour
  • Roman Baths & City Walking Tour
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  • York Free Walking Tour
  • York Minster & City Tour
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  • Become A Guide

freelance tour guide london

Work With Us

Available Roles

As the highest rated attraction in several cities across England, we provide walking tours to thousands of visitors every week. Our clients range from ordinary tourists to private commercial organisations and conference groups.

Our guides are outgoing individuals who are comfortable interacting with groups of 20 strangers and building up a bond during the 2-hour experience.

What makes you a Footprints Tour Guide?

– You’re a friendly and outgoing “people person” with effective communication skills. – You have an excellent command of spoken English. – You have a passion for history and for sharing it with others. – You are self-motivated and always strive to do better than the day before. – You are physically active and enjoy working outdoors.

What would also help?

– Prior experience of working in a customer-facing role. – A good knowledge of the city you are applying for. – Good knowledge of another language.

What availability do I need?

We work with lots of students around England, so other commitments such as studies or other part time work is not a problem.

What is the package?

– Tour Guides can expect pay of £100 per day or £15 per hour depending on the type of tour. – A mix of private and public tours to complement a candidate’s availability. – We offer a highly competitive rate of pay, based on a composite of an hourly bookings rate, fixed rate per tour and sales commission.

Need to know

We operate an equal opportunities policy and recruit only on the basis of work criteria and individual merit. Tour Guides will work on a self employed basis.

The tours themselves are on an ad-hoc basis, and allow for flexible working. We are currently looking, in particular, for guides who want to work a regular 2 or 3 days per week (taking tours from 11:00-13:00 & 14:00-16:00) on a self employed basis.

We operate Day Tours to and from London, Bath, Stonehenge and the Cotswolds. This is a role for a guide who will be trained in delivering fun and engaging tours in all these locations – along with being able to help provide tours in Oxford.

The role also includes a valuable driver license qualification (PCV D1) in order to drive our minibus.

What makes you a Footprints Tour Day Tour Guide?

– You’re a friendly and outgoing “people person” with effective communication skills. – No experience in providing tours is required – You have an excellent command of spoken English. – You have a passion for history and for sharing it with others. – You are self-motivated and always strive to do better than the day before. – You are physically active and enjoy working outdoors.

– A PCV D License (not required as training will be provided if not). – A good knowledge of the city you are applying for. – Good knowledge of another language.

5 Days a week is required – timings vary, but the applicant should be available and willing to work from 7:30am till 6pm. Actual hours will reflect bookings.

– Day Tour Guides will be paid from £27k – £30k, depending on experience with additional target orientated bonus package available.

We require confirdent and outgoing individuals to help spread the word of our tours in the city centre.

Our leaflets are outgoing individuals who are comfortable interacting with members of the public on the street.

What makes you a Footprints Tour Leafleter?

– You’re a friendly and outgoing “people person” with effective communication skills. – You have an excellent command of spoken English. – You are self-motivated and always strive to do better than the day before.

– Prior experience of working in a customer-facing role.

– Leafleter can expect pay of £10 per hour. – We offer a highly competitive rate of pay, based on a composite of an hourly bookings rate, fixed rate per tour and sales commission.

We operate an equal opportunities policy and recruit only on the basis of work criteria and individual merit. Leafleters will work on a self employed basis.

You need to be available at least three days a week, from 10:00-13:00

We operate an equal opportunities policy and recruit only on the basis of work criteria and individual merit.

Flexibly-Work-L

Flexible Work

You decide how many tours you want to accept. This can be increased or decreased depending on your other commitments. 

Top Trip2

Industry Leading Reputation

Work with a business you can be proud of. We are one of the highest reviewed experienced providers in England, originally setup by students to be run ethically and professional, and to combat the “cowboy” perception of other tour operators in the city

Master-Speaker

Public Speaking Masterclass

Anyone can learn 2 hours of information on a city – but how do you captivate the attention of a group, for whom English might be their second langauge? We are experts at it, and will make you one also. All our guides find the skills they develop in public speaking to be of great use for future interviews and careers. 

Group-Guide

Fun Group Of Guides

From Christmas to Halloween social events. Feel free to opt in or out of some fun events, with a group of equally minded individuals 

Who-We-Work-With

On The Grow

Many of our guides have switched over to administration full time / part time roles, after having completed their post graduate studies at Oxford and Cambridge University. Should you wish, there may be potential for full time work in an ever expanding, ambitious and adventurous company.

I loved being well paid, for showing my city to people from around the world; with the role specifically designed to work with students and fit around my academic commitments. The training process was clearly structured and the flexible nature of the role allowed me to set my work days and hours. Ferguson (English - Brasenose College)
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My UK SIM Card

How to Get Started as a Freelance Tour Guide

by Nick Brennan | Apr 9, 2022 | UK Prepaid Sim | 0 comments

So you want to be a freelance tour guide? Good for you. This is the perfect career for anyone with an adventurous spirit who is excited to set their own hours and entertain travelers from around the world. While you may be excited to get out there and begin showing people your favorite places, there are several aspects of the job that you need to consider, especially if you are going freelance.

When you work for an existing company, they take care of the business aspect of the organization, which includes marketing services, bringing in new customers, and handling the finances on an employee’s behalf. When you work freelance, you have to take care of all of this yourself. While it may seem daunting, many people enjoy the job of a freelance tour guide, and you can too with these tips.

Jobs, Skills, and Requirements

The first step is to decide the type of tour guide you want to be. For some, a love of history and a slower pace are key as they lead a more mature audience through the sights and sounds of a forgotten city. Others thrive on excitement and like the idea of bringing youngsters through the mountains of a European country or showing guests a good time on an amazing skiing adventure. There are also wilderness guides, nature guides, museum guides, and more. The point is that you want to find your flavor and hone your hosting skills in that niche.

In addition to your sense of excitement, you may also be required to hold  a work permit or passport , especially if you are working and residing in another country. You will want to check out all of the requirements at your tour spot before you pack up everything and go. If you are looking to be a tour or adventure guide for a type of trip that may be considered dangerous, then you may be required to have a first aid certification for CPR or to take  industry-specific training , such as wilderness survival or a rock climbing exam.

Beyond the mandatory requirements of your particular specialty, you will also need other general skills to be the best tour guide possible. For instance, you will need to be a great communicator with a strong and clear voice, along with the ability to excite a crowd by telling them the story of the place they are visiting. You need to captivate them and keep them excited at every turn. You will also need a great memory as you will have to remember many important details about specific locations and be able to answer audience questions without hesitation. Of course, you will also want to be very organized and punctual, so you never leave your guests waiting. You will also want to ensure that  you are an expert at minimalist packing  not only for yourself but for your guests. You will need to be able to help them pack all their gear and souvenirs in the few bags and suitcases they are allowed to bring.

Marketing and Attracting Customers

As you will be a one-person business, you will not have the luxury of a company working behind the scenes to find and obtain customers for your tours. You will have to do this on your own and keep up on your efforts so you can have continued business as you grow your enterprise. Start by creating a website that promotes your tours while also providing easily accessible information, including prices, what to expect, and more.

A lot of success in touring is shared via word of mouth , so you want to dedicate a portion of your website and marketing to customer reviews and referrals. Ask satisfied customers to post their opinions of your service on the website. Doing so will work wonders to build your authenticity as a tour guide and lure in new customers. You should also consider a referral bonus or reward, such as a coupon or free tour for those who bring you new business or join your mailing list.

In addition to your website, you should also have a presence on social media. Create an account on all of the major platforms and use it to spread the word about your services, any specials you have, or just to post humorous pictures that will pique the interest of those scrolling by. When it comes to social media, you want to post consistently, so you are always in the mind of potential customers. Make the process easier by setting up a content calendar of what you want to post and when, so you are always ahead of the game and not struggling to come up with new content. 

Considerations for Freelancers

Many people in the tour industry are drawn to the idea of working freelance because they like the idea of making their own schedules and being their own bosses. While there are plenty of perks to being an independent contractor, there are also major considerations to be made that you may take for granted when working for a company. For instance, you won’t have access to the benefits provided by corporations, such as health insurance. Instead, you may have to get insurance through the employment of a spouse or go through an insurance exchange. 

Along with a lack of benefits, you are also going to have to create a budget and be very careful with your finances as income may ebb and flow as your business grows. In the beginning, as you are earning less and estimating your expenses, you may have to consider a side hustle like working for a driving service on the side. There is also the matter of paying taxes as a freelancer, which is much different than as an employee of an organization. Check with your respective government to learn which forms are necessary as a self-employed individual.

You are also going to need to protect yourself against lawsuits if a customer were to be injured during one of your tours. Have an attorney assist you in writing up a liability waiver that each customer must read and sign before they start the tour that explains the potential risks and states that the participant assumes all responsibility if an incident does occur. When signing up new customers, you should also request payment upfront, so you are set to go, and you don’t have to worry about collections later on.

For those with an adventurous spirit, the title of freelance tour guide is the dream job. However, before you jump in, take the time to get your affairs in order so there will be fewer surprises along the way, and you can enjoy the job without worry.

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  5. London Private Tours

    Our London private tours are personalized experiences with leading experts across the globe. Make the most of your time in London by going even deeper with an audio guide. See the changing of the guard from a new angle, see Roman ruins in the city, and explore the history of the city's architecture. Show up in the know with a Pre-Trip talk to ...

  6. Tour Guide London

    You pay for the tour guide's time. You hire a tour guide. It doesn't matter how big is your group. If you are a single tourist or family or school group the prices for your tour guide stay the same. And here they are. For London panoramic tours up to 4 hours from £210.00; For London panoramic tours 4 - 8 hours from £300.00

  7. Best Tours by Local Guides in london

    Discover london on a private tour with a local tour guide. Book our guided tours in london now & experience the best things to do in the city. Tour Guide Shore Excursions Safari Live Virtual Tour. Add dates. Search. USD. London tours Explore with 0 tours and 0 guides. Filters. Filter. Duration. 0 - 3 hours. 3 - 5 hours. 5 - 8 hours. 8 - 12 ...

  8. 5* Free Walking Tours

    Free Royal Westminster Tour*. Explore the history of the Royal family and Parliament as you see London's most famous sights, from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben. Schedule - See Calendar. Meeting Point - The Clermont Hotel. Duration - 2.5 Hours.

  9. Blue Badge Tourist Guides in London

    Blue Badge Tourist Guides, due to their unparalleled knowledge, are the only external guides permitted to guide the major sites - e.g., St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, and Windsor Castle. Blue Badge Tourist Guides do not operate fixed itineraries or fixed commentaries - they are flexible and will tailor-make the ...

  10. Find A Guide

    Also, Blue Badge Tourist Guides, due to their unparalleled knowledge, are the only external tour guides in London permitted to guide the major sites like Saint Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London and Windsor Castle. To search for qualified tour guides in London, all you need to do is to put in the requested date and click ...

  11. Look Up London Guides

    Look Up London Walking Tours. Look Up London runs regular weekend public walks, starting at 11am and covering areas like The City, Bloomsbury, Smithfield, Clerkenwell, Spitalfields, Kings Cross, Bermondsey and Soho. The public walks are led by Katie. Tickets are £20 per person and the walks typically last around 90 minutes.

  12. Guide London

    Yoko Ono Music of the Mind Exhibition at Tate Modern in London. The artist Yoko Ono, who turned 91 in February, has enjoyed a successful—if notorious—career over seven decades. She spent the seventies as the wife of Beatle John Lennon until his assassination in New York in 1980, and appropriately for British audiences, that part of her life ...

  13. Tour Guide Freelance Jobs in London

    Apply to Tour Guide Freelance jobs now hiring in London on Indeed.com, the worlds largest job site.

  14. tour guide jobs in London

    Tour Driver Guide - Rabbie's Tours. Rabbie's Tours. London. £169.70 - £189.50 a day - Permanent, Part-time, Full-time. Responded to 75% or more applications in the past 30 days, typically within 3 days. Apply now.

  15. Run The World Tours hiring Freelance Tour Guide Job in London, England

    Candidates will participate in a in-person group interview where they will be expected to speak in front of a group and host a 5-minute presentation. This is to assess your confidence, communication skills, and ability to engage an audience. Job Types: Freelance, Zero hours contract. Pay: £20.00 per hour.

  16. Free Tour of London

    Book the London Free Tour with SANDEMANs, the original free walking tour company. Get the perfect introduction to London with local expert guides.

  17. Tour Guide Jobs

    A good general knowledge of history of the area you wish to be a tour guide in e.g. London, and a real passion for music. Excellent customer care and interpersonal skills; Ability to gain a rapid understanding of a tour route (i.e. about music history / trivia, places, landmarks) Good presentation, time-keeping and ability to work under pressure.

  18. Tours Guide Jobs, Work in London (with Salaries)

    Tour Driver Guide - Rabbie's Tours. £169.70 - £189.50 a day - Permanent, Part-time, Full-time. Responded to 75% or more applications in the past 30 days, typically within 3 days.

  19. Work With Us

    Tour Guides will work on a self employed basis. The tours themselves are on an ad-hoc basis, and allow for flexible working. We are currently looking, in particular, for guides who want to work a regular 2 or 3 days per week (taking tours from 11:00-13:00 & 14:00-16:00) on a self employed basis.

  20. How to Get Started as a Freelance Tour Guide

    When you work freelance, you have to take care of all of this yourself. While it may seem daunting, many people enjoy the job of a freelance tour guide, and you can too with these tips. Jobs, Skills, and Requirements. The first step is to decide the type of tour guide you want to be.

  21. A London Itinerary By a Local (5 Days Perfectly Planned)

    Brooke Horrobin is a London, UK-based freelance travel writer who originates from Ontario, Canada. She has a passion for travel, so much so that she decided to move her life to the UK in 2020 to take on new adventures. Brooke loves giving recommendations, and her time in London has inspired her to share her favorite activities and places with ...

  22. 20 Best tour guide jobs in london (Hiring Now!)

    85 tour guide jobs available in london. See salaries, compare reviews, easily apply, and get hired. New tour guide careers in london are added daily on SimplyHired.com. The low-stress way to find your next tour guide job opportunity is on SimplyHired. There are over 85 tour guide careers in london waiting for you to apply!

  23. How To Work as a Freelance Tour Guide in 5 Steps

    Here's a guide that you can use to become a freelance tour guide: 1. Specify your tourism niche. Many freelance tour guides have a specialized area of focus. It can be helpful to select a specific niche when offering your freelance tour guide services to prospective customers. For instance, if you're a museum buff, you may specialize in museum ...