My other job – as a London tour guide
In addition to working as an English language teacher, I also work as a London tour guide. In this article, I would like to tell you a bit about my other job.
The tour
My tour is a stroll from Buckingham Palace, to Trafalgar Square to Big Ben, and also includes the changing of the guard ceremony. I market it as a ‘Sightseeing tour of London – in clear, slow English’, aimed at non-native English speakers who want to understand what the guide is saying.
How was my first tour?
Before my first tour in October 2023, I was a bundle of nerves. Worried that I would fluff my lines, I brought a hefty file of notes with me. I remember that only one person booked onto my first tour. She was quite a shy, nerdy, but friendly Portuguese girl. Short, with large glasses, she was carrying a rucksack so big that she could probably have climbed inside it. After the tour, I was a bit gutted that she didn’t bother to leave me a review, but I felt chuffed to have my first tour under my belt.
The iconic London phone box. Once very useful for making phone calls, now very useful for drunk people who need the toilet.
Why do I like being a guide?
I love the history of London. Even before becoming a guide, I spent large amounts of my free time learning about British history. Now, when my wife nags me about how much time I spend watching history documentaries, I just say ‘sorry darling, I’m working – this is research for my tour’.
I love it when people listen to me. In certain situations, I get very nervous when I’m the centre of attention, but on my tours, I absolutely relish it.
I have full autonomy to design the tour how I want. I love this independence, and I am constantly tweaking the tour in order to make it better.
I get to meet cheerful people when they are on holiday
I can massage my ego by reading the lovely reviews that people leave me
I enjoy riding my bike to central London to do the tour
Is there anything I don’t like about being a guide?
It’s very difficult to attract customers and so it’s not very lucrative at the moment. If only I had better marketing skills!
In the summer, the route gets overrun with tourists and it’s very difficult to find shade.
I hate to sound self-important, but I really hate it when people butt in when I’m speaking!
Buckingham Palace and a bunch of bored teenagers
What are the most common questions people ask me?
‘Is that real gold?’
I’m slightly baffled why people are so keen to know if something is real gold. Is it really that interesting? In central London, the answer is generally that ‘it is gold leaf – so just painted with a gold layer on the outside’.
‘How long will that soldier be standing outside Buckingham Palace’?
The soldiers with the silly hats do a lengthy shift of either 24 or 48 hours. Within this, they have 2 hours on duty, followed by a 4 hour break, on repeat.
What’s the best part of my tour?
Obviously, my entire tour is jam-packed with excitement and fun, but perhaps the best part is walking through St James’s Park looking for pelicans. In the year 1664, the ambassador from Russia gave as a gift to the British King a family of pelicans. Since that year, we have always had pelicans living in St James’s Park. Today there are 6 of them - Tiffany, Isla, Gargi, Sun, Moon and Star. They are always very difficult to find, so I like to organise a competition among my guests - who will be the first to spot a pelican?!
Tragically, pigeons have been known to mysteriously disappear in the park.
Have any of my students ever come on my tour?
Yes, and they often bring me very interesting gifts!
My Polish student, Anna, joined me with her lovely family once. She gave me a bottle of Polish vodka which, if I understood correctly, was flavoured with grass that a bison had urinated on.
Ludmila, my Russian student, also came with her lovely daughter. The chocolate she brought me was so nice that I had wolfed it all down by the time I got home.
This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.
15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.
Do you have a side-hustle?
Would you like to have one?
Do you enjoy sightseeing?
Do you like doing guided tours?
Were you nervous on your first day at work?
Was your job difficult at first?
Do you like being the centre of attention?
Do you have autonomy in your job?
Do you like history?
Do you need to market yourself in your job?
What don’t you like about your job?
Do you work with cheerful people?
Do you encourage your children to ask many questions?
If you came on my tour, what gift would you bring me from your native country?
What gifts would you take from the UK to your native country?