Put your hand out on a busy London street and you might get picked up by one of today’s guests. Danny McIntyre and Greg Smith are licensed hackney carriage drivers. They are part of a tradition that goes back centuries, commonly known today as ‘black cabs’. As well as transporting people across London, Danny and Greg also take curious visitors to the top historical sites and regale them with stories of the city’s past.

On this episode, we uncover how they earned their prestigious licence, including taking an exam that involves memorising 25,000 London streets. They share how they expanded their roles into tour guiding, and we learn about the taxi trade’s longstanding culture of benevolence, including an annual trip that takes children from London’s hospitals on an exciting day out. Finally, we hear about the array of people they have driven around, and how there’s more to being a London cabbie than meets the eye.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(02:36) Backstories of Danny & Greg

(13:00) Cab tours vs walking tours

(17:24) A tradition of benevolence

(20:40) More than driving

(23:32) Quirky & famous passengers

(28:03) Outro

Links: THE CHILDREN’S MAGICAL TAXI TOUR

Website: https://magicaltaxitour.com DANNY MCINTYRE

Website: https://traditionallondontours.com

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Lifeofalondoncabbie

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifeofalondoncabbie

GREG SMITH

Website: https://cityoflondonguides.com/find/gregsmith

Instagram: https://instagram.com/greglondonguide

JEREMY JOHN: Tours: https://historyupclose.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy

Ten years ago, Charley Harrison founded Totally Tailored, one of London’s most successful private tour companies. On this episode, she takes us back to the beginning, from working on London’s open-top buses to creating the groundwork for her company during slow shifts at a gift shop. Along the way, Charley reveals what the Totally Tailored private tour guides have in common, how she expanded her business into Edinburgh and why bigger is not always better.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro (01:52) Backstory of Charley (07:45) Growing a small business (14:18) What ‘tailoring’ entails (22:29) Expanding to Edinburgh (25:10) What Next? (28:03) Outro

Links:

CHARLEY HARRISON: Website: https://totallytailored.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/totally.tailored

JEREMY JOHN: Tours: https://historyupclose.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy

Head to central London and you might find Jess Brownrigg and Louise Cooley regaling visitors with true tales of the city’s past. Both these tour guides are passionate about making history compelling for all ages, and their enthusiasm for London’s heritage is contagious.

On this episode, we uncover what led them to this role, and find out more about the different tours they give, from Dr Who to the Tudors. They reveal their methods for bringing history to life, including a technique that Louise calls “laying seeds for the birdies”. They finish by sharing stories of tours not going to plan, from London’s annual naked cycle ride blocking the streets, to rain causing royal guards to march at double speed.

Chapters: (00:00) Intro (03:08) Backstories of Jess & Louise (08:53) Dr Who & Tower of London (14:25) Changing of the Guard (18:39) Things not going to plan (22:38) Outro

You can join one of Jess’ tours by booking through Fun London Tours (https://funlondontours.com) and requesting him as your guide.

Jeremy's Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy

Jeremy's Tour Website: https://www.historyupclose.com

Nigel Smith and Adam Scott-Goulding’s guided walks around London are the talk of the town, with a unique focus on the city’s cinematic heritage and musical history, respectively.

On Nigel’s cinema tours, visitors marvel at the old picture houses that are still a part of the city’s architectural fabric. For Adam, the theme is music, from the 60s stars of Swinging London to the intriguing life of 18th century composer, George Frideric Handel.

On this episode, Nigel and Adam divulge what led them into tour guiding. They discuss the fascinating aspects of London’s cinematic and musical past, and along the way discover how Judy Garland connects their two very different tours. As teachers of tour guiding, they finish with some useful tips to make walking tours more engaging and meaningful.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(02:31) Backstories of Nigel & Adam

(09:29) Guiding cinema tours

(15:06) Music tours & guiding techniques

(27:09) Handel, Judy Garland & group interaction

(35:35) Teaching tour guiding

(39:01) Outro

Links:

NIGEL SMITH:

Book Tours: https://nigelsmithwalks.com

Cinema History: https://memorypalaces.co.uk

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nigelsmithwalks

Facebook: https://facebook.com/NigelSmithWalks

For the Clerkenwell & Islington Tour Guiding Course 2026, follow this link: https://islingtonguidedwalks.com/our-training-course/

ADAM SCOTT-GOULDING

Book Tours: https://londonmusictours.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonmusictours

Facebook: https://facebook.com/londonmusictour

JEREMY JOHN:

WEBSITE: https://www.historyupclose.com

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/londonwithjeremy

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!

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://www.historyupclose.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

Jeremy's Tour Website: https://www.historyupclose.com 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

Jeremy's Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy

Jeremy's Tour Website: https://www.historyupclose.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

Jeremy's Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy

Jeremy's Tour Website: https://www.historyupclose.com