Your Guide
Let's get to know each other
About me....
Sue Sturges
Hello! I'm Sue and I'm lucky enough to have my best job yet! Before tour guiding found me, I worked in a top London Ad agency, and then retrained as an English teacher once I'd started my family. Being a London guide allows me to spend time in the most exciting City in the world and share its treasures afresh with you.
I'm really proud to hold the London Blue Badge accreditation, the gold standard in tourist guiding, which I earned having first 'dipped my toe in the water' with the City of London accreditation and found myself totally smitten! I'm also proud to be an official City of Westminster Tourist Guide.
About you...
What sort of people do I guide?
I'm happy to guide individuals, couples, families or small groups of any age. My experience as a mother of three and as a teacher of young people between 11 and 18 means that I can adapt to all ages. Coming here as a family? Tell your kids, this won't be like a school trip - we'll have fun!
I've also worked in the corporate world, and offer guided walks for your out-of-town colleagues, familiarisation tours for foreign students, or walks for clubs and societies. I will work on specially commissioned tours, walks based on locations, or themed walks; if great writers are your thing, or you're a medic or a legal eagle, come and find out about some of our historic treasures related to your profession.
And of course, I have ready-to-go tours for all of the best London attractions.
Classic Tours
I like to work with my guests to devise their dream trip. Here are just some of the most popular requests, but it's all a matter of personal taste. My trickiest brief was 'surprise us with somewhere different - we've done everything.'
As a Blue Badge guide, I know all the secret places!
ROYAL LONDON
ALL THE POMP AND SPLENDOUR OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND THE GUARD CHANGE
If you're new to London, this is your must-do starter tour - a half (or full) day exploring the Royal Church, Westminster Abbey, with privileged skip-the-line access exclusive to Blue Badge Guides, and walk up the Mall taking in the ceremonial splendour of the Changing of the Guard
THE CITY OF LONDON
ROMANS, ROYALS AND ROGUES
London's history started 2,000 years ago with the arrival of the Romans. For centuries, the area they colonised was London, and that same square mile they defined with a defensive wall still carries evidence of key periods in our nation's history. As a certified City of London guide, I can reveal its secret places.
A THIRST FOR CULTURE
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, ART AND ARCHITECTURE
There are so many world-class galleries in London - but where to start? How about the National Gallery, with a tour of great art spanning the 12th to the 20th century? Or the oldest national public museum in the world, the British Museum, and a highlights tour of such iconic artefacts as the Rosetta Stone, Sutton Hoo burial ship and the cheeky Lewis Chessmen, made famous in the Harry Potter movie.
PRINCES AND PALACES
MORE PALACES THAN YOU'D THINK!
We can view the outside of Her Majesty the Queen's London residence (or inside for a few weeks in the Summer months), but as well as that, we could see St. James's Palace, or Kensington Palace - Prince William and his family's London home. How about going a little further afield to see the Queen's favourite weekend residence, Windsor Castle - or the magnificent Tudor Hampton Court Palace? What you may not realise is that the beautiful Old Royal Naval College was also a royal residence, best reached by a lovely trip down the Thames by boat to Greenwich - one of my favourite places in London.
THE 'BIG HITTERS'
ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, THE TOWER OF LONDON
These two destinations are London classics. St Paul's Cathedral is an English Baroque masterpiece, rebuilt after the Great Fire of London of 1666. The Tower of London, with its display of the Crown Jewels, its famous Yeoman Warders (you probably know them as Beefeaters!) and the mysterious ravens are another must-see for first time visitors. As a Blue Badge Guide, we can bring the history and stories about these places to life.
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
SOUTHWARK, COVENT GARDEN, SOHO, SPITALFIELDS.....
It's not all about the royal and the rich. Over its history, London has been an international centre for commerce of every kind. Explore some of the more 'colourful' areas like Southwark - and the fabulous food market at Borough, or Covent Garden with its louche past, or Soho, or Spitalfields..... areas that received wave upon wave of immigration over the centuries, adding to their rich histories and our wonderful cosmopolitan cuisine.
DAY TRIPS OUT OF TOWN
OXFORD, BATH, STONEHENGE, STRATFORD ON AVON, CANTERBURY, SALISBURY
If you're staying in London for a while, why not get the most out of your trip and take a day tour out of town to see what other treasures England has to offer? We can take a train or I can hire a car and driver for the day and you can drink in the English countryside en route to some of the most beautiful historic destinations in the South. Perhaps you'd like to stop for lunch at a classic country pub? I'll sort you out a day to remember.
Peace of Mind
A Professional Tour Guide
Trained and accredited guide with insurance
Only the best
As a member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding, the British Guild of Tourist Guides, the City of London Guides and Lecturers' Association and the City of Westminster Guides and Lecturers' Association, I carry professional insurance. I also keep my knowledge up to date and fresh with professional development programmes.
Testimonials
Happy customers, Happy Guide!
I work with tour companies, hobby groups, Arts societies, companies and individuals. Each tour is tailored to the audience, for a unique experience. My longest standing client has taken bi-annual tours with me for the past 5 years.
'Thank you for giving our guests such a good time, every time'
Mary, Conference Organiser, England
'I'm still smiling at the joyful energy you exude - think of all the tourists who are in for a treat - they will get a lot more than they ever dreamed of'
Grace, Ireland
'We love the care you take checking the details of our clients' wishes - we know you really care about giving them their best day out'
Tour Operator for US clients, London based
'Just wanted to thank you for your enthusiasm and taking care of our guests. They LOVED you and said it was one of the best tours ever. Unsolicited. They were thrilled'
MD, Principal, Educational Consultant.
Gallery
This is just a taster of the stunning places we can visit - all my own photos!
