Currently at #KewGardens, the Orchid Festival is inspired by the beauty of China. Running until 8th March, it showcases thousands of exotic orchids, vibrant installations, and themed displays in the tropical glasshouse. Find out more at https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/orchids-china

Happy Valentine’s Day from London! The Meeting Place at St Pancras, Robert Indiana’s red LOVE at Tate Modern, Young Lovers by St Paul’s – sculpted love stories perfect for a romantic walk with a Blue Badge Tourist Guide. 💕 https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Barzey.

Today in History (12 February 1554): Lady Jane Grey, England’s “Nine Days’ Queen”, was executed at the Tower of London. Pictured is “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche, at the National Gallery in London. https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/national-gallery-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Barzey.

Today in History (11 Feb 1990): Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. Pictured is a bust of Mandela at London’s Southbank Centre, which commemorates his struggle and legacy. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/black-history-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Did you know London’s Blue Badge Tourist Guides are the only external guides allowed to take you around icons like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St Paul’s Cathedral? Find out more via: 

Today in History (10 Feb 1840): Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, London. Pictured is a portrait of the wedding by Sir George Hayter from the Royal Collection. https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/royal-london-tour/ 📸 © Royal Collection Trust.

Up close with the top of the #ElizabethTower aka #BigBen. Soars 96m over Westminster, its Gothic spires and massive 13-ton bell have been captivating visitors since 1859. Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

View of the #FusilierMuseum at the Tower of London. It houses a treasure trove of regimental history, from glittering medals to poignant war stories of the Royal Fusiliers.  Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/tower-of-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

🗡️ Samurai exhibition opens TODAY at the British Museum! 280+ objects over 1,000 years: armour, jackets, prints + warrior lives & pop culture. Book a Blue Badge Tourist Guide + British Museum Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/british-museum-tour/ #SamuraiExhibition #VisitLondon

February is LGBT+ History Month in the United Kingdom! 🏳️‍🌈  The 2026 theme is “Under the Scope,” highlighting how LGBT+ lives are explored, represented, and sometimes scrutinised across history, culture, and society. 🏳️‍🌈 https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/lgbt-history-month-2026/ 📸 © Ursula Barzey.

Today in History (30 January 1649): King Charles I was executed outside Banqueting House, Whitehall. He is the only English monarch to be tried & beheaded by his own Parliament.  https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/royal-london-tour/ 📸 © Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Evening view of The Royal Arcade in London:  Built in 1879, it is a hidden gem off Old Bond Street in Mayfair. Related Tour:  https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-fashion-shopping-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #LDNBlueBadgeTouristGuides #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon

Early morning view starting near Tate Modern, walking across the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral.  Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Gilded Winged Lion statue at the #TowerOfLondon. This traditional depiction of the winged lion with a halo, representing St Mark the Evangelist, was captured in 1809, during the British siege of Corfu. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/tower-of-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Barzey.

Currently at #TateModern, the Nigerian Modernism exhibition features over 250 works by 50+ artists charting Nigeria’s art revolution from colonial rule to independence. On display until 10 May 2026. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/tate-modern-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Today in History (24 January 1965): Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, died at the age of 90. Pictured is his statue in Parliament Square, London. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/churchill-war-rooms-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Today in History (23 January 1571): Queen Elizabeth I opened London’s first purpose-built Royal Exchange for commerce. Destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666, it was rebuilt and now houses luxury shops and restaurants. https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/the-city-of-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Barzey.

View of a blue police box near St Anne and St Agnes Churchyard in the City of London. No longer in use, it recalls the days before radios when both officers and the public used these street kiosks to call the station, report crimes or summon emergency help. 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

From the steps beneath #WestminsterBridge on the South Bank, the archway perfectly frames Elizabeth Tower aka #BigBen, creating one of London’s most photographed views. Related Guide London Tour https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Today in History (20 January 1265): The first English representative Parliament met in #WestminsterHall, the great medieval hall of the Palace of Westminster. Related Tour https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Tristan Surtel | Wikimedia Commons.

Honouring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose legacy of justice, equality, and hope continues to inspire worldwide. His statue above Westminster Abbey’s west door is one of 10 honouring 20th‑century Christian martyrs. https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/westminster-abbey-tour/

Today in History (15th January 1559), Queen Elizabeth I was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. Below is her coronation portrait, painted by an unknown artist at The National Portrait Gallery in London. https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/national-portrait-gallery-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Barzey.

From the Tower of London, a view of The Shard, the UK’s tallest building at about 310 metres, rising above the Thames and London’s skyline. Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #VisitLondon

Up close with The Young Lovers, a bronze sculpture by Austrian‑born artist Georg Ehrlich, tucked away in Festival Gardens just by St Paul’s Cathedral.  Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/st-pauls-cathedral-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Today in History (11 January 1864): Charing Cross Station opened on the site of Hungerford Market. Today it is one of the UK’s busiest stations, with over 36 million passengers a year. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

1908 Leyland X2 (LN-7270) at London Transport Museum – one of the first motorbuses on London’s streets, operated by London Central Motor Omnibus Co. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-museums-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon

Today in History (8 January 1942): #StephenHawking, renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, was born in Oxford and went on to have a remarkably successful scientific career before his death in Cambridge on 14 March 2018; pictured is his memorial stone in #WestminsterAbbey.

View the Tower Bridge, one of London’s most distinctive landmarks, combining striking neo-Gothic towers with ingenious Victorian engineering.  Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon

Today in History (6 January 1660): The Royal Horse Guards Regiment was founded by Royal Warrant, later taking on ceremonial duties at Horse Guards Parade in the heart of London. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/changing-of-the-guard-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

From the Jubilee Bridges (also known as the Hungerford Footbridges), an evening view of the South Bank is illuminated with festive lights. Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-southwark-south-bank-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

A look at our top nine posts on Instagram for 2025: a mix of posts showcasing our knowledgeable, engaging Blue Badge Tourist Guides, plus major attractions such as the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Tower of London. https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/

From Holborn Viaduct, two gilded dragons in deep crimson and gold keep watch over the western edge of the City of London. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/the-city-of-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon

Will you be in London on New Year’s Day? 🎆   Don’t miss the 2025 New Year’s Day Parade — a 2.2‑mile celebration from Green Park to Parliament Square! Expect colourful floats, 25+ bands & London’s unbeatable energy. 🇬🇧🥁   👉 https://lnydp.com   #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon

Wishing everyone who celebrates Christmas a warm and joyful season from our association of over 500 Blue Badge Tourist Guides in London! May your holidays be filled with laughter, love, and memorable moments. Thank you for exploring the wonders of London with us this year! 🇬🇧🎁🎄🎅

Happy Christmas Eve! 🎄 A few snaps from the Guide London | Association of Professional Tourist Guides 2025 Christmas Party at The Cock Tavern in Kennington, where over 110 guides, trainees and guests danced the night away over pizzas and drinks.  📸 © Blue Badge Guides Linda Hamer & Matthew Ware

View of some of the giant bells and baubles inside Covent Garden’s Market Building, part of this year’s “The Theatre of Christmas” display with over forty oversized decorations. Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Along the South Bank, “Desire Lines” is a new light installation by artist Nathaniel Rackowe, illuminating the nine Thames-side trees opposite the Royal Festival Hall.  Related Tour https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-southwark-south-bank-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Happy Sunday! Pictured is the south side of St Paul’s Cathedral. A magnificent example of English Baroque architecture, it was built between 1675 and 1710 after the Great Fire of London. Related Tour https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/st-pauls-cathedral-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Early morning calm at the diagonal pedestrian crossing where Oxford Street meets Regent Street. Designed in a scramble style, the crossing allows people to cross in any direction at once.   Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-fashion-shopping-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Looking up at some of the winged angels on Regent Street in London! Created by James Glancy Design Ltd, each has a 17‑metre wingspan and forms part of The Spirit of Christmas light display. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸: © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Step into Dickens’s London this Christmas. Discover how A Christmas Carol shaped our festive traditions, and follow in Scrooge’s footsteps through the city streets in this beautifully researched Guide London article.

View of the Christmas tree at #BoroughMarket, one of London’s busiest food markets. Along with twinkling lights, the tree is decorated with colourful fruits and wreaths made from dried citrus slices.  Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-food-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Today in history (17 Dec 1843): Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol was first published in London. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/charles-dickens-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #CharlesDickens #ChristmasInLondon #BlueBadgeTouristGuide

View of the Horse and Rider sculpture on New Bond Street in London. Created by Dame Elisabeth Frink, it depicts a man riding a horse, symbolising the connection between humanity and nature. Related Tour https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

View of Fortnum & Mason's 2025 Christmas windows on Piccadilly, themed “A Fantastical Christmas” with six enchanting scenes of hand-painted mythical creatures.  #ChristmasInLondon Related Tour:  https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-fashion-shopping-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

View of the Ralph Lauren Giving Tree outside the brand’s flagship store on New Bond Street.  Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/classic-london-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #LDNBlueBadgeTouristGuides #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon

View of The Royal Arcade on Bond Street, a Victorian glass‑roofed shopping passage completed in 1879–80 that links Old Bond Street with Albemarle Street in the heart of Mayfair. Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-fashion-shopping-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

31ft Harry Potter Christmas tree at King's Cross: Hedwig topper, scarlet baubles, Hogwarts letters & Hogsmeade shops (Ollivanders, Honeydukes sweets!).  #ChristmasInLondon Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-harry-potter-film-locations-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Early morning view of Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, one of London’s oldest department stores.  Related Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-fashion-shopping-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Evening view of the London Eye from the Golden Jubilee Bridges (also called the Hungerford Footbridges). Related Guide London Tour: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/tours/london-southwark-south-bank-tour/ 📸 © Ursula Petula Barzey. #BlueBadgeTouristGuide #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon