Shop keepers have been decorating their doorways and windows, the streets have their Christmas lights and hotels are looking spick and span. We are all looking forward to welcoming visitors and to making this Christmas a really special one.

Special thank you to NHS workers
To say thanks to those who have supported us throughout the current pandemic, we are delighted to offer free virtual tours exclusively for key workers and NHS staff. If you can’t come to London, let London Blue Badge Tourist Guides bring London to you. In December, we have a virtual walk around Rotherhithe and the chance to discover secret gardens in the City of London. Details and booking on Britain Unites.

Public Tours in December
As well as the customised private tours you see on this website many London Blue Badge Tourist Guides conduct regular public walking tours and virtual tours for groups. Join one of the public tours below for a fun and affordable Blue Badge quality visit. The walking tours are subject December’s government guidance on COVID-19. If you are not in London, take a public virtual tour presented live on Zoom by a knowledgeable guide to discover hidden gems via this new technology. Here are some of the December public tours.

December 2020 – Public Walking Tours

The Spray Can Tuesday 1 and Friday 11 December 14.00 hrs
Details and booking from www.guideemily.com/
Artist and Blue Badge guide Emily Dell says it’s time to get excited and head into the colourful area of Shoreditch, East London. The neighbourhood is full of inspiring, intricate and insane street art, which has turned Shoreditch; a once grey and quiet place into a bold hotspot for artistic talent. Emily will show you work by street artists such as Dreph, Jimmy C and Banksy, whilst learning about the history of graffiti and street art.

Jack The Ripper Piano Tour Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 December 18.00 hrs
Book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jack-the-ripper-piano-tour-tickets-129468464663
This walking tour with Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Rick Jones begins at the street piano in Devonshire Square, London E1, the tour visits the narrow alley and slum dwellings associated with the infamous serial killer in 1888 against a poignant soundtrack of the comic songs emanating from the music halls around Whitechapel.

Wapping: Pirates, Pubs and Profits Monday 7 December 14.00 hrs
Details and booking from www.guideemily.com/
Visit a cobbled street in Wapping with Blue Badge tourist guide Emily Dell. Lined with warehouses, rustic pubs and whispering alleyways, this was once the place where hundreds of ships full of expensive items like tobacco would weigh anchor in what was known as The London Docks. This attracted thieves and pirates, who if they weren’t careful would end up at the nearby execution dock. Wapping has lived an exciting and erratic life.

Quack Doctor Tour Wednesday 9 December 11.00 hrs
Book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quack-doctor-tour-tickets-129459076583
A walking tour with Rick Jones starting in Southwark Cathedral, the 90-minute tour accounts for the life and times of quack doctor Lionel Lockyer (1600-1672) visiting his tomb and his customers in the City of London.

Tales of a London Christmas Sundays 6, 13, 20 at 14.00 hrs or Fridays 4, 11,18 at 17.30 hrs
Details and booking at karenldawson@icloud.com
Karen Dawson will take you on an entertaining tour of London’s most charming and fascinating festive scenes, from cards and crackers, to a particularly famous carol, we’ll learn curious facts and classic tales of some of our most enduring Christmas traditions, all of which began in the capital.

Kew Royal Botanical Gardens of Sunday 13 December 14.00 hrs 
Book at  Official London Guides
Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens with experienced and professional Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Patricia Gentry and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. Hear fascinating stories of suffragette arson, giant waterlilies, and the world’s smallest Royal Palace. Meet “the loneliest bachelor in the world,” plants that save people from illness and much more during this 1h30 min stroll around the world’s most famous botanic gardens

Chiswick House Gardens Saturday 19^th December 11.00 hrs
Booking at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/31833877123
Discover the history of English gardens and Christmas traditions with Patricia Gentry in the the gardens of Chiswick House, the Palladian masterpiece of William Kent and the Earl of Burlington. Learn about the considerable changes in gardening fashions in England during the last 500 years. You will also hear about some particular (long lost) English Christmas traditions.

Christmas Magic Walk at 14.00 hrs on 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 December
Details on www.londonmagictour.com
This is an unusual tour with Jennifer El Gammal. She is not only a Blue Badge Tourist Guide but she is also a musician and a magician who offers you the chance to discover the magical side of London beyond Mr Potter! From medieval witches and alchemists to tales of great illusionists past and present, learn about the true history of MAGIC in London. Lost theatres, fascinating real-life magic tales and sparkly anecdotes make this 1.5-hour tour real treat and perfect for a Christmas outing. A relaxing and entertaining experience which will leave you happy and full of wonder.

December 2020 – Public Virtual Tours

Mayflower Pilgrims in London and Beyond Tuesday 1 and Thursday 10 December 19.00hrs GMT 
Book here at Eventbrite
Join Emily Laurence Baker, Blue Badge guide and Mayflower descendant for a virtual look at the origins of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the grim realities of their journey and first year in the new world. Why did such a small group of settlers achieve almost mythical status in the formation of America? What is the truth behind their integration with Native Americans already on the land?

Virtual Monopoly Daily through December (including Christmas Day) 09.00 hrs  
Book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-monopoly-tour-tickets-129470753509
Free taster with Rick Jones taking a virtual trip once around the Monopoly board with the dice dictating the stops and a commentary giving historical, geographical, arty, musical, political, economic or legal data about each street or station. Suitable for GCSE students and above…

Brixton Thursday 3 December, 19.00 hrs GMT
Booking on  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brixton-look-up-london-virtual-walking-tour-tickets-127983986549
Immersive virtual tour with Katie Wignall exploring themes of identity, art, immigration and social change in one of London most dynamic areas. Hear of inspiring locals, who stood up for what they believed in. Trace Brixton history through the what we see today. Experience a truly immersive virtual tour, packed with views so you feel like you’ve really explored!

Virtual Street Art Friday 4 and Monday 14 December 19.00hrs GMT
Details and booking from www.guideemily.com/
Emily Dell is a working artist and Blue Badge Guide so an ideal person to show you the splendour of Shoreditch street art from the comfort of your home.  Spray paint, gigantic murals, thought-provoking sculptures; discover the artistic side of the East End.

London Lights: Virtual Christmas in the Capital Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December at 18.00 hrs GMT
Details and booking on https://buytickets.at/daviddrury/441168
London is a truly spectacular place at Christmas time. Though the days may be short and the temperature chilly but nothing beats strolling in the city to see the thousands of lights illuminating Regents and Oxford Street and stopping for a glass of mulled wine. Your guide, David Drury will take you on a virtual experience to relive Christmasses past with ice rinks, carols in Trafalgar Square and real reindeer.  London is a magical place during the festive season.

 Festive Traditions in London Tuesday 8 and 15 December 19.00hrs GMT 
Details and booking from www.guideemily.com/
Why do we pull crackers, why does Norway give Trafalgar Square a Christmas tree every year, what was Christmas like in Charles Dickens’ time? Discover London’s most loved festive traditions with Emily Dell. See this year’s lights and window displays. Hear stories of department store rivalries and where to get the best mince pie in London.

Virtual Sketch History Tour: Trafalgar Square Wednesday 9 and Monday 21 December 19.00hrs GMT
Details and booking from www.guideemily.com/
Do you like sketching? Do you like history? Then how about sketching online with a working artist? Blue Badge guide Emily Dell’s virtual tour combines both. What better way to get to know an area than by drawing it?

London Houses: Homes of Queens  10 December 18.00 hrs GMT
Book at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/128481364219
Discover the London houses of queens, queen consorts and queens-in-waiting with Anna Targett. Lots of tales of love, betrayal and scandal in true royal style.

London Christmas lights, customs and celebrations  Thursday 10 December 16.00 hrs GMT
Booking on  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-christmas-lights-customs-and-celebrations-a-virtual-festive-walk-tickets-127880581261
Explore London virtually at a magical time of year with Janice Liversiedge. See the best of the lights and hear about Christmas custom. We’ll learn about the author of a much-loved Christmas tale, the writer behind one of our favourite Christmas carols. All this plus, of course, the decorations adorning our streets and shops.  And no aching feet!

A Christmas Spectacular with Danny the Tour Guide! Saturday 12 December 17:45 hrs GMT
For details and to book, click here.
Fun for all the family. Join London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Danny Parlour for this fun, family-friendly Christmas themed virtual tour.