Hi! ! Dia Duit! 你好!

That’s hello in English, Gaelic and Cantonese from me, Emma Ko: a Londoner from Hong Kong and Irish heritage (or as I like to say - Chirish)

I have lived in this wonderful city for almost thirty years, having grown up in Hong Kong and moved here to study at the University of Bristol. So I experience London both as a local, and as someone who still finds this metropolis an endlessly exciting place to explore. Having worked as a screenwriter in film and TV before I qualified as a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide - stories are at the heart of my guiding practice. And wow are there some stories to tell …

From the marital drama of C16th King Henry VIII and his many wives … to the Tower of London raven that was dismissed for eating TV aerials. Or how a baker forgetting to turn his oven off properly ended up burning down most of East London in 1666

And it’s not all just history: discover where Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s favourite place to buy flowers is; where the best dim sum (Chinese dumplings lunch) in town can be found; or what the must-see show is and how to get tickets to see it

I love introducing visitors to the London I know and cherish: sharing tales of the people, places and moments that shaped this place we affectionally call “The Big Smoke.”

My tours offer fun, thoughtful, engaging experiences at some of London’s most remarkable cultural landmarks, including:

The National Gallery, Tate Britain, The National Portrait Gallery, The British Museum, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral

For younger visitors, I offer specially curated tours at the British Museum and the Tower of London, designed to spark curiosity and imagination for children aged seven and above

I also lead walking tours across London, with a particular focus on art and the extraordinary women who have lived and worked in the city

Beyond London, I organise visits to historic destinations such as:

Bath: the film-location home to the ton of Netflix’s Bridgerton

Stratford-upon-Avon: where C17th wordsmith William Shakespeare was born and lived

Oxford: students, punting and college spires galore!!

Salisbury: home to the tallest Cathedral spire in the UK

Canterbury: where pilgrims still travel to visit the exact spot a saint was killed almost 1000 years ago

If I’ve whet your appetite and you’re now raring to get going, then drop me a message below, or visit my website: KoKoTours.uk

And let’s start planning your London experience