Harry Clayton
I have lived in London for the past 35 years and I love the excitement, vibrancy and variety of this extraordinary city. I have a degree in Medieval and Modern History and for over twenty years I have taught History in a central London independent school, taking advantage of our local museums, galleries and palaces to help bring the subject to life.
Now as a professional Blue Badge Guide, I want to help bring this city to life for you, our visitors, in terms of its colourful history and its contemporary delights. I enjoy guiding in London’s major tourist sites, such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, as well as exploring the ‘hidden gems’ off the beaten track, in areas such as Mayfair, St James’s, Soho, Southwark, Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell. I would love to create a bespoke tour to fit in with your wishes, and will combine walking tours, site visits and use of public transport to ensure that you get the most out of your time in London.
I have special interest in World War Two London and the Blitz; Royal London; London in the English Civil War and Medieval London. I have two tours of the recently opened National Portrait Gallery; the Women of Influence tour looks at the portraits and the stories of up to twenty inspiring and influential women, between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. The 'Rehanging the British Conscience' tour focuses on those people who have until now been invisible in British History. I am also very happy to show you around the highlights of the fabulous National Gallery
I have also developed a tour of the highlights of Street Art in Shoreditch and Spitalfields, combining a close look at contemporary street art with the area's colourful social history.
I enjoy guiding individuals, small groups and families. I really look forward to hearing from you.
Some recent reviews of my tours:
“Wow, wow, wow! Best guides we’ve ever had on a trip. I’d like to give you names in case you don’t have them so that you can pass along my praise to the right people plus request these guides specifically for future clients”. KB December 2023 to Agent.
“Definitely one of the best tours I ever had. We learned a lot about the history of London and its most important people, thank you Harry” LJS December 2023
“Harry, our London city guide, was terrific. I could see our returning to London and requesting more of Harry” SK November 2023.
“Our guide Harry read the room perfectly. Our group of nine was a mixed bag of ages, attention span, physical ability and interest in history. Harry managed to find the sweet spot and every one of us enjoyed this tour” BA October 2023
“He was superb, knowledgeable, and caring. We would highly recommend him for any tour of London” AC October 2023
“If we had the chance, we would book every tour that Harry gives! He was absolutely exceptional. So knowledgeable, but also fun and highly personable. We learned so much and had the best time” NH September 2023
“Great tour for laying the foundation for your visit to London. You will walk to just about every major attraction in town and in addition receive a deeper understanding of the history of England. Having a history professor as a guide was a real bonus. Wear some comfortable shoes, you'll get your steps in” GC September 2023
“Harry was an excellent guide. The war rooms were fascinating and it felt like you were stepping back in time” SC September 2023
“Harry was wonderful! Knowledgeable and professional while making it fun and interesting for the entire family! We all loved it!” CH July 2023
“Harry was fabulous and great at engaging the kids and everyone in our little group” LB July 2023
“The tour was excellent! Harry did a fantastic job of delivering the highlights and history of the Tower London in a way that was child-friendly—but we still learned a lot and our children loved it. They really enjoyed Harry’s stories, as did my husband and I. Harry was friendly and knowledgeable. We’d highly recommend Harry and this tour!” JM June 2023
Languages
EnglishTop 5 Specialities
Royal London Tour
London Street Art Tour
The City of London Tour
Tower of London Tour
Classic London Tour
Guide Calendar Last Update: 26th of April, 2024
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