Julia MacKenzie

Welcome to London! London is my city and I look forward to making it your city for the duration of your visit. I was born here and have lived here all my adult life so I know its hidden corners as well as the major sights.
I can show you the “must-see” locations including Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. But I also enjoy conducting walks exploring areas connected with the Royal Family; the historic quarters of Westminster and St James’s; the City of London where the Romans landed and established Londinium; and the lively district around Spitalfields Market that has seen waves of immigration from the 1500s onwards.
As an alumna of Smith College, Massachusetts, I have a particular interest in American connections in London, especially the “Little America” area of Mayfair. And because the Second World War has long fascinated me, I like to take visitors to the Churchill War Rooms and other places connected with wartime London. I also offer a London Blitz Walk in the area around St Paul’s Cathedral.
For those with literary interests, I can take you around Bloomsbury, where the poet T. S. Eliot worked, Sylvia Plath got married and the novelist Virginia Woolf lived. I also do a walk following in the steps of characters in Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway. The charming Hampstead neighbourhood with its bohemian atmosphere and rich cultural heritage is the focus for another walk.
I was an editor at a leading book publishing company before becoming a Blue Badge Guide and worked with major museums and cultural institutions including the Royal Collection (for whom I edited the official illustrated history of the Crown Jewels), the British Museum, the National Maritime Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Imperial War Museum.
If you want to go a bit further afield, I can show you around Hampton Court Palace, Windsor or Maritime Greenwich.
Some recent client feedback:
"The Westminster Abbey tour was superb. Julia was so knowledgeable and so amazingly pleasant to be with. We consider it a privilege to have had Julia for two different tours on this visit to London." [Westminster Abbey and Churchill War Rooms] Steve L, USA
"We had an incredible three-hour tour of the Tower of London with Julia, a lifelong Londoner and certified guide. The time flew by thanks to her engaging storytelling, deep knowledge, and clear passion for history. She brought the Tower’s dramatic past to life with fascinating details we never would’ve picked up on our own. We learned so much and were captivated the entire time. Julia is a true gem. I would highly recommend her to others." Brad D, USA
"OUTSTANDING! I have read every word that Winston Churchill wrote and have always been a huge fan of the PM yet I did learn a lot of new information from the tour and from Julia specifically. The walk around [the area] after the war rooms was an added bonus as she had a wealth of facts and relatively unknown yet fascinating tidbits to share. HIGHLY RECOMMEND." [Churchill War Rooms] Bruce S, USA
"Couldn’t say more fantastic things about Julia! First off she knows history like the back of her hand and we were so tremendously impressed with how effortlessly she could recall small yet important dates and details in history. We did the Blitz Walk and she not only knew the rich history of Britain but also its connections to American history during that time (and I’m sure all other countries too – we were just thrilled she molded it in our context as Americans). Would absolutely recommend!" [Blitz Walk and St Paul's Cathedral] Cathy R, USA
"Julia was amazing! She was so knowledgeable that we hated to part with her. I'd definitely recommend her!" [A Tour of Two Cities: Westminster and the City of London Walk], Doug P, USA
"Julia gave us a truly memorable day in which we learned so much; she is a superb guide, not just for the many details but also for the way she kept our interest." [Spitalfields Walk] Martin M, UK
"Julia was fantastic and she is our top choice for the next London endeavour! She is extremely knowledgeable and a very friendly person so we are looking forward to more London discoveries in the future!" [Maritime Greenwich] Ollie S, UK
"I wish Julia had been teaching art history when I was in school!" [National Gallery] Kara J, USA
"Julia gave us a wonderful tour of the British Museum. Taking us to various key objects, about which she is very well informed, we got a sense of the scope of the entire collection: a useful foundation for future visits. She is also really nice & helpful, negotiating us through the busy galleries without us feeling rushed. I recommend her very highly." Eric S, USA
"Thank you for a fun and informative morning in a very special corner of London. Your knowledge is outstanding and you kept our attention from the moment we met. We so enjoyed our time with you." [Hampstead Walk] Sue A, UK
Languages
EnglishTop 5 Specialities
National Gallery Tour
Westminster Abbey Tour
Tower of London Tour
St Paul’s Cathedral Tour
Churchill War Rooms Tour
Guide Calendar Last Update: 4th of July, 2025
Simply put your name and email address in the form below, together with a brief message for the Guide, and hit the green 'Send' button. The Guide concerned will then reply as quickly as possible to discuss your requirements.