London Insider

Getting up close and personal with Jubilee at the Tower…

London Memories
It was a real privilege to guide this wonderful family over their 3 day stay here in London. Despite flight delays and jet lag, we managed to see Westminster Abbey, Guard Change, Tower of London, Borough Market, London Eye, Churchill War Rooms, Windsor Castle and Oxford! Phew! Thank you to for putting it all together!

The Butterfly Tree
Meeting clients at the Corinthia London and greeted by the magnificent Butterfly Tree. A stunning display with the added benefit of raising money for Spread a Smile. By selecting a butterfly off the tree, you raise money for seriously ill and hospitalised children, bringing joy and laughter to them and their families through events, outings and art activities. Small butterflies are £10, medium £25 and large £50. The installation by McQueens not only aims to raise important funds but also increased awareness about the fragility of the butterfly population.

Coronation Fever!
The magnificent Westminster Abbey, always a privilege to be here, but never more so than immediately following the Coronation of TM King Charles III and Queen Camilla - the Abbey Theatre has been transformed into a spectacular space of tradition and pageantry.
The Coronation Chair, placed on the ancient Cosmati pavement facing the altar, has seen the Coronation of 40 monarchs, and is where the anointing of the monarch, and the investiture with the Coronation regalia took place.
The Abbey has a rich history dating back over 1000 years, join me on a tour of this extraordinary site, hear the stories of Kings, Queens, poets, politicians, scientists and soldiers who are remembered here and who are intricately entwined with its history.

HM Fortress and Palace, the Tower of London

Magical and mysterious at night, this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-see on a visit to London.
Ravens! Jewels! Prisoners! Executions! Yeoman Warders! Join me to hear the stories and legends of the Tower and discover its rich royal history spanning back nearly 1000 years.

King’s Chapel of the Savoy
This hidden gem is tucked away between the Strand and the Embankment. The Savoy Palace, built by John of Gaunt in the mid 14th century, used to occupy the site and its legendary name is remembered in the nearby Savoy Hotel and nearby streets such as Savoy Place and Savoy Court.
The Savoy Palace was destroyed in the Peasants Revolt of 1381 and lay as a ruin until Henry VII ordered the building of the Hospital of the Savoy on the same site. It was established as a charitable foundation to provide food and lodging to 100 poor and needy men, and was completed in 1515. It was an extensive complex of buildings which included a dormitory and several chapels. The King’s Chapel of the Savoy is all that survives of Henry VII’s Hospital of the Savoy.
The chapel is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is outside the jurisdiction of the diocese and is answerable directly and solely to the sovereign, who appoints the Dean. Prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, it was known as the Queen’s Chapel, and upon the accession of King Charles III, is now known as the King’s Chapel. Other Royal Peculiars in London are Westminster Abbey and St Peter Ad Vincula at the Tower of London.
The King’s Chapel of the Savoy is the spiritual home of the Royal Victorian Order. Founded in 1896 it is an honour that is a personal gift of the sovereign to recognise the service of individuals to the sovereign and other members of the royal family. The monarch is the Sovereign of the Order, and the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, is the Great Master - their red velvet seats at the back of the chapel are adorned with stall plates displaying their armorial bearings.
The interior of the chapel was destroyed by a fire in 1864, and was faithfully restored by Sydney Smirke, who also designed the round reading room at the British Museum, now a temporary exhibition space in the Great Court. The ceiling of the chapel is a beautiful recreation of the Tudor original.
Contact me for a visit to this, and other hidden gems in London.

Southwark Cathedral
Gaia, is a stunning art installation by Luke Jerram, that has been travelling around the country and the world. Named after the Greek Goddess that personifies Earth, it is 7 metres across, with the captivating image of Earth as seen from space. The sphere floats and gently rotates, creating a sense of awe and wonderment, giving us, it’s inhabitants, a unique perspective of the planet we inhabit.
The idea is to encourage viewers to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our planet - that we are it’s guardians, responsible for its nurturing and protection, and that time is running out.
This stunning display is at Southwark Cathedral until 29 October, and is completely free, so be sure to visit!

Evening walk in Notting Hill and encounter the incomparable on Portobello Road

The Funerary Procession of the Coffin of Queen Elizabeth II
A very moving procession and display; a hush fell over the crowd -even the birds were silent - as the Life Guards preceded the coffin of the Queen, pulled on a gun carriage by the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, was adorned with the Imperial State Crown, and followed by King Charles III, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Earl of Wessex, Prince William the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex. A real privilege to be present at this remarkable moment in history.

Changes at the Tower of London
The cipher of Queen Elizabeth II has been removed from the Jewel House and the Constable of the Tower now resides in the Kings House. Such visible changes are moving and indeed underline that we have moved from the Great Elizabethan era to the new Carolean era.
Long live the King

A nation in mourning…

Mountains of floral tributes and a sea of people as far as the eye could see, queuing to pay their respects to a beloved monarch.

Buckingham Palace is approached by flagpoles draped in the British flag, adorned with a crown at the top and tied with a black mourning wreath. Tens of thousands of people - British nationals, residents and visitors alike - filed past to pay their respects and to participate in this historic moment.

Queen Elizabeth II was a remarkable monarch, to everyone, of all faiths and none, and she will be deeply missed.

Our longest reigning monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, died peacefully today at her beloved Balmoral after a remarkable 70 years on the throne.
She was a constant and steadfast head of state who will be deeply missed by many generations who have celebrated her incredible reign. We will never in our lifetime see another like her.

Off the beaten track…although I’m not in London, I never stop exploring!
The Abbey of Sant Antimo near Montalcino in Tuscany Italy. A stunning Norman-Romanesque church in this beautiful Tuscan valley. Originally founded as a Benedictine monastery by Charlemagne in the 9th c, the church dates to about 1120 and bears a striking resemblance to the chapel of St John at the Tower of London.
Much of the interior is made with alabaster and onyx so that when the light shines through the windows the church glows from within.
Legend says that Charlemagne while on one of his many campaigns through Italy prayed to God to protect him and his army from the plague that was raging through the country, and that if they were spared, he would build a monastery in return. Both he and his army were spared, and not only did Charlemagne fulfil his promise, but it is said that his heart is buried beneath the altar and is still beating…
One of numerous magnificent stopping points on a walking trip between Sienna and Rome with Paths to Rome, an unforgettable and magical experience!

25 years ago today….
Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris. Her death led to an unprecedented outpouring of grief. She is commemorated in a touching statue in the grounds of Kensington Palace, unveiled by her sons, William and Harry, to mark what would have been her 60th birthday. There are also several memorials in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park including a playground and fountain that highlights her focus on, and love of children.

Visit this gem of a palace and hear its royal history on a visit with me, a London Insider, link in bio

Highlights of London

Day 2 touring with this delightful couple from the US - hitting Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster, Covent Garden, Southbank, Borough Market, Tower Bridge and finally Tower of London - bucket list galore!

For highlight’s tours of London and beyond, contact me, a London Insider, link in bio

King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery are currently on duty while the Household Cavalry are on their summer manoeuvres in Norfolk (and giving the horses a well-earned break!)

The King’s Troop was established by George VI following WWII; mechanisation of previously horse-drawn artilleries led the King to establish the troop to participate in great ceremonies of state such as royal birthdays and celebrations.

On her accession to the throne in 1952, the regiment should have become the Queen’s Troop, but Queen Elizabeth II decreed that the name should remain the King’s Troop in honour of her father.

The King’s Troop perform gun salutes in Hyde Park and Green Park to mark royal occasions, provide the gun carriage and black horses for state funerals and participate in the Queen’s official birthday celebrations, Trooping the Colour.

Like the Household Cavalry it is a mounted regiment and each of the soldiers is trained to care for and drive a team of six horses. The regiment has about 140 members, 40% of whom are female!

Join me, a London Insider for walking tours and insights into the highlights of London, link in bio

Street Art in Shoreditch

Turn a corner and you never know what you might see - street art masterpieces are everywhere, sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight.

In and around Hoxton Square you can find works by some of the greatest Street Artists: Fanakapan, Mr Cenz, Unify and Stik!!
Join me on a walking tour of Shoreditch and Spitalfields to explore the ever-changing and dynamic world of Street Art