Welcome to the Guild’s Autumn CPD—your chance to ignite your passion, expand your knowledge, and connect with fellow guides over the coming months.
This autumn, we’ve curated a truly captivating Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme, a diverse mix of virtual (V) and in-person (IP) courses designed to spark your curiosity and add to your existing knowledge and interest. From the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians to the sprawling history of the British Empire, from the wartime Bletchley Park to the vibrant streets of Notting Hill, this year’s programme is a pick-and-mix of fascinating topics.
This incredible programme wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our CPD committee volunteers: Helene Faure, Rachel Pearson, Anne Roberts, and Susanne Krogh-Nielsen. A huge thank you to them and to all the colleagues, external speakers, and venue staff who are contributing their time and expertise to our community.
We hope you’ll seize this opportunity to enrich your guiding knowledge, connect with friends and peers, and find inspiration to create more tours for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Please remember to familiarise yourself with the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of the page.
For any booking questions, please contact the Guild Office.
For all other CPD enquiries, you can reach out to Rachel Pearson (res_pearson@hotmail.com).
With very best wishes,
Don Whitfield and June Addison
Guild Co-Chairs
The global presence of the English language, laws and culture – often in some quite unexpected places! – is essentially the result of the British Empire. At its height, it encompassed a quarter of the world’s landmass and a large part of its population, the largest empire in history. But how did it come about and did it actually function? And what are its lasting legacies – both good and bad? Ian Jelf takes us on a whirlwind tour of “the empire on which the sun never set”
Retrace over a century of transport innovation, starting from the contemporary works of the HS2 project all the way back to the original 1907 construction tunnels of the Northern line; just why does the Northern line split in two at Euston? This exclusive guided tour by London Transport Museum staff, takes you into the labyrinths of secret passageways that are hidden just feet away from today’s unsuspecting passengers. You’ll see vintage advertising posters, an original turn-of-the-century ticket booth, the striking façade of the original 1907 station and much more besides.
Following the success of the 1851 Great Exhibition, Prince Albert proposed the creation of a group of permanent public facilities which became known as Albertopolis; one of these became known as the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences. Today the Royal Albert Hall hosts over 1000 events a year including its very famous concert series The Proms. Join in-house staff for a tour of this fantastic building that we so often drive by and our visitors camera-snap!
Date: 28 October Time: 7:30pm Cost: £12pp
From the lesser-known Petrie Museum to the jam-packed British Museum, the story of the sarcophagus at the discreet Sir John Soane Museum to the highly visible Cleopatra’s Needle on Embankment, this talk with give you an overview of all the major sites and artefacts to do with Ancient Egypt in central London. . . and how many of them came to be here in the first place, very topical at the moment. And, as always, you’ll learn some hieroglyphs at the end of this talk from your tour guide Vicky Bailey!
Date: 29 October Time: 4:30pm Cost: £15pp
Hosted by the Guards Museum, colleagues are invited to this exclusive event. There will be informal talks from the Chaplain of the Guards Chapel, museum staff, as well as Brigade Major and Garrison Sargeant Major. Find out more about visiting the Guards Chapel, the Guards Museum, and the role of the Guards in ceremonial duties, including an update on innovations to their ceremonial activity and schedule. The second part of the session will take place at the Guards Museum for the opportunity to learn more about their collections and enjoy a glass of wine. Please note this visit is expected to last for 2.5 hours.
Date: 30 October Time: 7:30pm Cost: Free
From April 2026, invoices will need to be produced digitally to comply with the rules/regulations of HMRC. This means that Guides will need to become familiar with using accounting software. There are a range of products available, one of which is FreeAgent. Join Ben Morley, Implementation Team Manager from FreeAgent, who will explain their award-winning, easy-to-use accounting software. Over 200,000 customers use FreeAgent to send invoices, manage expenses and keep an eye on their cashflow. There’s a mobile app to take care of business on the go, and it’s easy to work with an accountant or bookkeeper.
Ben will provide demonstrations of the software capability, as well as explaining the charges involved.
The Aga Khan Centre is a place of education, knowledge, cultural exchange and insight into Muslim civilisations. The building is the UK home for three organisations founded by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, the hereditary spiritual leader of the Shi‘a Ismaili Muslims. The building, with its unique rooftop Islamic gardens, was designed by Fumihiko Maki, one of Japan’s most distinguished contemporary architects. On this private tour led by in-house staff, Guides will learn about the building and Muslim civilisations more widely. There will also be a short presentation about the library collection and some of the items in the library. This visit is repeated at 2pm. Please only select either the 11am or 2pm slot.
The Aga Khan Centre is a place of education, knowledge, cultural exchange and insight into Muslim civilisations. The building is the UK home for three organisations founded by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, the hereditary spiritual leader of the Shi‘a Ismaili Muslims. The building, with its unique rooftop Islamic gardens, was designed by Fumihiko Maki, one of Japan’s most distinguished contemporary architects. On this private tour led by in-house staff, Guides will learn about the building and Muslim civilisations more widely. There will also be a short presentation about the library collection and some of the items in the library. This visit is repeated at 11am. Please only select either the 11am or 2pm slot.
This visit is for colleagues who guide in a language other than English, as they are the only Guides permitted to guide clients around Bletchley Park (tours in English are all conducted by Bletchley Park staff). Bletchley Park is where the incredible achievements of Britain’s World War II Codebreakers took place. Join Bletchley Park staff for a short talk, including information about the rules for guiding clients, and a tour of the park. Refreshments will be provided on arrival and afterwards, colleagues are welcome to stay and explore the interior of the buildings at leisure. NB this is a three hour visit ending at 1:30pm.
Margaret Calvert is a remarkably unsung hero in the world of design: you may well have seen her work today! Every UK road sign is adorned by lettering she helped design and the pictograms for school crossings and farm animals are all her work. If you used the NHS, British Rail or UK airports in the 1970s: Margaret’s lettering was guiding you in those places too. Join Mark Ovenden, broadcaster and author who specialises in graphic design, cartography and architecture, for a fascinating webinar on a fascinating woman.
The Foundling Museum is the only cultural institution in the UK to celebrate people who have been in care, and all those who care for them. The museum retains features from the original children’s hospital that was set up in the 18th century by Thomas Coram and tells the stories of the 25,000 children it cared for over a remarkable two centuries. Whilst members cannot guide inside the museum, this FAM visit, led by Museum Staff, will help you to learn more about the social significance of the museum. Refreshments provided. Please note this visit ends at circa 4pm.
This is a mostly music-related tour of the area where the pubs on Portobello Road promoted acid and Punk Rock. Recording Studios where, among others, Bob Marley and The Eagles recorded. Movie locations include Notting Hill, Hard Days Night and Paddington. This tour will reference horse racing, slum landlords the West Indian Community and, of course, the carnival. Join Glen Portch on this foot-tapping walk in a vibrant neighbourhood of London.
Join Neal Dodge from the Suffolk Guild of Ringers to learn all about bell ringing. From where it began, to regional variations, to just how many bells a church tower can have inside – Neal will provide anecdotes and insights into this most ancient form of music making.
Visit the Hippodrome, Leicester Square: This 125 year old building may surprise you! Having been designed in 1900 by Frank Matcham the prominent theatre architect, the usage has evolved from indoor circus to cabaret, to night club and now casino. Join an in-house guide to learn about the history and to hear more about the artists who have performed there. This visit is repeated on 20 November. Please only select one date.
Visit the Hippodrome, Leicester Square: This 125 year old building may surprise you! Having been designed in 1900 by Frank Matcham the prominent theatre architect, the usage has evolved from indoor circus to cabaret, to night club and now casino. Join an in-house guide to learn about the history and to hear more about the artists who have performed there. This visit is repeated on 19 November. Please only select one date.
Once described as “the Wild West” of finance, Crypto Finance is advancing as a permanent feature of the financial system. This CPD will focus on the situation in the UK, both legal and financial, but with an eye on the USA, which is moving ahead at some pace. Here in the UK, the Wild West stories include the Newport Recycling Centre, the Chinese takeaway worker from Leeds and Bedford F.C. If you have ever been asked by clients what is going on with crypto in the UK, or indeed if a client has ever asked to pay you in crypto, this CPD is for you. Stuart Cannon will demystify this brave new world of finance.
Appreciating the Iveagh Bequest showcased in an Adam brothers’ neoclassical villa bordering Hampstead Heath. Described as ‘the finest collection of Old Master paintings to be given to the nation in the 20th century’ thanks to Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, Kenwood is a site rich in guiding potential. From fine art to stylish architecture, outdoor sculpture to tasty scones (and Scone), Lord Chief Justice Mansfield’s King’s Bench to Lady M’s taste for chinoiserie, this 18th century villa is crammed with anecdotes and collections that readily reward research by any guide based in the Home Counties or beyond. Sign up for the 1-hour self-contained webinar to refresh your knowledge of the basic practicalities and highlights with Mark King, Kenwood House Site Liaison rep. and Trustee of the Friends of Kenwood.
Dr Johnson’s House was built at the end of the seventeenth century as part of a development in Gough Square, of which number 17 is the only one to survive. Many period features have been retained and visitors can soak up the atmosphere in every room. In this private event for Guild members, we will hear about the life and times of Samuel Johnson and his circle, the creation of his famous dictionary, as well as the various usages for the house following Dr Johnson’s departure (such as how the house fared during WW2).
Head off the tourist trail with Mr Londoner on a 90-minute walk through Bankside, London Bridge and Bermondsey to explore the story of this intriguing corner of London. From its reputation as the Tijuana of medieval England as well as a centre of industrial production – the smelly industries of wool; hat-making; brewing; vinegar distilling and tanneries – this part of town has a surprising story to tell. We’ll uncover the clues to a chaotic and toxic past, while pointing the way to a cleaner and greener future.
During this private tour for Guild members, we will enjoy the Library aisle, the Library itself, the Trophy Room and Great Model. As well as views of the Geometric Stair case and the Great West Doors, this is a wonderful chance to see some ‘behind the scenes’ locations that we may not normally do as part of our tours. This tour will be led by St Paul’s staff.
NB: the Triforium tour involves many flights of stairs and will unfortunately not be suitable for those in wheelchairs or with mobility issues. There are 141 steps to the Triforium level and the tour route includes several short flights of stairs, each no more than 10 steps. The climb may also not be suitable for those with a fear of heights or with pre-existing medical conditions. Please note that there are no seating areas on the tour, and we ask that tour participants to stay together throughout.
Appreciating the Iveagh Bequest showcased in an Adam brothers neoclassical villa bordering Hampstead Heath. The visit will also include the temporary display Double Vision: Vermeer at Kenwood. In addition to – or instead of – the 1-hour self-contained webinar on 26 Nov, come along on a 2.5-hour site visit to discover more about the characters and collections that make Kenwood a site for every guide’s portfolio. A curator or senior manager from English Heritage will welcome us and may join for part of the site visit. This site visit is led by Mark King, Kenwood House Site Liaison rep. and Trustee of the Friends of Kenwood.
Please read carefully the following Terms and Conditions for this season’s CPD.
