Caroline Piper

Profile updated 21/11/23

Regional Qualification(s):

London

Language(s):

English

Phone Number(s):

07970 809434

Read more about me:

Contact guide

Introduction:

Welcome! I am a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide and owner of Piper Tours, specialising in tours of London and southern England. I am also a Cambridge University history graduate and would love to show you the places that have shaped London and England's history, and introduce you to the London of today.

Please see me Piper Tours website https://pipertours.com as the one stop place to find out all about me, see videos of me in action, find out all about the tours I offer and see details of my terms and conditions and covid-19 guidance.

I provide a friendly and knowledgeable service to my clients, but you don't need to take my word for it - please see the excellent reviews on my Piper Tours Tripadvisor page.

I enjoy showing my home town to people from all around the world. My background is in history and I have a particular interest in the Tudors and Stuarts and World War 2. I also like exploring “off the beaten track” parts of London from bustling markets to quirky shops and restaurants and striking contemporary architecture. I spent my childhood in the countryside walking dogs across muddy fields and across country estates, so when not in London I love to visit some of England’s great stately homes and gardens, especially in the Cotswolds. When relaxing I am often to be found with my nose in a book, especially anything by Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Before becoming a guide I spent many years in law enforcement and I remain a fan of detective and spy novels, dramas and films.

I am a Member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding (MITG) and also a member of the British Guild of Tourist Guides and the Association of Professional Tourist Guides (APTG/Guide London)

********* I am experienced at providing virtual tours and lectures if you are no longer able to visit London in person. These allow you to have fun, learn something and maintain social distance! ********

Whether you need someone to help you get the most out of a short 1 or 2 day break in London, or if you have been to London many times before and want to explore new neighbourhoods or some of London's huge world-class museums, then I am here to help!

Personal Interests:

Panoramic tours
Walking Tours
Museum and Gallery Tours
Virtual Tours
History
Royalty
London on film
Literature

Special Interests:

History & Prehistory

Romans, Anglo-Saxons, medieval kings and queens, Tudors, Stuarts, World War 2 and the life of Winston Churchill
Royalty, scandal, violence and revolts, everyday lives, the Blitz and real-life and fictional spies

Literature

The life and work of Shakespeare in London and Stratford-upon Avon
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen
Thomas Hardy
Sherlock Holmes (in literature and on film & TV)

Food & Drink

The history of beer and pubs.
Street food and food production.
The history and customs of tea drinking in England

London Areas in Depth

City of Westminster
City of London
Bankside and Southwark
Bloomsbury
St James's
The Temple and Inns of Court
The East End (Shoreditch and Spitalfields)
Chelsea
Covent Garden
King's Cross
Notting Hill
The Docklands; Wapping
The Dockalnds; Rotherhithe
Greenwich
Highgate and Highgate Cemetery

Regional Tours

Windsor
Bath
Blenheim Palace
The Cotswolds (inc walking tours of villages eg Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Broadway and gardens eg Hidcote)
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwick Castle
Oxford
Canterbury, Leeds Castle and stately homes in Kent
Stonehenge
Salisbury

Museums

*The British Museum including the Parthenon Sculptures, ancient Assyria, the Rosetta stone, The Roman Empire, Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain (including Sutton Hoo) and Medieval Europe.
*The National Gallery for the story of western art from the medieval period via the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantics and Impressionists to Van Gogh
*The Museum of London for 2000 years of London's history
*The Imperial War Museum for the story of 20th century warfare, especially World War 1 and World War 2
*The National Portrait Gallery for royalty themed tours from the Tudors to Elizabeth II or exploring the life of Winston Churchill
*The Sir John Soane's Museum for quirky architecture and collections
*The Victoria and Albert Museum for the history of the decorative arts inc sculpture, art, textiles, furniture and design
*An overview of the Tate Modern for the layman
*The Churchill War Rooms for Britain at War and the life of Winston Churchill

Castles & Palaces

English stately homes and royal palaces, including:
Tower of London
Kensington Palace
St James's Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Blenheim Palace
Windsor Castle

Gardens

Secret London gardens
Chelsea Physic Garden
The Royal Parks esp St James's Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Britain Today

London on Film, including;
James Bond
Harry Potter
Bridget Jones and Romantic Comedies
Dr Who
Midsomer Murders in the gorgeous Chilterns and Oxfordshire countryside

Decorative Arts/Arts & Crafts

Exploring the decorative arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum, inc;
British sculpture, furniture, textiles and interior design 1500-1900
Medieval religious and secular art and design
Renaissance sculpture and interiors
European interiors 1600 - 1815
The world famous Cast Courts
Quirky highlights from around the world

Churches & Cathedrals

Architecture, place in history and famous burials:
Westminster Abbey
St Paul's Cathedral
Salisbury cathedral
St George's Chapel, Windsor,
Cotswold wool churches

Architecture

Christopher Wren's architecture
Modern and contemporary architecture in the City of London

Endorsements:

Virtual Tours

Driver Guide:

No