Mike James
Profile updated 19/03/23
Regional Qualification(s):
South West
Language(s):
English
Phone Number(s):
07956 877268
Website:
Read more about me:
Contact guide
Introduction:
There is a strong sense of community in Bath... and I feel very ensconced in it! A Yorkshireman by birth, I have lived in Bath since 2010 and developed strong relationships here with so many businesses that experiential tours are now my speciality, especially food tours (savouringbath.com)!
Having toured extensively across the UK with student groups from North America on educational tours, I have continued to work with adult groups touring the UK & Ireland. I intersperse this by providing enlightening experiences of Bath, Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Salisbury and Wiltshire, and Somerset for clients from across the world, ensuring that everyone I work with takes away wonderful memories of the true beauty of our region.
I love to bring the simplest things alive for visitors - whether it be making what looks like a simple art work taking on new meaning, or revealing the extraordinary in what looks very ordinary, my passion and joy is to share the 'wow' factor when I provide an experience of changing perceptions from something seeming mundane to something becoming a fascinating focal point!
While food tours in Bath have become a speciality I also really enjoy literary tours in Bath, highlighting how the likes of Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and Charles Dickens helped put the city on the map of literary Britain!
I'm also passionate about walking/hiking tours, especially in Windsor Great Park, and the area around Bath, where there are some amazing views across the city and some stunningly beautiful hidden locations!
Personal Interests:
| Railways |
| Walking/Hiking |
| Canals |
| Art & Architecture |
| Prehistory |
| Castle & Cathedrals |
| Food tours of Bath |
| Literature tour of Bath |
| Jane Austen's Bath |
| Charles Dickens in Bath |
| Hiking in Windsor Great Park |
Special Interests:
| Conferences & Incentives | My past work includes working with travellers on corporate incentives, and conferences. Having previously worked for a Tour Operator managing a team of 400 Tour Managers across Europe, I am well placed with the contacts you need to organise your major event. |
| Churches & Cathedrals | Bristol Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Bath Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral... or smaller historic churches such as Cheltenham Minster; St Peter & St Paul (Northleach); St John the Baptist (Cirencester); St Nicholas (Bathampton); or the Lord Mayor's Chapel (Bristol) ...there are huge amounts of religious buildings steeped in history in the South West. |
| Stately Homes & Country Houses | From National Trust properties to stunning, privately owned country manors, and elegant town houses, the South West has a plethora of stately homes to explore. I can arrange visits for groups, individuals, or corporate visits with a guided tour or something extra special! |
| Shopping | Whether you prefer the boutique style shops of the market town of Stroud (the 'Covent Garden' of the Cotswolds), the markets of Cirencester and Bath, or high street shopping in the metropolitan centres of Bristol or Exeter, I can plan and lead an itinerary for you which will fulfil your every need when it comes to finding that special purchase! I can also offer tours of Christmas Markets in the south west - Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Salisbury and others! |
| Walking Tours | I can provide walking tours tailored to your needs, in the city and countryside surrounding Bath. Special themed tours include: Jane Austen themed tours of Bath; 'Georgian Fare' (sample flavours from Baths culinary history and learn about local produce); explore the site of the Battle of Lansdowne, and the Woolley Valley, or experience views of the city from above on the Bath Skyline. I can also provide highlights tours of Bristol, Cheltenham, Salisbury, and other cities in the region. |
| Food & Drink | Experience 'Georgian Fare' by following a foodie trail around the city of Bath and hearing the stories behind foods unique to this Georgian gem: Bath Olivers; Sally Lunn's Buns; Bath Buns, and much more! Sample some of these, plus other morsels of local produce, and learn about some of the great places to eat and drink in the UK's UNESCO World Heritage city! |
| Genealogy | I have provided tours across the UK, often focussing on specific areas, for one-name associations and family societies. This is a massively growing area of interest with a wealth of touring experience I am well placed to accompany, tour manage, and guide planned itineraries and assist with itinerary building. |
Endorsements:
York Minster, Windsor & Eton
Driver Guide:
No
