Tabitha (Tabby) Lucas
Profile updated 6/12/19
Regional Qualification(s):
Heart of England
Language(s):
English
Phone Number(s):
+44(0)7722 468109
Website:
Contact guide
Introduction:
I was born in Oxford and have family roots in the city dating back over 100 years. For the last 25 years I have lived with my family on the edge of the Cotswolds. On my tours you can find out more about the area from a true local who can show you those quirky interesting things you might otherwise miss.
I am a Blue Badge Guide for the Heart of England and a Green Badge Guide for the university city of Oxford. My background is in wildlife conservation and education.
Please visit my website to find out more details of some tour ideas including tours of the university city of Oxford; walks or driving tours in the Cotswolds; tours of William Shakespeare's home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Downton Abbey filming locations in Oxfordshire; sleuthing out Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour sites in Oxford; family tours of Oxford including looking for clues about Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. Or I can design a bespoke tour for you.
In addition I am a qualified guide for Windsor Castle.
Some comments about my tours:
"Tabby provided our group of six with two days of guided tours in the Western Cotswolds and a day tour of Oxford, and we can't praise her too highly. Our guided walks were well planned and Tabby provided an ongoing commentary of all aspects of the walks from the rich history of the region to all the local fauna. In addition Tabby knows Oxford intimately and in the space of a few hours provided us with a real appreciation of the Colleges, University and City. A great experience." ('All the gang' from Richmond, Virginia, USA and Harpenden, UK)
"Thank you for a very enjoyable tour of Oxford. I found the architectural details and the historical events and people fascinating. Also, the many locations which have appeared in movies and TV series were very interesting. I was very impressed by Tabby who was very knowledgeable and personable." ( B from Ottawa, Canada.)
"Tabby really took our (varied) interests into account and came up with a tailored visit that kept us all happy. As an Oxford graduate, it was great to be reminded of places I knew and also to realise how much I’d missed. I went away awe-inspired by the beauty of Oxford all over again and determined to go back soon to find out more from Tabby’s wealth of knowledge." (S from London)
"Thank you for the tour. The information given of the various locations, topics, and periods of history was great. Although the weather wasn't the most cooperative the overall experience was grand." (G from South Carolina, USA.)
"We had an amazing afternoon with Tabby. An overview of some best bits including some museums that I had been to before but missed key bits of, and some I never knew existed. I particularly enjoyed the history and architecture of the Oxford colleges which I had never been into before. Tabby led us at a nice pace, kept us engaged and dealt ably with the interests of the whole group. Naturally it was good to discover new spots for tea and cake too. Thanks very much" (P from Devon)
“excellent: informative and amusing guided tour of Oxford … I really enjoyed your carefully researched facts, and stories about the old town” (J from Warwickshire)
"A very enjoyable tour of the Oxford colleges. Although naturally very historical in content, Tabby gave this information in a manner which was very entertaining and engrossing. She is a lady who is very knowledgeable about her home city and she provided many anecdotes throughout the tour. I would highly recommend this guided excursion to anyone who is interested in discovering more about Oxford and its colleges." (A and H from Hamilton, Scotland)
"For those of you wanting a first-rate tour around Oxford, whether you are visiting for the first time or revisiting, this should be your first port of call. Tabby Lucas, our friendly walking tour guide, was so knowledgeable and helped to bring alive the amazing history of Oxford, whether it related to the wizarding world of Harry Potter or the academic world of the University." (G from Oxfordshire)
Personal Interests:
Wildlife and Countryside |
Walks and rambles through the beautiful countryside |
Harry Potter |
People that make History |
Jane Austen |
Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon |
The Mitfords |
Oxford |
Cotswold Towns and villages |
Philip Pullman's Lyra books |
Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour |
Downton Abbey filming locations in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Including the beautiful village of Bampton. |
Houses and gardens in the Cotswolds |
Special Interests:
Countryside | walking tours exploring the beautiful countryside of the Cotswolds |
History & Prehistory | Oxford |
Literature | Jane Austen's links to the Cotswolds |
Literature | Explore Stratford-upon-Avon and find out about the places Shakespeare knew well. |
Other | Film Locations for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour. |
Walking Tours | Walking tours of the beautiful university city of Oxford. |
Environment | I have previously worked in nature conservation. |
Science | I have a Biology degree and can take you on a tour of Oxford finding out about scientists past and present. |
Gardens | One of the joys of the Cotswolds are the gardens such as Painswick Rococo Garden, Snowshill, Hidcote, Rousham, Kiftsgate, Sezincote and Bourton House Garden. Or visit the park designed by ‘Capability’ Brown at Blenheim Palace. |
Stately Homes & Country Houses | You can visit some wonderful Stately Homes and Country houses in the Cotswolds varying from the grandeur of Blenheim Palace to Chavenage House which was used as a filmimg location for Poldark. Or you might like to visit Stanway House which has a 300 foot fountain in its garden. |
Birds & Animals | You can never guarantee what wildlife you will see on a guided walk but it is enjoyable exploring the beautiful countryside. |
Castles & Palaces | You can visit Windsor Castle by public transport from Oxford. |
Other | Filming Locations |
Endorsements:
City of Oxford Green Badge, Windsor & Eton
Additional Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science
Driver Guide:
No