How I Accidentally Became a Tour Guide in York (and Never Looked Back)

I’ve been guiding walking tours around York for the past 19 years—sometimes on foot, sometimes waving enthusiastically from the top of an open-top bus, and occasionally lurking behind exhibits at places like the Jorvik Viking Centre, the Treasurer’s House, and the National Railway Museum. If it’s old, quirky, or historically rich, chances are I’ve loitered near it with a group of curious humans.

But how did I end up in this gloriously weird profession?

From Teacher Dreams to Tour Guide Reality

It all started when I moved to York to study Ancient and Medieval History at York St John. The grand plan? Become a teacher. The reality? Teaching placements that made me realise I had a much stronger connection with old stones than modern syllabi. Let’s just say I quickly swapped the whiteboard for a walking stick (not that kind).

A role at the National Railway Museum introduced me to education outside the classroom—and that’s when I discovered the wild, wonderful world of tour guiding. One chatty group of visitors and a cringey ice-breaker later, I was hooked.

Lessons from the Open-Top Bus (Public Speaking in a Hurricane)

My “a-ha” moment came while shouting historical facts over wind and engine noise on an open-top bus. It was there I realised what really makes a tour work—connecting with the people. Not just blurting out facts like a malfunctioning history app.

A special shoutout to Hayley (you know who you are) for pointing out just how boring lectures can be. No one wants to hear a university-style dissertation while on holiday. You didn’t book a walking tour to relive your Year 9 History lessons—you want fun, stories, and maybe a weird Viking fact you can drop into dinner conversations later.

Yes, I’ve got a Master’s in History, and yes, I could spend an hour telling you about the ecclesiastical reforms of the 12th century—but would you stay awake? Probably not. And I’d rather not be the reason someone pretends to need the loo halfway through a tour.

My Rule? No Boring Tours, Ever.

Too many guides treat tours like academic auditions: “Unlike other guides…” or “Historians agree…”. But if your audience is daydreaming about cake, you’ve already lost.

My philosophy?
✅ Keep it human
✅ Keep it fun
✅ Leave people with a smile, a story, and a sore cheek from laughing (or at least smirking)

Speed Dating With Buildings: Why Tour Timing Matters

Guiding a bus tour taught me the art of brevity and clarity. You’ve got seconds—literally—to introduce a landmark before it's behind you and someone sneezes through the punchline.

That skill translates beautifully to walking tours, where timing, pacing, and knowing what not to say is just as important. I always remember that not everyone in the group is a history buff. Some folks are just here to get their bearings and find the best place for a slice of Victoria sponge.

And you know what? That’s perfectly fine. Cake-seekers, pub-crawlers, fact-finders, and Viking enthusiasts are all welcome.

Why York Is the Best Tour Stage Ever?

York makes guiding easy. With its cobbled streets, medieval walls, ghost stories, Romans, Vikings, and Victorians all jostling for attention, this city practically begs to be narrated. I mean, come on—if York were any more historic, it would need subtitles.

Honestly, it's shocking it isn’t already a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Someone send in the paperwork. Oh hang on...

What I offer isn’t just “a nice walk with facts.” It’s an experience—a blend of storytelling, humour, curiosity, and the occasional “Wait, did that really happen?” that makes people stop, laugh, and look around with new eyes.

So What’s Next?

Well, I’m still out there—guiding, laughing, occasionally tripping over uneven cobbles. Whether it’s your first time in York or your fiftieth, my goal is the same: to make sure you leave knowing a bit more, smiling a lot more, and wondering why that Viking exhibit made you weirdly emotional.