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How to Become a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide

To become a registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide working in London, you will need to take a course and gain accreditation from the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

The Course

The course typically lasts about 18 months and involves lectures in London and practical site visits, along with periods of self-study. Its main focus is London, but it also covers the major tourist destinations across the South East, so it helps to have a reasonable knowledge of London and destinations such as Windsor, Oxford and Stratford. It can also be useful to have language skills as a large number of guides provide tours in more than one language.

Applying for the Course

There is lots of interest in the course, so candidates are assessed by exam and interview before being awarded a place. You will find further information on the course fees and timelines on the Institute's website.

Programme Content

As part of the course, you'll learn how to develop and present highlighted tours of London's major attractions, together with a City of London walk and a panoramic coach tour. The practical side is matched by lectures covering a wide range of topics related to London, the various regional sites and the techniques of guiding.

Exams

During the course you'll take a number of written and practical exams and if you're successful you'll be awarded a Blue Badge, which is the industry's recognized symbol of professionalism in tourist guiding. It is also possible to take the exams without doing the course, but there are many benefits to doing so, not least the opportunity to meet and work with guiding colleagues.

1. What can be learned about The Course?

A. Lectures and self-study make up the whole course.

B. Language skills can be of great help.

C. It focuses on the major tourist destinations.

D. It has nothing to do with knowledge of London.

2. How can you get a Blue Badge?

A. By taking exams.          B. By taking the course.

C. By having interviews.      D. By working with guiding colleagues.

3. What kind of text is it?

A. A report.      B. A notice.      C. A travel brochure.      D. An advertisement.