Really Interesting Tours

A wonderfully ornate frontage on a house Kensington, London. Snapped whilst waiting to pick up guests for a day trip to Oxford - I love the discoveries I find during my work. #kensington #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme

The hotels in London are starting to decorate for Easter. This is at the Marriott County Hall. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme

Really Interesting Fact of the Week - One of Britains most common pub names is the Railway Tavern. Putting a pub right next to a railway station is a popular location for many weary travellers seeking refreshment. As there are so many railway stations in Britain it follows that there will be a huge number of pubs called the Railway Tavern or some variation. #railwaytavern #pubnames #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme

Really Interesting Fact of the Week - The Tower of London has held some notable prisoners including the notorious East End gangsters, Ronnie and Reggie Kray. They had been called up for National Service with the Royal Fusiliers who were stationed at the Tower. They were frequently absent without leave and having been arrested they were detained by the Royal Fusiliers in the Tower for a short period before their court-martial. #toweroflondon #kraytwins #thekrays #ronniekray #reggiekray #eastendlondon #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme

This why it is called the photographer’s golden hour - this unfiltered iPhone shot was taken at 16.49 yesterday just as the sun gets low in the sky. #goldenhour #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme

Really Interesting Fact of the Week - The Star of Africa is the largest cut diamond in the world weighing in at a whopping 530 carats and is now mounted in the Sovereign’s Sceptre as part of the Crown Jewels. It was cut from the 3106 carat Cullinan diamond by a specialist diamond cutter. It is said that he carried it from London to his Antwerp workshop in his pocket whilst a decoy convoy with military escort went by another route. Another part of the Cullinan diamond ( a mere 317 carats) is mounted in the Imperial State Crown. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #toweroflondon #crownjewels #cullinandiamond #diamonds #imperialstatecrown

Indi enjoying an English sunset as we finish our evening walk. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #miniatureschnauzer #englishsunset

The Spinnaker Tower is a striking modern landmark in Portsmouth. They serve a marvellous traditional English High Tea to accompany the fabulous views. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #spinnakertower

Really Interesting Fact of the Week - As if being the UKs tallest building isn’t enough the Shard of Glass also stands out spectacularly when sunlight hits it at particular angles. This is because it is sheathed in unusual “white“ glass which is more like crystal than standard industrial glass and reflects light differently. This shot was taken from the nearby Tower of London and brings a different meaning to reflection photography. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #glassarchitecture #shard #shardlondon #architecturephotography #reflectionphotography #reflection

There’s always something going on in London - this is Perceval, part of Sculpture In The City. He represents the porcelain horse and carts that were often found gracing the mantelpieces of English homes 40 years ago. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #london #kitsch #horseandcart #porcelain #pastoralengland

This striking building attached to the Guildhall in the City of London is called the Mayor’s Court and is used for council meetings. #guildhall #cityoflondon #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #london

Really Interesting Fact of the Week - Each one Great Britain’s famous red post boxes should have a Royal cipher on the door letting everyone know that the box is part of the Royal Mail system. Unfortunately between 1879 and 1883 the contractor failed to put the cipher on the doors causing red faces at the Royal Mail. Called an Anonymous Post Box the rare example on the right is situated in Sutton in South London. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #localguide #bluebadgetouristguide #england #holiday #uk #britain #uktourism #bestofbritish #europeholiday #sightseeing #worldtravel #royalmail #royalcipher #royalfamily #royalcrest

The afternoon sun on the trunks of these Silver Birch trees was an unexpected treat. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #silverbirch #naturalarchitecture #naturalsculpture #afternoonsun

They say that travel broadens the mind - I came across these fun bathroom signs when in holiday in Norway #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #norway #funsigns #bathroomsigns #fundesign #senseofhumour

This striking building reminds me of a huge submarine conning tower plowing towards me. It is in fact No 1 Poultry in the City of London. It’s postmodernist style and striking rose pink stone has earned it the status of being England’s youngest Listed (protected) building. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #architecture #cityoflondon #postmodernist

Really Interesting Fact of the Week - Association Football (soccer) has it's origins in the game of 'cloister football' played in the cloisters of local Abbeys such as these at Lacock Abbey. The narrow crowded space made passing difficult so players started kicking the ball over the heads of their opponents leading to the creation of the offside rule. #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #soccer #soccergirls #lacockabbey #offside #cloisters #architecturephotography

I found this rich variety of decoration on the fronts of ordinary Victorian houses when visiting Portsmouth today. The Victorians loved prettifying their buildings and if you keep your eyes open and look up you find all sorts of interesting things. I think that the carved head (top left) is Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. #victorianarchitecture #architecturephotography #architecture #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #dukeofwellington #battleofwaterloo #arthurwellesley #portsmouth #southsea

Looking through a convenient arch at St Mary Le Bow on a crisp bright day in London #Reallyinterestingtours #bluebadgeguide #privateguide #driverguide #privetecarguide #tourguide #touristguide #travelwithme #tourwithme #stmarylebow #sunnylondon