About the Guild

Explore, Learn, Enjoy: Oxford Awaits

Founded in 1980 the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides is the professional association of qualified Blue and Green Badge tour guides accredited by the the ITG, the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Our qualified guides are ready to show you the sights, tell you the stories and share the secrets of the city, its thousand-year-old university, and the characters - real and imaginary.

We will help you to plan your visit, offer you a unique insight into the architecture, traditions and of course the best places to eat, drink and stay.

The general University and City tour is the most popular for first time visitors. Giving a unique insight into the University and even older historic city. But for some a specialist tour might appeal, following in the footsteps of Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland; or Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour.

Oxford is also an opportunity to discover the haunts of the literary giants CS Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien or learn about Oxford’s incredible scientific legacy and architecture.

Maintaining standards

The Guild provides support to its members to ensure high quality professional standards in tour guiding in Oxford City and the wider Oxfordshire area. Guild membership is your guarantee of a high-quality tour.

The Guild provides training for new guides and ongoing development for existing members. The Guild promotes and develops good relationships with a range of key partners including Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the University of Oxford and the Colleges of the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University.

Membership

To become a full member of the guild a new guide must have successfully completed the course and practical and written examinations of the Institute of Tourist Guiding (ITG) Green* Badge for Oxford.

There are currently 71 Full Members and 2 Associate Member of the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides and they include both the Blue and Green Badge Guides.

*Initially all Institute Guides qualified with a Blue Badge for a region and in older reference books you will see Oxford Guides referred to as Blue Badge Guides. However, more recently the Institute has recognised that demand in some regions was centred on cities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

To accommodate this demand for a city only guide the Institute introduced a new category of accreditation called a Green Badge. Since 2012 all new Oxford Guild members have been Green Badge Guides.

Committee Members

Current Guild Members

Susanne Addis

Vicky Bailey

Christine Bainbridge

Steve Baskerville

Jessica Baudet

Victoria Bentata

Kate Billimore

Sandra Bingham

Terry Bremble

Sean Callery

Arabella Campbell

Guy Collins

David Crosby

Monica Cunliffe

Jane Dickinson

Sophie Duncan

Laura Ess

Guy Fairbank

Hannah Field

Sara Fletcher

Christophe Forbes

Sara Fox

Marie-Alice Frappat

Lucy Gasson

Charles Graham

Jamie Graham

Leigh Guyatt

Joanna Hamilton

Bryan Hartley

Annetta Harvie

Bella Henman

Elizabeth Hudson-Evans

Aaron Hunter

Alexandra Jackson

Sally Jenkins

Erica Kendall

Alastair Lack

Ben Lawson

Felicity Lewington

Isobel Lewis

Nic Linton

Brian Lowe

Tabby Lucas

Magnus Macfarlane

Jane Mead

Ian Mitchell

David Pollack

Anne Pope

Genny Ramirez

Juan Pablo Ramos Martinez

Anne Roberts

Steve Roth

Lucy Rundle

Susannah Sallé

Shelagh Scott

Martyn Sené

Alison Smith

Helen Smith

Iain Stevenson

Caroline Symington

Edward Taylor

Verity Tiff

Isabella Underhill

William Underhill

Eva Wagner

Rob Walters

Chiya Ward

Rebecca White

Brigitte Whitehead

Peter Woodman

Jess Worth

Nuala Young

Uncover Oxford With Expert Guides

Our guides are experts in various fields, from history and architecture to literature and culture.

Helen Smith

I have a history background and a love of literature, art and architecture. I am a qualified guide for Oxford and the Heart of England. I am friendly and flexible, able to tailor tours to different ages and interests,...

Alastair Lack

I was an undergraduate at University College Oxford where I read history. I then had a career at the BBC, mainly working for the World Service. My wife and I moved to Oxford in 2001 when I became Head of Oxford...

Arabella Campbell

I have lived in the city of Oxford and surrounding area for over 35 years and much enjoy showing visitors around this beautiful city. I have a particular interest in art, architecture and the cultural highlights of...

Bella Henman

I graduated in History and History of Art and worked in publishing before training to become a guide in 2012. I loved learning about the fascinating City and University of Oxford and exploring the beautiful Colleges...

Verity Tiff

Following a career in Science Education working, with all age groups from reception to adults, including children and young adults with Special Educational Needs I trained as a Blue Badge Guide for the Heart of England...

Jess Worth

I will help you make the most of your time in Oxford! I've lived here for over 25 years and as an award-winning Green Badge Oxford tour guide, I love sharing my enthusiasm for our stunning city's history, culture...

Isabella Underhill

My family roots in Oxford and Oxfordshire go back several generations. I arrived in the city as a child; my mother’s family came to farm in the late 19th century. I spent much of my childhood living first in the city...

Guy Fairbank

History fanatic and a bit of an actor, I’ve been a tour guide since 2015. As well as having the pleasure of taking you around the delights of Oxford I’m also a London Blue Badge Guide based in London, so I can help...

Sophie Duncan

I have an honours degree in history and art history from Oxford Polytechnic and after a career organising tours of the French Languedoc I am back in Oxford and still passionate about history. My tours are insightful...

Genny Ramirez

My walks weave together the threads that make Oxford unique, from History, politics and wizardry, to science, music and gardens. Together, we'll explore grand university buildings, quiet lanes and secret passages....

Sandra Bingham

I love showing visitors around Oxford, its iconic buildings and ancient colleges and sharing stories about its traditions and characters. I have studied at both the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University...

Felicity Lewington

I aim to provide “light bulb” moments of “I didn’t know that”! My tours are a mixture of fun contemporary facts, plus the fascinating history of the ancient city of Oxford. I am flexible, and tailor make my tours...

Susannah Sallé

I grew up in a village just outside Oxford, spent all my school years here, and after university studies in Leeds, London, Florence and Montpellier, I returned to my roots! After several years’ work in the publishing...

Lucy Gasson

Exploring the hidden curiosities of Oxford is my passion! I have two degrees from Oxford University and I’ve lived here almost 30 years. I’ve also nearly ten years’ experience guiding visitors of all ages and nationalities...

Brian Lowe

Following a career in the Royal Navy and subsequently in professional photography, my deep-rooted interest in history led me to train as an Oxford Guide, and I qualified in 2005. Since then, I have been privileged...

Iain Stevenson

I was a student here, I read Modern Languages at Jesus College, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree (BA), then my MA, Master of Arts. I was at school in Oxford too, and I live in the centre, truly a local. My...

Guy Collins

Oxford is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world, and I would be delighted to show you round and introduce you to the fascinating cast of characters that have shaped its development. My walks cover...

Elizabeth Hudson Evans

I have been working as a professional Guide in Oxford for 11years. I was born and brought up in Scotland. Previously I was an actress working mostly in the theatre, including London's West End, but gave it up to bring...

Ben Lawson

Oxford and it’s lesser-known stories can definitely raise a smile! I make use of my background in television comedy and radio production with the BBC to create fun and engaging experiences for all ages. I was born...

Nic Linton

Hello. I moved back to ‘the city of dreaming spires’ ten years ago, after twenty years of organising tours throughout China. My international experience means that I am comfortable guiding in English at all levels,...

Joanna Hamilton

Having spent most of my life in Oxford it is a joy to be part of the accredited guiding community. I know all the facts and figures but offer visitors a ‘tailored’ experience. My particular interests might be the...

Isobel Lewis

I have worked in travel for over 30 years and have a great passion for history, culture and fun. I enjoy entertaining guests with the history but also stories and anecdotes about the people and places that make Oxford...

Martyn Sené

I first came to Oxford as a student and was seduced by this wonderful city; one of the great historic cities of the world. I have lived locally for all but a few years since I graduated. After a career in scientific...

Vicky Bailey

I've been leading tours for almost 20 years as a very enthusiastic London Blue Badge and now Oxford Green Badge Guide! I'm a real history buff and have written a short book on the kings and queens of this country. My...

Bryan Hartley

I first fell in love with Oxford when I was a student here and it has been home for 35 years. It’s a privilege to share my city with visitors from both near and far. I aim to make my tours flexible, informative and...

Steve Roth

A former journalist, I've spent my life telling stories. I love history; embrace the bizarre; thrill to tales of adventure; and am particularly fond of myths and legends. An experienced Oxford guide, with a friendly,...

David Crosby

Let me take you on an entertaining, fun, and informative walking tour in the historic heart of Oxford. I have a passion for storytelling and will give you the inside story on the university and town’s traditions and...

William Underhill

An Oxford graduate, my interest in the city’s history and heritage began as a student. On leaving university, I qualified as a barrister but went on to work as a journalist, writing for a wide range of publications...

Christine Bainbridge

Let me be your guide through the history of the city and its university, exploring it through the eyes of an astonishing cast of characters from times gone by. Each tour will view the iconic buildings of Oxford’s...

Lucy Rundle

Hello and welcome! Born and brought up in Oxford, I have a deep-rooted connection to this historic city, and a passion for creating unique and engaging tours. It wasn’t until I returned to Oxford, after a stint abroad...

Tabby Lucas

I was born and grew up in Oxford and my family roots in the city date back over 100 years. It would be a pleasure to share with you my love of this beautiful university city by designing a tour specially tailored...

Rob Walters

I have been showing people around Oxford for a good while now and I actually live in the centre of this city that I love. I like all of my tours to be interactive and fun, yet full of interesting facts. You can see...

Sean Callery

Hello! I have lived in the beautiful Cotswolds for 30 years and I love sharing its stories and sights. I used to write children’s books [search on Amazon for my 60+ publications] and I’m an ex-teacher. I love finding...

Anne Roberts

I have a passion and talent for storytelling, and I really enjoy sharing Oxford’s exciting history and traditions with visitors of all ages. I will give you the true stories, rumours and gossip on the university’s...

Victoria Bentata Azaz

A graduate of both Oxford’s universities with degrees in Modern Languages and in History I give both general introductory tours of the City and University and specialist tours. My particular interests are in Literature,...

Jane Mead

I love showing visitors this amazing city and bringing it alive with stories of the many individuals past & present, real & fictional, who have strolled around its streets, colleges, and quads. I specialise...

Susanne Addis

Oxford has been my home of choice for nearly 25 years and I have been a Guide since 2015. My excitement and love for all things Oxford comes to life during my walking tours. I am bilingual English/German and hold...

Hannah Field

I was born and grew up in Oxford. Having travelled the world, I returned home and that’s when my passion for this city really blossomed. I realised how lucky I am to live here so I wanted to share my city with other...

Sara Fletcher

I am an historian with a passion for the stories of people past and present. My love of Oxford began when I studied at Brasenose College, one of the 39 University colleges. I enjoy spending time here; staying on my...

Jess Baudet

Hello and Bonjour! My name is Jess and I am a French national living and working in Oxford. I have been here for over ten years, working in tourism; initially at the Visitor Information Centre and now at Oxford University’s...

Jamie Graham

I enjoy listening to what’s wanted and then delivering my tours with stories, knowledge, humour and in a light hearted way. My experience in the past 5 years includes walking tours of Oxford, lectures, guiding tours...

Erica Kendall

I love taking visitors and residents round this fabulous city. My tours are lively, entertaining and full of fascinating detail and anecdote. History and architecture are my specialisms and I can tailor a tour to...

Rebecca White

I have been working in the travel industry for over 30 years and have had the privilege of escorting tour groups of all ages and nationalities to over 100 countries. Having returned home, I am a qualified Oxford Green...

Sally Jenkins

I studied Modern Languages at Cambridge University, then moved to Oxford, where I trained as a Blue Badge Guide. I have been guiding in this lovely city for many years, and also work as a tour manager overseas. I...

Ian Mitchell

On retiring from lecturing at Oxford Brookes University I took history courses at Oxford University and qualified as a Bodleian and Green Badge Guide. I love the fascinating history and glorious beauty of Oxford....

Peter Woodman

Greetings! I'm Peter, your personal guide to the fascinating world of Oxford. With more than 10 years’ experience leading tours across the UK & Ireland, I'm an expert at connecting with people of all ages and...

Magnus Macfarlane

Each tour for each guest is very special. I aim at being engaging, entertaining, interactive and stimulating. What previous guests say "magnificent in every way" "He has deep insights" "Oxford comes alive with his...

Kate Billimore

I enjoy leading general tours around the city, as well as offering specialist tours in Science, Film Sites, the Downton Abbey Era, Basic English, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland. I am also a trainer of tour guides,...