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Tourist guide: Job description and activities

Tourist guides are an essential part of the tourism industry in the UK. They conduct organised tours for groups of tourists in a wide range of locations, informing visitors about heritage sites and attractions such as stately homes, museums, art galleries, gardens, religious and archaeological sites.

Typical work activities include:

• conducting organised tours (by coach, car or on foot) of an area generally or of specific buildings or sites of interest;
• communicating engagingly with groups of people;
• offering specialist knowledge of subjects, such as natural history, art or architecture.

Many tourist guides work on a freelance basis as registered guides with a regional tourist board, tour operator or other organisation. Alternatively, they may be employed by a guide company. Occasional opportunities may arise within local authorities and the National Trust  .

Training and entry requirements vary and tourist guides come from a range of backgrounds. The Institute of Tourist Guiding  sets the professional standards for the industry, with focus on the prestigious Blue Badge qualification.

For more information see Tour manager.

AGCAS

Written by Rita Kapadia, AGCAS

Last updated:

March 2009

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