Street Historians

Jeremy John

Street Historians takes you into the fascinating world of tour guiding and uncovers what it takes to make history come alive. Go behind the scenes with author and award-winning guide, Jeremy John, as he and his guests reveal the secrets of the trade. Instagram: @londonwithjeremy

Episodes

  1. 11/19/2025

    Ep 7: Cinemas, Musicians and Serendipitous Moments with Nigel Smith and Adam Scott-Goulding

    Nigel Smith and Adam Scott-Goulding’s guided walks around London are the talk of the town, with a unique focus on the city’s cinematic heritage and musical history, respectively.  On Nigel’s cinema tours, visitors marvel at the old picture houses that are still a part of the city’s architectural fabric. For Adam, the theme is music, from the 60s stars of Swinging London to the intriguing life of 18th century composer, George Frideric Handel. On this episode, Nigel and Adam divulge what led them into tour guiding. They discuss the fascinating aspects of London’s cinematic and musical past, and along the way discover how Judy Garland connects their two very different tours. As teachers of tour guiding, they finish with some useful tips to make walking tours more engaging and meaningful. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (02:31) Backstories of Nigel & Adam (09:29) Guiding cinema tours (15:06) Music tours & guiding techniques (27:09) Handel, Judy Garland & group interaction (35:35) Teaching tour guiding  (39:01) Outro   Links: NIGEL SMITH: Book Tours: https://nigelsmithwalks.com Cinema History: https://memorypalaces.co.uk Instagram: https://instagram.com/nigelsmithwalks Facebook: https://facebook.com/NigelSmithWalks For the Clerkenwell & Islington Tour Guiding Course 2026, follow this link: https://islingtonguidedwalks.com/our-training-course/   ADAM SCOTT-GOULDING Book Tours: https://londonmusictours.org Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonmusictours Facebook: https://facebook.com/londonmusictour   JEREMY JOHN: Book Tours: https://london-with-jeremy.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars!

    41 min
  2. 09/16/2025

    Ep 6: Looking Up and Digging Deeper with Katie Wignall

    For the past decade, Katie Wignall has been a prolific figure on the London guiding scene. Her articles and videos, along with her guidebook ‘Look Up London’, have become invaluable resources for those eager to learn the real stories behind the city’s streets and buildings. Her company specialises in original tours that explore different facets of the city and are known to sell out months in advance. On this episode, Katie shares how she went from posting historical information online to taking groups of people across London’s old alleyways and courtyards for over ten years. She reveals the origins of Look Up London, and how returning from university allowed her to see her hometown with renewed curiosity. She also divulges what goes into doing her own research, her love of turning dry facts into juicy anecdotes, and the joys of connecting with an audience on street level. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (02:25) Backstory (09:20) Sharing knowledge engagingly (13:20) Growing Look Up London (19:47) Digging deeper (28:17) Visuals vs storytelling (30:14) What next? (32:50) Outro If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Look Up London Instagram: https://instagram.com/look_uplondon Look Up London Website: https://lookup.london Jeremy's Tour Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Jeremy's Tour Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

    34 min
  3. 05/28/2025

    Ep 3: Lavish Loos and Untold Stories with Rachel Cole-Wilkin and Bex Couper

    Rachel Cole-Wilkin and Bex Couper are two London guides who enjoy exploring the more under-the-radar facets of the city’s heritage. In Rachel’s case, she founded London’s first and only ‘Loo Tour’, a walk that uncovers the intriguing and beguiling lavatory history of the city and beyond. While Bex has been giving guided walks through the oldest part of London, focusing on the various women from centuries past who have left their mark on the city. In this episode, Rachel and Bex share the backstories about why they chose guiding and how they ended up crafting their own unique walking trails. They reveal expert tricks and techniques to make any tour a memorable experience and address some recent behavioural changes in the way visitors to London are imagining and navigating the city. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (03:06) Backstories of Rachel and Bex (07:35) Crafting a great tour (11:22)  Loo Tours explored (17:20) Making serious topics enjoyable (25:45) Keeping children engaged (29:01) Plans out the window (33:36) New expectations of the old city (39:39) Outro If you enjoyed listening to this episode of Street Historians, don’t forget to click follow/subscribe, and rate the podcast with a thumbs up or five stars. Rachel’s Loo Tours: https://www.lootours.com Bex’s Website: https://walkswithbex.com Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonwithjeremy Podcast Website: https://london-with-jeremy.com

    40 min
5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Street Historians takes you into the fascinating world of tour guiding and uncovers what it takes to make history come alive. Go behind the scenes with author and award-winning guide, Jeremy John, as he and his guests reveal the secrets of the trade. Instagram: @londonwithjeremy