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hamishtheguide · 1 year

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Tucked away over the bridge by Acton Town station, this Museum Depot is one of west London’s best kept secrets. The Museum Depot at Acton holds the majority of the Museum’s collections which are not on display in the main Transport Museum in Covent Garden. This huge warehouse displays an emissive history of London's public transport. Here one can see how transport evolved. For example, originally bus drivers used to sit exposed to the weather on the outside of the carriage and steer the horses upfront. When engine driven buses came along they still had little cover for the driver, just a waterproof blanket to go around their legs. Eventually bus design would place the driver on top of the engine to keep them warm, a practise that went on for decades. It took a while to enclose the drivers seat in a glass section, as they wanted them to have an unobstructed view. Hollywood often uses its historic transport for shooting. Such as the 1930's trains, which were recently used as a film set for the Fantastic Beasts 3. The depot also has an extensive collection of its poster art, underground maps, and signage. I was amazing to see the high callable of artists Transport for London commissioned for its poster designs, e.g. David Hockney. Tours of the depot can be booked via their website. I'm Hamish, a knowledgeable, friendly and fun London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. I look forward to showing you the best London has to offer. Check out my website in the bio to book tours. #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londonfood #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city #londonist #photo #visitlondon (at Acton Museum Depot) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cphx7mHIH0t/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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hamishtheguide · 1 year

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Here are some of the provide tours I have guided. Private tours skip the middle men and save you cash. Contact me via the link in my bio if you would like to get the most out of your time in London. #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londonfood #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city #londonist #photo #visitlondon (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co7FcRIoNZB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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hamishtheguide · 2 years

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I often get asked where my favourite spot in London is. And I would have to say it's the Thames beach! The river Thames is tidal, ranging by around 23 ft (7 m), so the foreshore is covered at high tide. If you look up the tidal times, find beach access, and get the weather right, it can be magical. Chilling on the Thames foreshore is free, suprisingly quiet, spacious, relaxing, and open to all! My favourite spots include bankside and Wapping. You'll often see "Mudlarks" who have a license to scavenge the beach in search of remnants of centuries past. In the 1950's it was common for family to have beach holidays on the beach. I'm Hamish, a friendly and fun London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. I look forward to showing you the best London has to offer. Check out my website in the bio to book tours. #riverthames #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londonfood #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city #londonist #photo #visitlondon (at Butlers Wharf, London Bridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcS--g0IEN_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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hamishtheguide · 2 years

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Do you know what the second tallest building in Western Europe is? The Shard is the tallest, standing at 310m. But coming in second is the less distinguishable skyscraper of 22 Bishopsgate, locating in the heart of London’s thriving financial centre, in the City of London. It stands at 278m (945ft) and 62 stories tall, cost £1.5 billion to build. It can house 12,000 workers and has the floor space of 35 American football fields. It claims to have the biggest bicycle park in London with 1,700 bicycle parking spaces. Inside you will also find a 25ft climbing window and buzzing food hall. Its viewing gallery is London’s highest free-of-charge public viewing spot. Hi, I'm Hamish, a friendly and fun London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. I look forward to showing you the best London has to offer. Check out my website in the bio to book tours. #22 Bishopsgate #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londonfood #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city #londonist #photo #visitlondon (at 22 Bishopsgate) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb5YBClI3Kb/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 2 years

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The Mail Rail is located in Clerkenwell, underneath the Mount Pleasant Mail Centre which was once of the largest Postal sorting offices in the world. The Mail rail was formally known as the London Post Office Railway and is a narrow driverless underground railway in London built in the early 1900’s by the Post Office to distribute mail across London sorting offices. At its peak it transported 4 million letters every day, for 22 hours a day! During World War I the tunnels were used to store art treasures from national museums. They were also used as a film location for the unsuccessful 1991 film Hudson Hawk starring Bruce Willis. Since its closure in 2003 it became frozen in time with old rotas still hanging on the walls. The tunnels are still littered with spare parts that had been left there a hundred years ago in untouched storage rooms and alongside the tracks. Whilst no longer used to transport post, the Mail Rail has been incorporated into the Postal Museum. The Postal Museum tells stories of Britain's postal heritage and uses a mile section of the tunnels to run the Mail Rail. This is a specially designed battery designed mini train that you can ride on for £16 a adult ticket. Recently I had the privilege of walking through the underground tunnels of the Mail Rail at the Postal Museum. The tunnel is so narrow you had to crouch to walk under sections of it. There are 22 miles of tunnels in total and just one mile is maintained and used as part of the Postal Museum. The remaining 21 miles of tunnels are locked up and only viewed by the odd engineer. I can’t even imagine the wonders you could find there. To take part in the tour I booked about a month in advanced, paid £50 and could only get a single ticket for myself. I would recommend the tour to anyone who likes to see the dark and gloomy parts of London. #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londonfood #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city #londonist #photo (at The Postal Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbDn1K7o-p9/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 2 years

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Here are the photos from my recent Graduations Ceremony after qualifying as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide, the highest guiding accreditation in the UK. This two-year course included rigorous examinations in written and practical examinations. This including memorising over 10 hours’ worth of verbal presentations and ability to coach guide for over 150 main roads across London. I found the course very challenging and at points it felt like I was behind everyone else. But I never gave up. Thanks to perseverance and guidance from mentors I eventually passed the all exams in style. By now my inspirational story has probably moved you to tears, but if you can read a bit longer, I would like to finish the with a quote that motivated me throughout my studies. It’s by the late Professor Stephen Hawking, who overcame Motor Neurone Disease to become an acclaimed physicist. “However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. Where there's life, there's hope.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CWliZ7PADDy/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 2 years

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The Lord Mayor's show in the City of London takes place every November and goes back the 13th century. It celebrates the newly appointed Lord Mayor , who acts as a global financial ambassador for the city's financial district. Former solicitor Vincent Keaveny was appointed the 693rd Lord mayor. This huge parade is packed with military , educational charities and local government. (at City of London) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRA46PoY6Q/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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Do you know where the last working victorian (1800s) hanging pit is in the UK? Bodmin Prison in Cornwall, was built in 1779 and closed in 1927. The buildings became derelict until it was converted into a hotel with a £15 entry museum in 2015. 55 executions took place within its formidable walls, for crimes ranging from arson to murder. When you were sentenced to death you had the right to three clear sundays before your execution to repent your sins. After victims were hanged a death mask was made of there face. As they couldn't afford portraits and photography was not invented , these were often the ever images taken of the condemned. You can still see the rope marks on them. The prison is regarded as one of the most haunted buildings in the country. I actually had a weird experience there when I heard someone whistling behind me, but when turned around, know one was there! Spooky! In 2005 spiritual medium Derek Acorah went to Bodmin Jail to communicate with spirits for the TV show "Most Haunted". Derek was fed misinformation about a fictional South African Jailor called "Kreed Kafer" (an anagram of "Derek faker"). Derek decided to become possessed by this fake person, which caught him with his pants down, revealed him as a fake psychic, and ended his career. If you think you can do better than Derek then why not attend the jail's £45 ghost tours which last from 10pm-3am. Hi I'm Hamish, a friendly and fun London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. I look forward to showing you the best London has to offer. Check out hamishtheguide.com to book tours. #bodminjail #cornwall #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londoneye #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city (at Bodmin Prison) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuvB2Yo0lX/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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St Pancras Old Church and St Pancras Gardens #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon #explore #londoneye #uk #londoncity #londonlife #travel #england #city #bigben #londonist #unitedkingdom #photo #visitlondon #towerbridge #londonbridge #westminster #londres #photography #travelphotography #londoner #londonphotography #londonfood #londontown #londonfashion #all #thisislondon #photooftheday #londonstyle https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS-EkbAovXT/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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Battersea Powerstation #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon (at Battersea Power Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS1nArgolpf/?utm_medium=tumblr

#hamishtheguide #londonguides #londonwalks #londonwalkingtours #london #londontours #walksinlondon #walkingtours #discoverlondon #letsdolondon #explorelondon #londonhistoryblog #historiclondon #londonstreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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The British Library is the national library and is by St Pancras railway station, London (at The British Library) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSryMYAozfl/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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I bet you want to know where the oldest continuously owned co-owned apartment building in the world is. Just off Picaddily, is Albany. A 1770's aristocratic mansion that was converted into 69 flats in 1802. Residents included loved politicians such as Margaret Thatcher and Jacob Reese-Mogg. Architect Norman Foster Actors Terrance Stamp & Bill Nighy Lord Snowdon (princess Margarets husband) Poet Lord Byron A 2 bed flat freehold here will set you back about £3million. #hamishtheguide#LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon (at Albany, Piccadilly) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSm7kR4IW_I/?utm_medium=tumblr

#hamishtheguide #londonguides #londonwalks #londonwalkingtours #london #londontours #walksinlondon #walkingtours #discoverlondon #letsdolondon #explorelondon #londonhistoryblog #historiclondon #londonstreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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This may shock you. But this is my first ever Tik Tok. I modelled the directing style off James Cameron. But the camera lense I've used is more reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick (at Royal Academy of Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSejCnBnU_6/?utm_medium=tumblr

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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Where do world leaders and royal families across the world buy their suits? The street called Saville Row in Mayfair is regarded is the number one destination in the world for for bespoke suits. In fact the term "bespoke" is thought to originate here as the cloth for a suit was said to have been “spoken” for by particular customer to ensure it was not sold to anyone else. The suits are made from a black sheet of cloth, take about 12 weeks and cost around £5000. Hi I'm Hamish, a friendly and fun London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. I look forward to showing you the best London has to offer. Check out HamishtheGuide.com to book tours. #hamishtheguide #LondonGuides #LondonWalks #LondonWalkingTours #London #LondonTours #WalksInLondon #WalkingTours #DiscoverLondon #LetsDoLondon #ExploreLondon #LondonHistoryBlog #HistoricLondon #LondonStreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon (at Savile Row) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSKGQ0yMBzs/?utm_medium=tumblr

#hamishtheguide #londonguides #londonwalks #londonwalkingtours #london #londontours #walksinlondon #walkingtours #discoverlondon #letsdolondon #explorelondon #londonhistoryblog #historiclondon #londonstreets #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #visitlondon

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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Do you know where where time zones start from? The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and London's Planetarium. It was founded by Charles II in 1675 as an accurate map of the stars was needed for the navigation of ships. I'll tell you more about that on my next post. Here you can stand in the Prime Meridian of the world placing one foot in the West and one in the East. You can learn how Greenwich came to be the home of time and about John Harrison’s epic race to solve the problem of Longitude. See the beautiful Octagon room, historic telescopes used to map the sky, and the best view in London. #hamishtheguide #london #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #blog #history #tours #royalgreenwichobservatory (at Royal Observatory Greenwich) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjQSv2sCkA/?utm_medium=tumblr

#hamishtheguide #london #londonhistory #tourguide #londonguide #blog #history #tours #royalgreenwichobservatory

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hamishtheguide · 3 years

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Hamish the Guide

#hamishtheguide london

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