English.
Architecture, Christopher Wren's London, Corporate Tours, Evening walks, Gardens and open spaces, General city tour, Great Fire of London, Guildhall Art Gallery, Livery companies, Markets, Medieval London, River Thames, Romans, Wartime.
I love guiding, and bringing the City of London to life both for visitors, and for people who - like me - thought they knew the City and then realised that there is so much we have never noticed, right there for us to discover.
I grew up in London, and then spent many years in Latin America, India and the Western Balkans working on governance issues in international development. This experience has brought to my guiding a fascination with the way power, politics and money are so closely intertwined in the City of London's story.
I also love researching and exploring all the different people - from so many places and walks of life - who have made the City what it is today: apprentices from far flung corners of Britain, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Norman invaders, and traders, migrants and refugees from all over the world.
I currently offer one tour on a regular basis, with others in development. I also enjoy creating bespoke tours for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions.
Wine Wharves and Dick Whittington
Step into the City of London’s earliest trading story, beginning with the Romans, whose settlement of Londinium grew around the Walbrook stream and the Thames wharves. This walk traces London’s rise from a Roman riverside settlement to a bustling medieval trading hub, visiting ancient and working wharves on the Thames, the river that powered London’s early growth; historic livery halls linked to the Mercers, Skinners and Vintners; churches and lanes that reveal how wool, cloth, luxury furs and wine were part of the lifeblood of the city’s economy. We follow the stories of the outsiders who drove London’s prosperity — Romans, Anglo‑Saxons, Hanseatic traders, Jewish financiers and the apprentices who arrived from far beyond the city walls.
Along the way, we unravel fact from fiction for Richard (Dick) Whittington: a successful Mercer and four‑time Lord Mayor – but did he have a cat? The walk takes us up to the late Tudor/Elizabethan period with London’s first steps toward global expansion, finishing at the magnificent Guildhall, the enduring symbol of its merchant power.
"Judith's enthusiasm and knowledge were infectious and made the tour into a cherished memory. It's inspired us to sign up for more tours to continue to explore the City's intriguing past. A favourite part was the anecdotes about the liveries situated on the now-subterranean River Walbrook and how they fought and interacted."
"Opened my eyes to the medieval London under my nose"
"Was completely unaware of the Hansa/German history, so interesting. The garden was an unexpected gem. Thoroughly enjoyed this tour, having done quite a few walking tours in various cities. Route very well designed, with a clear focus, yet an interesting diversity of stops"
"The whole thing was excellent. There was plenty of interesting information; you got us to stand in the right places so we could hear and weren't facing the sun; we got to look at and learn about some things that we might just have walked past without a guide; you linked back to themes across the walk like Dick Whittington which made it incredibly engaging. it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours".
"We really enjoyed seeing off the beaten track places and learning more about streets that were already familiar. Really liked the mosaic, the discussion at the Anglo-Saxon wharf and how we started and finished in Roman London"
"Good balance of information - this was the right level. Favourite parts were the guilds and apprentices context, Hanseatic history, and the use of art works to bring stories to life"
