About Karen Dawson

Enjoy browsing my guided tours...

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Featured tours:

Bright Sparks, Genius Plots and Historic Spots

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Greenground trails:

Monks, markets and regeneration: the earthy, edgy east end of town - half day central to east trail

Royal parks, royal palaces and neighbourhood squares: the fashionable west end of town - half day west to central trail

Royal parks, squares, markets and canals - full day west to east trail

Other walking tours:

Bright Sparks, Genius Plots and Historic Spots

Living in squares, moving in circles and loving in triangles - a literary tour of Bloomsbury

Monks, Mayhem, Meat and Marx - The Hidden Gems of Clerkenwell

Old London’s fairytale Christmas tour

Traders, barrow-boys and grafters - life on the edge in Spitalfields

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I am proud to be a Blue Badge tourist guide for London. This is the highest tourist guiding qualification in the UK, awarded only after two years of intense study and rigorous exams.

I have lived and worked in London for over thirty five years and my spirit of curiosity about the city remains. I also have a diploma in fashion, specialising in theatrical costume.

Combining the experience of my previous career in the City with my many interests, which include theatre, art, music, sport and nature, makes guiding my dream job.

My tours

I offer private and corporate walking tours, tours of London’s major attractions including the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey and museum and gallery tours.

It’s important to me that my clients enjoy an exceptional experience, which is why I will collaborate with you to design any tour to meet your particular needs and wishes.

Contact me now to start planning your own tour.

Our customers say...

"I learnt new things, even in an area I thought I knew well, excellent company and all felt good with the world! You have one very happy customer. "

Frank

"Thank you so much, Karen. We all had a great time."

Marta

"Interested, informative and engaging. Our guide clearly knew her stuff – She sprinkled fascinating information with fun and quirky facts that engaged and entertained our party who was of all age groups. Time whizzed by and I was astounded by how much we had covered. Fantastic tour… Really recommend"

Richard

"I’ve now been on two separate tours with Karen as guide and I will definitely be signing up for more. Karen obviously has a huge amount of knowledge, and brings things to life through fascinating stories and anecdotes. The walks have been thoughtfully planned, well paced and kept me engrossed for the whole time. Highly recommended for anyone who has a curiosity to learn more about London. "

Sue

"What a superb day! Karen gave us a splendid 150-180 minute tour of Westminster Abbey and - my! - does she know her stuff! Peers, poets, scientists, warriors, kings and queens, and, of course, the Abbey itself:; Karen had interesting stories and an engaging delivery for all of them and was more than happy to deal with our questions. A really great morning, rounded off with a walk across Parliament Square and along Parliament Street and Whitehall to Trafalgar Square. I thought I knew this part of London, but not a bit of it:; Karen had something new every few metres! Thank you, Karen:; we'll be back!"

Will, Hampshire

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