What is a "Blue Badge Guide"?

The "Blue Badge" is the top qualification for Britain's professional tourist guides. It is a guarantee that the holder has been officially trained, examined and registered and is able to communicate their extensive knowledge in an interesting and entertaining way.

The first Blue Badges were awarded to tourist guides who were trained for the 1951 Festival of Britain. There are now about 2,000 Blue Badge Guides in Britain; just over half are London based.

Blue Badge guides are the only guides (other than in-house guides) authorized to guide in The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Spencer House, Oxford & Cambridge colleges, Shakespeare's birthplace, York Minster, Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh Castle.

Once accepted for the training course, this lasts eighteen months and consists of eight rigorous written and practical on-site examinations.

Coming from all walks of life and undertaking extensive and costly training designed to ensure a high degree of professionalism, Blue Badge guides are accomplished presenters and interpreters of the British way of life. The standards they have set are recognized internationally and provide a model for guide training worldwide.

Article sibmitted by Simon Good

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