An entry · Live it
Tour Guide
A city has a thousand doors. They know which ones open.
From curious to committed
Your first steps.
A first visit can be enough. It can also be the beginning.
Meet the craft
Be a tourist in your own town once; the streets change after.
Explore experiences →Give it another afternoon
Notice what you want to come back to. Ask the teacher what regular practice would look like, and what support you would need.
Keep a note for next time →See the working day
Many cities and heritage bodies examine and badge their guides.
Explore ways into the work →These are starting points. A workshop is not a professional qualification. Entry requirements and recognised training depend on the work and the country.
Before you walk in
A few things worth asking the host before you book.
- Is this session suitable for someone who has never tried it?
- What should I bring, wear or prepare?
- What is included, and are there any extra costs?
- Can you accommodate my access needs?
- What could I try next if I enjoy it?
Teach this craft? Share what beginners ask you →
Showing Los Angeles, and 5 elsewhere are hidden
Show every city →Work it
Do the work.
Jobs, apprenticeships, and training that put a person in the room.
Ways in
- Certification
Guide licensing course
Many cities and heritage bodies examine and badge their guides.
- Route in
Lead free walking tours
Tip-based tours are the open stage where new guides find their voice.
- Association
Guides' association
The professional body for training, standards, and work.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasLive it
Live the hour.
Experiences, classes, and places where the presence is the whole point.
Ways in
- Visit
Take the walking tour at home
Be a tourist in your own town once; the streets change after.
- Gathering
Museum docent tour
Volunteer guides give free tours on a schedule; take one, then ask about joining.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasWhy the human is the point
Any map can route you past the cathedral. A guide decides you should hear about the baker's revolt that started two doors down, because they've read your group and know you'll love it. They are editors of a city: cutting the archive down to one walking hour, timed to your feet, alive to your boredom. The place opens differently when a person unlocks it.
Kept nearby
