Research

Expert Opinion Not Needed

A tour is very different from a talk or a lecture – you're using the space around you for illustrations and inspiration. In fact an hour long tour requires only a half dozen stories about each place you stop on your route.

Tours needn't include extensive historical research (although that can be nice), but focus on contemporary insights, observation and opinion. Some of the best walks provide a minimum of talk from the guides, and focus instead on drawing out participants to tell their stories and thoughts about the area.

Get them to think about how the place would have smelled, sounded or looked years ago, or what it could be like in the future. Tours are about connecting to the places where we live and work, in order to cultivate belonging and engagement – so please involve your participants however you can.

Poll your participants on what they think, get them to share their stories, past or present about, say, the bars they frequented, what clothes they wore, what music that was hip and happening at the time.

Consider involving some local residents or business people on the tour. Talk to a street vendor who is thoroughly familiar with the characters, habituees, the patterns and rhythms of the street.

You might want to drop into a store, talk to a business owner, or even meet up with a local politician to get their perspective on the neighbourhood. We encourage you to share the guiding duties with one or two other resourceful friends or colleagues.

Props and performances can add a novel and creative touch to a tour. Ask your participants to read an excerpt of writing by a local writer or a newspaper clipping of the day. Some tour guides have been known to get very theatrical and arranged to have people in costumes en route to ‘animate' the site.

Shortcuts and hidden details are always popular. It's what makes people feel like a local, knowing the insider routes, secret vistas and back alleys.