Tourist guide
Tourist guides show visitors around places of interest in towns, cities and the countryside, like historical buildings, parks, art galleries and museums.
Typical Salary
£19,000 – £25,000
per year
Working Hours
16–30
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a tourist guide, you would:
- guide people and groups around sites of historical and cultural interest
- give details about the history, purpose and architecture of a site
- tell the stories of people and events associated with a site or building
- take groups on coach day tours
- answer visitors' questions and give advice on other places to visit
- act as a driving or cycle guide for individuals and groups
- accompany themed outings, like food and drink, ghost stories or literature tours
Skills needed
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- an interest and knowledge of history
- a desire to help people
- sensitivity and understanding
- a good memory
- physical fitness and endurance
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- volunteering
- applying directly
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
Career progression
With experience you could work for a tour operator as a regional tour supervisor or manager. You might also set up your own tour guiding business.
You could move into related jobs with the organisation you worked for as a tour guide. Examples include, marketing officer, volunteer co-ordinator or visitor attraction manager.