About Me

About Me

Having trained as a librarian, I worked as an information professional in the financial services industry for over 25 years, most latterly as the Manager, Information Resources at a global insurance company.

My work has been recognised at industry level having been awarded the Information Professional of the Year award in 2006 and by my professional organisation, SLA, awarding me the Membership Achievement Award in 2008.

Having a degree in Politics and Modern History my love of research has always been linked to social history in particular and being a Londoner born and bred, this led me to train as a guide, firstly as a City of London Guide, then as a Clerkenwell & Islington Guide and in 2004 I gained the Blue Badge for London, winning the prize for Best Written Paper. In 2005, together with a colleague, I launched Go East London to encourage people to venture east of the City and now have rebranded as Go London Tours to include the areas elsewhere in London where I also lead tours.

The tours and talks (Virtual Tours) cover a range of topics but often focus on the 'human stories behind the buildings'. That is where my passion for London stems from.

When not guiding you can usually find me in a cinema particularly my local independent cinema, The Phoenix, East Finchley, where I am a Trustee.

If I am not guiding or in the cinema it is likely that I will either be making a cake or searching for London's best chocolate brownie.

Comments - What visitors to the tours have been kind enough to say

"..... and the guide on our bus (Rachel) was absolutely first class" (London 2012 tour for Royal Society of Arts)

“Rachel is a superb speaker, knowledgeable, entertaining and very engaging” (KKW evening event)

"First rate - good presence, clear and attractive voice, thorough knowledge of subject and put over with enthusiasm" (Friends of the V&A)

“Thanks for your humour and enthusiasm and fabulous London expertise” (Events Company)

“Our guide was excellent” (SERTUC)

"Clear voice, patient and obvious understanding for those who may have been a little slower - never never missed a thing!" (Friends of the V&A)

"...you were fab!!!!!! "(Women's Library tour)

"It was extremely interesting, the guide, Rachel was superb" (Jewish East End, private tour)