Guided Tour

Guided Tour

What is it? 

A guided tour is the practice of an individual leading a group of people around a point of interest and giving them information about it, which can cover topics such as religious significance, cultural history and how it relates to other locations and events in history. 

What does it involve?

Attending a guided tour basically just involves paying attention! All the work is done for you in finding out the facts and presenting them in an interesting manner; the role of the participant just calls for a level of interest in your surroundings and an eagerness to learn!

Why do it and what are the benefits?

Tour guides can be extremely educational - physically interacting with the place while learning about its history will provide a different kind of academic experience to the classroom by giving the students something more tangible to focus on.

What equipment do we need?

You shouldn't need any equipment for a guided tour, but check beforehand to make sure; some tours involve their participants even further by getting them to write down their own thoughts, or make drawings - so you may need to ensure students have something to write on!

Who is it suitable for?

Guided Tours are suitable for pretty much anybody if you pick the right one - smaller children will find it harder to focus on more complex subjects and will need more visual aids, but if they are engaged correctly they will have a great time! Likewise, teenage students will get bored if the subject isn't engaging enough, so make sure to choose the tour appropriate for the age and interests of the group. 

Costs?

Around £20 or less per person, but it can vary greatly depending on the location of the tour - for example, a minibus tour around a park will cost more than a short walk around a country manor! Make sure to shop around to get an idea of the prices in your area. 

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

A guided tour should be suitable for all ages, but students with condtions such has ADHD may have trouble focusing for an extended period of time - make sure to be aware of the specific needs of your group. 

How do we include?

Many guided tours have disabled access for those with limited physical movement, but it would be wise to doublecheck beforehand. Those who are deaf and blind can also be included in guided tours but may need more specialist staff - again, you will need to check with the specific establishments. 

Doing it abroad?

There are points of public interest all around the world, so wherever you can find something well known chances are there will be a guided tour available! Foreign tours may be conducted in another language though, so make sure to confirm the specifications of the tour before booking it. 

Main website: 

This website gives a good overview of places where you can go for a tour guide, but you're best looking at the specific areas around you to find out details!

Venues with this Activity

Witness History at Scotland's Living 19th Century Prison

Experience the atmosphere, brought vividly to life by the warders,matron and prisoners as you wander through this unique location. Interest and excitement for all ages.

The Trust has a comprehensive range of photographs and artefacts from Grangemouth's past

The Trust has a comprehensive range of photographs and artefacts from Grangemouth’s past. There is a 12 × 8 ft model of Grangemouth Airport with facts and books of World War II. Slide shows are arranged by the Trust historian for local organisations.

Castle House Museum, a B-listed building, displays the story of Cowal through geology, archaeology and artefacts

Castle House Museum, a B-listed building, displays the story of Cowal through geology, archaeology, Celts and clans. There are special displays of Clyde steamers and the Clyde in two World Wars. Four rooms, parlour, kitchen, study and nursery show life in Victorian times. Video area. Full disabled access.

A charming, small museum with a warm welcome

A charming, small museum with a warm welcome. Opened in 1943 and run entirely by volunteers, the original museum was known as the Cathedral Museum and was housed in the Deans House (built in 1624). Now extending into 8 small rooms, the museum has an eclectic mix of artefacts relating to the history of Dunblane and its Cathedral.

A small showcase for the treasures of Clackmannanshire

The collection is stored in the former Liberal Club, Mar Street, Alloa, a fine building of 1904.

Museum holds material pertaining to local social, industrial and natural history along with geology and much, much more

Campbeltown Museum offers a unique insight into Campbeltown’s ancient and more modern past. With a fascinating and nationally important Archaeological Collection, the museum describes the creation of the natural landscape of Kintyre and how its first peoples came to Kintyre to farm the area’s fertile lands.

Callendar House dates from the 14th century. It is set in the nationally-important historic designed landscape of Callendar Park, which also contains a section of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site.

Experience the archaeology, history and natural history of the Island in the Bute Museum

Bute Museum is an independently run museum where visitors can explore the Natural and Historical Heritage of the Isle of Bute. The History & Archaeology Gallery has displays covering aspects of Bute's History from Mesolithic and Neolithic times through to the closing years of the 20th century. The Natural History Gallery allows visitors to explore the geology, plants, animals and birds

Once, Scotland had thousands of “townships”, small farming communities where groups of families worked together. Then, two hundred and fifty years ago, the world began to change.

The townships were replaced by modern farms, crofting and large estates. In some places the process was known as the Highland Clearances. A few townships remained, but most of these had gone by 1900.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum is located in the King’s Old Building of Stirling Castle

Cydebank Museum and Art Gallery is situated beside the now demolished John Brown shipyard where many of the famous liners of the Clyde were built. The Museum and Art Gallery showcases an exciting temporary exhibition programme featuring fine art and touring exhibitions and has small permanent displays relating to the shipbuilding industry and the Singer Sewing Machine Collection.

On the upper floor of the town’s library, this small local museum illustrates the history of Kilsyth from the 17th to 20th centuries. Of particular note to researchers is the map and photographic archive. There are also microfilm readers with data from local censuses, registers and other sources. 

A small local museum, within Colzium House, illustrating the history of the house and the estate and also providing information / displays on the history of the Kilsyth area and the famous Battle of Kilsyth.

Colzium House is not normally open to the public, unless by prior appointment.

Situated within the town’s main library, the museum tells the story of Cumbernauld and surrounding area from pre-history to the Romans and on through the 19th century, to the development of the new town in the 1960s. A studies area allows for more in-depth research or browsing of photograph albums.

Admission free.

Fine Art

Recently refurbished, Summerlee interprets the social and industrial history of Central Scotland, and in particular the Monklands area

Summerlee interprets the social and industrial history of Central Scotland, and in particular the Monklands area, formerly the ‘Iron Burgh’. Displays feature historic machinery in daily operation as well as reconstructed domestic environments.

Visitor centre with permanent and temporary exhibits, café and shop

Restored William Adam hunting lodge with Visitor Centre set in 500 acre country park with superb views north to Ben Lomond. Ten miles of footpath in historic landscape and Avon River gorge including ancient oaks and extensive semi-natural woodland. Visitor centre with permanent and temporary exhibits, historic garden and adventure play area.

The museum is based in historic buildings that were once part of the Duke of Hamilton's estate

Low Parks Museum is housed in beautiful and historically significant buildings which were once part of the Duke of Hamilton’s estate. The 18th century Assembly Room, with its original plasterwork and musicians’ gallery, forms a striking centrepiece to the buildings.

A four star visitor attraction, Motherwell Heritage Centre features Technopolis, an award-winning interactive experience on the area's past

Housed in a stunning modern building at the top of Hamilton Road, just opposite the station, Motherwell Heritage Centre features Technopolis, an award-winning interactive experience on the area’s past from the Romans to the great days of heavy industry.

The heritage centre is within the town library. Displays focus on the area’s strong 17th century covenanting heritage and the rise and fall of local heavy industries in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Social History

These collections are wide ranging in most aspects of social history:

Moorside Mills was built around 1875 as a small worsted spinning Mill by John Moore. Ownership of the mills changed many times, and they developed and grew. In 1970, Bradford Council bought Moorside Mills from Messrs. W & J Whitehead to create an innovative museum.

With the reopening of the museum there are a host of new and exciting displays and activities for you, including re-displayed period reception rooms featuring sparkling, restored chandeliers and new historic light fittings, and a new Dining with the Butterfields display which will give you a glimpse into how the family would have wined and dined their important guests.

Cartwright Hall is Bradford's civic art gallery and offers an exciting programme of contemporary exhibitions, with four permanent galleries displaying works from our art collections. The collections consist mainly of 19th and 20th century British art, with strong collections of international contemporary prints and contemporary South Asian art and crafts.

Bolling Hall offers visitors a fascinating journey through the lives and times of the Bradford families for whom it provided a home over five hundred years.

Situated just a mile from Bradford city centre and situated in a quiet, leafy garden, Bolling Hall was for many years the seat of two important land-owning families, the Bollings and the Tempests.

The UK's only China Clay Museum and Country Park. It's a blast at Wheal Martyn!

Set in 26 acres of woodland, on the outskirts of St Austell, the UK's only china clay museum and country park provides a fascinating day out for all the family. The park is set in the grounds of two former working china clay pits and provides visitors with a fascinating insight into china clay.

An evocative and unique collection of over 5000 artefacts established over 77 years ago, set within the garden and buildings of a 16th century Miller's cottage and watermill. Trewey Mill is a rare example and one of only two watermills in Cornwall producing flour today. 

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