Local Tour Guide – Tour Guiding

Also known as: SiteGuide, Museum Guide, Discovery Guide, Historical Interpreter, Science Interpreter, Museum Docent, Museum Educator, Activity Guide

A local tour guide shows guests around historical and modern buildings, and artefacts. This could be a museum, a stately home, or a place of worship. It is the responsibility of the tour guide to bring the environment to life, so an enthusiasm for culture and excellent presentation skills is a must.

Your day-to-day duties may involve:
• presenting artefacts and buildings to guests
• researching historical artefacts and buildings
• answering questions about sites, buildings and artefacts

A local tour guide will be knowledgeable about the history and purpose of their site, memorising remarkable figures and notable dates. During the tour you will be required to answer questions and repeat details for the tour members. Guests will be intrigued about the building and its artefacts, and will ask you many questions that you must be able to answer.  Sometimes a tour will be conducted in a lively environment and therefore a clear speaking voice is essential.

As a local tour guide you will present to people of different ages, cultures and nationalities. Therefore you must appreciate the variation between different audiences, and personalise your tour to suit them. Whatever the circumstance your duty is to keep the audience fascinated, and present the information clearly.