Footprints of London

Contact 07908407182 or mail

Jiff is a Clerkenwell & Islington Guiding Association Guide who, after living in north London for over 40 years, developed his trade in Islington and Camden but has guided over the South East of England (and even northern France and Belgium). 

Originally from Woolwich, S. E. London and after 35 years working in social housing, Jiff used his local knowledge to develop a range of walking tours on his doorstep. Jiff evokes up to 2000 years of history by drawing attention to sights that are visible to all but not always seen and using them to describe associated people or events.

His current walks include a tour of Smithfield and Finsbury’s more gruesome last resting places (Walk Macabre), Modernist building gems in Clerkenwell (Modernism in Finsbury), the lost burial grounds of Islington (With the Angels), how Arsenal FC came to Highbury (It’s All Arsenal Around Here), and how Bohemia and rock and roll came to Camden Town (Camden Rocks).

In addition, Jiff offers walks around the villages of Islington, Highgate and Camden Town as well as enhancing tours of Whitehall with tales of politics and Royalty. These walks can be adjusted on request to cover any specific interest.

In addition, Jiff has a track record of providing bespoke walks on request of any part or aspect of north London and further afield as detailed below

Jiff has taken people from around the world to his favourite London haunts having welcomed visitors from Britain, mainland Europe, North America and Australia.

He has now expanded his range to include tours of the medieval town of Rye in East Sussex and mini-bus tours of the WWI battlefields of Belgium and northern France. Jiff is also a member of the Islington Archaeological and History Society, Camden History Society, the Highgate Literary and Scientific Society and the Friends of the Rye Museum. He volunteers in the Islington Museum where he has contributed to exhibitions.

Jiff’s walks portfolio includes:

• Walk Macabre: A tour of some of the famous and often gruesome last resting places of Smithfield and Finsbury, south Islington (1½ hours, St Pauls to Old Street)
• With the Angels: The lost burial grounds of Islington; their history and (surprising) current uses. (1½ hours, Old Street to Kings Cross)
• Modernism in Finsbury: A 2 hour tour if the work of Berthold Lubetkin, the modernist, socialist architect. This includes exclusive access to Bevin Court with its breath-taking staircase and views. (2hr circular walk starting at Angel UndergrounD station. Includes access to Bevin Court.)
• “It’s All Arsenal Round Here”: Highbury was a quiet residential area in North London surrounding a School of Divinity until 1913. Then Arsenal FC arrived and a new, famous association. Even the UndergrounD station changed it’s name!. (1½hour walk from Highbury and Islingtion Station, finishing at Holloway Road station.) 
• Hidden Canonbury: The many gems of a venerable part of Islington from a tower built by a King’s architect to George Orwell’s last home. (1½ hours, Highbury and Islington to Angel)
• Camden Rocks: Music, movement and markets: See the venues and environment and the music and the stories that gave Camden Town its association with British rock music. It stemmed from its Bohemian character. But were did that come from?What sustained it? And what’s its future?. (1½ hours, Mornington Crescent to Chalk Farm)
• The Australian Army in Brightlingsea: The small port of Brightlingsea was home to ANZAC engineers for the last two years of WWI. See how they left their mark. (1½ hours circular walk starting at Brightlingsea Museum, Brightlingsea, Essex)
• 1000 years of Rye (East Sussex): From Cinque Port to Smuggling: How Rye developed from a small island to the principal port of Elizabeth I and the home of smuggling gangs, crime and ghosts. (1½ hours, Beginning at Rye Train/ Bus Station (Southern Railways), finishing in town but easy walk back to the station)

Jiff has also undertaken a mini-bus tour:

• The WWI Battlefields of Belgium and northern France: A 3-day tour of Ypres, Passchendaele (Belgium), Vimy Ridge and the British and Empire sections of the Somme battlefield (Gommecourt to Pozieres) (3 days – London to London staying overnight in Ypres and Arras) (Price on request)

Feedback from people who have enjoyed his walks includes:

“It was a good walk, learnt lots of interesting stuff, and thanks very much …. I think Gxxx is back June/July with his wife for a holiday and we’ll try to get some dates from him for a Walk Macabre.” JS, London

“Jiff was very flexible timewise and asked for our interests beforehand. He showed us around Camden, told us about the history and then led us through the maze of markets.” ST, Germany

“Very good guide, clearly knowledgeable and enjoys the subject” IR, Brighton