Greg The Guide

Guided walks

  • Guided History Walks in London with Greg the Guide

    Guided History Walks in London with Greg the Guide

    Hi, welcome to this blog which introduces my tour guiding!

    I qualified as a tour guide in 2025 with Islington Guided Walks. The course taught the skills of good guiding -skills and safety, presentation, and how to make it all fun.

    My tours are in Central or North London, primarily in Islington and Clerkenwell, the area where I have lived all my adult life.

    Current Tours:

    1. Historic Highbury (pub version or straight history walk version)
    2. Crazy Clerkenwell (- culture, crime and punishment, immigration, poverty, and the “gin craze”) Pub version also available.
    3. Arsenal FC– history and surroundings (great for bespoke “pre-match” tours)
    4. Archway and Hillrise: “beating the bounds” (circular walk starts and finishes at Archway)
    5. Old Street and Bunhill (pub version also available)
    6. Criminal Islington (crime + punishment in Clerkenwell + the City)

    One-off/unique tours:

    Islington: Beating the Bounds:

    An all day charity walk circumnavigating the whole Borough date tbc

    Bespoke//commissioned/private tours:

    I am more than happy to cater for private or specially commissioned tours, please get in touch below:

    Get in Touch

  • History of Arsenal Tour

    History of Arsenal Tour

    This tour covers the history of Arsenal FC, from its origins in Woolwich to current status as Premier League Champions, in the heart of Islington.
    The tour starts at Highbury and Islington station, where we learn about the history of Islington and Highbury, from rural fields to urban growth with the coming of the railway – and a population ready for a football club!


    However the move itself and the location were controversial as we will discover!

    We follow the route than hundreds of thousands followed on match days from station to stadium, across Highbury Fields (with stops on the way and a “hydration break” at Highbury Barn.

    At the magnificent art-deco frontage to the Highbury stadium, learn more about its history, the legends that played there and other events that may surprise you.

    We move past Arsenal underground station (or should that be “Gillespie Road”?!) before competing a circuit of the 2006 stadium at Ashburton Grove (known as the Emirates for sponsorship purposes) On the way round we hear the stories and memories of the club, learning about the architecture and history of the new stadium- as well as those legends whose statues we admire.
    Finally we look at the murals and artwork of Nothbanksy, and on conclusion there is an optional refreshment opportunity at the Tollington or one of the other Arsenal hostelries nearby.
    So, grab your red-and-white, and come along to join Greg the Guide and son Arsenal Adam for the HISTORY OF ARSENAL

    Adam with Adams

    Arsenal Adam

    Arsenal Adam

    Greg and North Banksy

  • Hillrise Walk (a guided walk in London N19)

    Hillrise Walk (a guided walk in London N19)

    BEATING THE BOUNDS OF HILLRISE- a history walk around the border of North Islington

    Beating the bounds or perambulating the bounds is an ancient custom where local residents walk the geographic boundaries of their locality for the purpose of maintaining the memory of the precise location of these boundaries,
    Hillrise ward is the most Northern ward of the 18 wards that constitute London Borough of Islington. It includes Archway Road, Whitehall Park, Parkland Walk, and has a fascinating history from monastic times to highway robbers and more modern urban growth and renewal.
    It recently underwent some boundary changes, and nobody has “beaten the bounds” of this wonderful ward since then- so this walk gives a unique opportunity to walk the new perimeter, take in the sites and sights, and talk about some of the history, politics, architecture, and characters of this part of N19.

    Terrain, distant and suitability

    This walk (7km or around 8000 steps) takes about 2 hours and is not for the faint-hearted- the ward is called Hillrise for a reason and has some steep inclines and flights of steps!
    It is definitely not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies, the infirm, children or animals.

    Guide

    The walk is led by Greg Foxsmith, a qualified tour guide with CIGA (Clerkenwell and Islington Guiding Association) who has lived in Hillrise for over 20 years and has represented Hillrise as a local councillor (2006-2014)

    Date and time

    This annual walk last took place in June 2025 and the 2026 walk will take place on 18 July 2026 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/highlights-of-hillrise-a-guided-pub-walk-tickets-1993791341574?aff=ebdssbdestsearch


    Enquiries by email gregfoxsmith@icloud.com

    Optional Bonus finish

    At conclusion of the boundary walk, there is an option of walking on to Elthorne Park (two sculptures of note and a Peace Garden), Sunnyside Community Garden, and finishing at     the Shaftesbury pub