Meet your Guide, Sue

Hi,

I look forward to introducing you to my beautiful city and giving you a wonderful tour. I have lived here for over 30years and have no intention of leaving! My aim is to bring the fascinating history of Bath to life and I am particularly interested in how its residents lived. Much of the tour will focus on the Georgian period and Jane Austen is likely to be mentioned!

Your tour is with a local so I can also tell you what life in Bath is like now. If you wish, I can give you ideas of activities and events which may interest you for the rest of your visit in Bath, however much time you have.

I started Bath Tours  about 15 years ago after doing a lot of research, reading and pacing the city on foot. My interest in history has grown over the years and  I have been amazed at the success of  Bath Tours, which is due largely to recommendations.  I am lucky to be able to do something which is for me more like an enjoyable hobby than a job. I am happy guiding groups of all ages including children and  have taught a variety of subjects at Primary, Secondary level and adults. Most of my career was teaching Modern Languages and I can guide fluently in German, competently in French and could just about do a tour in very imperfect but understandable Spanish. When guiding groups from other countries, I aim to explain in very clear English and have been told that I articulate very clearly and am very easy to understand.

Most of my visitors want a tour that ensures they will see all the main attractions and learn about Bath in a couple of hours, so my 2 hour City Highlights tour is the most requested private tour.

My prices for private tours start at £100. The price is for the tour, not per person. Most people choose the City Highlights, but I offer a variety of themes and the length of tour is up to you. You could also easily spend 3 and a half  hours seeing the city in detail and include a break.

I work with a number of excellent guides so that organising large groups requiring several guides is no problem. You will always have a named, local guide.

I guide because I really want to do it. I do not work from scripts and will adapt our knowledge to your group's needs and interests.

I am equally at home with groups of academics, corporate groups, hen parties, politicians and ambassadors' partners, families, student groups, rugby tours etc and have enjoyed guiding all of the above.

I  am lucky enough to have travelled very widely, participated in many guided walks  and spent time with people from all over the world. I aim to give you the sort of tour I enjoy myself ie. interesting, informative with a good balance of facts and some stories.

Sue Swainbank. B.A. German with French. University of Birmingham.

                              P.G.C.E Modern Languages. University of London Institute of Education.