The National Portrait Gallery: From the Tudors to the Windsors

Hello and welcome. My name is Koray, though many of my guests call me Cory, and it would be my pleasure to show you London and England with insight, warmth, and genuine enthusiasm. I am a qualified London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, the highest professional guiding qualification in the United Kingdom. Awarded by the Institute of Tourist Guiding, the Blue Badge is widely recognised as the gold standard of guiding. It represents rigorous training, demanding examinations, and proven expertise in British history, art, architecture, culture, and visitor care. For many travellers, that matters more than they first realise. London is not just a city of famous sights. It is a city of stories, layers, personalities, power, pageantry, science, faith, literature, and everyday life. A Blue Badge guide helps turn a visit into a deeper experience by bringing meaning, context, and connection to what you see. I have been welcoming visitors for many years and I love introducing guests to the richness of London, from the great icons of Westminster and the royal world, to hidden corners, charming neighbourhoods, museums, historic streets, and places that many visitors would never discover on their own. My aim is always to create tours that are engaging, well paced, personal, and memorable. I am known for combining knowledge with humour, energy, flexibility, and a warm approach. I enjoy guiding families, couples, solo travellers, private groups, and guests with special interests. Whether you are visiting London for the first time or returning to explore more deeply, I can tailor the day around your interests and travel style. My background is broad. I am a driver-guide, I hold a Master of Science degree, and I have long experience working with international visitors through education, tourism, culture, and travel planning. This allows me to combine historical depth with practical understanding, whether we are exploring on foot, by public transport, by executive vehicle, or on a wider day trip beyond London. I particularly enjoy showing guests the many faces of Britain: royal and ceremonial London, hidden historic London, museum treasures, science and innovation, literary and cultural sites, family-friendly experiences, traditional English character, and the landscapes and heritage of the wider country. I can also arrange shore excursions and private day trips from London, Tilbury, Southampton, Portsmouth and Dover. What matters most to me is that your tour should never feel generic. I want you to feel that London is being opened up for you in a way that is vivid, enjoyable, and personal. The best tours are not just about ticking off landmarks. They are about understanding the spirit of a place and leaving with lasting memories. London is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world, and I would be delighted to help you experience it with depth, ease, and pleasure. Welcome to London, and welcome to my world. Credentials and Memberships • Qualified London Blue Badge Tourist Guide • Master of Science degree • Member of English Heritage • Member of Historic Royal Palaces • Member of the National Trust • Member of Bath and North East Somerset Council • Travel planner and tourism professional since 1995 • World Citizens Program Director and curriculum author • Extensive experience guiding families, student groups, and independent travellers • Longstanding experience providing English homestay and educational programmes in London since 1989