REVIEW
WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY OF MY CUSTOM TOURS
I love getting feedback from clients. Here are a some comments given on Trustpilot & also the wonderful cards I have received.
London & Windsor Tripadvisor Reviews
"Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things London - and (bonus!) he does his homework in his spare time to tailor his guiding to the individual guests"
Want know about Mike Armitage? Let me tell you a little about him.
My wife and I have had the good luck to do a great deal of traveling in the last few years; we've been to several countries, and met a dizzying array of different tour guides. Mike Armitage is - hands down, no contest - the very best tour guide we have ever met. No close second - no near follow-up - Mike Armitage is alone at the top of our list. He guided a large tour to London earlier; when we came back to London on our own a few months later, we engaged Mike Armitage to spend several days with us alone. Both trips were impressive; Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things London - and (bonus!) he does his homework in his spare time to tailor his guiding to the individual guests.
I failed to appreciate this initially, but Mike Armitage is a Blue Badge guide - a level of certification that carries with it the mark of a real accomplishment. In fact - when, one day, we ran into a group of Londoners - they were genuinely impressed by Mike's Blue Badge status.
Guiding about a large group of tourists (our first trip), Mike was endlessly intereresting - the group of several dozen travelers was clearly engaged; he made a terrific impression on all of us. When my wife and I returned a few months later - to spend three full days going about London with Mike on our own, without any other tourists tagging along - Mike was again the perfect tour guide, with this addition: as he was already acquainted with the two of us, he crafted a tour personalized just for the two of us; we saw things that, while just what we would have chosen (had we known enough to choose), nobody else would have put together for us: in short, the perfect tour - the best tour we have ever been on. Ever.
So; the executive summary: Mike Armitage is the best tour guide you will ever meet; if you have the opportunity to work with him, don't miss it.
Robin, Michigan
"The effort and time he put into researching this and putting together a highly entertaining and informative walk was a great conclusion"
Mike put together a brand new walk in the Pimlico (London) area at my request as part of an overall weekend of activities celebrating the anniversary of Victory in Europe. The effort and time he put into researching this and putting together a highly entertaining and informative walk was a great conclusion to a brilliant weekend and left us wanting to know more. I already have plans to use his services again and am in awe of his passion for history and his ability to remember dates, times and names effortlessly – Thanks Mike!
Anne, London
"Made our first trip to London so much more meaningful and enjoyable!!"
Wonderful day of sightseeing with Mike!! Mike is extremely knowledgeable and took great care to make sure we saw the sights we wanted to see. Touring with Mike is not your "cookie-cutter" tour - it is customized to your requests. So many interesting facts at each spot which you would never know of without a very knowledgeable guide. Made our first trip to London so much more meaningful and enjoyable!! We will definitely visit London again and will call Mike as well.
Cheryl, Tennessee
"He was very patient with the 8-year old, even when she was not at her best."
We recently went to London with 3 grandkids, the youngest of whom was 8 years old. Mr. Armitage took us to the changing of the guard at Horse Guards and then to the Mews. Mr. Armitage imparted a lot of information at both stops.. He also had some Harry Potter filming locations to show the kids. He was very patient with the 8-year old, even when she was not at her best. I would heartily recommend him if you want to get the most out of what you are seeing in London.
Chris, Michigan
"Mike is worth every penny and then some"
I was recently surprised with a trip to London for my birthday. Wanting to maximize the time we had and being history nerds, we located Mike and scheduled him to be our tour guide. There are not enough good words I can say about the experience. He was amazing. He mixed my desire for super nerdy British insight with my boyfriend's need of pubs and ancient armor. The time we spent with Mike really felt like we were on the receiving end of some super secret insider knowledge. We visited the main sights and felt like we might as well have had the whole place to ourselves. Mike provided us with all the background we could want along with amazing British charm.
He was immensely helpful before our arrival and quick to respond to questions I had as we set up our tour plan. We spent a day and a half with him and would love to spend more. We have already suggested him to all our friends. He would provide as wonderful a tour for families with children as he would for adults meeting up on a college reunion vacation. Mike is worth every penny and then some. We will definitely use him when we go back to visit the things we missed this time.
Kiersten, USA
"really tailor made the experience to suit us"
We hired Mike for a full day and it was absolutely perfect, he showed us things that were relevant to our country and really tailor made the experience to suit us. A perfect way to see all the sights of London whilst learning valuable pieces of information at the same time. Highly recommend.
Tom, USA
"Having a private tour guide is a big luxury and was worth every penny for Windsor Castle and Hampton Court"
Mike's knowledge regarding the kings/queens and the history surrounding the buildings and area is extensive. Having a private tour guide is a big luxury and was worth every penny for Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. Mike made sure we saw all the highlights and then some. We had a car and he was our navigator between the two locations, making sure we stayed in the correct lane. I don't think we asked a question he didn't know the answer to. He also suggested places to eat in the area. If you have children (I'd say maybe 8 years old but definitely 10 and above) then a private guide can truly be an educational splurge that will keep them asking questions. While the big bus tours seemed economically tempting, after reading the reviews about how the end of the day was always rushed, we decided to invest in the locations that we knew we'd have a lot of questions and wanted to spend a lot of time at. We decided Bath and the Roman baths could be for another trip, but Windsor and Hampton were high on our list. It was a fact-filled AND entertaining day with Mike
Tanya, USA
"We knew we were in the hands a true travel professional"
I arranged a full day tour with Mike prior to my family's trip to London. He provided a robust tour of the city which familiarized us with the layout of the city, major and minor sites and practical experiences with the subways and buses which was very helpful for the remainder of our trip.
Mike was engaging, humorous and was committed to our having an exceptional time. He met us at our AirBnB and got to know us better and laid out a rough agenda for the day. We knew we were in the hands a true travel professional. We never felt we were being pushed.
He knew exactly when we needed to stop for a break and some nourishment. We particularly enjoyed lunch at a pub called The Albert. It had great food and a cozy atmosphere. It is one of the few Pubs with a Division Bell which rings to let any Members of Parliament know that a vote is going to be held. Mike also took us to a unique cafe called the Crypt which is located below a church. We would not have experienced these unique places without Mike's recommendation.
His deep knowledge of London was apparent, he showed us sites we would later revisit on our own because they were so fantastic. The remainder of our trip was so enjoyable in large part to Mike getting us off to a great start.
My recommendation to you:
> Book early, as Mike is in demand and popular
> Book at least a full day with Mike, you will kick yourself if you don't
> Make the most of your time with Mike. We asked Mike to escort us to the the Tower of London and the Churchill War Room. He did a first rate job showing us those places
Mike was Fantastic!!!!!!!
Big V, California
"Several military veterans were on the tour and Mike was able to answer their detailed questions"
I just returned from London after a tour of Frontline Britain led by Mike Armitage. I have nothing by high praise for his organizing the course and leadership. We toured Battle, Imperial War Museum and other sites with Mike sharing his knowledge. He is particular strong on WWII history. He not only enlightened us on the history of what we were touring but told personal stories of his family at that time, making it even more relevant. His relation with the group of 20 was outstanding and everyone responded by being on time! Several military veterans were on the tour and Mike was able to answer their detailed questions. Highly recommended!
Bill & Susie, Florida
"We loved spending the day with him"
Mike planned the perfect day around London for us. His knowledge and expertise made our day around the heart of London from Westminster Abbey to St Paul’s Cathedral much more meaningful. We loved spending the day with him.
Terri, New Jersey
"Mike is a wonderful tour guide and a perfect English gentleman"
Mike is a wonderful tour guide and a perfect English gentleman. We hired him for a 2 day walking tour of London and he customized the tour to our specifications. Also, before the trip, my husband and I both experienced some physical issues that hindered our ability to walk for long periods. Mike was so accommodating and patient as we had to take frequent breaks. His commentary regarding various popular sites was excellent, but also along the way he shared many interesting facts pointing out lesser known spots and acquainting us with English custom and etiquette. I would highly recommend Mike to anyone interested in a more in depth view of London and all it has to offer.
Alice, Florida
"Mike's greatest asset is his ability to present his information in an extremely entertaining manner"
Our group had a brilliant day touring Windsor Castle and town with Mike Armitage. From the moment we reached out to him, via the internet, Mike was not only informative and professional, but also thorough. He responded to our emails promptly. He provided detailed information of our tour options. His pricing was fair. Then, he went on to email us on how to navigate the tube to get to the train station. How to purchase our tickets to Windsor. What time options we had for trains. Where he would meet us at the train station. Finally, how to purchase our tour tickets on line. He contacted us several days before our scheduled tour to insure that all was in order and we were comfortable with our plans. In our opinion, he went beyond what one would have expected from a guide.
The tour itself was wonderful. His personality is engaging and his knowledge base of British history and the Monarchy was deep. Mike's greatest asset is his ability to present his information in an extremely entertaining manner. He kept us interested and engaged throughout the tour.
On departure, Mike reminded us that he is qualified to give tours throughout England. This is good to know. On our return visits to the U.K., Mike Armitage will be our go to guide to explain and teach us the rich and varied history that is England. Thanks, Mike for a brilliant day!
PITtravel, Pennsylvania
"He is super friendly and kept my teenagers interested throughout the tour"
Mike took us on an afternoon tour of Windsor castle and Windsor. While exchanging e-mails before the trip, he suggested we do an afternoon tour as the crowds would be lighter than in the morning. I was so glad to have him guide us around the castle and share his vast knowledge of the royal family, the castle and this area of England. He is super friendly and kept my teenagers interested throughout the tour. We had a perfect day thanks to Mike!
Julie, North Carolina
"Mike is obviously a very knowledgeable guide"
We used Mike for guided tours of London and Windsor Castle. Both were excellent tours, and Mike is obviously a very knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed the time spent with him. Highly recommend a blue badge guide (like Mike) as they can customize a tour for you, and can point out many of the interesting details that others might miss. Especially if you are visiting London or Windsor for the first time, Mike can make your visit much more enjoyable. But I can also imagine if you have been to these places before, Mike could point out things that you would not notice on your own.
Thanks Mike!
Steve, Kentucky
"An amazing nine-hour tour that was well worth every penny"
Mike was our guide to London in early April and we loved every moment. His knowledge of London is amazing, and he is a wonderful guide. We asked to see quirky unusual but historical parts of London as well as the famous places and that we did. An amazing nine-hour tour that was well worth every penny. Thank you, Mike for one of the highlights of our UK holiday.
Les & Merle, Brisbane Australia
"knowledgeable, friendly and solicitous as to what we were interested in seeing"
We enjoyed our time with Mike in Windsor. He was knowledgeable, friendly, solicitious as to what we were interested in seeing and his efforts made for a very informative and interesting day at Windsor. Highly recommended.
Morley, Washington DC
Thank-you for such a wonderful experience in London. You are a wonderful tour guide and we feel fortunate to have met you.
Alice & John, Florida
Mike, you have been such a wonderful tour guide, your knowledge is amazing. We hope to return to London and hopefully will meet you for another tour.
Pat & Nelson, California
We really appreciated all your efforts on Sunday at the Tower, including all the buggy pushing. We all had a great time.
Louise & Jonathan (and children), Windsor
Thanks again for all your energetic and knowledgeable guiding. And for suggesting the Indian restaurant. I enjoyed getting to know you.
Throop, North Carolina
"he kept my sons interest the whole time we were there"
Having Mike at the Imperial War Museum showing us everything, and talking about it, we learnt so much. It was so much more informative than hiring the audio and headphones, plus he knew where everything was, and no time was wasted trying to find things to see. It really was inspiring to have Mike show us around, and he kept my sons interest the whole time we were there, which was just about 2 ½ hours, and he learnt so much.
Mick and 11 year old son, London
"a pleasure to look at London through fresh eyes and a new perspective. I saw so many things that I’d never noticed"
Thank you for giving such a fascinating walk yesterday. It’s always such a pleasure to look at London through fresh eyes and a new perspective. I saw so many things that I’d never noticed.
Just to say thank you again for hosting the walk earlier today, everyone said they thoroughly enjoyed the same which did, as you said, ensure we all worked up a hearty appetite,
Vicki, London
It goes without saying none of it would be possible without your enthusiasm so thank you again
James, London
A very memorable day with a very memorable guide!!!
Rob & Phil, California
"it was like getting several free walks thrown in alongside the one we'd come for!"
I went on Mike's amazing Zeppelin walk a few days ago and was completely entranced! It was a topic I thought I knew quite a lot about so I was astonished and delighted at how much I learnt that evening. There wasn't any question Mike didn't know the answer to. On top of all the First World War stuff we were treated to lots of historical goodies from other time periods too - it was like getting several free walks thrown in alongside the one we'd come for! Thoroughly to be recommended to everyone
Jonty, London
What my clients say of my Custom Tours
“Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things London - and (bonus!) he does his homework in his spare time to tailor his guiding to the individual guests" Robin, Michigan