Sylvia McNamara
Sylvia is an enthusiastic lover of London and its rich history.
Whether leading you down hidden alleys, or encouraging you to look again at buildings you’ve rushed past a hundred times, Sylvia aims to show you London as you’ve never seen it before.
Accredited tour guide, former teacher and natural story-teller, Sylvia brings history to life through stories of lesser-known Londoners – women, trade unionists, radicals and more.
Sylvia brings natural energy and vigour to her wealth of historical knowledge which makes for a fun and memorable tour.
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Read Sylvia's Reviews
Club Member
June 2024
I really enjoyed this walk – it was great to discover some of the stories behind a part of London I thought that I knew pretty well. Sylvia was an excellent and engaging guide and I will definitely look to do more of the walks.
Club Member
July 2024
Sylvia is a great storyteller. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her knowledge brings the walk to life. The bonus was that it was a rare dry and sunny day.
Sylvia’s tour through the rapidly (and radically) changing Kings Cross area was fascinating, delivered with passion. She explained how the Victorian railways transferred vast quantities of coal, grain … and potatoes … from the north to the depots and canal boats around what is now known as Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard (not to mention the delights of Camley Street Natural Park. The tour unwraps the industrial heritage of this extraordinary ‘new’ area of London … dubbed the ‘Knowledge Quarter’.
June 2024
Sylvia was a fantastic guide. It was a really well researched historical tour delivered with knowledge, warmth and some humour. An original experience. Highly recommended.
A huge thank you to our guide, Sylvia. What an amazing person she is. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and connection with her audience were outstanding. It was a rainy, cold day in London this afternoon but it didn’t matter because we were engrossed in the memorable stories that Sylvia told us about how this area, south east of Tottenham Court Road station, was changed from fields to slums to chic apartments and modern buildings. She answered every question with a full, detailed reply and when she couldn’t answer the question I asked, she researched the answer and texted it to me later. I would have given her more stars if it were possible. The time flew past and my friend and I were sorry when the talk finished. Thank you so much.
