I give lively, research-led talks about hotels, London and the changing world of luxury and travel.
My particular interest is the history of London’s great hotels – the people who created them, the guests who made them famous and the changing society they reflect. But hotels also provide a way into much bigger stories: the transformation of London, architecture, technology, travel, dining and the changing ways in which people lived and travelled.
My talks combine original historical research with the characters, stories and unexpected details that bring the past to life. They are ideal for history societies, cultural and heritage organisations, U3A groups, private clubs and other audiences with an interest in London’s buildings, people and changing society.
Recent talks
Recent talks include From Vernacular to Palatial: The Evolution of the Victorian Hotel; Brown’s Hotel: A History of Rulers, Writers & Rascals; Kipling’s connections with Brown’s Hotel; hospitality and family history, and the secrets hidden in the grave of James Brown.
I have spoken to a wide range of groups including The Victorian Society, The Kipling Society, U3A Crouch End, the Society of Genealogists, and the London, Westminster & Middlesex Family History Society.
Talks tailored to your audience
I speak to historical and cultural societies, heritage organisations, U3A groups, private clubs and other organisations.
Talks can be adapted to suit the interests of your organisation or audience. The same research can be approached from different perspectives – social history, architecture, technology, family history, travel or the evolution of hospitality.
Talks can be delivered in person or online. I am happy to discuss an existing talk or develop something specifically around your organisation, building or area of interest.
About the speaker
I am a hotel historian specialising in the history of London’s luxury hotels, as well as an author, journalist and guide. I have spent more than 25 years researching and writing about hotels, travel and the history of luxury, and have appeared in television documentaries and other media.
I am the official historian of Brown’s Hotel and The Milestone in London, and my research has also taken me into the histories of other historic hotels and the wider story of hospitality.
