Phil in Westminster is 41-50 and is a bus tourguide.
We hop on the top deck of a London tour bus to spend some time with Phil, who has miraculously stayed in a job he took one summer for some extra cash… 15 years ago. Now a tourist favourite and low key star of the tour bus circuit, Phil reflects on what appeals to him so much about the job and the assortment of people he meets doing it.
Film Maker: George Hayward
Questions & Answers
- What's your first memory of London? The Duke of York Steps off the Mall with my Dad I was about 6.
- What do you miss when you're away from London? The transport system
- What's your favourite neighbourhood? Hammersmith/Shepherds Bush
- What's your favourite building? The Houses of Parliament
- What's your ideal day out in London? A day taking friends around my favourite sites
- What's your ideal night out in London? Theatre then Restaurant or visa versa
- What's your most hated building? The grand Masonic Hall, a symbol of elitism
- What's the best view in London? The top of the Shard at Sunset (with someone you love or failing that a good camera)
- What's your favourite open space? St James's Park
- What's the most interesting shop? Hatchards (the oldest book shop in the UK)
- What's your favourite place to hang out? The pubs of Soho
- What's been your most memorable night out in London? David Bowie at what is now the O2 Shepherds Bush when I shook his hand after the gig
- How would you like to spend your ideal day off in London? At a cracking exhibition at a museum or art gallery
- Where would you take someone visiting from out of town? As a tour guide.. Lots of places.. starting with the Guard Change
- What's the worst journey you've had to make in London? Westminster Bridge seconds after the terrorist attack trying to help people..after that.. any Southern Rail journey last year !!
- What's your personal London landmark? The Elizabeth Tower
- Who's your favourite fictional Londoner? Pip in Great Expectations .. or the obvious Sherlock Holmes
- What's your favourite London film, book or documentary? The current JK Rowling books (under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith) Cuckoos calling, Silkworm and Career of Evil all set in London..
- If you could travel to any time period in London, past or future, where would you go? Victorian era with money in my pocket !!
- For you, who is the ultimate Londoner? Charles Dickens or William Hogarth J or are we talking about alive today? Anyone who isn’t ripping anyone off in the housing market (I have to live in Crawley now as I cant afford to live in the city I love and ultimately it will mean I leave for good..)