A New Vision for Knaresborough Tourism: The White Badge Town Guides
Perched high on cliffs overlooking the River Nidd, the town centre offers visitors arriving by train a breathtaking view of the imposing railway viaduct stretching across the Nidd Gorge.
In 2023, a brilliant idea sparked here. Local Knaresborough Councillor (and later town Mayor), Margy Longhurst, with an eye on boosting local tourism, championed a motion to create a dedicated team of volunteer Town Guides. Their mission? To lead engaging, hour-long walking tours showcasing Knaresborough's highlights, twice a week from the bustling town square.
The Town Council embraced this initiative and saw it as a win-win: a fantastic community benefit for both residents and visitors, a direct way to support local businesses, and a vibrant showcase for Knaresborough's unique charm. “It's about opening up our town's hidden gems to everyone” remarked Margy. “I wanted people to feel the same pride and wonder as we all do for Knaresborough”, she added.
What’s more, with the Town Council actively pursuing Coach Friendly Town status, the town needed new guides who could also offer informative and entertaining tours for coach passengers, adding another layer to the town’s expanding tourism offer.
With a budget secured, an experienced trainer from the Institute of Tourist Guiding was brought on board to design and deliver a comprehensive course. Out of many eager applicants, 10 individuals were carefully selected to become Knaresborough's inaugural Town Guides.
The training programme kicked off in the Spring of 2025, running one day a week over 12 weeks, with the council generously providing the necessary facilities. Apart from learning about the historic, contemporary and cultural context of Knaresborough, students also learnt applied skills on group management, safety, customer service, communication confidence-building and how to guide responsibly, respecting and celebrating the local customs and community of Knaresboroughwith pride. “The training was incredibly thorough and enjoyable” said Alex Bird, one of the newly qualified White Badge guides. “We learned so much about Knaresborough's history and culture and how to share its stories in an engaging way” added Helen Sanderson, who is also one of the successful qualified White Badge Guides.
The dedication of the students paid off - 9 participants successfully qualified, proudly earning their Institute of Tourist Guiding White Badges in 2025! “Seeing the joy on visitors' faces as they discover Knaresborough through our stories makes every moment worthwhile” said Jill Cutter another graduate of the course.
This training model, transforming local enthusiasm into a valuable tourism asset, highlights the crucial importance of investing in the training of heritage volunteers. Their passion, combined with a professional qualification, empowers them to become exceptional ambassadors for their town. Furthermore, for those with an ambition to go further, the White Badge Course can serve as an excellent springboard for pursuing more professional guiding qualifications, such as the Institute’s prestigious Green Badge and Blue Badge courses, ultimately paving the way for a fulfilling freelance guiding career.
This successful model, transforming local pride and knowledge into a valuable tourism asset that leaves an enduring legacy for local communities, begs the question: could a similar initiative flourish in a town near you?
Sarah Cowling Knaresborough White Badge Course Trainer
