We did the Oxford and Cotswold Explore Day with Richard in June. It was wonderful. The scenery was spectacular and the traveling was easy with Richard's experienced help.

The talk was very informative and the pace of the day just right. I wish we'd had time to try some other walks. So many of them sounded interesting, but our time was limited.

I encourage anyone vacationing in London to try one. It was well worth the time and money.

Beware! On May 28, my wife and I waited for 30 minutes at Paddington for the guide to appear, and he never did. Another couple was waiting with us and of course were similarly disappointed.

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David here, to say: Eric, no, that's not correct at all. The guide, Richard, did "appear". And the Explorer Day took place exactly as advertised. There were 14 people on it. Richard was "in situ" from 9.15 am until 9.50 am (which is just a minute or two before the train departs). He was where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there - and fourteen people found him; he was where we say he will be. To wit: by the main ticket office - it's by Platform 1 - of Paddington Railway Station.

 

Very sorry to hear that something came acropper for the four of you. And we'd very much like to post-mortem to see if we can take steps to make sure something like that doesn't happen to someone else. If you pick this note up, could you please drop us an email and tell us exactly where you were in Paddington Railway Station. Were you by the ticket office of the Underground station? If that was the case that's where the thing came unstuck. We clearly state on the leaflet and the website that the meeting point is by the main ticket office - which is by Platform 1 - of Paddington Railway Station. And I hope it goes without saying that we have to be where we say we're going to be. If someone gets the wrong end of the stick and goes somewhere else, well, I'm afraid there's very little we can do about that. The guide really has to be where we say he's going to be.

 

If there's another "lesson" to be learned from this unfortunate occurrence, it surely is this. If for any reason people can't find a guide - or are having trouble finding their way to the prescribed meeting point - well, PLEASE give us a ring. And we'll talk you in. We do that at least once or twice a day. A phone call would have saved a lot of inconvenience and bad feeling on your part - and indeed got Richard four more customers!

 

Over to you...