USING THE TUBE

Good to see that EF, the high school operators bringing groups from USA and Canada (particularly the latter this year) are still suing guides although they are cutting back on everything else - no visit to St Paul's, sometimes no coach in the afternoon, still cheap and cheerful restaurants. Around Easter guiding work paid in cash is very handy, particularly as they often tip quite well. The trouble with the last two tours has been that, to economise, the company has cut out the coach in the afternoon of the ful day London, when you go to the Tower on the tube.
Advantage is that you can finish early. Disadvantages are that you have to pay for your tube ticket and that the tour tends to fizzle out when you take them to the crown jewels so they do not tip. You don't have the opportunity to wind up the tour on the mike in a way that makes it clear that you are parting company,w hich is a natural thing to do, and which has the added advantage of concentrating their mind on a tip.
Still the fees have just gone up so getting £180 total for a day that ends at four is not too bad...