Tell us a little about your background…

I come from the Isle of Wight, just off England’s south coast. It’s beautiful, although I found it quite boring as a teenager. I moved to London when I was 18 to go to theater school but soon discovered I’m not so talented as an actor. I decided to go to Birkbeck College to do a Humanities BA and, in my second year, chose an introductory course in archaeology. That changed my life. I became an archeologist in 1997.

How did you come to live in Berlin?

One of the first excavations at university was in Romania. I met Claudia on the project, who was from Berlin, and seven months later I moved here to be with her. We are still together, 23 years later.

What motivated you to become a guide?

I started a part-time PhD in 2001, but juggling that and a full-time job became too much. I gave up my job and started leading tours instead in 2004, and instantly loved it. It became much more than a way to earn some extra money.

What are people most surprised to learn during your tour?

Most often, people are amazed that the Berlin Wall completely encompassed West Berlin. The tour gives more context to a lot of what we learn in history lessons, and there are many eye-opening parts to it too. I’m still surprised at some of the things I discover.

What excites you most about what you do?

That’s easy — I love the social aspect of being a tour guide. I feel privileged to be able to meet new people every time I go to work. It’s a joy to show Berlin through my eyes and learn about their experiences too.

What do you love about Berlin?

When I first moved to Berlin, the city was a dense forest of cranes, from horizon to horizon. It was reforming and transforming into a modern metropolis, another big change in its history. This is one of the most fascinating aspects of Berlin — it constantly changes. I’ve always loved its chilled pace compared to some other big cities in Europe. It has all of the attractions, and more, but without a lot of the stressful hustle and bustle.

Is there anything you’ve recently discovered in Berlin that visitors should check out?

Many of my new discoveries seem to be restaurants. Twenty years ago, good restaurants were few and far between in Berlin. Now, it’s difficult to keep track of the new openings, and there are so many great ones from almost every type of cuisine. A fantastic example is the Mezze Bar by MontRaw in Prenzlauer Berg.