Ten years, city by city
How Invisible Cities got from one guide in Edinburgh to a national operation.
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, then at the Homeless World Cup Foundation, spends time volunteering in a refugee camp on Lesvos. The thought that becomes Invisible Cities forms there.
Founded in February in Edinburgh. Guides design their own routes from the start, which is still how every tour is made.
Volunteer-led until July 2018, then the first paid staff. Regional winner for Innovation in Tourism at the VisitScotland Thistle Awards.
The structure is formalised in June. Glasgow, Manchester and York follow, each with its own guide community rather than a copied formula.
The Community Award, one of a small number of UK operators chosen globally. Cardiff joins the map.
Zakia named People's Champion. TrainSplit comes on board as travel partner. Mercure Manchester Piccadilly begins hosting the team.
Aberdeen launches in March with HRH The Prince of Wales joining the first tour, guided by Angus. The Royal Foundation's Homewards partnership begins rolling tours across its flagship locations.
Liverpool, Newport and the Scottish Borders launch. Zakia is named French Person of the World. Vogue calls it a quietly revolutionary social enterprise. Which brings us to this table.


