10 cities in 10 years

Ten YearsOne Night

WhereKimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
WhenThursday 1 October, from 6.30pm
DressWhatever makes the night feel like one

Our programme

Tap any moment for the detail. The line fills as the evening moves.

Your evening

Saved on this phone, for your eyes only. It is still here if you close the page.

Special guests

Four people making tonight what it is.

Gail Porter
Gail Porter Broadcaster and advocate

Edinburgh born and one of the most familiar faces on British television through the late nineties, presenting Top of the Pops and The Big Breakfast. She has since spoken openly about mental health, alopecia and her own experience of sleeping rough, and campaigns on homelessness alongside her broadcasting and stand-up work. Her BAFTA-winning documentary Being Gail Porter brought that story to a national audience.

Jon Watts
Jon Watts Chef, designed tonight's menu

Jon learned to cook at eighteen, inside a young offenders institute, as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. He went on to cook for Jamie Oliver for five years, then built his own business. Two cookbooks later, including the number one Sunday Times bestseller Speedy Weeknight Meals, he cooks on This Morning and Saturday Kitchen and takes cooking classes back into prisons. Tonight's menu is his.

David Harry
David Harry Magician

A member of the Magic Circle who spent twenty five years in the City before turning to close-up magic and city walking tours full time. He performs at corporate events, comedy clubs, Glastonbury and the Edinburgh Fringe. Expect him at your table rather than on a stage, which is the point.

Tartan Entertainment DJ, from 10pm

Taking the room from dinner to dancing once the formal part of the evening is done.

Ten years, city by city

How Invisible Cities got from one guide in Edinburgh to a national operation.

2015
The idea

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.

2016
Edinburgh

Founded in February in Edinburgh. Guides design their own routes from the start, which is still how every tour is made.

2018
From volunteers to a team

Volunteer-led until July 2018, then the first paid staff. Regional winner for Innovation in Tourism at the VisitScotland Thistle Awards.

2019
A Community Interest Company

The structure is formalised in June. Glasgow, Manchester and York follow, each with its own guide community rather than a copied formula.

2021
Lonely Planet Best in Travel

The Community Award, one of a small number of UK operators chosen globally. Cardiff joins the map.

2024
National Geographic Traveler of the Year

Zakia named People's Champion. TrainSplit comes on board as travel partner. Mercure Manchester Piccadilly begins hosting the team.

2025
Aberdeen, and Homewards

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.

2026
Ten cities in ten years

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.

Raffle tickets

Add your numbers now so you are not emptying a bag at half nine.

Raffle prizes

Drawn at 9.30. Every prize here was given by someone who wanted tonight to work.

Table quiz answers

No peeking before the round is called. The tables on either side of you will know.

The guest wall

Every city has two maps. Leave a line for the second one, and it appears for everyone in the room.

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Our supporters

Tonight happens because these three said yes.

Getting here

Charlotte Square sits at the west end of George Street, ten minutes on foot from Waverley.

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh

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