The travel writer and broadcaster has straddled the world, but always insists on paying his way. Perhaps that’s why his favourite trip is the No.11 route from Liverpool Street to Camden. As you’d expect from a professional itinerant, Simon’s topics span Aberdeen to Zanzibar, via budget airlines.


Biography

Simon Calder’s love affair with travel began with a camping trip to the Lake District, and the six-year-old Simon was hooked. He learned the fine art of free travel by starting to hitch-hike as a teenager. More than three decades later, he is still thumbing his way around the world.

Simon's first job was as a cleaner for British Airways at Gatwick airport. He later worked as a security guard frisking passengers, writing budget travel guidebooks between flights. His first was
The Hitch-hiker's Manual of Britain.

After becoming travel editor of The Independent Simon also began to present BBC 2's Travel Show and contribute to the Holiday programme. He now hosts the Travel Clinic on LBC 97.3, regularly pops up on Radio 4 and comments on travel issues across all the national media.

Simon has travelled the world, but still lists his favourite bus journey as the number 11 - from Liverpool Street to Camden. With a policy of paying his way wherever he travels in the world, Simon always finds that the most interesting stories tend to come from the cheap seats.


Videos of Simon Calder

Simon Calder Showreel

Contact us about Simon Calder

We’re on hand to help you find the perfect speaker, presenter or performer for your events. Call or email our London office and use our agents' experience to expertly match you with the right person for your programme!


From time to time we send out emails announcing new speakers and free tickets to our showcase events including Speakers Breakfasts and the JLA Real Variety Show. Please tick the box below if you would like to receive these emails.

Don't miss anything!

We will never share the data you submit here with a third party. Information is stored in a database in order to service your enquiry, but is deleted once it is no longer required. You may request to have this data removed at any time.

JLA Presents

Click to view details of our event
Event - - Date TBC

Speakers Breakfast

Racing to High Performance with Guenther Steiner and Paul McKenna

Speakers
Paul McKenna and Guenther Steiner

Date TBC.  We will be looking at high-performance and mindset with our two excellent speakers.

Location

Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH

WATCH
Risk Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 17/09/2024 - 09:00

Speakers Breakfast

Navigating Risk and Chaos – Strategies For Coping With An Uncertain World.

Speakers
Clive Myrie, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Rt Hon Lord Parker of Minsmere, and Robin Niblett

On Tuesday 17th September we had the pleasure of hearing from a remarkable panel of keynote speakers, who shared their expertise on the challenges of managing Risk in a chaotic world.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH