London over the Border Guide County covers the London Boroughs of Barking, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. Our name is taken from the diary of Charles Dickens, who talked of the villages beyond Bow as London "over the border".

We have around 4,500 members in L.O.B., grouped into twenty six Districts and seven Divisions. Through our multi-cultural connections, we seek to be accessible to girls and women from all communities. Our members meet together, usually on a weekly basis in a unit, where they have the opportunity to take part in fun activities and new adventures, many of which they might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Each unit is led by adults, all of whom are volunteers and give of their time freely to enable the girls to benefit from Guiding.

Guiding in L.O.B. is about challenge and fun, adventure and enjoyment, about encouraging girls to be the best they can be, and about helping them to develop into active, caring, involved women for tomorrow.

Welcome to the London over the Border website. We have tried to include everything you may ever want or need; whether it be activity ideas, recruitment posters or guiding forms. But this is your website so if we haven’t got in and you want it, please let us know. All comments, news articles, activity ideas and so on, please email to info@lobguides.co.uk

County Standard
Our standard was dedicated in 1952 at St.Mary's church, Walthamstow. At the hoist is the Guide world badge. Next is the county badge of Guides in London, the Tower of London on the River Thames. As our standard was dedicated within six months of the coronation of our Queen, the College of Heralds allowed the Orb to be incorporated into the standard. The Orb is one of the oldest insignia of sovereignty and was used originally by the Romans. Next to that is our motto, the initials of which remind us of our Founder, Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell and his wife, Lady Olave Baden Powell, the World Chief Guide. Then follow the devices of the six Divisions which formed the county when the standard was designed: the ship representing the docks of West Ham; the bunch of grapes symbolising the Hampton Court vine, which came originally from the grounds of Valentines House in Valentines park, Ilford; the crossed crosiers of Barking on the ermine of East Ham; the lion for Leyton from the arms of the Frauncy family, who were the early owners of the Manor of Ruckholt. The manor later passed into the hands of the Wellesley family, who were prominent citizens of Wanstead; the sleeve of the Tori family, Lords of the Manor of Walthamstow from 1140 to 1310. Nowadays, the county extends to Chingford and Woodford, both of which were part of Essex Guides until the 1970's.