This was my fifth Martin Randall Travel trip. They have all been good. The key difference with these tours is the fact that there is an expert lecturer (as well as a tour manager and a driver). The expert lecturer adds huge value. It's a cut above what you get even from a competent local guide with other tour companies. The expert lecturers are working academics who really know the topic and are skilled at talking about it in an accessible way without the dreaded dumbing down. The tours attract others with a similar deep interest in niche topics. It's good that everyone is on the same page in terms of their level of interest.

You really get looked after on a MRT tour. Everything is arranged to make the holiday so enjoyable: transport, entry to museums all sorted without fuss . We have travelled with Michael Douglas-Scott 4 times now and his knowledge and engaging style enthuses one to learn and appreciate the history of western art.

One of the very best for cultural and history tours. I have traveled multiple times with Martin Randall and am consistently extremely impressed by the quality of their tours both in content and itinerary as well as overall tour organization. Their expert lecturers are top notch and their tour managers experienced and real pros at what they do.

I recently was one of 22 people joining Martin Randall for its inaugural trip to Egypt. The lecturer, a UK-based educator and specialist in Near Eastern history and culture, was enthusiastic, articulate and always engaging. He led us on a journey that built up our knowledge of Pharaonic Egypt day by day. He was joined by a local Egyptologist guide, who complemented his lecture and answered questions as we investigated on our own as well as handling the intricacies of Egyptian bureaucracy. A separate experienced tour leader handled the practical matters and comfort of our group with a smile and good cheer at every point.

We spent a week on a Martin Randall gastronomic tour of the Basque region under the superb care of guide and lecturer Gijs van Hensbergen, who is highly knowledgeable not only about the culture and food of this region but many additional regions of Spain including Andalucia, Catalunia, etc. Gijs is, simply put, unique: he is highly informed, enthusiastic, and always willing to share his knowledge of Spanish history, art, and food. His ability to elaborate cogently on a range of subjects beyond gastronomy (Picasso; Gaudi; Frank Gehry) sets the stage for a more complex and unique understanding of what we saw, heard, and ate. But it is as a food aficionado that he truly shone! Not only did Gijs bring us to several of the most iconic and world-renowned restaurants in the Basque Country (and that is saying something), but his acquaintances with their internationally famous chefs guaranteed that these were meals never to be forgotten. In addition to experiencing truly sensational restaurants, and using Bilbao and San Sebastian as anchors, we visited fabulous wineries, and learned about key aspects of the region's history and culture, with visits to museums and, most profoundly, the city of Guernica. Guided activities were balanced with ample breaks to explore on our own or spend time getting to know our fellow travellers.

A week staying in good hotels in Valletta, Malta, on a music tour - Handel Festival, with daily talks on the musician and the work to to seen/ heard that day by experienced and lively musicologist. Varied settings for all concerts - cathedrals, palaces, historical houses, in and around the city. Extra activities - art, history and walking tours also on offer. Opportunities to mingle with guests staying in different hotels on numerous occasions; knowledgeable Festival staff on hand for help and questions.

I have done several tours of stately homes in England and Ireland with Martin Randall. All were well organized, informative and enjoyable. And there were always special events, such as dinner with a Duke, access to houses not usually open to the public or owner lead tours. The accommodation was first class, as was the food. As a single traveler, I made serval new friends. I cant recommend these tours highly enough.

"Trecento Frescoes" is a fantastic study of the pioneering art of Giotto and his contemporaries, a must for anyone interested in pre-renaissance Italian art (even a non-academic like myself). Wonderful visits to key sites in Padua, Florence, and Assisi, with an excellent lecturer. As always with a Martin Randall tour, meticulously planned, and with the added pleasure of travelling with like-minded companions - a thoroughly convivial experience.

This was Martin Randall's Cotswolds Choral Music Festival - a series of performances over 5 days by outstanding musicians that were held in large parish churches and other venues in several small to medium sized towns in the Cotswolds. Participants stayed in one location, choosing from 3 towns/villages and 5 hotels. I chose one of the two hotels in Lower Slaughter, a quintessential Cotswolds village and was very happy with my choice.