Welcome to our June Update which gives you a glimpse of the vibrant and varied tours and events taking place towards the end of this year.

Highlights include the latest of our symposia in November: Birth of the Modern: Britain in the Age of Jane Austen and JMW Turner, which celebrates the dynamism of 18th- and 19th-century Britain through a compelling series of talks by leading scholars in the comfort of the Grand Hotel, York.

Also in November, you will encounter far fewer tourists than in other months should you opt for The Art of Florence; similarly in Granada & Córdoba, where you might also enjoy the last days of Spanish summer sun. Further afield, we can tempt you with the Painted Palaces of Rajasthan, a tour skilfully led by our lecturer and Delhi resident, Dr Giles Tillotson, through a glorious blend of well-known and lesser-visited sites.

These are but a handful of the 124 tours, festivals and other events taking place between June and December 2025 – a full list of which can be seen at the back of the Update and on our Calendar – and which culminate in our 8 tours over the Christmas and New Year period. New among these appealing escapes is Marrakech at New Year, a week of palaces, madrasas, museums and gardens, staying in a five-star hotel in the medina and led by Islamic art and architecture expert Dr Richard McClary.

We would be delighted to help you hone your selection or help you to book. Please don’t hesitate to call us.

With best wishes,

Fiona Charrington
Chief Executive