About Us

Years of Experience

Specialtours, founded over 40 years ago, was a pioneer in offering escorted tours for cultural groups, such as The British Museum, The Royal Academy and The National Art Collections Fund, now the Art Fund.

It was privately owned until July 2009 when it became part of The Ultimate Travel Company, with offices in Fulham, central London.

Specialtours has always provided a personal service, with a small team working to the highest standards. We pride ourselves on attention to detail. Each of us is responsible for their tours, from the initial concept and research to ensuring the smooth running of the tour.

SUSIE ORSO - Senior Consultant

Susie was a co-owner of Specialtours with Frances Roxburgh before they joined The Ultimate Travel Company in 2009. She has arranged and accompanied numerous tours in Europe for specialised groups, including museums, alumni associations and garden societies. Living in Florence, Susie has developed many of our private contacts in Italy over the years. She remains actively involved with Specialtours as a consultant and occasionally accompanies some small private groups.

FRANCES ROXBURGH - Director, Specialtours

Frances worked in guidebook publishing and the art world and led walking tours in Italy before joining Specialtours in 1990, later becoming a Director. She has a degree in French, Italian and History of Art. Frances is a European specialist with a particular love of Italy, Poland and Portugal. She has also arranged and accompanied tours to destinations further afield including South America, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Ethiopia.

VERITY SMITH - Director, Specialtours

Verity has organised worldwide tours for The Ultimate Travel Company for since 2004 and Specialtours since 2009. After launching one of Asia’s leading travel companies in London, Verity has returned to Specialtours in a senior role, focusing on business development as well as arranging tours. Verity has a degree in History of Art and she particularly enjoys leading garden tours. Inspired by horticultural adventures in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the UK, she is now studying Garden Design.

KATIE MORRISON - Senior Executive

Katie was awarded an M.A. from the University of Nottingham and spent time studying in Rome focusing on Ancient Roman Antiquity with a particular interest in Imperial Rome and the Hellenistic period. She then managed the excursion programme for a boutique cruise ship, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region. After several years running the Historic and Cultural Tour programme for a specialist European tour operator, she joined Specialtours in 2022 specialising in tours to southern Europe.

JOHANNA GOYARD - Senior Executive

Jo grew up in Burgundy, France, where she achieved her B.A. in Tourism in 2009. She moved to the UK the following year and joined the product team of a travel company specialising in small group tours to the UK, Ireland and Europe. She later worked for a boutique company offering exclusive cultural tours, which allowed her to truly embrace her passion for travel to Europe. She joined Specialtours in 2023, specialising in Western and Central Europe.

NICOLA HOWARD

Nicola lived in Paris, Barcelona and Rome before joining Specialtours in 1996. She has a degree in History of Art and a background in the art world and photography. Nicola speaks fluent French, Italian and Spanish and has specialised in these countries. She has a particular interest in the Islamic world, while Georgian Ireland is another area of expertise and enthusiasm. Nicola has arranged tours for many art and garden groups.

HARRIET LANDSEER

Harriet lives in her native Ireland but has spent much of her life in Prague. She has led tours for Specialtours since 1996 and has also worked for the Czech National Heritage Institute and Historic Houses of Ireland. Fluent in Czech, with excellent contacts, she is also at ease in German, French and Spanish. She studied History of Art at Yale University. Harriet has created itineraries devoted to libraries, contemporary art and equestrian events.

ANTONIA LLOYD OWEN

Antonia joined Specialtours in 2002 with a degree in History of Art & Architecture and a good understanding of the Decorative Arts. Having lived in Spain and worked in Germany and Austria, she especially enjoys leading tours to these countries and has now become our Scandinavian expert. Antonia also arranges tours in the UK for smaller parties of overseas visitors, focusing on special private visits to houses and gardens.

CAROLINE HOWARD

Caroline studied History of Art at Edinburgh University and has lived in Rome for many years. Caroline is currently the Artistic Director at La Mortella on Ischia, where she organises the programmes given by visiting youth orchestras. She is a teacher, translator and exhibition-catalogue editor and has led many tours throughout Italy.

AMY KUPEC LARUE

Amy fell in love with Paris and the French joie de vivre after college in Boston and has lived there with her family for over 30 years. Having worked as a floral decorator, with clients including the US Embassy, she has created a second career sharing her passion for horticulture and the history and beauty of her adopted country. Amy is a permanent member of the Bagatelle Rose Commission as well as judging at other rose competitions in Europe.

MARION MAKO

Marion is a garden historian and planting designer. She has been leading garden tours for over 15 years in Europe, sharing her passion for plants, gardens and especially the Arts & Crafts era. Marion has presented for television and lectures at The London College of Garden Design as well as garden groups. She has co-authored part of The Historic Gardens of England series, written garden histories and contributed to Hortus and Gardens Illustrated.

ROSALIND MALANDRINOS

Ros is an art historian and fluent Italian speaker. For 20 years she lived in Cape Town, where she taught at the University and was involved in a move from traditional art history to a more inclusive visual culture. Now living in the Cotswolds, Ros has accompanied our tours in the U.K and Japan as well as South Africa. Her research interests span the Italian Renaissance, Victorian art and collecting practices in the Cape.

ELEANOR WALKER

Ellie received her M.A. in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute, where she specialised in the influence of Netherlandish paintings on the Florentine Renaissance. She has worked in London at Sotheby’s as well as Specialtours. In 2020 she moved to Florence where she works at Stanford University’s Study Abroad Program. When not in a gallery or museum, you will find her at the jazz club, opera house or rehearsing with her choir.

JOANNA WORSLEY

Joanna travelled extensively through Asia working in Hong Kong and Delhi and developing a passion for India. She then spent several years in Los Angeles producing film and music videos. Being half Greek, she has a particular love for Greece, has a house on the island of Skyros and is involved in the Kardamyli Festival. Joanna has led several tours to India for The Ultimate Travel Company and is now focusing on Greece for Specialtours.

Your attention to detail, the miles you went on our behalf and the grace in which all was presented has made our journey so special.
The Decorative Arts Trust Ireland

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