Guides & Tour Directors

James is a native of Oxfordshire, and educated at Durham University, the Courtauld Institute of Art and the University of Paris-Sorbonne IV where he obtained his MA degree in the history of art. In 2011 he was awarded a PhD by Southampton-Solent University for a thesis entitled ‘Illustrated Travel: steel engravings and their use in early nineteenth century topographical books’. James has lectured on art history in Paris, where he is an official guide-conferencier allowing him to lecture in all major museums in Paris, and has translated major exhibition catalogues from French into English. James is Reviews Editor of the Journal of the Printing Historical Society, and his current academic interest is the history of the book. In recent years, he has written a number of articles on his specialist subject for scholarly journals.

Alasdair Clayre comes from a long line of explorers. His mother’s father and uncles were ships’ captains from Shetland. His grandparents met on a voyage from South America. He was born in Borneo and grew up in a tribe. Back in Britain his mother took him to cathedrals and castles and archaeological digs in Spain, visiting the Bedouin in Arabia, or climbing the Canadian Rockies where his father was building hospitals. Alasdair attended Winchester College and took several degrees at Cambridge, culminating in an MPhil in Social Anthropology. He enjoys not just the logistical challenges of leading groups, but the opportunity to help others understand and access different cultures and perspectives. He thinks travel is the best education.

Gavin has been leading tours in Europe for over 25 years. His particular fascination is in the role played by Islamic Al Andalus (Spain) in initiating the Renaissance. Gavin studied the History of Art at Cambridge University (Homerton) and Fine Art at the London Institute (Camberwell) as well as Theatre Studies at The Arts Educational Schools, London. When Gavin is not leading groups through Europe he directs and writes for the theatre. He and his wife Serena, a puppeteer, have a daughter, Ygraine, a professional ballerina.

Jonathan (IJ) Parry has over 30 years’ experience and a star reputation for excellence in the travel industry. He started his career as a San Francisco local guide. After learning to fly in central California, subsequently he was taken on as a steward for Warners’ fleet of private jets, and escorted famous names like Henry Kissinger, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand and Isaac Stern. After working as a Tour Manager in the USA, he continued as a Travel Director, leading over 150 groups in Europe and world-wide. IJ is multi-lingual, charismatic and cooks a mean curry. He plays chess for the East India club in London and spends the winter months on his farm in Uruguay growing herbs and vegetables. His passion for art, classical music, wine and cuisine makes him a suitable candidate to expand, lecture and share his fascination for travel with both the experienced and most curious of minds.

Christine Upton is a seasoned travel professional with over 35 years of experience in the industry, known for her deep cultural insight and passion for storytelling. Of English, Maltese, and Italian heritage, Christine began her journey at the age of 18, when she moved to rural France to teach English and to study art at the École des Beaux-Arts. She returned to the UK to pursue modern languages at the University of Durham, where she also developed a love for theatre, acting in and stage-managing numerous productions, and later studied interpreting and translation at the University of London Institute in Paris.

Christine has worked extensively across Europe as a Tour Director and in senior leadership roles with major tour operators. Now based in London, she continues to lead cultural and historical tours across Europe, sharing her rich experience and infectious enthusiasm with travelers from around the world.

Andreas brings a lifetime of cultural immersion and a deep-seated love for languages and history to every tour. A native of Germany, his European roots provide an authentic perspective on the destinations we visit as his academic journey reflects a passion for bridging cultures. After completing studies in languages, specializing in Italian and Portuguese, Andreas earned an MA in Translation Studies. Subsequently, a significant chapter unfolded in the United States where he taught Italian at the University of Washington in Seattle and pursued further academic interests that culminated in a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature.

Since 2004, Andreas has been back in Germany, where he runs a translation business—a 20-year gig which, in combination with leading tours for TGT, keeps him fluent in the stories, culture, and events that define and challenge Europe today. His career in guiding began early, accompanying visitors through the European heartland even during his school and university days in Germany. Combining this background with an ‘ungerman’ sense of humor, Andreas continued his passion for leading and bringing groups together and since resettling in Europe has led numerous tours for The Grand Tour.