Alison Weir Tours

Dr Alison Weir is the top-selling female historian (and the fifth-bestselling historian overall) in the United Kingdom, and has sold over 3 million books worldwide and done more than 1190 events. She has published twenty-two history books, her most recent being Queens at War, the fourth volume of her England’s Medieval Queens quartet. Alison has also published seventeen historical novels, including the Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII, which was launched in 2016 to great critical acclaim; each of the six books was a Sunday Times top-ten besteseller. Alison’s latest novel is The Boleyn Secret (May 2026). She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bishop Grosseteste University at Lincoln. 


After leaving Oxford, Sarah Gristwood worked as a journalist specialising in the arts and women's issues, and contributing to The Times, the Guardian, the Independent and the Telegraph. Arbella, her biography of Arbella Stuart, the first cousin of Elizabeth I and heir to her throne, was the first of her books to feature on the Sunday Times bestseller list. Other books since include Elizabeth and Leicester; Blood Sisters, an acclaimed study of the royal women who brought the Tudor dynasty into being; Game of Queens, a book about female rulers in the sixteenth century; The Tudors in Love, a ground-breaking account of how courtly love shaped the Tudor Dynasty, and the acclaimed Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries.She has also written about early-twentieth-century figures from Beatrix Potter to Virginia Woolf, and Audrey Hepburn to Winston Churchill. She frequently appears on television discussing both historical topics, and the modern Royal Family.  


After graduating in history from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and completing a postgraduate qualification at the Polytechnic of North London, Julian joined the staff of London's National Army Museum. During his time there he curated numerous exhibitions and was spokesperson to the media on all matters of British Army history. He also made three expeditions to Bosnia during the civil war there to collect information and also acquire items for the museum.   Julian left the museum to pursue a career in writing, guiding and lecturing – battles and castles are his speciality! He worked alongside Alison Weir on English Heritage’s Tours Through Time programme, and in 2009 was appointed Development Officer of the Battlefields Trust, the UK Charity dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Britain’s historic battlefields. He is now a Trustee. Julian, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a visiting lecturer on the archaeology of conflict at the University of Winchester, talks and writes extensively on many aspects of British history. He is the author of numerous books and articles on Britain's military history, most recently as a contributor to 'Historic Battlefields in 500 walks' (San Diego, 2023) and as editor of the Battlefields Trust's special 2023 publication on the sieges and battles of the Barons' Wars. He has contributed numerous articles to BBC History, History Revealed and Tudor Places Magazines and has just begun writing for BBC Who Do You Think You Are Magazine. Julian also writes scripts for historical multi-media and audio tours including guides to Culloden Battlefield, the Household Cavalry Museum, the D-Day Story, Winchester City Museum, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, and Quirky Cambridge.


Dr Nicola Tallis graduated from Bath Spa University with a first class BA Hons. degree in History. She has an MA in Public History from Royal Holloway College, University of London and was awarded a PhD by the University of Winchester for her thesis examining the jewellery collections of the queens of the Wars of the Roses and early Tudor queens of England. Some of her jewellery research was included into the catalogue of the 2024 Six Lives exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Nicola has worked as a curator, researcher, and lecturer, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. She has made numerous television and radio appearances, including on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, Channel 5’s The Vikings and The Gunpowder Plot, and Channel 4’s Frankie Boyle’s Farewell to the Monarchy. Nicola is the author of five books, and her latest, Young Elizabeth: Princess. Prisoner. Queen. was Book of the Week in The Times and the subject of a new two part documentary by History Hit, due to be released in May. Nicola has also recently signed a new book contract for an exciting new project which will be released in 2028. 


Dr Michael Jones is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the British Commission for Military History. He is a leading military historian, with specialist interests in battle psychology and French history. He is a member of several distinguished societies in both the UK and France, including the Royal Historical Society and La Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Bretagne. Michael's first book, The King's Mother, a biography of Lady Margaret Beaufort, was shortlisted for the prestigious Whitfield Prize. He has published nine books since, covering numerous topics from Agincourt and Bosworth to Stalingrad. Michael has worked extensively with veterans of the Second World War. He is also the author, with Philippa Gregory, of The Women of the Cousins' War and, with Philippa Langley, of The King's Grave: the Search for Richard III; his other titles include 24 Hours at Agincourt; After Hitler; and Bosworth 1485: Psychology of a Battle. His most recent work is an acclaimed study of the life of the Black Prince. Michael has been a consultant to a number of TV programmes, including Channel 4’s Richard III: Fact or Fiction, the History Channel’s Warriors series, the National Geographic’s Mystery Files and Russia Today’s The Children of Stalingrad. HHe has also been interviewed on the BBC’s Today programme and appeared on Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Time. He also has years of experience in guiding historical tours.


Dr Tracy Borman is one of the UK's most popular and loved historians. She is Chief Historian of Historic Royal Palaces, Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, and Chancellor and Professor of Tudor History at Lincoln Bishop University. She is the author of many highly acclaimed books, including Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I; Crown and Sceptre; Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him; The Private Lives of the Tudors; Thomas Cromwell; Queen of the Conqueror; Elizabeth’s Women; Witches; as well as the trilogy of novels The King’s Witch, The Devil’s Slave, and The Fallen Angel. Her latest novel is The House of Boleyn. Borman is also a regular broadcaster and accomplished public speaker. She was awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours 2024 for services to heritage.


Dr Elizabeth Norton is an historian and archaeologist specialising in queenship. She has degrees from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and a PhD from King's College London, where she has also taught history. She is the author of Elfrida, The First Crowned Queen of England, as well as England's Queens: The Biography, which looks at English queens going back to the ninth century. Her most recent books are Jane Seymour: Patronage, Material Culture and Image Crafting (Routledge, 2026) and Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy (Footnote, 2025). She presented 'The Real Jane Seymour' for History Hit and appears frequently on television, including National Geographic's 'How the Tudors Lost their Heads' and BBC1's 'Who Do You Think You Are?'. She also works as an historical consultant for film and television.


Gareth Russell is a historian and broadcaster, whose books include biographies of Catherine Howard, the late Queen Mother, and James I, which was adapted into the BBC documentary “Queen James” (2025). He is also the author of The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era.


Lesley Smith is a medical historian holding an M.Phil in Tudor medicine, is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and is also a Member of the Society of Medical Writers. In addition to these qualifications, Lesley was awarded an Honorary Masters Degree in 2010 by the University of Derby for ‘Services to History in the Community’ and has 38 academic publications. She is also published in the wider community and has written for local county magazines. She has also appeared in more than 150 television programmes, some of which have been broadcast to other countries. Lesley is also well known for her highly entertaining and informative costumed portrayals of a variety of historical characters, which she gave both at Tutbury Castle and still does all across the UK. Lesley is the former Curator of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire and retired in July 2024 after almost 25 years.   


Ian Gallagher is widely regarded as the finest Big Band vocalist and Frank Sinatra impersonator in the UK. He is endorsed by the Sinatra Music Society and recognised as one of the country's finest interpreters of the Chairman of the Board. He has performed at prominent venues including the London Palladium, The Savoy and Buckingham Palace, as well as entertaining British troops during the Gulf War. Ian has been singing professionally for over 30 years and has appeared around the world. He performs renditions of over 300 different Frank Sinatra songs (spanning the duration of Ol' Blue Eyes' career), so whichever Sinatra song you most want to hear, you can be confident that he will know it. His energy and passion for the legendary King of Swing will have your toes tapping and you’ll want to sing along, get up and dance.


Hugh Bernard's fascination with local history and the unexplained began in his teens and has grown into a lifelong interest in the stories that shape our sense of place and identity. With strong family roots in the region, he moved to the New Forest nearly ten years ago and quickly developed a deep appreciation for its landscape, history, and enduring connection to folklore and legend. Alongside his love of history and storytelling, he has spent many years exploring the world of the paranormal with curiosity, respect and a genuine interest in the human stories behind the experiences. For him, it’s never just about seeking the supernatural, but about understanding how these tales reflect the fears, beliefs, and imaginations of the people who lived them- and the history behind the stories. His aim is to create experiences that are engaging, thought-provoking, and respectful - where history, folklore, and the possibility of the paranormal all meet within this remarkable landscape.


Dr Kate Vigurs FRHistS is an historian, author, researcher and public speaker specialising in the women of the Second World War and Special Operations Executive (SOE). A Visiting Academic at the University of Warwick and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she is the author of the critically acclaimed Mission France and Women of SOE (Mission Europe). Kate is a regular contributor to television, radio and podcasts, with appearances on the BBC, Netflix and leading history platforms. She is a sought-after speaker at major festivals, museums and universities, including Oxford University’s summer programmes, and as an instructor for Road Scholar educational tours and cruises. Alongside her research, she works as a historical consultant, battlefield guide and is the founder of History's Maid, bringing history to life through performance, film and scripts.


Siobhan Clarke has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 25 years, delivering tours and lectures on the palaces of Hampton Court, Kensington, the Tower of London and the Banqueting House, Whitehall. Siobhan has featured on BBC radio and PBS Television's ‘Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace’. She lectures for the Smithsonian and is an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society. Her published work comprises: ‘A Tudor Christmas’ with Alison Weir (Jonathan Cape, 2018). ‘The Tudors: The Crown, the Dynasty, the Golden Age’ with Linda Collins (Andre Deutsch, 2019). ‘King and Collector: Henry VIII and the art of Kingship’ with Linda Collins (History Press, 2021). ‘Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the art of Queenship’ with Linda Collins (History Press, 2022).


Chris Armour joined AWT in mid-2025 and became a director of the company in spring 2026..  When John Marston stands down after Red Dragon, she will assume his responsibilities, as well as those of Finance Director. Chris brings with her a wealth of experience.  She has worked for many commercial companies in the UK – and overseas in Switzerland and for the World Bank in Washington DC – and has amassed much business experience in her career.  In particular, and of particular relevance to AWT, she has been responsible for the organisation of many medium and large-scale events, meetings and visits ranging is size from 30 to 500 people, in locations as varied as Dubai, Tokyo, Singapore, Puerto Rico and Cape Town – and a large number of cities in the US, plus, of course many destinations in the UK.  Whilst not a historian, Chris does have a great interest in history, art and literature and spends much of her leisure time at historical sites, and in theatres and galleries. Chris is greatly looking forward to meeting with all our regular and new guests.  Do please feel free to contact her directly with any questions you may have on the administration of our tours, particularly relating to finance/payments.  She will be only too happy to help you. 


Jo Marston has looked after the pastoral care of our guests on every tour since 2012. She is a qualified first-aider and an invaluable member of the team.  



Alison Weir Tours Ltd.
Company Registration No. 07276807.
Registered Office: 2nd Floor, 16-17 Wardour Mews, London, W1F 8AT