Dr Nigel Spivey

Peter had the good fortune of directing Nigel a good few years back in a documentary about Britain’s ancient monuments. We are absolutely delighted that he is one of our tour leaders.

Nigel is a Fellow of Emmanuel College and Senior Lecturer in Classics at Cambridge University, where he teaches Classical Art and Archaeology. His books include The Ancient Olympics, Greek Art, and Panorama of the Classical World. A renowned TV presenter, his credits include How Art Made the World (BBC), Kings and Queens, and Heroes of World War II. He’s also an experienced tour lecturer. His knowledge and passion make him an ideal guide for bringing past Mediterranean cultures to life.

What previous guests have to say about Nigel:

"I can't say enough good things about Nigel. He gave us just the right amount of fascinating history to make us think about what life may have been in ancient times. He made himself available at all times for questions and chitchat. We loved having him as part of the group." Carol Wade

"Our trip was outstanding, but then, We had an amazing Cambridge Classicist with us! It was a treat to be able to combine the archaeological sites with Dr. Spivey's encyclopaedic knowledge of the ancient world. I hope Peter Sommer Travel knows what a treasure they have in Dr. Spivey. He is friendly, jovial, kind and instinctively knows how to adjust his interesting and engaging presentations for the audience in front of him which comes from years of teaching. Few Classicists have his range of knowledge." Margaret-Anne Gillis

"I so enjoyed the expertise of Nigel. He made a real contribution to the trip. His commentary was insightful and thought provoking. Nigel connected well with all the guests and cared about his audience's perspectives and interests. I could listen to Nigel all day, he's such a great speaker." Rosanne Taylor

"Nigel was wonderful. Superb in every way. He adapted so well to all of the clients. Unsurpassable. An experience of a lifetime." Pamela Lyon

"Exploring the amazing history of the area was fascinating. Nigel gave the right level of information, education and stories to bring it to life in a way that will stay with us forever! Though we are sure all of your expert guides are wonderful, we are so glad that Nigel Spivey led our cruise. He offered the right level of context on what we were going to see and what we had seen, left no-one ‘behind’, and generally elevated what was already a great experience to a truly memorable one." Julie Kleinman

"Nigel was delightful, as always. He is always interesting to listen to and learn from. Excellent." Carol Theodore