Szamuely was born in Moscow, the eldest of three children and elder son of György Szamuely and his wife, Elsa Szanto, both from Hungarian Jewish merchant families. He received his education in England, first at Bertrand Russell's Beacon Hill School in Hampshire, and later at the progressive Summerhill School in Suffolk.
Szamuely was born in Moscow as the eldest of three children to György Szamuely and Elsa Szanto, both from Hungarian Jewish merchant families. He pursued his education in England at Bertrand Russell's Beacon Hill School in Hampshire and later attended the progressive Summerhill School in Suffolk.