art school trips london

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Art School Trips in London

Starting from £990, starting from €1,080, starting from $1,205.

This educational art program in London is designed to get students to the heart of European art, from traditional modern art to contemporary design. Here’s our art school trip in London at a glance:

• Day 1:  trip briefing, fish and chips
• Day 2:  National Portrait Gallery, The Vaults, life drawing class, auction
• Day 3:  Chelsea College, London arts professional talk, Tate Britain, West End
• Day 4:  East London street art walking tour, street art workshop, Tate Modern
• Day 5: Hyde park, gallery workshop, Sky Garden
• Day 6:  portrait sculpture lesson, Museum of Brands workshop

Like what you see? Discover London’s rich and diverse art world in the detailed itinerary below! But remember, all our school trips are fully customisable, view all of our art school trips !

*Prices based on groups of 20 students and 2 free teachers.

What's included?

✓ 1 free teacher per 10 paying students ✓ 24-hour emergency contact support during the trip ✓ Detailed pre-departure summary & briefing ✓ Full financial failure protection ✓ Public liability insurance ✓ Our trips are fully risk-assessed

Learning Outcomes

Speak to a specialist, day 1: settle in.

Touch down at one of the London airports and hop on a private coach to transfer to your accommodation . Meet your guide, who will bring you up to speed with London life, as well brush you up on the trip rules and safety advice .

Enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional British food , such as fish and chips, and listen to a trip briefing .

Day 2: High Art & A Live Auction

Head to the iconic Trafalgar Square and explore the National Portrait Gallery , one of the most fascinating but often overlooked galleries in London. Get to know 200,000 famous people via their portraits, including all the British Royals (present and past).

You’ve spent the morning looking at high art, now it’s time to plunge down into The Vaults, London’s home for alternative arts, set in a maze of disused railway arches under Waterloo Station.  In this creative, imaginative environment, roll up your sleeves and take a life drawing class. This lesson is designed to develop style and skill, whatever your ability.

Feel the anticipation in the room as people bid at a live auction . There’s no film that will get you on the edge of your seat quite as much!

Read More  

Day 3: University Life

Meet a Student Ambassador from Chelsea College, one of the best a rts universities in London. Ask them about  Masters and PhDs and compare university life in London with student life back home. Then, listen to a talk from a young professional working in the London arts industry. They’ll tell you about their experiences, the challenges and benefits of the job and what skills are needed to thrive in the sector. You’ll also have the chance to engage in a Q&A with the speaker.

Stop off at the Tate Britain . This world-renowned museum is home to traditional British paintings and sculptures across a range of styles starting from the 14 th century, including works by Sir John Everett Millais, John William Waterhouse and John Constable.

Come back to the present as you stroll with your guide through London’s West End , the area in Central London where the city lights never go out.

Day 4: Street Art

Today, you’re discovering East London’s vibey street art scene . London boasts one of the biggest collections of uncommissioned street art in the world, including those of the anonymous Banksy . Learn about this ever-evolving art scene, its motives and challenges, and see how street art can help transform a disused space in the Nomadic Community Gardens , once a place of urban decay and now a home to a vibrant community of artists. One of them will even deliver a workshop where you can try your hand at producing your own street art (don’t wear fancy clothes for this one)!

Afternoon / Evening

Continue your journey through the world of contemporary art and explore the Tate Modern , home to works by Warhol and Picasso among other artists from all over the world.

Day 5: Galleries

Take the morning to relax in Hyde Park , one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in London where the famous Serpentine Galleries are also located. Watch a debate or try public speaking at its famous Speakers’ Corner, visit the Lady Di garden memorial, feed the birds and enjoy an hour of immersive team games.

Take part in a curated workshop on gallery education practice , looking at the roles of the learning team, co-ordination between gallery departments and how funding happens. Develop your own project plans based on the needs of different stakeholders and role-play the professional, meeting challenges and learning new skills while unpicking a real scenario.

Go up 20 Fenchurch Street, a skyscraper nicknamed “The Walkie Talkie” for its distinctive shape, and visit Sky Garden . Wander around the landscaped gardens and the observation deck for panoramic views from London’s highest public garden.

Day 6: Graphic Design

See if your portrait sculpture skills are up to it and meet a sculptor who has worked extensively in the film industry. Learn about the process of ecorché (sculpting each individual muscle onto the skeleton) and go home with an anatomic muscle model – a much better souvenir than an ‘I Love London’ t-shirt or keychain!

Explore the Museum of Brands and take part in a curated workshop on graphic design . Learn about how packaging graphics have changed over the years, as well as how art and design are used to communicate key messages to the consumer.   Then, work in groups to try to improve the graphics of a current UK product.

Spend your evening in one of the many London museums that stay open until late, like the Victoria & Albert Museum or the National Gallery.

Day 7: Farewell, London!

Enjoy a last full English breakfast while taking part in a reflection session and listening to a trip debriefing . It might be home time, but it’s not over. London’s art will follow you back to the classroom…and beyond!

Experience different art forms, artists and artworks from diverse historical and contemporary contexts in London.

Engage with a range of professionals working in arts industries. develop a better understanding of the possibilities in the field as well as professional needs, responsibilities and requirements., work on an original and individual style through creative potential development exercises..

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Art & Design Trips to London

Alongside New York and Paris, London is considered one of the most important cities in the art world.  All areas of the syllabus are covered from Fine Art, Textiles and Graphic Design to Photography and Sculpture.   What’s more, very few galleries or museums charge an entrance fee to see their permanent collection, giving you the freedom to include one of the cities famous tourist attractions, a West End show , or a ride on the  Lastminute.com London Eye ; guaranteed to make the students visit to the capital even more memorable.

Explore all of our London school trips

Curriculum Topics Key Stage 4 & 5

• Art, Craft and Design
• Graphic Communication
• Textile Design
• Three Dimensional Design
• Photography​

Prices start from £169 pp

Popular itinerary

Our sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific learning outcomes.

Price Shown includes

• Return rail travel (based on the fare from Birmingham stations)
• 1 night B&B accommodation
• Specialist group travel insurance
• Bespoke itinerary planning service
• Free place ratios
• Locate My Trip - live trip tracking app 
• Online trip organiser & travel app
• 24/7 support whilst you are away

Places to Stay

• Premier Inn London Wembley Park
• Royal National Hotel
• YHA London Thameside

Reasons to Visit

• General Sightseeing
• Art & Design Visits
• West End Shows

National Gallery

As well as housing one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world, the National Gallery also offers specialist workshops for Key Stage 4 and 5. These one-and-a-half hour sessions for AS and A-level students will add a new dimension to your visit and are led by experienced Gallery experts.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Founded in 1852, it is well known for the wide variety of its collection. The items include furniture, fashion and textiles, sculpture, paintings, silver, glass, ceramics, jewellery, books, prints and photographs which illustrate the artistic life of many different cultures from all over the world.

Fashion & Textile Museum

The Fashion & Textile Museum aims not just to display and collect items relating to fashion, jewellery and textile design, but to offer inspiration to a new generation of creative's. The museum is a hub of learning, ideas and networking for the fashion and jewellery industry.

Tate Britain

The Tate Britain is the national gallery for British art covering artists from 1500 to present day. It holds the largest amount of British art in the world and includes work by the following artists; Blake, Constable, Epstein, Gainsborough, Gilbert and George, Hatoum, Hirst, Hockney, Hodgkin, Hogarth, Moore, Rossetti, Sickert, Spencer, Stubbs and Turner.

Tate Modern

Tate Modern is Britain's new collection of modern art. The museum contains works from 1900 to present day and includes Dali, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, Warhol and more contemporary artists. There is also a wide range of temporary exhibitions and public programmes.

Saatchi Gallery

The art focuses on innovative and controversial young British and international artists from the 1980's to the present day. Works include Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst Sarah Lucas, Marc Quinn, Jenny Savillle and Rachel Whiteread.

Design Museum

The mission of the Design Museum is to promote the importance of design in our daily lives. The collection shows the history of modern design and how the current designs and technologies influence the future.

London Street Art Walking Tour

Beginning in the heart of Shoreditch outside Shoreditch High Street Station. Walk through the streets of this vibrant and colourful side of London. Over two-hours learn about the difference between Street Art and Graffiti and the rise of the artform in the East End. From enthusiastic locals to world-renown artists, their work can be seen on walls, streets, lamp posts, shops, and just about anything else that can be used as a canvas. Visit quirky places and see historical relics that will most likely keep you hovering around the area long after the tour has finished. This is a walking tour that will not only be enjoyable to all but also shed light on a rapidly growing area that is bordered by the start-ups of Silicon Roundabout and the City of London’s financial district. Walk away with a better understanding of pop art, the impact the art has had on the community and see work in a vast range of mediums from full-scale wall murals to installations and sculpture.

Royal Academy

Today it has an extensive permanent collection, however only a small part of it is on show at any one time. The full collection can be viewed in an appointment with a curator. The temporary exhibitions are constantly changing and are considered one of the highlights of galleries in London.

Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising

Featuring over 12,000 original items, the museum is a great addition to any Art & Design trip to London. Discover how well-loved brands evolved through their creative use of packaging and advertising. Student Worksheets are available for a variety of subject areas including Art & Design, Graphic Design, Packaging and Visual Communication.

The lastminute.com London Eye

The famous London Eye is one of the world’s highest observation wheels, standing at 135 metres high. The wheel has thirty-two capsules, each of which holds 25 people and views possible as far away as twenty-five miles on a clear day.

The View from The Shard

The View from the Shard is situated on floors 68, 69 and 72, almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London, where you can take in all of London at once with 360 degree views of up to 40 miles long.

Sightseeing Tours by bus

Hop-on hop-off bus tours are great for general sightseeing, giving access to all the major sites. Departing from Grosvenor Gardens it includes Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, London Eye and Piccadilly Circus.

Thames River Cruises

A great opportunity for you to discover the 'must-see' sights in London. Watch as the River Thames weaves its way through the heart of London and see the history of this city around every bend. Cruises depart frequently from Westminster Pier, Waterloo (London Eye) Pier, Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier.

IFS Cloud Cable Car

Rising to a height of 90 metres, the IFS Cloud Cable Car offers you an exciting 1.1km cable car journey across the Thames on the UK’s only urban cable car connecting the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Victoria Dock.

The London Dungeons

Transport yourself back to the darkest moments in the capital's history within the deep depths of the London Dungeons.

London Christmas Markets

At Christmas the South Bank of the River is transformed into a wintry wonderland, where global cuisine and an artisan Christmas market come together in one sparkling location.  Amble past wooden chalets which line the banks of the Thames and pick up gorgeous stocking fillers from the Winter Market. Or, tuck into some Christmas fare underneath the glittering Christmas lights.

In Hyde Park, you can truly immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of Winter Wonderland, one of the biggest Christmas markets in London.  Other locations for Christmas Markets in London include Leicester Square, London Bridge City and Greenwich.  Many of these pop-up London markets appear in mid-November and stay open until the New Year

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions with over 400 wax works of celebrities, politicians, pop stars and actors.   A fully interactive experience, Madame Tussauds will inspire, enthuse and immerse pupils in celebrity culture and modern media as they walk among the stars!

Downloadable lesson plans are available to enhance and support your visit which will explore the media, fake news and celebrity culture.   

ArcelorMittal Orbit

The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford which is the iconic structure of the London 2012 Games and has the longest and tallest tunnel slide in the world. 

Take the lift up to the viewing platform, 80 meters high, and after marvelling at the view take the slide down which lasts a thrilling 40 seconds! Go back to the top and take some time learning about the city on the interactive touchscreens or making use of the free Key Stage 1-4 resources before walking back down the winding staircase with its 455 steps.

You can book with or without the slide and you can choose to stay the whole day in the park by taking a behind the scenes tour at the iconic London Stadium, swimming at the London Aquatics Centre or visiting the Lee Valley Velopark; alternatively, explore the parklands and waterways with a local Blue Badge guide.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge, which crosses the River Thames, was built between 1886 and 1894 and is an iconic symbol of London with its two towers and bridge deck which opens to allow tall ships through. You can walk across the lower bridge deck but the twin towers and high-level glass walkways and Victorian engine rooms are part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

West End Theatre Tickets

The majority of student groups who visit London like to round off their trip by seeing a show. We can also book pre-theatre meals at nearby restaurants for you. Save up to 50% on the normal ticket price by attending a midweek (Mon-Thurs) evening or matinee performance. The majority of top West End shows offer these affordable discounted tickets to student groups year round (excluding school holiday dates).

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WITCHES OF OZ...

WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

WICKED is suitable for a general audience. As a guide to parents and guardians, it is recommended for ages 7+

(Source:  https://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/london/about/synopsis )

NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.

Matilda the Musical

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Recommended for ages 6 and above.

(Source: https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/the-story/ )

The Lion King

Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney's multi award-winning musical uses breath-taking masks and puppetry to create pure theatrical magic. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba - the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

(Source:  https://disney.co.uk/shows/the-lion-king-musical-tickets )

Set on a Greek Island Paradise, the story of a daughter on the eve of her wedding and her quest to discover the identify of her father, all set to the music of ABBA.

Science Museum

The Science Museum, founded in 1857, is one of London’s major tourist attractions, attracting 3.3 million visitors annually. They do not charge for admission, however, there may be a charge for temporary exhibitions.

The Science Museum holds a collection of over 300,000 items, including such famous items such as Stephenson’s Rocket, Puffing Billy (the oldest surviving steam locomotive), the first jet engine, the Apollo 10 Command module, hundreds of interactive exhibits and an IMAX 3D Cinema.

The Science Museum is made up of a number of themed galleries including; Power, Exploring Space, Making of the Modern World, Flight, Information Age, Engineer Your Future and Medicine.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour - Harry Potter

Go behind-the-scenes in the making of Harry Potter and see how many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bro. Studio Tour provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making one of the most successful film franchises. Short workshops are also available in a variety of subjects including set design, camera choices and many more.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history.

As well as being located in a stunning and striking Romanesque architecture building, which is considered a work of art in its own right, the museum is famous for the dinosaurs and is home to over 80 million specimens spanning 4.5 billion years of Earth's history.

The museum offers too much to mention here but have collections under the categories of: oceans, human evolution, space, dinosaurs, British wildlife as well as visiting collections and exhibitions. Check out their website for up-to-date information.   https://www.nhm.ac.uk/

ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo and one of London’s main tourist attractions, located on the edge of Regents Park. 

They have a range of online resources available to download and use before, during and after a visit to ZSL London Zoo. Some of the resources are for the pupils to use and some are for the accompanying adults.

London Aquarium

The £25 million London Aquarium is the first attraction of its kind in London and is one of Europe's largest exhibitions of global aquatic life displayed in over 2 million litres of water. 

Visit to discover the amazing marine life at SEA LIFE London Aquarium, find out about penguins, sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish and much more. Travel through Pacific Ocean tunnels, tropical rainforests (and even a shark reef!) to see the different habitats on planet earth!

Architecture Walking Tour

On this 2-hour walking tour students will view 500 Years of Architecture from Tudors to Skyscrapers (Smithfield/Bloomsbury/Clerkenwell/City).

Thin Air at The Beams

Thin Air explores the hidden complexities that shape the world we live in. Using digital technology and large-scale installation, international artists will transform the spaces of The Beams from 17th March to 4th June 2023.

Beyond the Streets at the Saatchi Gallery

Curated by graffiti historian Roger Gastman, BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON examines the fundamental human need for public self-expression, highlighting artists with roots in graffiti and street art whose work has evolved into highly disciplined studio practices, alongside important cultural figures inspired by this art scene.

The Wellcome Collection

The Wellcome Collection explores the connections between medicine, life and art in the past, present and future.

The venue provides an insight to anyone seeking to understand biology, medicine and the role of medicine in society – past and present. Free guided tours of exhibitions are available for pre-booked groups.

Evening activites

• Dinner and Theatre Show
• Ice Skating

We Make Trip Planning Easy

• Day to day support and advice from our team of travel experts
• Easy-to-view online tour quotation
• Market-leading trip organiser portal,  My Tour Manager
• Free Resources and templates to help launch your trip
• Email reminders to keep you on track
• Free and completely personalised  Travel App  to access your information on the go
• Locate My Trip  designed to provide reassurance to parents and teachers
• Risk Assessment advice so you can make an informed decision on every tour component
• Teacher Inspection Visits

What You Say

The information given to us in the Final Pack was excellent - everything flowed in the order of the trip. The directions for each tour was great and also helped when moving around the London Underground.  St Ambrose High School

 All staff were attentive and quick to respond...I found Lauren and Rachelle brilliant. The visit to the Royal Academy was brilliant.  The Brooksbank School

 I will continue to use EST as each year our annual London trip gets better and better.  Kings Leadership Academy

 An excellent trip which was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and students. I received great support throughout.  Sir John Deanes College

This was my second journey via European Study tours and I would highly recommend the company to anyone bringing groups to London.  Pianca School

Overall excellent trip made easy by excellent customer service.Trip was easy to organise and staff at EST were fantastic.  Lymm High School​

London Art & Design School Trips

Bespoke school trips to , london is a city renowned all over the world for its unique creativity, from its creative boroughs in camden and shoreditch to the polished neighbourhoods of chelsea london is bursting with various creative influences and styles. london also offers an exciting range of famous galleries, museums and tours which represent some of the most influential and powerful movements in art history..

Students searching for some inspiration will not be disappointed, opportunities to indulge in some of the world’s largest collections and experience ground-breaking design exhibitions and innovative talent are a plenty. Largely known as the ‘culture capital of the world’ London is at the forefront of cutting-edge art and design, inspired by the wonderful melting pot of cultures, personalities, histories and social influences. Boasting popular visits such as the National Gallery, Tate Modern, Design Museum and Guildhall Gallery your students won’t run out of places to discover inspiration and you won’t be short of places to educate, excite and motivate our students’ creativity.

As the Capital of England, London is not only fantastic for educational visits, it has a n abundance of unique leisure experiences from the World-famous Buckingham palace, to the incredible London Eye and even an exhilarating West End performance, all in one bustling city. The capital is an excellent study destination for any group studying arts and creative media, both accessible and budget friendly London is amongst the most rewarding visits and a definite must for keen student groups!

Contact our friendly, expert team at Adaptable Travel to start planning your perfect bespoke school trip today!

Please note, we do not offer daytrips, we offer bespoke overnight school trips to London only.

Curriculum Visits in 

Suggested Itinerary

Adaptable Travel can tailor-make an itinerary based around your exact needs. The below is based upon one of our most popular packages.

On arrival to London, you will visit the popular National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Here your students will have the opportunity to study Fine Art to further their knowledge for contextual studies. You will then enjoy a group evening meal at Pizza Express before heading off to visit the London Eye. Later that evening you will be transferred to your hotel to check-in.

Today, after breakfast, you will visit Tate Modern where your students will be able to develop their understanding of international modern art from the 1900s to the present day. You will then be transferred via boat to Tate Britain, famous for housing the national collection of British art. After enjoying lunch, you will take part in one of the popular Camden Street Art Tours. You will explore various pieces of graffiti and urban art along with brief descriptions of the artists behind the murals.

Today is your last day, after breakfast, you will visit the SAATCHI Gallery. This contemporary art museum offers a chance for students to develop an awareness of the purposes, intentions, and functions of art. You then have the opportunity to grab lunch before heading home.

Contact Adaptable Travel and let us tailor make the perfect school trip for your group.

Accommodation Options in 

Alternative 

Art & design, book with confidence.

All of our trips are protected by ATOL or ABTA bonding. This means your money is safe when booking your school trip with Adaptable Travel.

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from £149pp

Based on 2 days

Suitable for Secondary Schools

A tireless innovator of art and culture, London is a city of ideas and imagination.

From theatrical innovation to contemporary art, pioneering music, writing and design, world class museums and art galleries; London is a fabulous Art and Design destination.  You will be simply spoilt for choice.  Choose a day trip or an overnight stay to take the opportunity of seeing an amazing West End show - a real treat! 

Our Suggested Itinerary

Depart school in the morning and travel to London by coach. 

Visit to  The National Portrait Gallery for some observational drawing and a self-guided discovery tour!  

Head across to the world-renowned  National Gallery , home to over 2,300 magnificent paintings.  Let us know if you'd like to add on a practical workshop here. 

Explore Covent Garden in the afternoon, with the possibility to add on a restaurant meal if you'd like. 

Optional evening activity: treat your group to a night out at the theatre to see a classic  West End Show !

Visit the  V&A Museum , arguably the world's greatest museum of art and design!  There's an option to do a tailored tour or workshop here if you prefer. 

Grab some lunch as you explore the popular  Borough Market . 

In the afternoon, head to the  Tate Modern, Britain's national museum of modern and contemporary art from around the world!

Journey back to school.

Accommodation

Our London Art itinerary makes for a fun-filled day trip, but is of course also possible as a longer trip!  We have a wide range of accommodation in London, with something to suit all budgets and requirements.  All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.

Testimonials about this trip:

Our adviser was continually in contact throughout the process and quickly and efficiently made changes and recommendations where needed.  Incredibly professional throughout as well as calm and thoroughly organised. Carlton Le Willows Academy

First class service. Really friendly and supportive. Abbeywood Community School

Fantastic accommodation! Clean, and great breakfast that set us up for the day. Silverdale School

Want a quick quote?

If you'd like to make any changes to this sample London Art itinerary, let us know by clicking on Request a Quote .

or call 0121 271 0121 or email [email protected]

See what's included in our prices

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Travel by coach.

• Door-to-door transport (coach, channel crossing, road tolls and taxes)
• Use of coach during your stay for local excursions
• Accommodation and meals as arranged
• Full services and assistance of your dedicated Travel Consultant
• Full itinerary booking service
• Free places on a 1:8 ratio
• ABTA Protected - ABTA bonding for your financial security
• 24 hour emergency hotline whilst travelling
• Our prices depend on how full the coach is!

Travel by Air

• Return flights by scheduled or charter airline from a London airport
• Return airport transfer at the destination
• Free places on a 1:10 ratio
• ATOL Protected - ATOL bonding for your financial security
• Our prices are always fixed and guaranteed.

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Plan a school visit

Handy tips and info to plan your school visit

How do I book a visit?

Please see our available sessions for Primary Schools and Secondary Schools to book a visit. 

You’ll find it helpful to have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of date and a time frame for your visit ready. Please try to book your visit at least 6 weeks ahead.

If you are a self-guided school group that does not require a National Gallery facilitated session, please book a self-guided group visit .

How many adults should I bring?

Please note that teachers are responsible for the behaviour of their group at all times during their visit.

Please read the guidelines in the Pre-Visit Information (sent to you in your confirmation email) and ensure they are shared with all accompanying adults.

How do we get to the Gallery?

Please follow the latest guidelines on travel and public transport..

[All links to TFL and Google Maps open in a new window]

Plan your journey on the TFL website .

Getting here by:, parking for:.

There is a parking space on Orange Street for Blue Badge holders only. Please book in advance by calling 020 7747 2885.

There are designated parking bays on St Martin's Street. Please phone Westminster Parking Information Service on 020 7823 4567 for more information.

Public car parks are available nearby in Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square .

The nearest bike stands are on Orange Street, St Martin's Street, St Martin's Place, and Duncannon Street.

The nearest Santander Cycles docking stations are on St Martin's Street, Craven Street, Pall Mall East, William IV Street, Charles II Street and Oxendon Street. Please check TFL for up-to-date information about nearby Santander Cycle docking stations.

Where should I arrive?

Booked school groups should use the  Getty Entrance.

Please arrive 20 minutes before your booked slot.

If you are running late, please call us on the phone number provided in your confirmation email. If you arrive late, your Gallery Educator may not be able to offer you your full session.

Visit an exhibition

We provide free exhibition entry to school groups on three mornings during the exhibition run. Entry is every 30 mins beginning at 10.00, with last entry at 12.30. Tickets can be booked by emailing [email protected] .

Teachers’ notes are available to help you make the most of your visit.

Please be aware that some exhibitions contain sensitive images which may not be suitable for all groups.

Facilities and amenities

Sandwich rooms.

You can book 30-minute slots in our sandwich rooms when booking a facilitated session. If your group is small, you may be asked to share with another group. Please arrive and leave punctually in time for the next group to use the space. 

Please keep us tidy

If you use our sandwich rooms, please make sure you leave the room clean and tidy by using the cleaning materials provided. 

Nearby parks

There are several parks close to the Gallery which might provide an alternative lunch or play spot in good weather.

There is cloakroom space but please try to bring the minimum with you and do not leave valuables. Students using the cloakroom must be accompanied by an adult.

There are two sets of public toilets near the schools’ area. Please allow sufficient time to ensure you are on time for your session.

You may use pencils and felt tips if you are doing your own activities, but please do not use wax crayons, pastels or ink pens in the Gallery. Materials for all workshops will be provided. 

All sessions are led by experienced Gallery Educators. Their aim is to help you and your students engage and respond to the collection of Western European paintings which date from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.

Your Gallery Educator will meet you at the Pigott Education Centre entrance and take you back there at the end.

If you arrive early, or if you want to stay on after your talk, you are more than welcome to do so. We recommend you divide the class into small groups and try to avoid rooms where other school or adult groups are being taught. Our Explore the collection resource will help you to enhance your visit.

Please remember teachers and adult helpers are responsible for their students at all times and must stay with their group.

Mobile phones must be switched to silent.

Yes, though please be aware that the Gallery can get very busy and must remain accessible for all. 

Paintings are sometimes moved and rooms closed at short notice and there may be other activities taking place. It is advisable not to assume that you will be able to see a particular painting or room and plan any activities accordingly. 

You may use pencils and felt tips for drawing but please do not use wax crayons, pastels or ink pens.

Our Explore the collection resource can be used for any painting, in any room and in any order.

Yes, but you will need to book tickets separately. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Visiting guidelines

To help us keep the Gallery a safe and enjoyable place for everyone, please follow the guidelines listed in our Visitor Admissions Policy .

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Art & design school trips

An art school trip is the perfect way to put classroom learning into context for your pupils bringing artists, movements, styles and methods to life. We run trips to all the major art centres around the world with London, New York, Florence, Paris, Barcelona and Madrid being the most popular. Students will discover unique works of art, world-famous museums and architecture and local culture to engage and inspire.

Voyager's Art & Design School Trips

Europe offers some of the largest and most famous art galleries in the world, making it the perfect destination for your art school trips. From permanent art exhibitions, world renowned architecture sites and the works of some of the most famous artists in history, your art students are guaranteed to be inspired by viewing these works on their school trip.

Major cities such as Florence , Paris , London , Madrid & Barcelona all offer great educational excursions for your art & design students.

Our Featured Art & Design School Trips

The volume of world-class art galleries in Europe is truly staggering. We run trips to a number of cities in Europe all offering something unique for your Art & Design students.

Art & Design School Trips to Paris

When we think of art school trips, Paris is the first place that springs to mind. Home to the world's biggest art museum, the Louvre, your students will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa! This is not the only art museum in Paris, in fact it is blessed with the highest concentration of original artwork anywhere on the planet! The Musée d’Orsay as well as Musée Picasso will allow your art students the chance to see the work of world famous artists such as Picasso, Monet & Renoir. With just a short journey time from the UK, Paris really is the ideal location for an art & design school trip for your students.

View our Art & Design School Trips to Paris

Art & Design School Trips to Barcelona

Barcelona is packed full of incredible architecture as well as a number of art galleries, making it a great choice for an art & design school trip. Barcelona’s most famous treasures are the work of architect Gaudi, including the cathedral, La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. La Sagrada Familia is arguably Gaudi’s most famous building which has been in construction since 1882 and is still not expected to be completed for many years! Away from the work of Gaudi, your art students can visit the Picasso Museum, a permanent home to 39 pieces of Picasso’s work! Find out more about our Art School Trips to Barcelona today!

View our Art & Design School Trips to Barcelona

Art & Design School Trips to Amsterdam

Amsterdam offers a whole range of great art museums, as well as impressive architecture right throughout the city. The Van Goph museum is a must for art students in Amsterdam, house more work from Vincent Van Goph than anywhere else in the world! Another great museum for your students to visit is the Rijksmuseum. The art collections here are housed in a beautiful building designed by Dutch architect Petrus J.H. Cuypers, which has been the home of the Rijksmuseum since 1885! Amsterdam really is a great option for your next Art School Trip!

View our Art & Design School Trips to Amsterdam

What You Can Expect From Us

We understand that a school trip should be the perfect mix of education and fun! Our Art & Design school trips can offer all of the above, and our team will work with you throughout the whole process to ensure your trip meets all the curriculum and requirements you need. By choosing an art & design school trip, you can be sure that your students will return home with a great amount of knowledge as well as fantastic memories to cherish!

Book Your Art & Design School Trip

Are you interested in an art & design school trip? Click the button below to request a quote! Our expert team are ready to answer any questions you may have, contact us today.

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Discover our school trips built to support your art & design studies

Cross-curricular school trip to Barcelona

With so much to see we'll help you choose the best experiences for your students

Cross-curricular school trip to Paris

Ace your Paris trip with us. With so much on offer, we'll use our expertise to create an itinerary that's perfectly suited to your educational focus

Cross-curricular school trip to Florence & Tuscany

Study Renaissance art, architecture and history from Tuscany's beautiful capital

Cross-curricular school trip to Amsterdam

Explore world-class art and history attractions in this trendy floating city

Cross-curricular school trip to London

We'll suggest the best attractions for your group and build your itinerary

Cross-curricular school trip to Madrid

Whether art, history or Spanish we'll make sure your trip is a success

Browse all our art school tour destinations

France school trips

With our own French residential centres & overseas team to support you, no wonder France is our most popular destination

Italy school trips

Rome, Florence & Venice are just some of the cities you can visit on your trip

UK & Ireland school trips

There's lots to uncover close to home for UK schools. Browse our trips

Spain school trips

View our range of school trips to Spain including Barcelona, Madrid and more...

Netherlands school trips

Amsterdam has an array educational attractions for students of science and art

Need help booking and organising your school trip?

We have created a number of useful guides that can help you plan and book your next school trip with Voyager School Travel.

• School trip travel hub
• How to book your school trip
• How to promote your school trip
• Create a more affordable school trip
• Fill places on your school trip
• The essential school trip kit list

Why choose Voyager School Travel for your school trip?

You are in specialist hands

Our team use their teaching, language & destination experience to organise educational trips that are not only enriching but hassle-free.  Read more →

Safety assured, bonded & accredited

As a member of the School Travel Forum & protected through ABTA & ATOL you can be sure of our high standards.  Read more →

Trusted by teachers

Schools trust Voyager School Travel to organise the educational trips for over 32,000 passengers a year.  Read more →

We deliver the educational elements

Signature educational experiences with our own language & activity instructors allow  teachers to enjoy the trip too.  Read more →

Stay at our own residential centres

Groups staying at our own residential centres in France will benefit from high quality learning, safety & service. Read more →

Our own overseas teams

Peace of mind knowing our French m anagers, instructors, coach drivers & support team will look after your every need. Read more →

For teachers who are serious about the educational outcomes of their school trip.

School Travel

School Trips to London

Love to learn in london.

Our specially crafted school trips to London cover a range of topics in a fun, diverse, and engaging way.

From Tate Modern to the National Gallery, the London Eye to the Natural History Museum, a West End show to a Thames cruise, the choice is yours.

Choose from one of our many ready-made itineraries, or get in touch and we’ll help to tailor one to your school’s specific needs.

1 Night to See the Sights

2 Nights to Explore the City

3 Nights in the UK Capital

Charles Dickens 1 Night

All-Inclusive 1 Night

Business Studies 2 Nights

Drama & Theatre 1 Night

Art & Design 2 Nights

Fashion & Textiles 2 Nights

Law & History 2 Nights

Drama Day Trip

Museums Day Trip

Sightseeing Day Trip

London 1 Night

This exciting tour allows pupils to see a wealth of the capital’s most famous and informative places, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and St Paul’s Cathedral.

London 2 Nights

This is the most popular of our school trips to London, including a scenic river cruise along the Thames, and a voyage of discovery on The Coca-Cola London Eye.

London 3 Nights

This trip is perfect for letting students fully immerse themselves in the Capital’s unique environment, with plenty of time for sightseeing.

London Charles Dickens 1 Night

School trips to London are perfect for pupils studying the life and works of Charles Dickens. Enjoy a guided city walk with a Dickens expert, and visit 48 Doughty Street, the author’s home.

London All-Inclusive 1 Night

This overnight and all-inclusive residential will include a selection of handpicked visits, from an open top bus tour to the world-famous Madame Tussauds.

The Making of Harry Potter 1 Night

Who doesn’t want to discover the magic behind the spell-binding special effects and secrets of the Harry Potter film series?

London Business Studies 2 Nights

Three days in the city is a perfect amount of time to visit the Bank of England, the Museum of Brands, Packages & Advertising, and a Blue Badge guided tour.

London Drama & Theatre 1 Night

This visit is full of fun workshops, which are designed to teach students the techniques that are used by actors on the stage. The workshops are followed by an unforgettable West End Show.

London Art & Design 2 Nights

This two-night Art & Design residential focuses on the city’s must-see galleries, ranging from the Tate Modern to the Saatchi Gallery.

London Fashion & Textiles 2 Nights

On this top tour, pupils will get the opportunity to participate in a fashion illustration workshop and see the impressive 24,000-piece dress and fashion collection at the Museum of London.

London Law & History 2 Nights

This is a fascinating visit for students who are interested in law and history. It centres on a selection of legal institutions around the city, such as The Old Bailey and the Middle Temple.

London Drama Day Trip

Check out our whistle-stop Drama Day Trip to the capital. You can pack in a visit to the National Theatre, the Globe, and a West End Show, and be back for bedtime.

London Museums Day Trip

Visiting the capital’s fascinating museums is a great focus for an educational tour, whether your interest is Natural History, Science, or Art & Design.

London Sightseeing Day Trip

This is what school trips to London are all about – seeing the fantastic sights and historic buildings that it has to offer, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and many more.

The Making of Harry Potter Day Trip

This tour gives people of all ages (including teachers!) a fun and educational day out. Iconic props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes secrets can be seen throughout your experience.

OUR CAPITAL CITY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER

OUR ACCOMMODATION:

Refurbished in 2017, this is a purpose-built, 320-bed hostel located on the Thames riverside. The venue is very secure: it has CCTV; 24-hour staffing; electronic gates; is fully enclosed; the staff are very experienced in working with school and youth groups, and so we are confident that all of our groups will appreciate its excellent location and facilities.

Accommodation consists of en-suite rooms, all of which have bunk beds and security lockers, and groups will not be expected to share rooms with the general public. You’ll be able to access the internet from desktop computers, and free Wi-Fi is available at the ground floor reception, bar, and in all other public social areas.

6 Reasons Why You Should Organise an Autumn School Trip

Planning a school trip in autumn gives you the greatest return on investment. Find out here why a residential early in the academic year is best!

England’s Best Historic Destinations for Primary School Trips

You don’t have to travel far in the UK to find attractions that will bring history to life for your students. Here are 3 of our favourite UK history trips.

Bring London to Life: 3 Key Themes for Students

Planning a school trip to London? Here are 3 thematic ideas to help you rise to the challenge of building an itinerary for a visit to this vast capital city.

Top of the Class: How to Plan a School Trip

Are you overwhelmed by the logistical challenges of planning a school trip? No need to worry: we’ve got some insider tips that will help get the ball rolling.

Request a quote

• Options for schools & colleges
• School trips to London
• School outreach workshops
• Online Learning via Zoom
• Thames Explorer boat trips
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All School Trips

2023 school trips to london.

Book your school trip to London from our wide selection of education programmes. Select one of the programmes below to find out more.

Schools foreshore programmes

A combination of classroom and foreshore experience.

Combined – Geography, Science and History

Schools non foreshore programmes.

A combination of classroom and riverbank experience. 

Thames Boat Trips

General interest, see our online brochure here.

To find out more about what we can do for you phone or email us on 020 8742 0057 [email protected]

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School Trips London

Learning in the capital.

London school trips have a wealth of riches to explore, from Europe’s tallest building to the seat of British government. Many of the nation’s most important art collections are housed in the capital along with the nation’s leading museums such as the Imperial War, National Portrait and the hugely influential and important Natural History Museum.

London has also played a large part in shaping contemporary culture through the ages and was considered the fashion and music capital of the world in the 1960’s. Today London is still producing a large array of sporting, music, and movie stars and the glittering West End is the pinnacle of British theatre.

London School Trips Hotels & Hostels

Includes: WiFi, Restaurant, TVs, 24hr Reception, Air Conditioning

Elephant & Castle Hostel

Includes: Free WiFi, Lounge, Vending Machines, Garden, Cash Machine, 24hr Reception, Luggage Storage, TVs

Holiday Inn Hammersmith

Includes: Free Breakfast, Luggage Storage, Free WiFi, 24hr Reception, Vending Machines

Excursions & Tours in London

Bank of England Museum

The Bank of England Museum features 10,000 square feet of galleries, exhibits and objects covering the extensive history of the bank from its formation in the late 1600's to the 21st century. Students can hold real bars of gold, explore the causes and effects of some of the world's worst financial storms, take the helm of the monetary policy boat and discover the hidden security features on banknotes that keep our money safe today.

The museum also offers expert talks, encouraging audience participation and engagement as the history of the bank comes to life through pictures, video and other formats.

• British Museum

The British Museum is the oldest of its kind in continuous existence today. It has a collection of over 3.5 million objects spanning the length and breadth of human history, and a series of exhibits focusing on different cultures from around the world. For school visits, London now offers the Samsung Digital Discovery Centre, an interactive space breathing new life into the ancient collection of cultural artefacts.

The museum also offers regular tours, handling sessions and galleries exploring the ages and civilisations of Earth in depth, including exhibitions on the Ancient Greeks, Romans and lost Egyptian cities.

Coca-Cola Education Centre

The Coca-Cola Education Centre is set inside the global manufacturer's Edmonton factory, housing 40,000 square metres of active production space. Students can enjoy purpose-built facilities designed to give visitors a unique, inside look at the fascinating manufacturing process behind some of the world's most popular soft drinks and the business practices of a leading international brand.

On a guided tour of the education centre, students will typically experience a short video presentation, an interactive activity and a tour of the factory facilities.

• Imperial War Museum

For 100 years, London's Imperial War Museum has documented the history, the causes and the effects of war throughout modern times. Exhibits include the First World War Galleries with over 1,300 authentic world war artefacts, the Secret War, a gallery exploring the undercover world of espionage and the award-winning Holocaust exhibition remembering the 20th century's greatest tragedy.

The Imperial War Museum also features special art exhibits discussing different portrayals of war, as well as temporary galleries investigating modern conflicts and the Global War on Terror.

To this day, the London Eye remains a marvel of modern engineering, with 3.75 million visitors riding the iconic wheel every year and 85 awards for national and international tourism. When the Eye was first erected in 1999 it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel at 443 feet, with a diameter spanning 395 feet. Only the Shard has a higher public vantage point of the city, and even though the wheel only had planning permission for five years, the Eye still stands strong over 16 years later.

On a clear day, the London Eye offers an expansive view of 25 miles; Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and the 02 are just a few of the famous landmarks that can be seen at the peak of the wheel.

Madame Tussauds

First opening over 250 years ago, London's Madame Tussauds was the first waxwork museum of its kind, and has survived public scandal, a huge fire and the blitz to become one of the most enduringly popular attractions in the capital, welcoming over 2.5 million visitors a year. The museum celebrates historical figures of popular culture from Charles Dickens and Albert Einstein, to YouTube vloggers Zoe Sugg and Alfie Deyes.

School trips to London aren't complete without seeing Madame Tussauds which regularly updates their collection of lifelike models, featuring special exhibits from the Star Wars and Marvel universes, as well as the Spirit of London Ride taking visitors through 500 years of the city's history.

• National Gallery

The National Gallery houses an expansive art collection of over 2,300 works, dating from the 13th century to the early 1900's. Some of the world's most famous pictures can be found here, including van Eyck's Anolfini Portrait , Velazquez's Rokeby Venus and Van Gogh's Sunflowers .

Monet, Canaletto, Ingres, Cezanne, Rembrandt, Claude, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo are among the celebrated artists represented in the collection. Highlighting the tremendous history of European art, from the portraitists of the Renaissance to the rise of French Impressionism.

National Portrait Gallery

With a vast collection of 200,000 paintings, The National Portrait Gallery was the first of its kind, and offers the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, with established artworks ranging from the Tudor era to the present day. These include prints, photographs, sculptures, negatives, miniatures and drawings from throughout British history, dating back as far as the 16th century.

William Shakespeare, Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, The Bronte's and Queen Elizabeth I are among the significant historical figures represented in the gallery. Special exhibits also offer a chance to see rarer portraits from the likes of Pablo Picasso and more.

National Theatre - Backstage Tour

The National Theatre's Backstage Tours offer the chance to see behind the scenes of one of the UK's largest working theatres, producing over 20 new productions every year. Show preparations; including rehearsals, costume design and prop-making all happens on-site, giving visitors a unique glimpse of what goes into some of the country's biggest theatre productions.

The theatre was founded in 1963, however, the company didn't move to the National Theatre as we know it today until 1977. Since then, the theatre has hosted some of the UK's most celebrated productions, including Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch and directed by Danny Boyle.

• Natural History Museum

London's Natural History Museum is the home of more than 80 million natural specimens, some of which are billions of years old. More than 5 million visitors explore the museum every year, while the working scientists behind the museum's Darwin Centre continue to research the solar system, our geology and life on Earth using the latest technologies.

The museum is separated into 4 different zones. Blue Zone showcases the remarkable variety of animals that have lived and continue to thrive on Earth, Red Zone highlights the effects of space on our planet while the Green Zone shows the growing importance of the environment to our wildlife.

• Royal Observatory

Greenwich's Royal Observatory is in a unique location on our planet and marks the historic Prime Meridian of the World. It was on this very site that GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) was established in 1675, and the Observatory remains a site of great scientific and geographic importance to this day as the home of the prime meridian line.

The Royal Observatory also features several galleries discussing longitude, astronomy and the immense history of the site for visitors to explore. As well as exhibits, the Observatory has its own planetarium using the latest video technology to take viewers on unique journeys through space and time.

Science Museum, London

Founded in 1857, the Science Museum welcomes 3.3 million visitors a year to explore it's dynamic, interactive exhibits covering space travel, the engineering of flight, medical discovery, the effects of climate change and how our lives are becoming increasingly digital. The museum also features one of London's only IMAX 3D cinemas.

To date, the museum houses a vast collection of over 300,000 scientific artefacts, including famous articles such as the oldest surviving steam locomotive, the first jet engine and the first prototype of The Clock of the Long Now.

Shakespeare's Globe - Theatre Workshops

Opened in 1997, Shakespeare's Globe is a faithful recreation of the theatre built by the Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1599, just 750 feet from the site of the original. As well as regular performances of The Bard's most famous plays, the theatre runs interactive theatre workshops, encouraging visitors to engage themselves with Shakespeare's plays, themes and characters in new and exciting ways. Each session is led by an experienced guide, taking place in the same surroundings an Elizabethan player might've found themselves in.

Shakespeare's Globe also offers special events highlighting specific moments in the world-famous poet's career. Past events have included 1616: A Momentous Year , marking the anniversary of Shakespeare's death, and celebrating the rise of the playwrights he left in his wake.

St Paul's Cathedral

This world-famous place of worship was founded in 604AD and remains a site of great religious importance for Christians all over the world. The cathedral contains a large variety of artefacts, including monuments to Horatio Nelson, John Donne and memorials to some of Britain's most iconic historical figures, counting Florence Nightingale, Lawrence of Arabia, William Blake and Sir Alexander Fleming among those remembered.

The cathedral also runs regular events and exhibitions, such as the Out of the Fire exhibit, marking the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London in 1666. After the flames subsided, Christopher Wren undertook the rebuilding of the cathedral, establishing the recognisable dome seen today.

Tate Modern & Britain

Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern is one of Europe's leading galleries of modern and contemporary art, and is the largest museum of its kind in the world today. The collection includes examples of performance art, action paintings and mixed media pieces, with notable artists that have been represented in the gallery including Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst's Turner Prize-winning "Mother and Child Divided" installation.

On the other side of the Thames is the Tate Britain, with the most extensive and comprehensive collection of British art (circa 1500 onwards) in the world. The Tate Britain also hosts the prestigious Turner Prize, showcasing each year's nominees.

The Museum of Brands, Advertising & Packaging

The Museum of Brands, Advertising & Packaging houses an extensive collection of over 12,000 authentic products from the unique Robert Opie Collection, including vintage posters, toys, games and packaging from the Victorian era to the present day. Including WWI-era Oxo cubes and Mars bars, Rolos and Kitkats from the 1930's and even Rimmel cosmetics from the 1890's.

Guided tours offer a unique perspective on these rare items and how they were shaped by the turbulent historical events of the 20th century. Students can also see special exhibitions showcasing more specific elements of packaging and design.

• Tower of London

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tower of London has enjoyed a remarkable life, spanning nearly 1000 years of British history. It has served as the prison of infamous criminals including the Kray twins as well as housing an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office and most recently, the home of the Crown Jewels, which visitors can still see here today.

The Tower offers tours, talks, debates and regularly invites the public to honour its heritage with the 700-year-old Ceremony of the Keys, the nightly locking of the fortress.

Twickenham Tour

Twickenham is the largest rugby stadium in the world today, and the iconic home ground of the England Rugby Union Team. On a guided tour of this world-famous site, students will see the England dressing room and learn how international players prepare for the biggest games in world rugby, explore the royal box, walk the players tunnel and go pitch side to see the ground from the eyes of England international.

At the end of a tour, visitors are welcome to learn more in the World Rugby Museum's interactive exhibits housed in the East Stand.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Commonly referred to as the V&A, the Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's largest museum of art and design, boasting a collection of over 4.5 million objects in 145 galleries. As well as the famous Gilbert Collection celebrating European and British luxury objects, the V&A includes permanent collections of over 2000 paintings, photographs dating back to 1852, 75,000 individual textile objects and examples of design from as long ago as 300AD.

The museum also features regular special exhibits, spotlighting specific movements in history and their effect on art and design.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter

This unique tour gives students the chance to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most successful film franchises in cinema history. The Making of Harry Potter showcases thousands of authentic objects used in the famous movies, as well as original sets, animatronic beasts and special effects all used in the filming of the eight-part series.

On a tour, students also will get to walk along Diagon Alley's iconic cobbles, step inside the great hall of Hogwarts and explore the studio's backlot, featuring Privet Drive, the Knight Bus, Hagrid's Motorcycle and more. Guests can also enjoy an authentic butterbeer after their visit.

West End Theatre Show

London's West End is world-renowned for having some of the greatest and most successful theatre productions of all time. Students will get the chance to see famous actors, amazing production and design, sets and costumes of recent shows which will go on to appear around the globe. Productions are changing all the time but recent that started in the West End include;

• The Phantom of the Opera
• Les Miserables
• The Woman in Black
• An Inspector Calls
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• Blood Brothers
• Miss Saigon

Westminster Abbey

Westminster's traditionally gothic abbey is still very much at the centre of the country's most important religious festivals and royal events. There have been at least 16 royal weddings in the church since it was first used for coronations in 1066 and there are 3,300 people buried or commemorated within the abbey walls, including 17 former monarchs.

Westminster Abbey also houses Poets Corner, the final resting place of some of Britain's most revered literary minds. Geoffrey Chaucer, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Noel Coward, Aphra Behn and Jane Austen are just a few of the famous writers buried here. Opened in 2010, the Abbey Learning Centre offers talks, tours and varied events to bring the history of this storied building to life.

Wimbledon Guided Tour

Guided tours of Wimbledon offer students the unique chance to see behind the scenes of the iconic All England Tennis Club. Visitors are free to explore Aorangi Terrace (or as it is currently fondly known, Murray Mount ) as well as the press rooms, millennium building and even centre court.

At the end of the tour, students will be able to enjoy the Wimbledon Museum, documenting the extensive history of this storied sporting venue through multimedia exhibits like the 3D film theatre and the CentreCourt360 viewing gallery. Guests can also see the Wimbledon trophies up close for the first time.

A City of Art, Nature and Technology

From the bustling financial hub of the City of London and Bank of England to the National Theatre and the Globe, for school trips London offers something to suit every student, teacher, assistant or willing volunteer for the day. From Downing Street to Apple Studios, Westminster to the West End, London is a city that has shaped the nation.

London School Trip Facts - Did you know...

• The Queen is not allowed to enter the City of London without first seeking permission of its Lord Mayor.
• The actual City of London is only 1 square mile, the surrounding area is the City of Westminster.
• Each year 80,000 umbrellas are lost on the London Underground.
• Around 20 rivers run underneath London completely unseen by its inhabitants.
• If calculated in terms of how many French nationals live there, London is actually France’s 6th largest city.
• The tomb of Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser in Westminster Abbey is believed to contain unpublished manuscripts thrown in to honour his genius by his contemporaries, including Shakespeare.
• Before the 17ft statue of Nelson was erected on top of the Trafalgar Square column in 1842, 14 members of the committee who commissioned it held a dinner party at the summit of the 170ft-high plinth.
• London’s O2 Arena is big enough to house the Statue of Liberty or the Great Pyramid at Giza.
• London is 15 x bigger than Paris (1,572km2 and 105km2 respectively).

Places to go, people to meet...

Great london locations.

• St Paul’s Cathedral
• Buckingham Palace
• Tate Modern
• Kensington Palace
• London Dungeon
• V&A Museum
• Globe Theatre
• Science Museum
• Churchill War Rooms

Famous London Residents

• Alfred Hitchcock
• Clement Attlee
• Michael Faraday
• David Bowie
• Michael Caine
• Sir John Gielgud
• John Milton
• Mary Shelley
• Virginia Wolf
• Robert Baden-Powell
• David Beckham
• Florence Nightingale
• Arthur Wellesley (Duke of Wellington)
• Emily Pankhurst
• Alexander Fleming
• Charles Darwin
• Sir Isaac Newton

We're ready to help...

Simply send us your school trip requirements to get started...

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Home » Art Galleries in London for School Trips

Art Galleries in London for School Trips

Click on the links below to find art galleries in London for school trips. You will then have access to their own promotional pages. From where you can read all about them. They have included as much information as they can about the services they provide so that you can decide whether to book them for your school trip. Furthermore, if you still have some questions or wish to enquire further you can call them or there is a form for your use. You will find the form at the bottom of their page. When you are ready you can also use this form to book your school trip with them.

Bankside Gallery

Guildhall Art Gallery

The Courtau l d Gallery

The National Gallery

Royal Academy of Arts

Saatchi Gallery

Our Mission

All the workshop providers and venues featured on this website are there because they specifically offer their services to schools. We have provided them with a page or pages FREE OF Charge where they can set out the details of the workshops they deliver and other relevant information. There is also a form that buyers can use to enquire or book. This service is also, of course, FREE TO USE by all buyers.

All enquiries from buyers are automatically forwarded to sellers directly by the software.

In order to generate the income that Educational Workshops will need to maintain and grow this site we will be offering a range of additional, but optional benefits to suppliers (including providers of products and other services listed in Edsuma .) The first of these will be the ability to advertise on this site-specific discounts and sales. This service will help buyers to keep costs to a minimum. It will be launched in the autumn term.

We have decided not to charge suppliers for their listings because we are determined to provide schools and other organisations in the education sector with the widest possible choice. So we will be working hard to provide the widest possible geographical coverage for all listings. However, we are pleased to say, that with more than 500 workshop and venue listings, we have already made an impressive start.

If you remain concerned about admitting visitors to the school to deliver different kinds of Workshops for Schools, please be aware that we also have listings on this site for online workshops . Many workshop facilitators have had no income since March 2020. So without schools’ support, they will not survive. Therefore please provide that support as soon as you are able.

Edsuma is a new way for buyers in the education sector to quickly find the suppliers of products who are most likely to sell you what you need. It features more than 800 suppliers selling 96 different categories of products and services from 3D Printers and scanners to Wnter Products and Services. To start using it click on Edsuma in the menu above.

Performing Arts Trip to London

Trips in your wishlist

Send us an enquiry with your preferred trips and we'll provide you with a tailor-made quote

A performing arts school trip to London offers your students the opportunity to really experience the city’s famous West End!

If you’re looking to motivate and enthuse your performing arts students, then a tour of one of the world’s most famous theatres and seeing a West End show should do the trick!

With over 40 theatres and a variety of museum and tours available incorporating aspects of acting, lighting, sound, costume design, make up and front of house (to name but a few!), London really is an ideal destination for showing your students where performing arts can take them! And you could even team up with your school's English department, to make the trip cross-curricular.

Suggested Itinerary (2 days, 1 night)

• 1 night's bed and breakfast accommodation
• 2 days' coach hire
• Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
• Detailed information pack
• Evening meals at local restaurant
• Free staff place ratio 1:8
• Itinerary planning service
• Tickets for the National Theatre backstage tour
• Tickets to West End show

Curriculum Links

• Working as a deviser, performer or director in the theatre
• Reviewing performances
• Role of theatre and film in education
• Lighting, sound, set and costume design
• Jobs and organisations of the performance industry
• Understanding various businesses within the performing arts sector
• Exploring acting techniques in practical workshops and classes
• Theatrical productions: stage and people management
• Developing choreography skills through professional workshops
• Developing theatrical skills
• Roles and responsibilities within the performance industry
• Performing arts within society

Accommodation

Wembley International Hotel

The award-winning Wembley International Hotel offers rooms with air-conditioning, free WiFi, satellite TV, desks, safes and en-suite facilities…

Educational Activities

• National Theatre Backstage Tours

Get exclusive access to unseen parts of the building on a tour led by experienced and enthusiastic National Theatre guides.… Read More

Get exclusive access to unseen parts of the building on a tour led by experienced and enthusiastic National Theatre guides. Discover the history of the iconic building, visit the three auditoriums and their backstage areas and see the workshops where sets and props are created.

Relevant links

Pineapple Dance Studios - Workshops

Learn from some of the world's best choreographers at London's most famous dance studios here in the heart of Covent… Read More

Learn from some of the world's best choreographers at London's most famous dance studios here in the heart of Covent Garden!

Shakespeare's Globe

Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the… Read More

Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work through the connected means of performance and education. Together, the Globe Theatre Company, Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition and Globe Education seek to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance.

• Theatre Royal Drury Lane Tour

Through the Stage Dooris the UK's first interactive theatre tour at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The history of the… Read More

Through the Stage Dooris the UK's first interactive theatre tour at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The history of the theatre is brought to life as key characters, writers and actors from the theatre's 300 year old past take you back through time as you look around this famous theatre. Since its construction in 1663 the theatre has triumphed over tragedy, fire, bankruptcy and even murder!During the tour, guests will meet characters such as the playwright Richard Sheridan, the great clown Grimaldi, the celebrated actress/mistress Nell Gwynne and many others who played an important role in the theatre's history.

West End Show

Head to London's famous West End to catch an incredible show! Some of the world's most famous productions have been… Read More

Head to London's famous West End to catch an incredible show! Some of the world's most famous productions have been staged in London's West End, which is one of the most important theatre districts in the world. You may even catch a Hollywood star treading the boards here!.

Cultural Activities

• Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative… Read More

Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. It is one of the few remaining working royal palaces in the world today.Today the State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions. During August and September whenThe Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace's nineteen state rooms are open to visitors.The State Rooms form the heart of the working palace and are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto; sculptures by Canova; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture.

• Houses Of Parliament

Take a guided tour around the houses of Parliament where you will be able to see the Commons and Lords… Read More

Take a guided tour around the houses of Parliament where you will be able to see the Commons and Lords debating chambers and the Queen’s Robing Room.

The London Eye is the world’s biggest observation wheel. Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, it is the… Read More

The London Eye is the world’s biggest observation wheel. Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, it is the 4th tallest structure in London. The wheel takes 30 minutes to complete a 360º rotation and on a clear day it is possible to see 25 miles in each direction.An enhancement of the visit is 'The Schools Discovery Flight'. For this, the knowledgeable hosts will provide a fact-filled and interactive commentary, highlighting key historical dates and important landmarks with a uniquely educational perspective. They will also be able to provide insight into the technology process that went into creating the London Eye.

London Eye River Cruise

See London from a different perspective duringthiscircular sightseeing cruise on the River Thames. Fascinating live commentary brings the city to… Read More

See London from a different perspective duringthiscircular sightseeing cruise on the River Thames. Fascinating live commentary brings the city to life, presented by specialist guides. Highlights include Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.This London Eye River Cruise is available all year round and in any weather. The boat is covered with sun deck seating and is fully wheelchair accessible for disabled ticket holders. Toilets are available onboard.

• Tower of London

There are dozens of amazing sights and activities at the Tower of London. Students can spend the day visiting the… Read More

There are dozens of amazing sights and activities at the Tower of London. Students can spend the day visiting the Lady Jane Grey Graffiti, the White Tower, the Crown Jewels, the Prisoners Exhibition, Tower Green, the Ravens and the Medieval Palace.

Supporting you every step of the way

1 creating your perfect trip.

We'll tailor make your school trip to meet your specific requirements

2 Launching your trip to parents and students

Head to our resources section for FREE promotional materials

3 After you've booked

Your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will work with you on the finer details of your trip

4 While you're away

You'll be able to reach us 24/7 during your trip if you need our help

5 After your trip

Head back to our resources section to continue the learning

I love inspiring curiosity in schools searching for the perfect trip to a destination I have first-hand experience in visiting. I love to learn what their travel plans are, the purpose for their trip and how this links back to the curriculum so that I can prepare an entirely tailored trip as if I were visiting myself. – Tom Moorhouse Tour Consultant [email protected] 0115 9404 303

Don't take our word for it …

The trip was an excellent experience for our students and they learnt a lot about how ice and volcanoes have shaped the country as well as the culture. — Academia Britanica Cuscatleca , February 2019

Your School Trip is Fully Protected

As a fully-accredited school travel company , booking with Halsbury Travel offers you complete peace of mind. Our accreditations are your guarantee that:

• Your school trip will be fully financially protected
• Your group's safety will be prioritised
• Your trip will be a quality educational experience

Safety prioritised

We are a Member of ABTA, which means we are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct.

Quality educational experiences

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Get inspired

Home to some of the most iconic performing arts venues in the world, a school trip to the West End can provide your pupils with extensive learning opportunities. Not only are there multiple fantastic productions to see, but pupils can also get involved in a wide variety of workshops covering a range of specialisms. Popular choices include Theatre Improv, Stage Combat and West End 101, however we can also create a bespoke workshop for your students.

Performing arts school trips to   New York  are an unforgettable experience for drama and dance students. With Broadway home to some of the best stage productions in the world, pupils can grasp a better understanding of the work that goes into a Broadway show.

View our Performing Arts Trips

• London, United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• Watch a West End Theatre show
• Go backstage at the National Theatre
• New York, USA
• Broadway Show
• Dance & Theatre Workshops
• Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom
• Shakespeare Theatre Workshops
• Warwick Castle
• Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• Enjoy a tailored performance based workshop
• Attend a theatre performance of your choice

Why choose Next Generation Travel for School Trips?

• Award Winning Service
• Trusted By Our Customers
• Expert Tour Planners
• Book with Confidence

At Next Generation Travel we take school trips seriously. We are destination and subject experts with an award-winning service. You can count on us for the perfect balance of educational and personal development. We take great pride in ensuring our customers’ satisfaction by going above and beyond to meet their travel needs. But don’t just take out word for it…

NGT Partners & Accreditations

Support and resources for planning your trip

We have been operating school tours for over 35 years so we know a thing or two about planning a school trip. One of the benefits of this is that we have an abundance of knowledge and supporting documents to share with you. In our resources area you will find everything you need for your school trip planning:

• Frequently asked questions
• Parent letters
• Insurance documents
• Risk assessment documents
• Planning tips

Featured Resource

A Guide To Risk Assessment

You need to know you can book with a tour operator who has everything covered for you.

This guide will assist you completing your own risk assessments covering areas such as:

• What is a risk assessment
• Event specific risk assessments
• Emergency procedures

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Getting the right mix of teaching and learning techniques is crucial to help your students achieve their academic, vocational and personal potential.

Next Generation Travel is very pleased to announce that it is now a partner of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides.

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London English, Drama & Performing Arts School Trips & Tours

From the magic of a West End show to interactive dance or theatre workshops or debating at the Royal Courts of Justice, school theatre trips to London are guaranteed to inspire your pupils! At NST we take pride in creating the best London theatre trips for schools.

School Theatre Trips London

Whether your group is interested in performing arts, drama, English or literature, you’ll find it all on an English school tour to London! Plus, on our school theatre tours, we work closely with theatres and agencies in the capital to give you access to great group prices, fantastic theatre seats and great availability on the most popular West End shows so you can be sure to get great value for your school theatre trips. That’s why around 600 school groups choose to travel to London with us each and every year.

Prices start from £189 pp

Backstage Tours

Specialist Workshops

Price Shown includes

• 1 night’s B&B accommodation
• Mid week education rate theatre ticket
• Executive coach transport from and to school and throughout your stay
• Group travel insurance
• 1 in 8 free place ratio

Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from selected departure points and is subject to availability.

On-tour support

On-tour support includes...

• Pre-booked meals at great group prices
• Pre-booked and pre-paid London Underground tickets
• A choice of packed lunches for your group throughout your stay

Accommodation

Popular options in London

• YHA London Thameside
• Premier Inn London Hanger Lane
• Royal National Hotel

Top shows & productions in London

From 5th June 2024 meet The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. They rule North Shore High and will burn anyone who gets in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist parents, but high school is a whole new level of savage. When Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a queen bee without getting stung.

Show at: Savoy Theatre Times: Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm, Friday & Saturday Matinees 2.30pm & Sunday 3pm Running time : Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval.   Age Recommendation: 12 and over.

Wicked tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz. The spectacular production and incredible story inspires discussion about propaganda, tolerance, bullying and friendship. 

On show at: The Apollo Victoria Theatre  Times: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.30pm  Running time: 2hrs 45mins  School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evenings, Wednesday matinees.

Educational packs and workshops available. For more information on the show's educational programme, for more information please contact us.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne. It is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.  The critically acclaimed production is the most awarded new play in theatre history, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won 24 major theatre awards in the UK and is the most awarded play in the history of the Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking nine awards including Best New Play. 

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one play presented in two Parts, which are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening).

Educational resources available.

On show at : Palace Theatre School rates available : Wednesday - Part One 2:00pm & Part Two 7:00pm Friday - Part One 2:00pm & Part Two 7:00pm

For more information on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, click here

Critically-acclaimed across the UK, Six tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII presented as a pop concert.

The six wives take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak into a 75-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. Our school groups simply love this lively and uplifting show. 

On show at : Vaudeville Theatre Times : Tues – Fri at 8pm, Sat at 4pm and 8pm, Sun at 3pm and 7pm Running time : 1 hr 20 mins (no interval)

The Lion King

Disney’s award-winning musical combines dazzling staging and wildly creative costumes, masks and puppets. The result is a theatrical experience like no other, which is guaranteed to capture the imaginations of your students and to teach them about the wonderful world of live theatre. 

On show at: The Lyceum Theatre Times: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.30pm  Running time: 2hrs 30mins  School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evenings, Wednesday matinees.

Educational packs available.

Matilda the Musical

Following a sensational sell-out season at The Courtyard Theatre, the RSC’s production of Matilda the Musical has now opened in London to extraordinary critical acclaim. Roald Dahl’s much-loved story bursts into life on stage. Your group will be delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. 

On show at: Cambridge Theatre  Times: Tuesday at 7.00pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 7.30pm. Matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 3.00pm  Running time: 2hrs 35mins  School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evenings and Wednesday matinees.

Matilda the Musical School Workshops are available and are designed to introduce your group to the story of Matilda, the key characters and the creative process of bringing it to life on stage. Led by RSC practitioners, these active 90-minute sessions can be tailored to meet the needs of students of all ages. Available Wednesdays at 10.30am. Groups are advised to book early.

Les Misérables

Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary production is indisputably the world’s most popular musical seen by over 70 million people worldwide. This spectacular adaptation of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece continues to thrill audiences night after night. 

On show at: Sondheim Theatre  Times: Monday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm  Running time: 2hrs 50mins  School prices available: Monday - Thursday evenings, Thursday matinees

The Mousetrap

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is the world’s longest running play – don’t just see it, solve it!

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a stately countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst! One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim? Can you solve the mystery before another “mouse” goes SNAP?

On show at: St Martin’s Theatre Times: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Thursday - Saturday at 3.00pm, Sunday at 2.00pm & 6.00pm. Running time: 2hrs 20mins  School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evenings, Thursday matinees.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Performance

Located on the bank of the River Thames in Bankside's Cultural Quarter, Shakespeare's Globe welcomes groups to experience world renowned productions of Shakespeare every day. We have worked closely with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for many years and are an official ‘Friend of the Globe’. We offer fantastic group prices on tickets for strongly curriculum-linked Shakespeare performances.  Furthermore, as there is a requirement in the new curriculum for students to study two Shakespeare plays, this is a perfect opportunity to introduce your group to various texts with out Shakespeare's Globe Theatre school trips . 

Hamilton is an award-winning West End musical production about the life of Alexander Hamilton, the American Founding Father. Taking place in London's Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End, the must-see musical covers the lifetime of Alexander and his role in shaping America's very foundations.

On show at: Victoria Palace Theatre Times: Monday  – Saturday 7.30pm.  Matinees – Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm.

Back to the Future The Musical

Welcome to Hill Valley! Take an electrifying ride back in time as the 1985 blockbuster film and pop culture phenomenon arrives in London's West End as a groundbreaking new musical adventure!

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past and send himself... back to the future.

Adapting this iconic story for the stage are the movie’s creators Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump). The production features original music by multi-Grammy winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror), alongside hit songs from the movie including The Power of Love, Johnny B Goode, Earth Angel and Back in Time. Tony Award-winning director John Rando leads the Tony and Olivier Award-winning creative team. Strap yourself in for a thrilling theatrical experience! 

When BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL hits 88mph, you’re gonna see some serious… entertainment. Book your tickets yesterday!

Adelphi Theatre, London 

Frozen the Musical

This brand new West End musical celebrates the extraordinary story of two sisters that melted hearts across the world. 

With ground-breaking sets and special effects, incredible costumes and innovative stagecraft combine to stunning effect in this magical experience that will delight your pupils and sweep you away to the world of Arendelle with all its heart, humour and powerful storytelling.

Your favourite songs from the film combine with a brand new score from Grammy® and Academy-Award®-winning 'Let It Go' songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The set design, special effects and costumes come together in a breathtaking wonderland experience, the likes of which you've come to expect from the producers of such other Disney stage productions as The Lion King and Aladdin.

On show at: London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane  School rate available

CLOSING - 8th September 2024

Mrs Doubtfire

Direct from a sensational run up in Manchester — where it played to sold-out crowds and standing ovations — the new comedy musical MRS. DOUBTFIRE is ready to dazzle and delight the West End from 12 May 2023!

Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs. Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.

MRS. DOUBTFIRE has been created by a transatlantic team of award-winning artists, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, original music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick (the Tony Award-nominated team behind Something Rotten!, along with O’Farrell), direction by 4-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks (Hello, Dolly!), scenic design by David Korins (Hamilton), choreography by Lorin Latarro (Waitress), and music supervision by Ethan Popp (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical).

Moulin Rouge

Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular…  Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical!

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and — above all — love, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical; it is a state of mind. Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris at the turn of the century, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a tale of romance that weaves musicals & popular music to delight the audience.

HADESTOWN takes you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two mythic love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone.

Show at   Lyric Theatre  Times   Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm Sunday 3pm Matinee Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm Running time   2hrs 25 mins School prices available   Tuesday – Thursday evenings and matinee Thursday and Saturday

Stranger Things

Brand New for 2024   from the much loved Netflix TV series.

BEFORE THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN… Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach. Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.

Show at : Phoenix Theatre Times: Tuesday - Saturday 7pm, Friday & Saturday Matinees 1pm & Sunday 3pm Running time: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including an interval Age Recommendation: 12 and over. School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evening and Friday matinee

Top visits in London

• Performing Arts
• English & Drama

National Theatre Backstage Tour

On our London theatre trips for schools, you students will get the opportunity to go backstage at Britain’s largest theatre complex to discover the secrets behind bringing productions to the stage. Your group will get exclusive access to unseen parts of the building, including the workshops where sets and props are created, on a tour led by an experienced and enthusiastic guide.

Royal Opera House Backstage Tour

Visit the backstage and the front-of-house areas as the Royal Opera House prepares to open its doors for an evening performance. Your group will enjoy an introduction to the colourful history of this theatre, its magnificent backstage technology and redevelopment.

Stage School Theatre Workshop – Stage Combat

Your group will learn about the relationship between acting and fight choreography. Discover how fights are choreographed and hone your collaboration skills whilst creating your own combat.

Stage School Workshops are delivered by qualified teaching artists (so you can get involved too) and can be tailored to your chosen show, as well as your curriculum requirements.

Stage School Theatre Workshop – West End 101

A popular and versatile interactive workshop designed to enhance the participants’ night in the West End. In a fun and relaxed environment, students are taught skills and techniques used by professional actors inspired by the themes of the show they see. 

Stage School Theatre Workshop – Step by Step

A fun, interactive session that will immerse your group in the music and movement of the show. It will provide them with new knowledge and skills plus some serious moves that they can perform again and again.

Stage School Theatre Workshop – Note by Note

Learn singing techniques and how to act through song with a West End musical director. Share all you have learnt in a performance for a cast member from the show you are seeing. You can suggest a song of your choice or one can be picked for you - it’s up to you!

Stage School Theatre Workshop – Stage Management

Learn about the diverse role of a Stage Manager; how they work with the cast and crew to create theatre productions.

Stage School workshops are delivered by qualifies teching artists (so you can get involved too) and can be tailored to your requirements.

Stage School Theatre Workshop – Production

Considering a career in production? Learn about technical skills and how they're applied to production jobs in the creative industry.

Stage School workshops are delivered by qualified teaching artists (so you can get involved too) and can be tailored to your requirements.

Stage School Theatre Workshop - Set Design

Working with a professional set designer, explore the requirements necessary to solve practical and atheistic issues of staging.

Stage School Theatre Workshop - Make Up

Learn the fundamentals of theatrical makeup or how to achieve the specific looks creative in West End Shows. It’s all about the powder and paint!

Stage School Performing Arts Workshop – A Song & Dance

Apply singing, dancing and acting! Work with a pianist and cast member from the show your group is seeing and gain insight into a true West End rehearsal. You’ll even have the chance to rehearse a song and create your own choreography.

Stage School Performing Arts Workshop – Puppetry Now

A West End show has multiple ways of conveying meaning and communicating different moods and effects. Puppetry is one of those ways; it stimulates your imagination, encourages creative play and is a wonderfully interactive way to introduce narrative. This workshop is highly recommended for groups seeing War Horse.

Stage School Performing Arts Workshop – Audition Essentials

Develop your group’s audition techniques by performing material for a West End casting director and watching a West End professional perform. You’ll get to spend an hour with a West End director/casting director and enjoy a 30-minute Q&A session with a West End professional.

Stage School Performing Arts Workshop – In the Spotlight

Take this opportunity to ask questions of a performer from the show your group is seeing. Includes a piano-accompanied private performance from your workshop guest artist.

Stage School English & Drama Workshop – Making a Scene

Work from a scripted scene from a show or play of your choice. Students will learn how to bring the text to life in a truthful, imaginative way. Explore acting methods, vocal techniques and character development designed to encourage bold and creative acting choices.

Stage School English & Drama Workshop – Theatre Improvisation

Exclusive to NST

This team-orientated collection of non-stop theatre games is perfect for high energy groups. After physical and vocal warm-ups, students stay active through team-building and improvisational games designed to heighten focus, creativity and sensitivity to others.

Stage School English & Drama Workshop – The Director’s Chair

This interactive workshop introduces students to the art of directing theatre. Focusing on textual analysis and stage craft, group members will examine techniques for working with actors and staging scenes too.

Stage School English & Drama Workshop – Behind the Mask

Your group will learn the rules of the mask and explore different mask performance techniques through improvisation and non-verbal communication. Content in this workshop is non show-specific.

Stage School workshops are delivered by qualified teaching artists (so you can get involved too) and can be tailored to your chosen show, as well as your curriculum requirements.

Disney's The Lion King Education Workshops

Everyone from beginners to professionals can experience the thrill of the West End through these hands-on explorations of theatrical performances that are led by expert Disney teaching artists. Options include: 

Spotlight on Acting  - ages 9 +

Spotlight on Movement & Music -  ages 7 +

Spotlight on Singing  - ages 12 +

Spotlight on Dancing  - ages 14 +

Karen Hardy Studios Dance Experience

Karen Hardy Studios has designed a fun and structured children’s dance programme that teaches a wide range of dance styles and promotes all the important life skills necessary for a child’s development.

Classes are designed to build confidence and raise awareness of health and fitness. Beginner and intermediate routines are designed by experienced teachers personally trained by former Strictly champion, Karen Hardy.

Students will enjoy a fun structured 90-minute workshop, made up of half choreography and half technique to ensure each child leaves having had fun and developed a new life skill.

Stage School Dance Workshop – West End Dance

Whether it’s ballet or ballroom, flamenco or freestyle, tango or tap, there’s a dance class for you! Tell us what dance style your group would like to explore and we’ll do the rest. 

You’ll be provided with a West End studio and a dance instructor who specialises in the style of your choice. 

Learn about the stylistic features of the dance, the development of techniques and its representation in the West End. Guaranteed to get your energy pumping. Workshops can be introductory, intermediate or advanced.

Central School of Speech & Drama – Acting Masterclass

This workshop has been designed specifically for us by this well-known London drama school, and can be tailored to your exact educational requirements. Working with an industry professional, your group will take a practical approach to exploring acting techniques.

Shakespeare’s Globe Guided Tour and Experience

Open all year round, the Globe guided tour gives you an opportunity to learn more about this unique building and its most famous playwright, Shakespeare. 

The new Globe Experience combines an interactive look at theatre-craft, the unique story of Shakespeare's Globe. Discover how the magic of stories are brought to life in a newly interpreted space beneath Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre! With help from experts, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare’s storytelling, from the creation of his works to the way they are interpreted today. Explore how different elements of stagecraft are combined to bring these stories to life in the beautiful and unique ‘Wooden O’ and candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Shakespeare’s Globe Live Demonstrations

If you’re planning on visiting the Shakespeare’s Globe, why not add on an interesting live demonstration for your group. Options include: 

• Stage Fighting - Watch an exciting demonstration of Elizabethan stage combat techniques. This includes an explanation of how stage fighting was used by Shakespeare and his contemporaries in Early Modern plays. Demonstration includes a Q&A session.
• Elizabethan Dressing - Using clothes from the theatre wardrobe, your tour guide will dress a member of your group as a character from a Shakespeare play and explain the intricacies of dressing. Demonstration includes a Q&A session. 

Shakespeare’s Globe Lively Action Workshop

This 90-minute session, led by a Globe Education Practitioner, includes: 

• A 30-minute guided visit to the theatre 
• A one hour workshop based on a Shakespeare play of your choice. Through practical exploration, students will be encouraged to develop an understanding of Shakespeare’s characters and stories, and to engage with the text as a script for performance. Different dramatic techniques are used to explore Shakespeare’s plays and deepen your group’s critical understanding. Alternatively, students at a higher level may concentrate their workshop time on the performance conditions at the Globe, by exploring how this shapes playing style and language and by making connections between time and literary traditions.

GCSE Study Day at Shakespeare's Globe

Tailored to complement the KS4 English requirements these study days offer an introduction to your chosen play at GCSE on our  Shakespeare's Globe Theatre School Trips . This study day provides a practical introduction to the play and the performance conditions at the Globe, exploring how this shapes playing style and language. Students will learn about the social, historical and cultural context of the play, explore aspects of plot and characterisation, identify key themes and analyse language.

Wicked Workshop

Official Wicked Workshops offer a programme of engaging sessions that offer outstanding,unique experiences and are tailored to meet the needs of your group. Choose from:  The Official Wicked Wellbeing Workshop, exploring practical and meaningful ways to enhance our physical and mental wellbeing.

The Official Wicked Anti-Bullying Workshop, developed in partnership with the Anti-Bullying Alliance, challenging us all to look beyond first impressions.

The Official Wicked Musical Theatre Workshop, a multi-layered workshop focusing on storytelling for musical theatre.

The Business of Theatre Talk

Hear from an industry professional and learn about the business of the business! What does it take to finance, staff and promote a theatre production?

Creative Media Skills Institute Workshops

A specialised workshop at the Creative Media Skills Institute is a great way to introduce your group to a number of techniques and applications used in the media industry.

Choose from: Costume Breakdown, Drafting, FX Makeup, Prosthetics Makeup, Period Hair Styling, Intro into Film Directing, Intro into Set Dressing and Props Making.

Based in the heart of Pinewood Studios and surrounded by its original three stages, CMSI bring existing and working film crew directly off the set to lead their courses. After coming through studio security students will walk down Goldfinger Avenue and past the iconic 007 stage to reach the state of the art CMSI studio. Students will be introduced to Pinewood Studios, the media industry as a whole and will hear what working in the industry is really like and the many career opportunities available. Each workshop is run by an instructor who is a specialist in their field and includes a live demo and a practical session.

The Royal Courts of Justice - Court In Session

Suitable for KS3-5, this exciting visit to the historic Royal Courts of Justice will have your group talking for weeks! You can choose from a wide range of quality learning experiences. 

This two-hour session takes place in a working court room and around the courts. 

Students will:

• Be introduced to the Royal Courts of Justice and what happens there
• Prepare and enact a trial based on an ex-offender’s experiences
• Explore roles in a court room and meet a legal professional where possible
• Discuss and debate real sentencing options

The Royal Courts of Justice - Motion To Appeal

This two-hour session takes place in a working court room and around the courts.

• Prepare for and debate an appeal case which has been heard at the Royal
• Courts of Justice (this can be a broader debate or one that focuses on a particular point of law)
• Explore roles in a court room and meet a legal professional, where possible

Charles Dickens Museum & Workshop

Charles Dickens lived in this house - now museum - from 1837 until 1839 and wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby whilst living here. This museum offers students the chance to experience what Dickens’ home would have been like, as well as learn more about the life and works of the great novelist and social commentator. Here, you will find one of the most important collections of his artefacts in the world. 

Workshops available:

A Christmas Carol: Creating Scrooge Using copies of original draft manuscripts from our archival collection, students will look at why Dickens’s celebrated and ever popular Christmas story has secured such an enduring place in the English speaking world’s literary consciousness, with a myriad adaptations on stage, screen and print. Dickens’s social conscience: Oliver Twist and poverty in Victorian Britain  Whilst living here at 48 Doughty Street, Dickens wrote one of his most famous novels - Oliver Twist. In this session students will explore this celebrated book as well as excerpts from his non-fiction writing, in order to explore poverty in the Victorian era and Dickens’s life and work as a social reformer.   Crime & Punishment: Exploring Victorian Justice through Dickens’s Eyes  In this engaging session, students look at a variety of archival resources and ephemera from our collection at Doughty Street to build up a picture of justice, crime and punishment in Victorian Britain through the eyes of man committed to social justice and reform.

Great Expectations: Miss Havisham revisited Great Expectations is one of Dickens’s best loved and critically acclaimed works. Using the text, objects and documents from our own archival collection, students will explore aspects of Dicken’s own life and experiences that may have influenced this work. In particular they will focus on one of Dickens’s more notorious and memorable characters – Miss Havisham; looking again at whether the common perceptions about her are justified…or not!   Exploring A Christmas Carol in the social context of Victorian Britain Through a consideration of the text and archival material held here at Doughty Street, students will extend their knowledge of A Christmas Carol, by considering how Dickens used the story’s themes and characters to highlight what he saw as some of the most pressing social problems and issues in the Victorian Britain of his day.

Dr Johnson’s House & Workshop

Dr Johnson’s House is a charming 300-year-old townhouse, nestled amongst a maze of courts and alleys in the historic city of London. Samuel Johnson, the writer and wit, lived and worked here in the middle of the 18th century, compiling his great Dictionary of the English Language in the garret.

Johnson’s Dictionary & Language Change  This KS5 workshop will put Johnson, his Dictionary and the language of the period into context for your pupils and will introduce them to Johnson’s Dictionary, its predecessors and its long-term impact. The curator-led workshop is structured around a tour of Johnson’s former home which is interspersed with language activities.

Literary Walking Tours

These walking tours will give your students an inspirational insight into the life and times of writers across the ages. Options include:

Bloomsbury Artists, Writers & Philanthropists Walk – See where the famous Bloomsbury Group lived, loved and worked. Learn about Virginia & Leonard Woolf, the Bells, Strachey, Grant, Fry, Keynes and Forster, as well as Dickens, Yeats, the Shelleys, William Morris, Rossetti and Hughes & Plath. 

Dickens London Walk – Visit places where Dickens lived and worked, and locations nearby which he used in his books, such as Fagin’s Den, the Thieves’ Kitchen and Mr Tulkinghorn’s house. See where he had a fateful meeting with his first illustrator, the spot where he was given his first break, as well as other literary points of interest.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

Step onto authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter™ film series. Tread the original stone floor of the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, encounter animatronic creatures and wander down Diagon Alley. Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced.

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS :

A programme of educational lessons has been created to complement the Studio Tour. These lessons are delivered in purpose-built classrooms by qualified teachers and use the Harry Potter™ film series as an example of the wider context and theories surrounding filmmaking and design. You’ll even get access to free downloadable pre and post-visit resource packs to use in the classroom.

Lesson options include :

• Screenplay Stories 
• Costume Characterisation 
• Costume Distressing 
• Pitching 
• Instructional Writing 
• Movie Graphic Design 
• Careers in the Creative Industry
• Script to Screen 
• Camera Choices 
• Set Design 
• Movie Business 
• Movie Marketing

Harry Potter London Walking Tour

Take a Harry Potter Walking Tour into the magical world of wizardry in London! Learn about London’s rich muggle and wizarding history, amazing facts about the books and films and see many of the Harry Potter film locations used in London, including the Ministry of Magic and the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. The tour features familiar Harry Potter film locations as well as iconic London landmarks and attractions including St Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Borough and Leadenhall Markets and Monument.

The lastminute.com London Eye

A classroom with a moving view! Standing 135m tall on the South Bank of the River Thames, nothing says iconic like The lastminute.com London Eye.

Since 2000, this world-famous structure has taken over 75 million people on a journey into London’s skyline. Be inspired with our Skyline Workshops. At an additional cost, these enhanced in-pod experiences are delivered by our education hosts and include interactive activities and interesting facts on London's iconic skyline.

Developed in collaboration with education specialists, teachers can book either a KS2/KS3 version.

Madame Tussauds

The world of the Media is a creative and inspiring one, where ideas combine with drama, excitement and humour to keep us entertained and engaged. A fully interactive experience, Madame Tussauds will inspire, enthuse and immerse pupils in celebrity culture and modern media as they walk among the stars!

Thames River Cruise

Take in London’s best-loved sights on this enjoyable cruise. Your students will gain an insight into the many layers of history that have built up along the river, from the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge to the 'lastminute.com' London Eye.

Highlights of London Blue Badge Guided Tour

See the major sights of the city. An expert Blue Badge Guide will join you on your coach and bring the Capital to life for your group. Sights may include Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard offers a unique education experience – it is the only place where students can see the entire city at once; both old and new! Two high speed kaleidoscopic lifts will transport your group to the viewing platforms on Level 69 and Level 72 where you can encourage your student’s fascination with the history of London and enjoy the unparalleled 360 degree views.

Educational visits can support learning across both the National and London Curriculum, including History, English, Maths, Geography, and Art and Design.

Wembley Tour

Visit the new stadium and take a 90-minute tour. See England’s changing rooms, the players’ warm-up zone, VIP reception area, the Royal Box, dugouts, the post-match interview area, press conference room, treatment rooms and the Bobby Moore Statue. You can even ‘Lift the Cup’!

Educational workshops are also available for Business Studies, English and History.

Explore Covent Garden

A trip to the capital isn’t complete without a little shopping time! We recommend Covent Garden as a suitable area for groups to explore and watch the street performers.

Horizon 22 is London's highest free viewing platform. Located on Level 58, the viewing platform offers 300-degree views of London, showcasing its most iconic landmarks.

Evening activites

• Jack the Ripper tour
• Ice skating
• Host a quiz at a function room

Educational resources

Free educational resource packs

A number of West End shows produce free educational resource packs that groups can use prior to and after seeing their show of choice. These packs often contain lesson plans and guidance for discussions to explore a show's central themes, characters, story and staging. Combined with a show performance, use of these packs can help to aid understanding and inspire learning too.

Available from any location in the UK, our executive coaches are fitted with seatbelts, toilet facilities, air conditioning, DVD and reclining seats.

Rail is a convenient travel option for small groups, ideal for connections to Eurostar, major airports and travel to many city destinations.

Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

• Your own dedicated NST contact
• Bespoke tour itineraries
• Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
• Curriculum linked visit programmes
• Great value for money - no hidden costs
• Free group leader inspection visits
• Risk assessment guidance
• Safety assured, transport, accommodation and visits

Whilst you're away

• Free educational resources
• Group-friendly accommodation
• Exceptional standards of coaching
• On-tour support from our reps on the ground
• Support & assistance from our specialists throughout your tour
• 24/7 support just a call away
• Extensive group travel insurance

On your return

• Priority rebooking services
• Rewarding your loyalty with our reward scheme
• You say, we listen - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
• School travel company of choice since 1967

“Our English, drama and performing arts tour to London was just perfect! The Harry Potter workshop at Warner Bros. was amazing and the staff were wonderful. Our pupils really enjoyed it, especially when they revealed that Tom Cruise was filming in the studios whilst we were there! Every member of our group was so pleased with the whole experience with NST. We couldn’t be happier.” Carly Horan, Aquinas College