Travel & tourism school trips to London

Night or day, a ride on the London Eye offers spectacular panoramic views of the capital from high above the River Thames. Look out for the city’s biggest landmarks with your students – the Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey will all be visible, alongside the city’s more modern skyscrapers.

The famous Tower of London has had many purposes since it was built 950 years ago. A fortress, royal palace, and a prison, the Tower has also served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and, since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. A must visit that any student group will enjoy.

N.B. The Tower of London accepts a minimum group size of 15.

Students will love the opportunity to ‘meet’ their favourite global celebrities while learning about other famous figures at this amazing waxworks, which has hosted millions of visitors since it first opened over 200 years ago. With figures of both British and pop culture royalty, school groups can examine the realistic figures while learning about their lives.

A popular activity among our school groups, a trip to a West End show is such a treat for students, who we’ve seen revel in the experience of being in the midst of London’s “Theatreland”. Along with New York's Broadway, West End theatre is considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking world. 

Students can discover the amazing underwater world at London Aquarium, with over 500 different species on display. There are also two classrooms themed around its conservation campaigns, where students can learn about the aquarium’s breeding programs for seahorses, butterfly goodeids and jellyfish.

A combination of brilliant actors, dark tales of the past and thrilling rides make the London Dungeon an engaging and entertaining visit for all, as well as a fantastic opportunity to teach your students about more than 1,000 years of history in London. With several performances and exhibitions that play with the senses, we know your students will love a visit to this unusual interactive museum.

The world’s oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo is home to a massive collection which offers students the chance to observe its near-20,000 animals up close – with everything from Madagascan ring-tail lemurs to tamarins straight from a South American rainforest. We’ve seen students revel in the chance to seek out their favourite animals, meet the zoo’s meerkats, and learn what it takes to keep giraffes.

The official London residence of the British monarchy since 1837, Buckingham Palace is a 775-room lavish mansion located where St James’ Park and Green Park meet. Though the palace’s 19 opulent state rooms are only open for visitors from mid-July to September, a visit is deserved for the Changing of the Guard alone, the captivating 45-minute ceremony culminating in a performance from a full military band.

Whether you’re meeting the Aztecs, unravelling the secrets of Egyptian mummies or discovering what life was like in ancient Britain, the British Museum has a whole host of exhibits to fixate and fascinate your student group. During your visit, students are encouraged to work in teams to solve the mysteries of ancient objects, and document their findings. An excellent learning adventure.

A hub for entertainment in London’s West End, Leicester Square swells with restaurants, souvenir shops and first-rate cinemas, where regular film premieres take place. Alongside statues of Charlie Chaplin and William Shakespeare, student groups might get lucky and spot their favourite A-list Hollywood actors here – if the stars align.

A unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of William Shakespeare's work, Shakespeare’s Globe is a must-visit for any English student. School groups can visit the Globe for either a full or half day, where they’ll enjoy a workshop, guided tour and exhibition admission.

With an extensive display of art dating from the 1500s to the modern day, Tate Britain is one of the UK’s most celebrated art galleries, and a must-visit for art students. Alongside its permanent exhibitions, one of the Tate’s most publicised art events is the awarding of the annual Turner Prize, which takes place at Tate Britain. The prize-winning pieces are then displayed at the gallery.

Boasting a full day’s worth of thrilling rides and attractions we know your students will love, Thorpe Park is the ultimate end-of-year reward for your students. Alongside its incredibly popular rollercoasters and rides, the park’s educational programme offers several short lessons that align with curriculum requirements, covering STEM and business subjects to challenge their minds in as little as 20 minutes.

Follow in the footsteps of legends with a behind-the-scenes glance at the world’s most famous stadium. On this tour, students will be able to climb the 107 Trophy Winner’s steps, peek inside the Royal Box and visit the stadium’s changing rooms – stepping on the same ground as football greats and global music stars have stood before.

Considered to be the true centre of London, Trafalgar Square holds a wealth of history and culture within its bounds. The square was opened to the public in 1844; since then, it’s served as the site of countless rallies and marches, the splendid National Gallery, as well the towering Nelson’s Column. Don’t miss the opportunity to study the square’s four plinths with your group – three might be occupied by notable individuals, but the fourth is occupied by an artistic placeholder.

Unravel 1,400 years of history on a journey to medieval times at this incredible cathedral, which is home to a fascinating and storied past. We’ve seen students amazed by the tales that make up St Paul’s, its unique architecture and its crypts, as they uncover the symbolic heart of the nation where kings were crowned, princes married and the great and good buried.

Fans of Harry Potter rejoice! Students will love the opportunity to explore the breathtaking sets from the hit film series at this studio tour, which has become one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. Groups can also get up close to the real props and costumes from the films. A great excursion we recommend for English and Film Studies students.

London’s highest and best view is located at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 89 and 72. With unparalleled views for up to 40 miles, The Shard offers a fantastic opportunity to teach students about London’s 1,000-year history, using landmarks as markers to support history, English, maths, geography and art subjects on the curriculum.