Cultural & Enrichment School Trips to London
Take your students on an exciting trip to London where the combination of historical venues, famous landmarks and a world-famous theatre district means there is no shortage of ways to combine culture and fun!
A cultural and enrichment trip prepares a student for the real world, is character building and creates amazing lasting memories.
They are suitable for all learning styles; we learn best when we can see, hear, and experience things first-hand. Here are some of the benefits a cultural and enrichment trip can provide:
- Develop a sense of responsibility.
- Be character building, develop students’ self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-belief.
- Help improve social/interpersonal skills - the ability to communicate or interact well with other people.
- The opportunity to experience cultures, respect differences, and develop new friendships with their peers.
- Broaden their horizons and knowledge.
- Encourages problem solving and teamwork.
- Provides fond memories and long-lasting positive benefits.
Trips can benefit the teacher as well as student! Teacher’s get to observe the student in a different environment and see how they view the world; it can also generate ideas for the teacher to bring back to the classroom.
For extra fun you can extend your trip and visit a theme park - Chessington World of Adventures or Thorpe Park. Contact us to quote for your personalised itinerary.
Explore all of our high school trips to London
Prices start from£169pp
Popular Itinerary
This 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 requirements and learning outcomes.
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Travel by coach or rail into the heart of the capital. | Go on a Thames Cruise and experience a unique view of London's iconic sites from the River Thames. | A West End Show is a perfect way to end the day, take you pick from some of the most popular performances such as The Lion King, Matilda or Wicked. |
| Day 2 | Visit one of London's most popular tourist attractions such as the London Eye or explore the London Dungeons. | Head off home to arrive back early evening. |
- Day 1
- Day 2
| Morning | Travel by coach or rail into the heart of the capital. |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Go on a Thames Cruise and experience a unique view of London's iconic sites from the River Thames. |
| Evening | A West End Show is a perfect way to end the day, take you pick from some of the most popular performances such as The Lion King, Matilda or Wicked. |
| Morning | Visit one of London's most popular tourist attractions such as the London Eye or explore the London Dungeons. |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Head off home to arrive back early evening. |
| Evening |
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
London
Reasons to Visit
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 Dungeon
Transport yourself back to the darkest moments in the capital's history within the deep depths of the London Dungeon.
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.
The Cutty Sark – Visitors Centre
Cutty Sark has re-launched, opening a new chapter in the extraordinary life of one of the world’s most famous ships. The last surviving tea clipper and the fastest and greatest of her time, she is a living testimony to the bygone, glorious days of sail and, most importantly, a monument to those that lost their lives in the merchant service.
Museum of London
The Museum of London is the largest, most comprehensive city museum in the world. From prehistoric London, through to the ravages of civil war, plague and fire the museum takes you on a journey through the capitals turbulent past. Walk the streets of Victorian London and marvel at the magnificent Lord Mayor's Coach.
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, but they also house 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/
London Zoo
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. It organises a wide variety of educational programmes for all levels of students and will tailor a talk to suit the subject interests of students and Science.
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!
A visit to SEA LIFE London can be tailored to curriculum links in Science and Geography.
Workshops:
KS3: Climate Change – Exploring Glaciers, Warmer Oceans: Coral Bleaching, Underwater World Tour
KS2-KS4: Behind The Scenes Tour
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.
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.
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.
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).
Wicked
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.
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
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/)
NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.
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)
NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.
Mamma Mia!
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.
NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.
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).
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.
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
HadesTown
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
Hamilton
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.
The Ultimate Harry Potter Experience!
Experience J.K. Rowling’s magical universe with two great experiences in London this summer 2022 – The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition in Covent Garden and the award-winning two part show - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition in Covent Garden - journey through the memories of years of magical filmmaking in a display of behind-the-scenes images, never before seen in one place.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - the award-winning two part show -19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back in a most extraordinary new adventure told live on stage!
Available for Wednesdays only from 25th May - 13th July 2022.
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.
Horizon 22
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.
The Twist Museum
Take your pupils on an exciting educational journey through interactive exhibits that provide the perfect backdrop for cross-curricular learning. For Primary groups there are exhibits linking to specific learning objectives for Science, English, Art and PSHE, you can also complete ‘Twist Challenges’ to further enhance your visit.
The museum is made up of a series of interconnected zones devoted to the contemplation of how we see things. Through a combination of science and art, the museum hopes to bring people together, challenging them and encouraging them to discuss and reflect on the ways in which we all perceive the world differently.
Shakespeare Walking Tours
Venturing out onto the streets of Bankside, expert Guides bring to life thrilling stories of the area around Shakespeare’s Globe including Thameside ferrymen, gruesome animal-baiting sports, and the rise of one of Elizabethan London’s original playhouses, The Rose, where it is believed that some of Shakespeare’s earliest plays were first performed
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 EST travel app to access your information on the go
- Locate My Trip app 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
It was just fantastic!!!! We would have no problem booking with you again - once we were in the UK the service was just outstanding in every respect. You made planning a trip so far away easy which took away the stress and having a daily itinerary meant we knew what was happening and when. Freyberg High School, New Zealand
Thanks for all your help. We had a wonderful time. Mansfield State High School
It (Itinerary) was perfect and included everything we were looking for. It was very well organised with timings and information required. Fantastic - everything was very clear. St Ninians High School
(Accommodation) Fits the bill perfectly in terms of location, comfort, price and cleanliness. Arcelor Mittel slide was awesome. The App was great, a really great addition. Top notch, a realy great experience for all. Noadswood School
