Art & Design Tours & Trips
Each of our destinations showcase a diverse range of art to put your pupils’ learning in context. From permanent collections and the latest temporary exhibitions, to world-famous architecture and landmarks, you’ll not only get to discover amazing, unique works, but will also be inspired by the culture of these great locations.
From London and Paris, to Madrid or even New York, there are so many experiences to choose from, whatever discipline or era of work you’d like to cover. Each of our destinations showcase a diverse range of art to put your pupils’ learning in context. Plus, our free gallery booking service means no waiting, no queuing and an itinerary that runs more smoothly.
Learn more about our art & design trip destinations
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is ideal if you want your group to study a wide spectrum of art in one visit.
Barcelona
Barcelona
A school trip to Barcelona offers pupils the chance to see amazing architecture, some of the best art galleries in the world and the works of world-renowned artists including Gaudí, Picasso and Dalí.
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is a hot spot for the international art world and few other cities have such an extensive and concentrated art scene.
Florence
Florence
30% of the world’s most important works of art are in Florence!
London
London
London is home to some of the largest permanent collections and most thought-provoking temporary exhibitions across the globe.
Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is home to the ‘Golden Triangle of museums’ offering gallery after gallery of masterworks.
New York
New York
There is an outstanding selection of dynamic contemporary works here, especially at the world-famous Guggenheim Museum.
Paris
Paris
A full range of specialisms are showcased in famed locations such as the Musée d’Orsay, Louvre and Pompidou.
Rome
Rome
It’s the ideal place to focus on traditional approaches to art in the many impressive galleries and museums.
Venice
Venice
Beautiful surroundings, stunning architecture and fascinating street scenes.
Our most popular art and design trip destinations...
Our most popular art and design trip destinations...
London
A school trip to London is guaranteed to incite a response from pupils and enrich and inspire their work. In this exciting city, pupils will get to take in the latest thought-provoking collections, museums, galleries and innovative talent, whilst developing an understanding of British heritage and culture.
Amsterdam
Study a wide spectrum of art in one visit. From Van Gogh and Rembrandt to many other renowned artists, Amsterdam has it all. What’s more special activities and exhibitions will be taking place throughout the Netherlands in celebration of Rembrandt and the Golden Age, shedding light on Rembrandt’s life and work from different angles. This colourful destination, with a wealth of art, picturesque countryside, iconic windmills, canal towns and fields filled with tulips, is certain to inspire your art students.
Planning your first school trip?
If you're planning your first art & design school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Additional support, resources & information
Tour planning service
Tour planning service
With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:
- Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
- Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
- Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals
You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.
Free school trip promotion pack
Free school trip promotion pack
We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:
- Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school
- PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
- Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip
Risk assessment support including preview visits
Risk assessment support including preview visit
Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.
Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.
Planning first school trip
Planning first school trip
Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process.
If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way.
Our helpful guide covers the following:
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track.
With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you.
With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too.
What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go.
Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here
Free classroom resources
Free classroom resources
We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!
Take a look at our downloadable posters here
Speak to one of our school travel experts
Our team of school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too!
So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.
Why choose NST...
Here's why hundreds of teachers choose NST each year...
- Unrivalled knowledge
Your dedicated art & design tour co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.
- Making it easier for you
With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters to support in-school promotion.
- FREE group leader inspection visits
We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning.
- Value for money
We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.
- More than 20 years’ experience
With over 20 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.
- Risk assessment guidance
Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.
- Peace of mind
Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.
- Offsetting carbon emissions
For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions.
Looking for protection on your next school trip?
Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.
Financial protection from the moment you book
NST are fully bonded & licensed:
- ABTA
- ATOL
- IATA
- Commission for Aviation Regulation
Managing safety on school trips
For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:
- 24-hour emergency cover
- Audited accommodation & transport
- Excursions & school visit assessment
- Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning
Package Travel Regulations 2018
Don't forget - if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial.
We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured
For groups travelling from Northern Ireland... the Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.
