London Cultural & Transition Yr School Trips & Tours
An exciting London cultural trip offers students the opportunity to cover many aspects of their curriculum in a short space of time. Many groups travel to London with NST every year. By choosing NST, you'll receive valuable advice and expertise on hundreds of visits, as well as excellent prices at top attractions, West End shows and student-friendly accommodation.
Our transition year trips to London offer a unique opportunity to inspire curiosity and create stronger relationships among teenage groups beyond the four walls of their usual classroom.
Sample 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.
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morning flight from Ireland | Blue Badge Guided tour by coach Check into your accommodation | Jack the Ripper Tour |
| 2 | Thames River Cruise & London Eye | Madame Tussauds | West End Show |
| 3 | Warner Brothers Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter | Return flight to Ireland | |
- 1
- 2
- 3
| Morning | Morning flight from Ireland |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Blue Badge Guided tour by coach Check into your accommodation |
| Evening | Jack the Ripper Tour |
| Morning | Thames River Cruise & London Eye |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Madame Tussauds |
| Evening | West End Show |
| Morning | Warner Brothers Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Return flight to Ireland |
| Evening |
On-tour support
On-tour support includes...
- Services of a See Off Representative at your departure airport
Additional on-tour support available...
- Pre-booked meals at great group prices
- Pre-booked and pre-paid London Underground tickets
Accommodation
Popular options in London
Top visits
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 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.
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.
West End Shows
A West End show is a magical and unforgettable experience and a must for groups visiting the city! Catch a show at one of the capital's famous theatres with tickets to an array of award-winning plays and spectacular musicals, including the Lion King and Wicked!
There are so many popular options to choose from and we can book any show for your group. Plus, our dedicated in-house theatre team and our links with the best ticket providers means we’ll be able to reserve your first choice tickets.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
Step on to 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. Your Harry Potter World school trip is located at the Studios where all 8 films were produced.
45 minute workshops are also available, covering Art and Design, Business Studies, English and Drama, Film and Media and STEM subjects, as well as Primary.
Science Museum
The Science Museum is packed with awe-inspiring galleries, interactive resources and inspirational exhibitions. Your students can explore the hands-on galleries which cover a wide range of subject areas.
The museum also offers a great selection of curriculum-linked schools events and shows, and stunning 3D films in their IMAX Cinema.
Science Museum resources are also available and free to download.
Natural History Museum
On a Natural History Museum school trip, your students can explore the natural world and discover the amazing diversity of life that has evolved on our planet. Study a range of themes including climate change, evolution and the natural environment, helping to give your students an understanding of the impact that science has on their lives.
Exploring the human biology gallery, which covers memory and how our memory functions and an insight into the human body.
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 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.
V&A Museum
The world’s largest collection of decorative and applied arts. Some areas focus on the history of costume and are of particular interest to pupils studying textiles. The holdings of ceramics, glass, costumes, jewellery, furniture, sculpture, prints and photographs are among the largest and most comprehensive in the world.
Art Galleries
Appreciate works of art, both old and new, at the fantastic galleries on offer in the city.
The Tower of London
Help to develop pupils’ understanding on the nature of authority and attitudes to crime and punishment in the early modern period on their school trip to Tower of London. An ideal opportunity for a more in-depth study of Guy Fawkes and his attempt to destroy the Houses of Parliament in 1605.
Imperial War Museum
After a major redevelopment, the museum features groundbreaking WWI Galleries which will present the story - how it started, why it continued and its global impact - through the lives of those who experienced it on both the front line and the home front. The Witness to War atrium displays iconic larger objects including a Harrier, Spitfire and V2 rocket suspended from above.
Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
Discover firsthand the historical context of Whitechapel in the late 19th century as well as in-depth historical knowledge on Jack the Ripper.
This informative evening activity led by expert guides provides an insight into the crimes including what they reveal about the history and social conditions in the East End of London at the time. The site is also near Cable Street so the study visit can include work on 20th century protest.
London Dungeons
The London Dungeon has been delighting audiences for over 40 years and brings together an amazing cast of theatrical actors, special effects, scenes and rides in an exciting walk-through experience that lets you see, hear and smell historic London and its perilous past. Get pupils thinking about spoken language and stage directions as they review script writing and explore the physical creation of a show as they look at the design process, including room layout, make-up and costume design and highlight the importance of historical accuracy in relation to topic, characters and set design.
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!
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 +
London Film Locations Walking Tour
This guided London film locations walking tour is action-packed with sites from Comic Book movies. You will follow on screen heroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Jack Ryan and the Thunderbirds as they fight to protect London and defeat the forces of evil. You’ll see how London has been used by movie makers from all over the world to represent both the British capital – home to on screen heroes such as James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, but can also stand in for numerous other locations from across the globe including St Petersburg, Switzerland and even Gotham City!
ClueQuest - The Live Escape Room
The escape rooms at clueQuest provide an array of unique, cooperative and intuitive logic-based tasks. These are designed to ensure that no prior knowledge is required, making them perfect for all age groups. Which are nonetheless challenging and therefore make for a rewarding work-out of the following crucial soft-skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, attitude and leadership.
Evening activites
- West End Show
- Jack the Ripper walking tour
- Bowling
- Imax cinema
Transport
We offer flights from a variety of departure airports and we’ll work with you to plan your route at the best value possible.
Flight
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 guides 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 1996
