Below, you’ll find an example of one of our most popular itinerary choices, but we can tailor-make yours from scratch to meet your exact requirements...

London - 2 days from £95pp*

Travelling in October 2012. Price includes executive coach transport from & to school & throughout your stay, 1 night's bed & breakfast accommodation at YHA London Thameside, extensive group travel insurance and generous free place ratio of 1 in 8.

And then add on our most popular itinerary package below at no cost - entrance to galleries and museums is free of charge for school groups

Our most popular visits in London for Art & Design school trips

Here are some of our most popular visits in London for Art & Design groups. We can tailor-make an itinerary to your exact needs. Call 0845 688 8988 to create your itinerary from scratch today.

Galleries & Museums

Tate Modern

“Britain’s spectacular museum of modern and contemporary international art”.

Study Services: Gallery tours. Talks. Workshops.

Gallery Focus: Some works are highly applicable to both KS3 and KS4. Themes include landscapes, environment, still life, action, and the body.

Tate Britain

“The country’s main gallery of British art”.

Study Services: Gallery tours. Talks. Workshops.

Gallery Focus: Offers portraits and narratives from the early 18th century, including Thomas Gainsborough, as well as works leading into 20th century, including examples from Lucian Freud and post war painters.

National Gallery

“An outstanding collection of Old Masters from the early Renaissance to 1900”.

Study Services: Gallery tours. Talks.

Gallery Focus: A collection of Old Masters’ works from the early Renaissance onwards. The 5 floors and wings are arranged chronologically, making it easy for your students to track artistic progression. Examples include Giotto, Duccio, and many more.

Victoria and Albert Museum

“The world’s largest collection of decorative and applied arts”.

Study Services: Gallery tours.

Gallery Focus: Some areas focus on the history of costume, and are of particular interest to KS4 textiles students. The holdings of ceramics, glass, costumes, jewellery, furniture, sculpture, prints and photographs are among the largest and most comprehensive in the world.

The Hayward Gallery

“One of the biggest temporary art exhibition centres in the world”.

Study Services: Talks. Events. Outreach programmes. Artist-led tours. Student debates.

Gallery Focus: The gallery has a reputation for presenting a diverse range of landmark exhibitions, casting new perceptions on prominent, established artists, and providing a platform for works of up and coming art and artists. The Hayward develops ideas and encourages critical discussion relevant to KS4/5.

National Portrait Gallery

“The history of British portraiture from its beginning, through to the edge of abstraction”.

Study Services: Gallery tours. Workshops. Self-directed visits.

Gallery Focus: The most comprehensive portrait gallery in the world. Includes works by Holbein, Van Dyck and Reynolds, Gainsborough, Millais and Tissot, Cecil Beaton, David Bailey, and Patrick Heron.

Saatchi Gallery

“Contemporary art by largely unseen UK artists and established international artists rarely exhibited in the UK”.

Study Services: Downloadable education packs. Guided tours.

Gallery Focus: The Saatchi Gallery acts as a launchpad for lesser known artists, houses brave, contemporary art. Well-proportioned rooms with high ceilings showcase works famed for courting media controversy and gaining extremes of critical reaction. This gallery is ideal for challenging more traditional ways of thinking.

Graduate Art & Design Show

Inspire your students with the work of their peers - visit a graduate Art and Design show between

May and July including:

Free Range

One of the world’s largest graduate art fairs featuring over 3,000 of the UK’s leading graduate artists drawn from the country’s finest art colleges. This show is not to be missed by anyone looking for works to impassion the observer! We can also arrange for your students to meet an exhibiting artist and get the chance to discuss their work and ask questions.

Up & Coming Exhibitions

Tate Britain: Another London

31 JULY - 16 SEPTEMBER 2012

Tate Britain will hold an exhibition of 150 classic twentieth-century photographs which take London as their key subject. This exhibition will bring together some of the biggest names in international photography, to explore the ways photographers for whom London was a foreign city saw and represented the subject in their own unique and distinctive ways.

Tate Modern: Tino Sehgal 2012

17 JULY - 28 OCTOBER 2012

Tino Sehgal will undertake the annual commission for Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2012. To be unveiled on 24 July, Sehgal's new work will be the thirteenth to be commissioned in The Unilever Series.

Tate Modern: Edvard Munch: The Modern Eye

28 JUNE - 14 OCTOBER 2012

A major exhibition devoted to a reassessment of the works of the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944). This exhibition proposes a dialogue between the artist's pictorial work in the twentieth century and his interest in the most modern of representational forms: photography, film and the rebirth of stage production at that time.

Tate Modern: William Klein/Daido Moriyama

10 OCTOBER 2012 - 27 JANUARY 2013

This exhibition will explore the relationship between the work of William Klein (b1928) , one of the 20th century's most important and influential photographers and film-makers, and that of Daido Moriyama (b1938), the most celebrated photographer to emerge from the Provoke movement in 1960s Japan. Taking as its central themes the cities of New York and Tokyo, this exhibition will examine the use of film and photography in the representation of urban experience and political protest.

Tate Modern: A Bigger Splash: Painting after Performance Art

7 NOVEMBER 2012 - 1 APRIL 2013

This exhibition will take a new look at the dynamic relationship between performance and painting since 1950. Contrasting key paintings by Jackson Pollock and David Hockney, the exhibition considers two different approaches to the idea of the canvas as an arena in which to act: one gestural, the other one theatrical.

More London Experiences

EDF Energy London Eye

Your group will gain a wonderful new perspective of London from the London Eye. This striking structure offers views of up to 30 miles across the city!

Thames River Cruise

Take an hour-long circular cruise and take in London’s best-loved sights. 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 London Eye.

West End Theatre Shows

We’ve got great group rates on top West End theatre performances, such as The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King and Wicked. You could even opt to take a backstage West End theatre tour to observe visual displays and set design. Call us today for full details.

BFI Imax

The British Film Institute was established to encourage the development of the arts of film, television and the moving image in the UK. At the BFI’s London IMAX theatre, you’ll find the largest cinema screen in Britain. Watch a popular recent release or enjoy a special morning viewing designed for school groups. Plus, take advantage of student activity packs and supporting teacher information.

Covent Garden

Develop their sketchbooks in this bustling area of London. Let them draw inspiration from the many street performers and passers-by. A great way to inject new life into their exam prep work!

Madame Tussauds

See wax figures of historical and royal figures, film stars and singers and find out how they are made. Don’t forget your camera!

2012 Olympic Sites Guided Tour

A chance for students to see history in the making, as a blue-badge guide shows how the preparation for the 2012 games is progressing and the lasting benefits the games will have for London and the wider community.

Guided Bus Tour of London

Hop on-board and see the sights of the city from a different viewpoint. A blue-badge guide will provide a running commentary - make sure your group takes their cameras and sketchbooks to capture the city!

Below, you'll find some of our most popular accommodation options for school groups.

This is just a sample of our full range, so for full details of all properties available, please call 0845 688 8988 to speak to one of our Educational Travel Advisors today.

Meininger Hotel London Hyde Park

Previously known as Baden-Powell House, this establishment was the birthplace of the scout movement. This 4 star classified hostel refurbished in 2011 is located in the historical heart of London in the direct vicinity of the major museums and Hyde Park.

Meininger Hotel London Hyde Park

Each and every MEININGER property combines the service and comfort of a hotel with the carefree and open-minded style of a hostel. So if you’re wanting accommodation in a central location with high quality facilities at affordable prices, then look no further.

Address 65-67 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5JS View map of location	Local Rating 4 star classified hostel.
	Capacity 200 guests, 48 rooms.

Location Information

Situated in South Kensington, on the corner of Queen’s Gate and Cromwell Road, the hostel is directly opposite the Natural History Museum. The nearest tube stations are Gloucester Rd and South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines).

View map

Download PDF datasheet

Accommodation Facilities

• 24-hour reception
• Large lobby
• Coffee bar
• Dining room
• Large terrace
• Conference/meeting facilities (subject to fees)
• WiFi access in public areas (subject to fees)
• Luggage room
• Individual locker
• Vending machine
• Lift
• Laundry facilities (subject to fees)
• Coach parking is available in Earl’s Court
• Disabled facilities: specially adapted rooms for disabled guests can be found on the third and fourth floors of the centre.

 Student Rooms

• 4-6 bedded rooms & 10-12 bedded rooms (Bunk beds)
• En-suite facilities
• Air conditioning
• TV
• Towels and bedding are provided
• Non-smoking room

Staff Rooms

• Twins/Singles
• En-suite facilities
• Air conditioning
• TV
• Towels and bedding are provided
• Non-smoking room

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YHA Thameside

A purpose-built hostel offering clean accommodation.

YHA Thameside

This youth hostel offers basic accommodation and good facilities for groups at a very reasonable price.

Address 20 Salter Road Rotherhithe London SE16 5PR View map of location	Local Rating 2 star youth hostel
	Capacity 320 guests in 70 rooms over 4 floors.

Location Information

The hostel was opened in 1991 and is situated in a residential area on the South Bank of the River Thames, approximately 2 kilometres from the Tower of London, London Dungeons and Tower Bridge. A regular bus service runs to the hostel and a tube connection is possible at Canada Water, approximately 12 minutes’ walk from the hostel. The nearest over-ground station is Rotherhithe, which is approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the hostel.

View map

Download PDF datasheet

Accommodation Facilities

• Reception and night manager on duty
• Restaurant
• Café-bar with internet access
• Meeting/conference facilities
• Tourist information
• TV Lounge
• Vending machines
• Drinking fountains can be found on each floor
• Games machines
• Secure locker room
• 2 Lifts
• 2 Payphones
• CCTV
• Free coach parking nearby
• Disabled facilities: 2 rooms on each floor have been adapted for disabled use and have grab rails and shower seating in the bathrooms.  All areas of the hostel are wheelchair accessible.  Medication can be kept in a refrigerator.

 Student Rooms

• 4-8 bedded rooms
• En-suite facilities
• One locker per bed

 Staff Rooms

• It is YHA policy to allocate same sex staff in multi bedded rooms to ensure maximum occupancy (i.e.  4 female staff allocated four bedded room)
• En-suite facilities
• One locker per bed
• TV
• Tea & coffee-making facilities

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Royal National

A very large, purpose-built hotel.

Royal National

A large, busy hotel offering a good standard of accommodation in a central location. The hotel offers a good range of facilities and represents value for money.

Address Bedford Way London WC1H ODG View map of location	Local Rating 2 star (equivalent to a 3 star standard)
	Capacity 3500 guests in 1630 rooms over 7 floors.

Location Information

The Royal National is located 5 minutes’ walk from Russell Square, close to Oxford Street, Covent Garden and many theatres. It is also conveniently situated for easy access to the underground system, the nearest station being Russell Square (a 4-5 minute walk away).

View map

Download PDF datasheet

Accommodation Facilities

• 24-hour reception with night porters
• Meeting rooms
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Coffee shop
• Drinks and snack machines
• Gift shop
• Bureau de change
• Payphones
• Lifts
• Safe storage area
• Luggage room (incurs small charge)
• Safety deposit boxes
• Disabled facilities: All areas of the hotel (including lift) are wheelchair accessible. 10 rooms on various floors have been adapted for use by disabled guests including grab bars fitted in bathrooms.

 Student Rooms

• 2-3 bedded rooms – pull-out/foldaway beds may be used
• En-suite facilities
• TV
• Wardrobes
• Towels
• Tea & coffee-making facilities

 Staff Rooms

• Twins/singles
• En-suite facilities
• TV
• Wardrobes
• Towels
• T ea& coffee-making facilities

Security Deposit

A noise/security deposit is required at this accommodation. The amount is £20.00 per student. In the first instance, this amount will be charged to NST and, should any problems arise (such as excessive noise or poor behaviour or damage to the areas occupied by the group), this charge will in-turn be passed onto the group for payment.

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We can pre-book your meals at our great group prices to help your itinerary run smoothly.

Popular options include:

• Planet Hollywood
• Hard Rock Cafe
• Pizza Hut
• Rainforest Cafe

... and more!

Plus, we can even provide a choice of packed lunches for your group throughout their stay.