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London Media & Film Studies School Trips & Tours

Media studies trips to London offer a range of exciting opportunities to inspire the next generation of media professionals. London is a great budget destination packed with lots of opportunities for educational value and unforgettable experiences for your group to immersive themselves in the media world. 

There are many experiences in London when booking a media studies trip with NST.  Enjoy the cinematic experience of the BFI IMAX Cinema, indulge in the world of television at ITV Daytime Studios and visit the London Film Academy for a behind-the-scenes look at the film and theatre industry. A theatre trip to the West End show in the evening is also a must! 

Our strong links with renowned organisations – plus expert service and advice from your dedicated Educational Travel Advisor – will make bridging the gap between the classroom and the day-to-day reality of this dynamic industry easier for you.

Why book a media studies trip to London with NST? 

Our expert team will put together a wonderful itinerary for your media studies trip to captivate and inspire your whole group. Students can broaden their knowledge of the media industry, engage their creative side and learn new skills that will elevate their classroom learning to new heights. 

The city of London has a plethora of media and film organisations that love welcoming student groups to help them learn. We have great relationships with lots of companies who will take your group under their wing, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for them to succeed in their studies. 

Our London media studies trip highlights include…

With so many media and film attractions to explore, there is an abundance of places to visit that can form part of your itinerary. We receive lots of amazing feedback from teachers and students who have sampled the delights of a media trip with NST. Here’s a selection of the best trip highlights that they love: 

  • Guardian Newsroom
  • Creative Media Skills Institute Workshops
  • The Museum of Brands Workshop
  • Chocolate Films Media Workshops
  • Sky Up Academy 
  • City Academy Filmmaking Workshop 

Guardian Newsroom 

Learn about the history of the Guardian newspaper with a workshop that’s designed to complement the National Curriculum and can be tailor-made to suit your learning objectives. Delivered by experienced teachers, workshop topics can include ‘Make a Newspaper’, ‘Editorial Teams’, ‘Podcasting’, ‘Video Editing’, ‘Women and the Vote’ and ‘Civil Rights in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s’. 

You can book this experience directly with The Guardian. This visit is highly recommended and extremely popular, so we advise booking early to avoid any disappointment. 

Creative Media Skills Institute Workshops

A specialised workshop at the Creative Media Skills Institute is a great way to introduce your group to a number of techniques and applications used in the media industry.

Choose from: Costume Breakdown, Drafting, FX Makeup, Prosthetics Makeup, Period Hair Styling, Intro into Film Directing, Intro into Set Dressing and Props Making.
Based in the heart of Pinewood Studios and surrounded by its original three stages, CMSI brings existing and working film crew directly off the set to lead their courses. After coming through studio security students will walk down Goldfinger Avenue and past the iconic 007 stage to reach the state-of-the-art CMSI studio. 

Your students will be introduced to Pinewood Studios, the media industry as a whole and will hear what working in the industry is really like and the many career opportunities available. Each workshop is run by an instructor who is a specialist in their field and includes a live demo and a practical session.

The Museum of Brands Workshop

Delve into the world of marketing with a visit to The Museum of Brands Workshop. Students will learn how famous brands evolve through creative use of packaging and advertising, and the evolution of how the public interacts with brands. 1-hour workshops are available and cover topics such as Branding, Sustainability, Graphic Design & Packaging and Customer Profiling. 

Chocolate Films Media Workshops

Chocolate Films offer a short, exciting introduction to media and film studies! These hands-on workshops enable students to take their skills, creativity, and imagination to the next level. These workshops are a great way to build skills in research, crafts and media, computing and filmmaking. They will develop teamwork and build confidence and the workshops can be adapted to suit many parts of the national curriculum. Choose from: Animation, Make a Music Video, From Script to Screen and Creative Documentary.

Sky Up Academy

Sky Up Academy Studios is an immersive learning experience that places young people centre stage as media creators.  

At their bespoke TV studios, your students will use cutting-edge digital technology to create their own content. Students will work in small teams, taking on real-life media roles to create a news report or trailer. Working alongside a team of experts, they will see their ideas come to life.

A visit to Sky Up Academy Studios will give your class a VIP peek behind-the-scenes at Sky, helping develop their confidence and build essential skills like Creativity, Communication and Collaboration. 

Please note, visits must be booked directly with Sky Up Academy.

City Academy Filmmaking Workshop

This 90-minute filmmaking workshop allows your students to explore their inner-Spielburg. During this fascinating workshop, students will gain an insight into what it’s like to work in the film industry. All tutors are working industry professionals and can instruct on storyboarding, cinematography, camera, lighting and sound. This is a hands-on, practical teaching session, however, each student will have limited access to equipment during a 90-minute session. 

Prices start from£169pp

Price Shown includes

  • 1 night's B&B accommodation 
  • Executive coach transport from and to school and throughout your stay
  • Group travel insurance
  • 1 in 8 free place ratio

Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from selected departure points and is subject to availability.


On-tour support

On-tour support includes...

  • Pre-booked meals at great group prices
  • Pre-booked and pre-paid London Underground tickets
  • A choice of packed lunches for your group throughout your stay

Accommodation

Popular options in London


Top visits

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

Step onto 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. Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced.

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS:

A programme of educational lessons has been created to complement the Studio Tour. These lessons are delivered in purpose-built classrooms by qualified teachers and use the Harry Potter™ film series as an example of the wider context and theories surrounding filmmaking and design. You’ll even get access to free downloadable pre and post-visit resource packs to use in the classroom.

Lesson options include:

  • Screenplay Stories 
  • Costume Characterisation 
  • Costume Distressing 
  • Pitching 
  • Instructional Writing 
  • Movie Graphic Design 
  • Careers in the Creative Industry
  • Script to Screen 
  • Camera Choices 
  • Set Design 
  • Movie Business 
  • Movie Marketing

 

Chocolate Films – Full day or Half Day Media & Film Workshops

Chocolate Films offer a short, exciting introduction to media and film studies! These hands-on workshops enable students to take their skills, creativity, and imagination to the next level. These workshops are a great way to build skills in research, crafts and media, computing and filmmaking. They will develop teamwork and build confidence and the workshops can be adapted to suit many parts of the national curriculum. Choose from: Animation, Make a Music Video, From Script to Screen and Creative Documentary.

Sky Up Academy

Sky Up Academy Studios is an immersive learning experience that places young people centre stage as media creators.  

At their bespoke TV studios, your students will use cutting-edge digital technology to create their own content. Students will work in small teams, taking on real-life media roles to create a news report or trailer. Working alongside a team of experts, they will see their ideas come to life.

A visit to Sky Up Academy Studios will give your class a VIP peek behind-the-scenes at Sky, helping develop their confidence and build essential skills like Creativity, Communication and Collaboration. 

Please note, visits must be booked directly with Sky Up Academy.

 

City Academy Filmmaking Workshop

Filmmaking (90 mins) - During this fascinating workshop, your students will gain an insight into what it’s like to work in the film industry. All tutors are working industry professionals and can instruct on storyboarding, cinematography, camera, lighting and sound. This is a hands-on, practical teaching session however each student will have limited access to equipment during a 90-minute session. 

 

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!

Guardian Newsroom

Learn about the history of the Guardian newspaper with a workshop that’s designed to complement the National Curriculum and can be tailor-made to suit your particular requirements. Delivered by experienced teachers, workshop topics can include ‘Make a Newspaper’, ‘Editorial Teams’, ‘Podcasting’, ‘Video Editing’, ‘Women and the Vote’ and ‘Civil Rights in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s’. Workshops must be booked directly with the Guardian.
Book early to avoid disappointment!

 

The Museum of Brands - visit and workshop

What makes us buy certain products? Discover how well-loved brands have evolved through creative use of packaging and advertising and how we, the public, have evolved with them.

1 hour workshops are also available and cover topics such as Branding, Sustainability, Graphic Design & Packaging and Customer Profiling.

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.

Wembley Tour

Visit the new stadium and take a 90-minute tour. See England’s changing rooms, the players’ warm-up zone, VIP reception area, the Royal Box, dugouts, the post-match interview area, press conference room, treatment rooms and the Bobby Moore Statue. You can even ‘Lift the Cup’!

 

Educational workshops are also available for Business Studies, English and History.

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.

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.

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard offers a unique education experience – it is the only place where students can see the entire city at once; both old and new! Two high speed kaleidoscopic lifts will transport your group to the viewing platforms on Level 69 and Level 72 where you can encourage your student’s fascination with the history of London and enjoy the unparalleled 360 degree views.

Educational visits can support learning across both the National and London Curriculum, including History, English, Maths, Geography, and Art and Design.

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.

London Film Academy

Our three hour and full-day programmes offer a wide selection of practical filmmaking topics. Recommended workshops, covering the key areas of cinematography and storyboarding, include:

Workshops:

  • Cinematography
  • Acting for Directors
  • Writing a Short Film
  • iPhone Film Making

Harry Potter London Walking Tour

Take a Harry Potter Walking Tour into the magical world of wizardry in London! Learn about London’s rich muggle and wizarding history, amazing facts about the books and films and see many of the Harry Potter film locations used in London, including the Ministry of Magic and the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. The tour features familiar Harry Potter film locations as well as iconic London landmarks and attractions including St Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Borough and Leadenhall Markets and Monument.

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!

Creative Media Skills Institute Workshops

A specialised workshop at the Creative Media Skills Institute is a great way to introduce your group to a number of techniques and applications used in the media industry.

Choose from: Costume Breakdown, Drafting, FX Makeup, Prosthetics Makeup, Period Hair Styling, Intro into Film Directing, Intro into Set Dressing and Props Making.

Based in the heart of Pinewood Studios and surrounded by its original three stages, CMSI bring existing and working film crew directly off the set to lead their courses. After coming through studio security students will walk down Goldfinger Avenue and past the iconic 007 stage to reach the state of the art CMSI studio. Students will be introduced to Pinewood Studios, the media industry as a whole and will hear what working in the industry is really like and the many career opportunities available. Each workshop is run by an instructor who is a specialist in their field and includes a live demo and a practical session.


Evening activites

London is renowned for being a city that never sleeps, so enjoy the abundance of nightlife activities available to keep your students engaged and excited throughout the evening. Explore the streets of Whitechapel with a thrilling but chilling guided Jack the Ripper tour, or opt for a leisurely evening bowling or ice skating.
 

  • Jack the Ripper Tour
  • Evening Ghost Walking Tour
  • Ice Skating
  • Bowling

 


Transport

Available from any location in the UK, our executive coaches are fitted with seatbelts, toilet facilities, air conditioning, DVD and reclining seats.

Coach

Rail is a convenient travel option for small groups, ideal for connections to Eurostar, major airports and travel to many city destinations.

Train


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 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 1967

“Everything for our tour to London was organised perfectly. I would highly recommend NST to other schools. They made my first trip with students easy and fun. Staff are very friendly and helpful and are always available to discuss things. I will be booking with NST again.”

Sam Macpherson, Worden Sports College