Trips to London for English Literature, Drama & Performing Arts Students
Discover London’s iconic West End with its distinctive theatres and range of performance venues which is constantly evolving.
London also offers students on an educational trip the opportunity to experience some of the world's best museums and galleries including The National Portrait Museum, The Serpentine Gallery and the Tate Modern. Students can even round off their stay with a trip to the theatre to see a West End show after taking part in a theatre workshop or Q&A session with the cast of a popular show.
Take a look at all of our student trips to London.
Prices start from£169pp
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 | Executive coach transfer to accommodation | Literary Walking Tours | West end show. Evening meal |
| 2 | Charles Dickens Museum, Literary walking tour | Shakespeares Globe Exhibition & Tour | Executive coach travel home |
- 1
- 2
| Morning | Executive coach transfer to accommodation |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Literary Walking Tours |
| Evening | West end show. Evening meal |
| Morning | Charles Dickens Museum, Literary walking tour |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Shakespeares Globe Exhibition & Tour |
| Evening | Executive coach travel home |
Price Shown includes
- 1 night’s bed & breakfast accommodation
- Executive coach transport from & to college & throughout your stay
- Group travel insurance
- 1 in 10 free place ratio
The visits shown in the sample itinerary above are not included in your quoted price unless indicated. If you would like to add any of these activities to your quote price, please get in touch.
Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from a selected departure point on selected dates and is subject to availability.
On-tour support
On-tour support includes...
- Services of StudyLink to provide a 24-hour assistance
Additional on-tour support available...
- A choice of packed lunches for your group throughout your stay
- Pre-booked meals at great group prices
- Pre-booked and pre-paid public transport tickets
- Services of a Local Guide
Top shows & productions for college groups in London
The Lion King
Disney’s award-winning musical combines dazzling staging and wildly creative costumes, masks and puppets. The result is a theatrical experience like no other, which is guaranteed to capture the imaginations of your students and to teach them about the wonderful world of live theatre.
On show at: The Lyceum Theatre
Times: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.30pm
Running time: 2hrs 30mins
School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evenings, Wednesday matinees.
Educational packs available.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
This acclaimed production, based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, is both a murder mystery and a tale of personal discovery for somebody on the edges of society. The production won 7 Olivier Awards including Best Play in 2013.
On show at: Gielgud Theatre
Times: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm
Running time: 2hrs 45mins
School prices available: Monday - Thursday evenings.
Educational packs available.
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
Educational packs available.
Wicked
Wicked tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz. The spectacular production and incredible story inspires discussion about propaganda, tolerance, bullying and friendship.
On show at: The Apollo Victoria Theatre
Times: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.30pm
Running time: 2hrs 45mins
School prices available: Tuesday - Thursday evenings, Wednesday matinees.
Educational packs and workshops available. For more information on the show's educational programme, for more information please contact us.
A Taste of Honey
A bold new production which depicts working-class life in post-war Britain. The piece was Shelagh Delaney's first play which was written when she was 19 after seeing Terence Rattigan's Variation of a Theme and was made into a film in 1961.
On show at: Trafalgar Studios
Booking Period: 5th December 2019 – 29th February 2020
Come From Away
This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers following the events of 9/11 and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
On show at: Phoenix Theatre
Times: Monday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
Running time: 1hr 40 mins
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Inspired by a true story, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the new hit musical for today.
Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield.
Jamie doesn’t quite fit in.
Jamie is terrified about the future.
Jamie is going to be a sensation.... Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
On show at: Apollo Theatre
Times: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm
Educational pack available
Waitress
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly's beloved film, WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage.
A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.
On show at: Adelphi Theatre
Times: Monday-Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
School Prices available: Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings & Wednesday matinees
Witness for the Prosecution
YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED FOR JURY SERVICE...
Step inside the magnificent surroundings of London County Hall and experience the intensity and drama of Agatha Christie’s gripping story of justice, passion and betrayal in a unique courtroom setting.
Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high - will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony, will he be able to convince the jury, and you of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?
Don’t miss this landmark stage production on London’s Southbank.
On show at: County Hall
Times: Tue – Sat 7.30pm, Thu & Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm
School rates available: Tuesday – Friday performances
Exclusive to us - Meet & Greet Experience. Following a matinee performance, groups can stay, explore and take photos in the historic setting for the play, originally the debating chamber of London County Hall, and discuss the verdict with a member of the company.
Top visits for college groups in London
Charles Dickens Museum & Workshop
Charles Dickens lived in this house - now museum - from 1837 until 1839 and wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby whilst living here. This museum offers students the chance to experience what Dickens’ home would have been like, as well as learn more about the life and works of the great novelist and social commentator. Here, you will find one of the most important collections of his artefacts in the world.
Workshops available:
A Christmas Carol: Creating Scrooge
Using copies of original draft manuscripts from our archival collection, students will look at why Dickens’s celebrated and ever popular Christmas story has secured such an enduring place in the English speaking world’s literary consciousness, with a myriad adaptations on stage, screen and print.
Dickens’s social conscience: Oliver Twist and poverty in Victorian Britain
Whilst living here at 48 Doughty Street, Dickens wrote one of his most famous novels - Oliver Twist. In this session students will explore this celebrated book as well as excerpts from his non-fiction writing, in order to explore poverty in the Victorian era and Dickens’s life and work as a social reformer.
Dodging the Law: the case of the Artful Dodger
Visit the Charles Dickens Museum and the National Justice Museum team at the Royal Courts of Justice for an immersive, cross-site study day. Students will learn all about Victorian life, crime and punishment, and enact a mock trial in a real, working courtroom. Teachers will also leave with a post-visit resource where students will debate the future of capital punishment in the Victorian era.
Great Expectations: Miss Havisham revisited
Great Expectations is one of Dickens’s best loved and critically acclaimed works. Using the text, objects and documents from our own archival collection, students will explore aspects of Dicken’s own life and experiences that may have influenced this work. In particular they will focus on one of Dickens’s more notorious and memorable characters – Miss Havisham; looking again at whether the common perceptions about her are justified…or not!
Exploring A Christmas Carol in the social context of Victorian Britain
Through a consideration of the text and archival material held here at Doughty Street, students will extend their knowledge of A Christmas Carol, by considering how Dickens used the story’s themes and characters to highlight what he saw as some of the most pressing social problems and issues in the Victorian Britain of his day.
National Theatre Backstage Tour
On our London theatre trips for schools, you students will get the opportunity to go backstage at Britain’s largest theatre complex to discover the secrets behind bringing productions to the stage. Your group will get exclusive access to unseen parts of the building, including the workshops where sets and props are created, on a tour led by an experienced and enthusiastic guide.
Shakespeare’s Globe Live Demonstrations
If you’re planning on visiting the Shakespeare’s Globe, why not add on an interesting live demonstration for your group. Options include:
- Stage Fighting - Watch an exciting demonstration of Elizabethan stage combat techniques. This includes an explanation of how stage fighting was used by Shakespeare and his contemporaries in Early Modern plays. Demonstration includes a Q&A session.
- Elizabethan Dressing - Using clothes from the theatre wardrobe, your tour guide will dress a member of your group as a character from a Shakespeare play and explain the intricacies of dressing. Demonstration includes a Q&A session.
Shakespeare’s Globe Lively Action Workshop
This 90-minute session, led by a Globe Education Practitioner, includes:
- A 30-minute guided visit to the theatre
- A one hour workshop based on a Shakespeare play of your choice. Through practical exploration, students will be encouraged to develop an understanding of Shakespeare’s characters and stories, and to engage with the text as a script for performance. Different dramatic techniques are used to explore Shakespeare’s plays and deepen your group’s critical understanding. Alternatively, students at a higher level may concentrate their workshop time on the performance conditions at the Globe, by exploring how this shapes playing style and language and by making connections between time and literary traditions.
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
Dr Johnson’s House & Workshop
Dr Johnson’s House is a charming 300-year-old townhouse, nestled amongst a maze of courts and alleys in the historic city of London. Samuel Johnson, the writer and wit, lived and worked here in the middle of the 18th century, compiling his great Dictionary of the English Language in the garret.
A selection of educational workshops are available for primary, secondary and A Level study, ideal for looking at the topic of language change. A workshop will put Johnson, his Dictionary and the language of the period into context for your pupils and will introduce them to Johnson’s Dictionary, its predecessors and its long-term impact. The curator-led workshop is structured around a tour of Johnson’s former home which is interspersed with language activities.
The Royal Courts of Justice - Motion To Appeal
Suitable for KS3-5, this exciting visit to the historic Royal Courts of Justice will have your group talking for weeks! You can choose from a wide range of quality learning experiences.
This two-hour session takes place in a working court room and around the courts.
Students will:
- Be introduced to the Royal Courts of Justice and what happens there
- Prepare for and debate an appeal case which has been heard at the Royal
- Courts of Justice (this can be a broader debate or one that focuses on a particular point of law)
- Explore roles in a court room and meet a legal professional, where possible
The Royal Courts of Justice - Court In Session
Suitable for KS3-5, this exciting visit to the historic Royal Courts of Justice will have your group talking for weeks! You can choose from a wide range of quality learning experiences.
This two-hour session takes place in a working court room and around the courts.
Students will:
- Be introduced to the Royal Courts of Justice and what happens there
- Prepare and enact a trial based on an ex-offender’s experiences
- Explore roles in a court room and meet a legal professional where possible
- Discuss and debate real sentencing options
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane Tour
Through the stage door is the UK’s first interactive theatre tour! History is brought to vivid life through key characters, writers and actors from the theatre’s 300 year past.
Royal Opera House Backstage Tour
Visit the backstage and the front-of-house areas as the Royal Opera House prepares to open its doors for an evening performance. Your group will enjoy an introduction to the colourful history of this theatre, its magnificent backstage technology and redevelopment.
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.
Stage School Theatre Workshop – Step by Step
A fun, interactive session that will immerse your group in the music and movement of the show. It will provide them with new knowledge and skills plus some serious moves that they can perform again and again.
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 – 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 – Song in Performance
Learn singing techniques and how to act through song with a West End musical director. Share all you have learnt in a performance for a cast member from the show you are seeing. You can suggest a song of your choice or one can be picked for you - it’s up to you!
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 Performing Arts Workshop – A Song & Dance
Apply singing, dancing and acting! Work with a pianist and cast member from the show your group is seeing and gain insight into a true West End rehearsal. You’ll even have the chance to rehearse a song and create your own choreography.
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 Performing Arts Workshop – Puppetry Now
A West End show has multiple ways of conveying meaning and communicating different moods and effects. Puppetry is one of those ways; it stimulates your imagination, encourages creative play and is a wonderfully interactive way to introduce narrative. This workshop is highly recommended for groups seeing War Horse.
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 Performing Arts Workshop – Audition Essentials
Develop your group’s audition techniques by performing material for a West End casting director and watching a West End professional perform. You’ll get to spend an hour with a West End director/casting director and enjoy a 30-minute Q&A session with a West End professional.
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.
Rambert Dance Experience
Dance has the power to transform lives. Rambert delivers a range of activities that will engage your group in contemporary dance. Workshops, led by a Company Animateur (a professional dancer and teacher), can be tailored to meet your group’s needs and focus on a selected piece of work from Rambert’s existing repertoire including Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances and Swansong. Each workshop contains:
- A contemporary dance warm-up
- Repertoire – an opportunity to learn sections of the focus work
- Choreography – students follow set tasks to choreograph their own work
- Sharing – students perform and discuss their work together
Stage School Dance Workshop – West End Dance
Exclusive to StudyLink
Whether it’s ballet or ballroom, flamenco or freestyle, tango or tap, there’s a dance class for you! Tell us what dance style your group would like to explore and we’ll do the rest.
You’ll be provided with a West End studio and a dance instructor who specialises in the style of your choice.
Learn about the stylistic features of the dance, the development of techniques and its representation in the West End. Guaranteed to get your energy pumping. Workshops can be introductory, intermediate or advanced.
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.
Central School of Speech & Drama – Acting Masterclass
Exclusive to StudyLink
This workshop has been designed specifically for us by this well-known London drama school, and can be tailored to your exact educational requirements. Working with an industry professional, your group will take a practical approach to exploring acting techniques.
Stage School English & Drama Workshop – Making a Scene
Work from a scripted scene from a show or play of your choice. Students will learn how to bring the text to life in a truthful, imaginative way. Explore acting methods, vocal techniques and character development designed to encourage bold and creative acting choices.
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 English & Drama Workshop – The Director’s Chair
This interactive workshop introduces students to the art of directing theatre. Focusing on textual analysis and stage craft, group members will examine techniques for working with actors and staging scenes too.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
Wembley Stadium Tour
Soak up the history of one of the world's most iconic venues during this 90-minute tour. Take your picture in Europe's largest press conference room, find the shirt of your favourite England player in the dressing rooms, and line up in the players tunnel before following in the footsteps of legends and walking out pitch-side.
Educational workshops are also available for English, History, P.E. and Business Studies / Travel and Tourism - following the national curriculum and exam board specifications and suitable for Key Stages 2-5. Term time only.
Explore Covent Garden
A trip to the capital isn’t complete without a little shopping time! We recommend Covent Garden as a suitable area for groups to explore and watch the street performers.
Shakespeare’s Globe Guided Tour and Experience
Open all year round, the Globe guided tour gives you an opportunity to learn more about this unique building and its most famous playwright, Shakespeare.
The new Globe Experience combines an interactive look at theatre-craft, the unique story of Shakespeare's Globe. Discover how the magic of stories are brought to life in a newly interpreted space beneath Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre! With help from experts, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare’s storytelling, from the creation of his works to the way they are interpreted today. Explore how different elements of stagecraft are combined to bring these stories to life in the beautiful and unique ‘Wooden O’ and candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
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 +
Evening activites
- The lastminute.com London Eye
- View from The Shard
- Thames River Cruise
- West End show
- Jack the Ripper tour
- Bowling
- Cinema
Study themes
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Music, Media & Community Arts
-
Contemporary Music Theatre
Educational resources
