Day 1: Settle In
Afternoon
Touch down at one of the London airports and hop on a private coach to transfer to your accommodation. Meet your guide, who will bring you up to speed with London life, as well brush you up on the trip rules and safety advice.
Evening
Enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional British food, such as fish and chips, and listen to a trip briefing.
Day 2: High Art & A Live Auction
Morning
Head to the iconic Trafalgar Square and explore the National Portrait Gallery, one of the most fascinating but often overlooked galleries in London. Get to know 200,000 famous people via their portraits, including all the British Royals (present and past).
Afternoon
You’ve spent the morning looking at high art, now it’s time to plunge down into The Vaults, London’s home for alternative arts, set in a maze of disused railway arches under Waterloo Station. In this creative, imaginative environment, roll up your sleeves and take a life drawing class. This lesson is designed to develop style and skill, whatever your ability.
Evening
Feel the anticipation in the room as people bid at a live auction. There’s no film that will get you on the edge of your seat quite as much!
Read More
Day 3: University Life
Morning
Meet a Student Ambassador from Chelsea College, one of the best arts universities in London. Ask them about Masters and PhDs and compare university life in London with student life back home. Then, listen to a talk from a young professional working in the London arts industry. They’ll tell you about their experiences, the challenges and benefits of the job and what skills are needed to thrive in the sector. You’ll also have the chance to engage in a Q&A with the speaker.
Afternoon
Stop off at the Tate Britain. This world-renowned museum is home to traditional British paintings and sculptures across a range of styles starting from the 14th century, including works by Sir John Everett Millais, John William Waterhouse and John Constable.
Evening
Come back to the present as you stroll with your guide through London’s West End, the area in Central London where the city lights never go out.
Day 4: Street Art
Morning
Today, you’re discovering East London’s vibey street art scene. London boasts one of the biggest collections of uncommissioned street art in the world, including those of the anonymous Banksy. Learn about this ever-evolving art scene, its motives and challenges, and see how street art can help transform a disused space in the Nomadic Community Gardens, once a place of urban decay and now a home to a vibrant community of artists. One of them will even deliver a workshop where you can try your hand at producing your own street art (don’t wear fancy clothes for this one)!
Afternoon/Evening
Continue your journey through the world of contemporary art and explore the Tate Modern, home to works by Warhol and Picasso among other artists from all over the world.
Day 5: Galleries
Morning
Take the morning to relax in Hyde Park, one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in London where the famous Serpentine Galleries are also located. Watch a debate or try public speaking at its famous Speakers’ Corner, visit the Lady Di garden memorial, feed the birds and enjoy an hour of immersive team games.
Afternoon
Take part in a curated workshop on gallery education practice, looking at the roles of the learning team, co-ordination between gallery departments and how funding happens. Develop your own project plans based on the needs of different stakeholders and role-play the professional, meeting challenges and learning new skills while unpicking a real scenario.
Evening
Go up 20 Fenchurch Street, a skyscraper nicknamed “The Walkie Talkie” for its distinctive shape, and visit Sky Garden. Wander around the landscaped gardens and the observation deck for panoramic views from London’s highest public garden.
Day 6: Graphic Design
Morning
See if your portrait sculpture skills are up to it and meet a sculptor who has worked extensively in the film industry. Learn about the process of ecorché (sculpting each individual muscle onto the skeleton) and go home with an anatomic muscle model – a much better souvenir than an ‘I Love London’ t-shirt or keychain!
Afternoon
Explore the Museum of Brands and take part in a curated workshop on graphic design. Learn about how packaging graphics have changed over the years, as well as how art and design are used to communicate key messages to the consumer. Then, work in groups to try to improve the graphics of a current UK product.
Evening
Spend your evening in one of the many London museums that stay open until late, like the Victoria & Albert Museum or the National Gallery.
Day 7: Farewell, London!
Morning
Enjoy a last full English breakfast while taking part in a reflection session and listening to a trip debriefing. It might be home time, but it’s not over. London’s art will follow you back to the classroom…and beyond!
