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History & Politics Trips to London

With over 2000 years of history, including plague, devastating fire, civil war, the blitz, terror attacks and mass demonstration, London has fantastic opportunities for students to expand their knowledge on any historical or political theme from the Roman Conquest to WWII right through to the modern era. Add a West End Show or trip on the London Eye to your trip to the capital to create a school trip that will enhance your classroom study as well as excite your students at a price that is accessible to all.

Explore all of our high school trips to London

Curriculum Topics Key Stage 4

  • Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000- present
  • Warfare and British society, c1250-present
  • London and WWII: 1939-1945

Curriculum Topics Key Stage 5

  • The Tudors: England, 1485-1603
  • Industrialisation and the people: c1783 - 1885
  • The Making of Modern Britain, 1951-2007
  • People, politics and participation
  • Governing Modern Britain
  • UK Political Issues

Prices start from£169pp

Popular 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 Group Rail travel to London, drop bags at your accommodation Visit the Imperial War Museum Dinner and Thames River Cruise
2 Visit to the Cabinet War Rooms Visit the Museum of London and St Paul's Cathedral Return Group Rail Travel
  • 1
  • 2
Morning Group Rail travel to London, drop bags at your accommodation
Afternoon Visit the Imperial War Museum
Evening Dinner and Thames River Cruise
Morning Visit to the Cabinet War Rooms
Afternoon Visit the Museum of London and St Paul's Cathedral
Evening Return Group Rail Travel

Price Shown includes

  • Return rail travel (based on the fare from Birmingham stations)
  • 1 night B&B accommodation
  • Specialist group travel insurance
  • Bespoke itinerary planning service
  • Free place ratios
  • Locate My Trip - live trip tracking app 
  • Online trip organiser & travel app
  • 24/7 support whilst you are away

Places to Stay


Reasons to Visit

Tower of London

Tighten your grip on ten centuries of Tower history. The fun and interactive ’Hands on history’ exhibition has enhanced displays aimed at encouraging visitors to literally get to grips with items including swords and armour inspired by the Royal Armouries’ collection. Health and safety advice: wear sensible shoes due to uneven walking surfaces.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and is the home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The castle encompasses 900 years of history and its magnificent State Rooms and works of Art reflects the kings and queens since its beginning. Educational programmes are also available which can be tailored to suit the needs of the students.

Hampton Court Palace

This magnificent Tudor Palace belonged to Henry VIII and was updated by Sir Christopher Wren for William III and Mary II. The famous maze and the Palace are set in extensive gardens and parkland on the banks of the River Thames.

Kensington Palace

The original house was lavishly improved by Sir Christopher Wren and turned into a palace for William III and Mary II. It has been kept as a royal home since and was the birth place of Queen Victoria. The public can view the State apartments and Court Dress Collection.

The Cutty Sark – Visitors Centre

Cutty Sark has re-launched, opening a new chapter in the extraordinary life of one of the world’s most famous ships. The last surviving tea clipper and the fastest and greatest of her time, she is a living testimony to the bygone, glorious days of sail and, most importantly, a monument to those that lost their lives in the merchant service.

British Museum

The British Museum was founded in 1753 and is one of the great museums of the world. The museum displays works of man from 1753 to present day from all cultures over the world in the following collections; Africa, America, Europe, Asia, Britain, Japan, Pacific, Rome, Near East and Greece.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Located within the crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Education Department ensure that school groups get the very best out of their visit by offering a selection of guided tours, workshops, and self-guided trails. Please see website for more details.

Westminster Abbey

Kings, Queens, Statesmen and Soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains - the Abbey is a must-see living pageant of British history. Once inside audio guides are available or we can arrange a Blue Badge guide. (Payable as extra – please contact us for details)

 

Museum of London

The Museum of London is the largest, most comprehensive city museum in the world. From prehistoric London, through to the ravages of civil war, plague and fire the museum takes you on a journey through the capitals turbulent past. Walk the streets of Victorian London and marvel at the magnificent Lord Mayor's Coach.

Churchill Cabinet War Rooms

The Cabinet War Rooms were used as emergency accommodation for Winston Churchill and the war cabinet against air attacks during the Second World War. The original twenty-one rooms are open to the public and include the Cabinet room, the transatlantic telephone room and the Prime Ministers room.

Imperial War Museum

IWM London tells the story of those whose lives have been shaped by war from the First World War to the present day. Highlights include the Trench experience, the First World War Galleries and Secret War which explains the part spies have played in warfare. Explore stories and key moments from the Second World War in A Family in Wartime and The Holocaust Exhibition.

National Army Museum

The National Army Museum offers a wide range of activities, all designed to engage students and linked to the curriculum. Your students will be immersed in history with object-handling workshops and the chance to interact with historical characters. Workshops include: English Civil Wars, First World War, Changing Nature of Warfare, Medicine and War and Experience of Warfare.

Houses of Parliament

The guided visit will enable students to see The Queen's Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, The Prince's Chamber, the Chamber of the House of Lords, the Central Lobby, House of Commons, Member's Lobby, Division Lobby, St Stephens Hall and Westminster Hall. Visitors can observe Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesdays at 3pm. Tickets must be obtained in advance through your local MP.

The Supreme Court

Guided tours consist of an interactive introductory talk given by one of the Information Officers, time in the educational exhibition area and the opportunity for students to observe some of an appeal hearing (depending on the court schedule and space in the public seating areas).Your tour will provide an introduction to the Court's role in the UK justice system and the type of cases they hear. Debate day workshops are also available where alongside a court tour groups split into opposing groups to prepare to a debate based on an actual case that has previously been considered by the Court.

Central Criminal Court - Old Bailey

Universally known as the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England is probably the most famous criminal court in the world and has been London's principal criminal court for centuries. Today's courthouses, opened in 1902, are built on the site of the famous Newgate Prison, home to some unsavoury characters and particularly public executions. Public galleries open each day for viewings of trials in session.

Spitalfields and East London Migration Walking Tour

This tour has been designed to enrich and complement any school or college course with a focus on migration or historic environments; it supports the wider development of spiritual, moral, social and cultural capital, and is ideally suited to the history teaching of migration and historic environments for any key stage.

The tour can be particularly aligned to content covered in GCSE history specifications including the OCR Thematic Study: Migration to Britain, and historic environment – Spitalfields, Edexcel Thematic Study: Migrants in Britain, and AQA Thematic Study: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day.

Migration Museum

The Migration Museum explores how the movement of people to and from Britain across the ages has made us who we are today, both as individuals and as a nation. Migration is a pressing contemporary issue and is at the centre of polarised political and online debate. But there’s an underlying story of comings and goings stretching back many centuries. And this story goes to the heart of who we are today. Britain has thousands of museums, but none comprehensively focused on this important theme that connects us all.

The Migration Museum also offers educational workshops and tours of their exhibitions in their current home in the heart of Lewisham Shopping Centre. 

Black History Guided Walking Tours

Choose from two Black History guided walking tours in the city led by Anne-Marie Walker, a qualified Blue Badge Guide:

Gold, ivory and slaves - the commodities on which the City of London was built - starting at St Paul’s Cathedral and ending at Bank Station, this walking tour includes the history of black people in England from Roman times; members of the Royal family who were involved in the slave trade; the famous Trial of the Zong at Guildhall;  Livery companies; Shakespeare and Black activists and the powerhouses - Bank of England, Royal Exchange and Mansion House. 

The Hidden Black History of the City of Westminster - based on Black people who were involved behind the scenes in many historic events and institutions, thisguided walking tour covers the Black sailors at the Battle of Trafalgar; Mary Seacole and the Crimean War; the Metropolitan Police - Leroy Logan; the Life Guards and the Queen’s Black Equerry and Buckingham Palace and the Black Queens.  This tour starts at Trafalgar Square and ends at Buckingham Palace.  

Both walking tours last approximately 1.5 - 2 hours.

Anne-Marie Walker lives in London with her family who had emigrated from the West Indies.  She has worked in the tourism industry in Spain and Europe for over 20 years and is a qualified College Lecturer teaching A-Level Business Studies and BTEC Travel and Tourism courses.  

Notting Hill 1948–70 Guided Walking Tour

This guided walking tour, led by qualified Blue Badge Guide Anne-Marie Walker, is ideal for students studying the Historic Environment element of the Edexcel 'Migrants in Britain' option for their GCSE History. Your expert guide will take you around the well-known area of Notting Hill - along the route, you will learn about the reasons for Caribbean migration to Notting Hill, the influence of Caribbean cultures on the area, the Notting Hill Riots (1958), Black activism and the development of the Notting Hill Carnival.   

The walking tour last approximately 1.5 - 2 hours.

Anne-Marie Walker lives in London with her family who had emigrated from the West Indies.  She has worked in the tourism industry in Spain and Europe for over 20 years and is a qualified College Lecturer teaching A-Level Business Studies and BTEC Travel and Tourism courses.  

History Walking Tours

These 2-hour walking tours bring history to life with subjects such as Women & the Home Front in the Great War, The Terrible Tudors and The Blitz.

Suffragette Walking Tour

Much of the Suffragettes’ fight for “Votes for Women,” took place in Central London. See where and how it all happened on this 2-hour walk.

The National Archives

There are a wide range of Key Stage 5 workshops at the National Archives in Kew which take place in their purpose-built classroom. They will give your group the opportunity to work directly with real documents. Workshops include: Tudor Rebellions, Chartism on Trial, Civil Rights and an AS/A2 History Masterclass.

The lastminute.com London Eye

The famous London Eye is one of the world’s highest observation wheels, standing at 135 metres high. The wheel has thirty-two capsules, each of which holds 25 people and views possible as far away as twenty-five miles on a clear day.

The View from The Shard

The View from the Shard is situated on floors 68, 69 and 72, almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London, where you can take in all of London at once with 360 degree views of up to 40 miles long.

Sightseeing Tours by bus

Hop-on hop-off bus tours are great for general sightseeing, giving access to all the major sites. Departing from Grosvenor Gardens it includes Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, London Eye and Piccadilly Circus.

Thames River Cruises

A great opportunity for you to discover the 'must-see' sights in London. Watch as the River Thames weaves its way through the heart of London and see the history of this city around every bend. Cruises depart frequently from Westminster Pier, Waterloo (London Eye) Pier, Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier.

IFS Cloud Cable Car

Rising to a height of 90 metres, the IFS Cloud Cable Car offers you an exciting 1.1km cable car journey across the Thames on the UK’s only urban cable car connecting the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Victoria Dock.

The London Dungeons

Transport yourself back to the darkest moments in the capital's history within the deep depths of the London Dungeons.

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions with over 400 wax works of celebrities, politicians, pop stars and actors.   A fully interactive experience, Madame Tussauds will inspire, enthuse and immerse pupils in celebrity culture and modern media as they walk among the stars!

Downloadable lesson plans are available to enhance and support your visit which will explore the media, fake news and celebrity culture.   

ArcelorMittal Orbit

The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford which is the iconic structure of the London 2012 Games and has the longest and tallest tunnel slide in the world. 

Take the lift up to the viewing platform, 80 meters high, and after marvelling at the view take the slide down which lasts a thrilling 40 seconds! Go back to the top and take some time learning about the city on the interactive touchscreens or making use of the free Key Stage 1-4 resources before walking back down the winding staircase with its 455 steps.

You can book with or without the slide and you can choose to stay the whole day in the park by taking a behind the scenes tour at the iconic London Stadium, swimming at the London Aquatics Centre or visiting the Lee Valley Velopark; alternatively, explore the parklands and waterways with a local Blue Badge guide.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge, which crosses the River Thames, was built between 1886 and 1894 and is an iconic symbol of London with its two towers and bridge deck which opens to allow tall ships through. You can walk across the lower bridge deck but the twin towers and high-level glass walkways and Victorian engine rooms are part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

West End Theatre Tickets

The majority of student groups who visit London like to round off their trip by seeing a show. We can also book pre-theatre meals at nearby restaurants for you. Save up to 50% on the normal ticket price by attending a midweek (Mon-Thurs) evening or matinee performance. The majority of top West End shows offer these affordable discounted tickets to student groups year round (excluding school holiday dates).

Wicked

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WITCHES OF OZ...

WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

WICKED is suitable for a general audience. As a guide to parents and guardians, it is recommended for ages 7+

(Source: https://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/london/about/synopsis)

NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.

Matilda the Musical

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Recommended for ages 6 and above.

(Source: https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/the-story/)

NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.

The Lion King

Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney's multi award-winning musical uses breath-taking masks and puppetry to create pure theatrical magic. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba - the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

(Source: https://disney.co.uk/shows/the-lion-king-musical-tickets)

NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.

Mamma Mia!

Set on a Greek Island Paradise, the story of a daughter on the eve of her wedding and her quest to discover the identify of her father, all set to the music of ABBA.

NOTE: There are other shows/plays on offer not featured. All are subject to availability.

Shakespeare's Globe AQA History Tour & Interactive Lecture

For students studying the ‘Elizabethan England, c1568–1603: The Globe Theatre’ site for their AQA GCSE History, we can arrange an interactive, enriching experience at Shakespeare’s Globe to help them gain a deeper understanding of the site’s history. A 90-minute specific lecture session to correspond to the AQA History syllabus comprises of a tour and an interactive lecture.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour

This one hour visit comprises of a guided tour of the Globe Theatre followed by an insight into Shakespeare’s life through short talks about the Globe, Shakespearean history and Elizabethan London.

London Christmas Markets

At Christmas the South Bank of the River is transformed into a wintry wonderland, where global cuisine and an artisan Christmas market come together in one sparkling location.  Amble past wooden chalets which line the banks of the Thames and pick up gorgeous stocking fillers from the Winter Market. Or, tuck into some Christmas fare underneath the glittering Christmas lights.

In Hyde Park, you can truly immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of Winter Wonderland, one of the biggest Christmas markets in London.  Other locations for Christmas Markets in London include Leicester Square, London Bridge City and Greenwich.  Many of these pop-up London markets appear in mid-November and stay open until the New Year

Victoria and Albert Museum

Founded in 1852, it is well known for the wide variety of its collection. The items include furniture, fashion and textiles, sculpture, paintings, silver, glass, ceramics, jewellery, books, prints and photographs which illustrate the artistic life of many different cultures from all over the world.

Science Museum

The Science Museum, founded in 1857, is one of London’s major tourist attractions, attracting 3.3 million visitors annually. They do not charge for admission, however, there may be a charge for temporary exhibitions.

The Science Museum holds a collection of over 300,000 items, including such famous items such as Stephenson’s Rocket, Puffing Billy (the oldest surviving steam locomotive), the first jet engine, the Apollo 10 Command module, hundreds of interactive exhibits and an IMAX 3D Cinema.

The Science Museum is made up of a number of themed galleries including; Power, Exploring Space, Making of the Modern World, Flight, Information Age, Engineer Your Future and Medicine.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour - Harry Potter

Go behind-the-scenes in the making of Harry Potter and see how many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bro. Studio Tour provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making one of the most successful film franchises. Short workshops are also available in a variety of subjects including set design, camera choices and many more.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history.

As well as being located in a stunning and striking Romanesque architecture building, which is considered a work of art in its own right, the museum is famous for the dinosaurs and is home to over 80 million specimens spanning 4.5 billion years of Earth's history.

The museum offers too much to mention here but have collections under the categories of: oceans, human evolution, space, dinosaurs, British wildlife as well as visiting collections and exhibitions. Check out their website for up-to-date information.  https://www.nhm.ac.uk/

 

London Zoo

ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo and one of London’s main tourist attractions, located on the edge of Regents Park. 

They have a range of online resources available to download and use before, during and after a visit to ZSL London Zoo. Some of the resources are for the pupils to use and some are for the accompanying adults.

London Aquarium

The £25 million London Aquarium is the first attraction of its kind in London and is one of Europe's largest exhibitions of global aquatic life displayed in over 2 million litres of water. 

Visit to discover the amazing marine life at SEA LIFE London Aquarium, find out about penguins, sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish and much more. Travel through Pacific Ocean tunnels, tropical rainforests (and even a shark reef!) to see the different habitats on planet earth!


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What you say

Once again delighted with the service we have received from beginning to end with EST. 

Queen Elizabeths Grammar School

I will continue to use EST as each year our annual London trip gets better and better. 

Kings Leadership Academy

An excellent trip which was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and students. I received great support throughout. 

Sir John Deanes College

This was my second journey via European Study tours and I would highly recommend the company to anyone bringing groups to London. 

Pianca School