Art & Design trips to London
Big ideas start in London
Art & Design trips to London
A close-up look at our creative capital
London is buzzing with creativity – and your students get a front‑row seat. An Art & Design school trip to the capital drops them right into one of the world’s most exciting creative cities, with learning woven into every stop.
From blockbuster galleries and museums to bold street art and boundary‑pushing exhibitions, London brings subjects like Fine Art, Graphic Design, Textiles, Photography and Sculpture to life.
The best bit? Many of London’s permanent collections are free, so you’ve got loads of flexibility to build an itinerary that inspires. Throw in iconic landmarks, a spin on the London Eye or a West End show, and you’ve got a trip that blends culture, creativity and hands‑on learning.
Why get a personalised quote?
- Tailored to your group requirements
- Accurate pricing for your dates and priorities
- Better value for your needs through trusted partners
- Accommodation selected to suit your group
- Tailored to your group size
- Budgets built around what matters most
- Clear, upfront pricing – plan with confidence
Meet our London experts
It’s the people behind the scenes who make our trips truly special. Our Tour Designers know London inside-out and are ready to listen, share ideas, and offer tailored, experience-led advice to make your trip a huge success.
Ready to start planning? Call us or arrange a video appointment online.
Sophie
“My favourite itinerary”
Here’s a little inspiration to get you started…
Sophie
“My top pick of things to see and do”
London is packed with creative inspiration, but here are a few standout experiences I always recommend for Art & Design groups:
Victoria and Albert Museum
Located in South Kensington, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts, and design, housing over 5,000 years of human creativity in a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects.
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is the national gallery housing the world’s most extensive collection of British art from 1500 to the present day, featuring major historic works and the largest holding of J.M.W. Turner’s paintings.
Tate Modern
Located in a converted Bankside power station on the River Thames, Tate Modern is one of the world’s most visited museums, showcasing international modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present day
Design Museum
Located in Kensington, the Design Museum is the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary design in every form—including fashion, product, and graphic design—showcasing how design shapes the world.
National Gallery
Located in Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery in London is a renowned art museum housing a world-class collection of over 2,300 Western European paintings, spanning from the 13th to the early 20th centuries, including masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Turner, and Van Gogh.
Fashion & Textile Museum
Founded by Zandra Rhodes in London, the Fashion and Textile Museum is a vibrant, contemporary center housed in a distinctive pink and orange building, dedicated to hosting rotating exhibitions, workshops, and educational courses focusing on innovative fashion and textile design.
Saatchi Gallery
Located in Chelsea, London, the Saatchi Gallery is a renowned contemporary art venue and registered charity dedicated to showcasing innovative works by emerging artists and international talent, often providing a launchpad for lesser-known creators.
Royal Academy
Founded in 1768, London’s Royal Academy of Arts is an independent, artist-led institution based in Burlington House that promotes the creation, enjoyment, and appreciation of visual arts through world-class exhibitions, the historic RA Schools, and the annual Summer Exhibition.
Frameless
Located near Marble Arch, Frameless is the UK’s largest permanent immersive art experience, featuring four galleries where masterpiece paintings by artists like Monet and Dalí are digitally projected onto walls, floors, and ceilings, animated, and accompanied by music.
Lightroom
Located in King’s Cross, Lightroom is an immersive venue that utilizes cutting-edge projection and audio technology to create spectacular, artist-led storytelling experiences
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.
Tate Britain
The Tate Britain is the national gallery for British art covering artists from 1500 to present day. It holds the largest amount of British art in the world and includes work by the following artists; Blake, Constable, Epstein, Gainsborough, Gilbert and George, Hatoum, Hirst, Hockney, Hodgkin, Hogarth, Moore, Rossetti, Sickert, Spencer, Stubbs and Turner.
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is Britain’s new collection of modern art. The museum contains works from 1900 to present day and includes Dali, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, Warhol and more contemporary artists. There is also a wide range of temporary exhibitions and public programmes.
Design Museum
The mission of the Design Museum is to promote the importance of design in our daily lives. The collection shows the history of modern design and how the current designs and technologies influence the future.
National Gallery
As well as housing one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world, the National Gallery also offers specialist workshops for Key Stage 4 and 5. These one-and-a-half hour sessions for AS and A-level students will add a new dimension to your visit and are led by experienced Gallery experts.
Fashion & Textile Museum
The Fashion & Textile Museum aims not just to display and collect items relating to fashion, jewellery and textile design, but to offer inspiration to a new generation of creative’s. The museum is a hub of learning, ideas and networking for the fashion and jewellery industry.
Saatchi Gallery
The art focuses on innovative and controversial young British and international artists from the 1980’s to the present day. Works include Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst Sarah Lucas, Marc Quinn, Jenny Savillle and Rachel Whiteread.
Royal Academy
Today it has an extensive permanent collection, however only a small part of it is on show at any one time. The full collection can be viewed in an appointment with a curator. The temporary exhibitions are constantly changing and are considered one of the highlights of galleries in London.
Frameless
Situated near Marble Arch, Frameless is the UK’s largest permanent multi-sensory, digital immersive art experience, featuring 42 iconic masterpieces from artists like Monet, Dalí, and Rembrandt across four themed galleries. Using state-of-the-art 4K projection technology, high-definition images are projected floor-to-ceiling, allowing visitors to step inside and interact with animated artworks accompanied by a bespoke musical score. This highly Instagram-able attraction redefines traditional gallery visits by bringing classical art to life in a modern, engaging environment suitable for all ages.
Lightroom
Lightroom is a revolutionary immersive venue that hosts spectacular, artist-led shows using state-of-the-art digital projection and advanced audio technology. Designed by Haworth Tompkins as a sister space to the Bridge Theatre, this four-storey, subterranean, 340-capacity venue transforms into a 360-degree canvas, allowing visitors to experience high-profile collaborations with renowned creative figures, such as David Hockney and David Bowie, in an intimate yet massive, immersive environment. Partnering with Berlin-based audio company HOLOPLOT, Lightroom offers a unique fusion of cinema-style scale, theatre spectacle, and podcast intimacy, providing a new way for audiences to engage with art, music, and storytelling
Sophie
“My top tips”
Here’s how to make the most out of your Art & Design trip to London.
Use the tube
With careful planning – making use of the brilliant underground network will help your group whizz around the capital in no time.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Regular water breaks keep energy levels up, especially on busy sightseeing days.
Keep documents handy
A shared folder of tickets, itineraries and emergency contacts saves valuable time.
Sophie
The best places to stay
We’ve tried and tested accommodation across the city to find the options that work brilliantly for school groups – safe, comfortable, and perfectly located.
Generator London
Located in Bloomsbury, close to Russell Square, Generator London offers centrally located accommodation within easy reach of the West End, Covent Garden and key London attractions.
- En‑suite or shared‑facility rooms
- Central Bloomsbury location
- Close to Russell Square Underground Station
- Easy access to the West End and major sights
- Well connected by tube and bus routes
A&O London Docklands Riverside
Set on the eastern stretch of the River Thames, A&O London Docklands Riverside offers group‑friendly accommodation with good transport connections into central London.
- En‑suite or shared‑facility rooms
- Riverside Docklands location
- Quiet setting away from the city centre
- Easy access to DLR and bus services
- Good connections to central London attractions
Premier Inn London
Across multiple locations in London, Premier Inn hotels offer comfortable, reliable accommodation with easy access to public transport and the city’s key cultural, historic and educational attractions.
- En‑suite rooms
- Multiple London locations available
- Consistent, comfortable accommodation
- Easy access to public transport across the city
- Practical option for school and group travel
YHA London Thameside
Positioned on the south bank of the River Thames in south‑east London, YHA London Thameside offers group accommodation with good bus and rail links to central London.
- En‑suite rooms
- South Bank location
- Near rail and bus links
- Easy access to city centre
- Facilities for groups
Royal National Hotel
In London’s Bloomsbury district, the Royal National Hotel offers large‑scale accommodation within easy walking distance of Russell Square Underground Station.
- En‑suite rooms
- Central London location
- Near Russell Square station
- Oxford Street, Covent Garden & Theatres close by
- Extensive on‑site facilities
The most popular questions, answered
This trip is ideal for key stage 4 and key stage 5 students, and covers the following curriculum topics:
- Art, Craft and Design
- Graphic Communication
- Textile Design
- Three Dimensional Design
- Photography
What people say
“An excellent trip which was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and students. I received great support throughout.”
Sir John Deanes College
Message Us
Reach out below and and one of our Tour Designers will get in touch.
Explore other trips
Art & Design trips to New York
Experience world‑class art and creativity in a global cultural capital.
- Explore leading museums including MoMA & the Met
- Discover contemporary art, street art and photography
- Visit iconic New York sights
Cultural & Enrichment trips to London
Culture, entertainment and landmark sights in the capital.
- Combine museums, attractions and theatre in one city break
- Build confidence and independence in your students
- Choose your favourite London sights and attractions
Art & Design trips to Paris
Inspire your students in this beautiful capital of culture.
- Visit world-class museums and galleries
- Interactive workshops and classes
- See the iconic sights of Paris
