An Unforgettable Experience Awaits
New York really is the ultimate ‘unforgettable school trip’ and offers great value for money. Soaring buildings, world-famous museums, Broadway shows, historical landmarks, great shopping – everything you could want from a trip to the US in one fantastic destination!
On our Cross-Curricular school trips to New York, you’ll tick off a wide range of learning objectives. And as the iconic ‘young city’, your students will build valuable life skills – such as confidence and independence – as they experience a range of diverse cultures first-hand.
With something new on every corner, New York is the perfect choice to create a unique school trip experience. Add a guided tour of the financial district to inspire business students or dig deep into the prolific street art scene, the possibilities are endless.
We can recommend dozens of excursions popular with other schools, or there are hundreds more new ones to explore – just let us know what you need and we’ll sort the rest!
Trip Highlights
A cruise round the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Behind the scenes at NBC studios
The excitement of a Broadway Show
Skyscraping views from the Top of the Rock
Recommended excursions
Top of the Rock
With views to rival those of the Empire State Building, Rockefeller’s multi-floor observation deck is 70 floors high. A thrilling Plexiglass screen installation shows the construction workers hanging on the high beams, with a chance for you to ‘walk’ across one too, far above the city streets. Exhibits include the history and a model of the building.
Statue Cruises
Take the Statue Cruise from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty, one of the world’s most iconic structures and a symbol of freedom and democracy. Continue to Ellis Island and be inspired by the history and stories of the immigrants entering America between 1892-1954. This hop-on, hop-off service allows you to explore at your leisure.
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
When arriving in New York, a great way to appreciate the scale of the city and avoid crowds is to take a boat cruise. Students can see the famous skyline and get to know the layout of Manhattan with excellent photo opportunities. The Full Island Cruise takes in over 100 landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Yankee Stadium.
Empire State Building
Built at the peak of the skyscraper craze in 1931, the 1250ft Empire State Building is an Art Deco symbol of NYC. A ride in the express lift to the observatory floors gives students an unrivalled view of the city with outdoor decks and restored original interiors. A handheld device acts as an audio and visual companion with engaging videos, image galleries, quizzes and maps.
National 9/11 Memorial
The memorial quadrant is a poignant reminder of the 9/11 devastation and an inspiring testimony by citizens to honour those who died. Twin reflecting pools and manmade waterfalls mark the spot where the Twin Towers stood, with the names of everyone lost inscribed into bronze panels around the outside.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
This vast museum has over two million artworks spanning 5,000 years. It’s one of the most important collections in the world and a fantastic source of inspiration for students of all disciplines. A labyrinth of corridors holds paintings, textiles, ceramics and costume, chronologically reflects global regions in sky-lit spaces and architectural relics
9/11 Memorial Museum
Documenting September 11, 2001, the museum examines the implications of the events and commemorates the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who died on 9/11 and in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing. Using multimedia displays, narratives, archives and artefacts, the museum presents powerful accounts of the monumental struggles faced by a nation and the legacy of that day.
Broadway Inbound Workshop
Students can take on a true Broadway experience. Enjoy a workshop led by Broadway stars located next to the audition studios of Matilda. Enter the world of theatre and discover the theory behind movement on stage.
Street Art Community Mural Tour (Graffiti Tour)
Mural graffiti is a fundamental element of community art in New York, expressing peace and conflict, cultural shift and reflecting zeitgeist. The tour visits a number of major murals in the Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx and Harlem districts, with knowledgeable guides to discuss the evolution of graffiti and elaborate on the storyboards and memorial walls.
Broadway Show
The Broadway Theatre District has all the buzz and glitz that you’d expect from America’s answer to the West End. Rounding off the day with dinner and a Broadway show is a typical New York past time and it’s an exciting way for student’s to feel part of the city’s twilight activity.
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Between 1892 and 1954 over 12m people passed through the Ellis Island gateway in search of American citizenship. People came for religious and economic opportunity in America and freedom of speech. This is a culture-defining landmark and the museum has three floors of exhibitions and audio-visual displays telling the history of this significant time.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
America’s first living-history museum dedicated to the life of immigrants, aiming to promote tolerance and awareness of the variety of migrant experiences on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. At the ‘gateway to America’, the partially restored 1863 tenement building runs guided tours focusing on specific character stories related to work and family life.
United Nations Headquarters
An icon of global alliance, the 18-acre stretch on the East River is an ‘international zone’. Visitors are welcome to explore the space that benefits from a 1,400 specimen rose garden. Tours take in the council chambers and General Assembly, corridors of diverse artwork and displays on the organisation’s concerns such as peacekeeping and human rights.
One World Observatory, One World Trade Center
The One World Observatory is located within the One World Trade Center providing unmatched views stretching across Manhattan to New Jersey. Groups will be able to learn about the history of the Trade Center in New York, its history and construction. Free educational material is available for the following subjects: Economics, History, Science, Math and Value Diversity.
NYC Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour
Follow the Freedom Trail and learn the exciting history of how a band of brave men and women formed the networks that became the Underground Railroad. View a former station of the Underground Railroad and learn about the riots, revolts and dramatic escapes that occurred during the era of American slavery. Listen to tales of courage and and discover the stories of real New Yorkers who risked their lives.
Civil Rights and Social Justice Tour of Harlem
Focusing on the social movements of African-Americans in New York City, this tour includes the slavery abolitionist movement, the civil rights movement, today’s struggles for affordable housing, equal justice, and safe communities. It includes the site of the 1964 Harlem uprising; sites relevant to the civil rights struggle of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and street art dedicated to social justice.
Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour
Enjoy a neighbourhood tour of the cultural capital of Black America and experience the soulful sounds of gospel music. Explore the streets of greats like Billie Holiday, Malcolm X, and Michael Jackson while viewing legendary sites like the Apollo Theater, Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Striver’s Row, Hotel Theresa, and much more.
The Edge, Hudson Yards
Complement your visit to the Edge with REACH FOR THE SKY, a virtual STEM education Programme. Students take a behind-the-scenes look at amazing innovations of architecture and engineering and learn about the STEM, history, and social impact of this gravity-defying structure through digital resources and a Virtual Field Trip.
Hershey’s Chocolate World Sweet Educational Tour
Learn about Hershey’s iconic brands during this special educational visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World in Times Square.
Topics covered include: Why Hershey’s chose to have a retail location based in Times Square, stories about the iconic brands and how they have been marketed, how the iconic brands play a part in the layout of the store and how the legacy of Milton Hershey is honoured. Tastings included!
Guided Bagel Tours
Visit three of NYC’s best bagel shops savouring an assortment of bagels, spreads and sandwiches. Get behind-the-scenes access at one of NYC’s largest bagel shops for a peek into the bagel-making process and the secrets behind the dough. Discover the bagel’s unlikely journey from Polish peasant food to NYC superstar. Guests leave full of delicious bagels and a deeper appreciation for this food and city!
Bagel Making Class
Step into the shoes of a bagel artisan and learn the art of crafting authentic and mouth-watering New York-style bagels. Led by an award-winning baker, you’ll practice the tips and tricks to create perfect bagels, from rolling to boiling, seeding with toppings, and baking. You’ll also enjoy the delicious bagels you’ve made fresh out of the oven with a variety of spreads and toppings! Best of all, you’ll leave with a bag of your hand-crafted creations.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
This unique visitor attraction offers three levels of multi-sensory immersive experiences on the top of the fourth tallest building in Manhattan. Visitors will experience a blend of art installations and technology against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. Amazing photo opportunities during the day or at night!
High Line
This innovative park has been built on an elevated section of a disused railway line in Manhattan’s West Side, 30 foot above street level. This successful urban renewal project saved the railway line from demolition and the surrounding area is now being renovated and gentrified. The High Line offers great views of the Hudson River
Typical accommodation
West Side YMCA
Why groups like it:
- Steps away from the Lincoln Centre, Broadway & the American Museum of Natural History
- Close to Central Park
- Brilliant access to public transport
Facilities:
- Twin bedded bunk rooms; Shared facilities
- Large health facility including two indoor pools
- 24 hour security & free Wi-Fi in lobby
The New Yorker Wyndham Hotel
Why groups like it:
- Large iconic Art Deco style building
- Great location in Midtown West
- Just a few minutes from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden
Facilities
- All rooms with private facilities
- TV, hairdryer and flat-screen TV
- Breakfast and dinner can be arranged at a diner next door (on request)
Itinerary suggestion
1 Flight to New York, about 7 hours
2 Airport transfer to your accommodation
3 Arrive at accommodation – evening meal own arrangements
1 Breakfast
2 Guided walking tour of Midtown – Central Park, Fifth Avenue, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Grand Central Station
3 Top of the Rock for spectacular views
4 Broadway show – evening meal own arrangements
1 Breakfast
2 9/11 Memorial
3 Ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
4 Brooklyn Bridge, China Town, Little Italy and Soho
5 Visit the Empire State Building – evening meal own arrangements
1 Breakfast
2 Choice of museum or gallery such as the Met
3 Airport transfer
4 Overnight flight to the UK
1 Arrive back in the UK
Learning outcomes
Subject focus
Students can:
- Experience learning outside the classroom in another country – the culture, history, politics, geography, and the arts
- Gain a deeper understanding of American history and the link to European history
- Develop an understanding of the USA’s economic and political role in the modern world
- Build confidence and learn to value the skills and techniques needed for personal and team success
- Discover, explore and have fun with fellow students and teachers
Student outcomes
Students will have an opportunity to:
- Visit a foreign country and experience another culture
- Consider a range of issues around citizenship and history
- Understand more about art and architecture
- Gain a better understanding of the USA’s role in the modern world
- Gain independence and self-confidence
- Strengthen existing friendships and make new friends
- Gain personal organisation skills, co-operation skills and work with others in a variety of environments
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Our top three excursions for this trip were the Capitol Building, the Empire State Building and Ellis Island. The students found the New York excursions the most inspiring.
Royal Alexandra and Albert School
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