Religious Studies School Trip to London

With the abundance of hotels and hostels in London, we have a superb range of accommodation to choose from, both centrally and on the outskirts, with facilities and prices to suit all needs and budgets.

Premier Inn Wembley & Amp Hangar Lane

These hotels both offer a very high standard of accommodation at a good price.  Located in quieter areas slightly outside of the busy city centre but with easy access to all the major sights and on public transport routes.

Premier Inn Harrow

If you are looking to stay on the outskirts of London for a quieter location this hotel is ideal. Located north of London you can still access the city centre by coach within 1 hour. Recommended for groups on a tight budget and is a great option if you are including a Harry Potter Studio tour in your itinerary.

Meininger Hotel London Hyde Park - New for 2020 tours

Situated in the Kensington area of London, the Meininger is in the ideal location for school groups. It is only a few hundred metres from the Natural History, Science and Victoria and Albert Museums. In terms of quality and location, this hotel offers great value for money.

YHA Thameside

Excellent youth hostel accommodation offering a range of facilities. Located in the edge of the Docklands area, this is ideally suited to younger groups travelling by coach. 

Royal National Hotel

This is our most central hotel, located in the heart of the city within walking distance of the West End. The Royal National is a large hotel offering comfortable and affordable accommodation in an excellent central location.#

Wembley International Hotel

This is a large hotel, located just outside the city centre, yet close to public transport. Rooms for students are all 3 - 4 bedded and the hotel has good meeting room facilities. 

PLACES OF WORSHIP

WALKING TOURS:  

Our specialist Religious Studies Blue Badge Guide in London Ruth Polling can help your students discover more about the places of worship around London past and present. During your Religious studies school trip to London, Ruth will work with you prior to your departure to tailor make your tour to provide the best experience for your school and its students. Her most popular walking tours are:

Immigration and Religion in London's East End

The East End of London has long been the centre of immigration in the UK. This walking tour will take you through the history of immigration in the area and the impact this has had on the religions practiced here. From the French Protestant Huguenots of the 17th and 18th centuries, to the Jewish community of the 19th and 20th centuries to the Muslim Bangladeshi community today.

Churches in a Changing City

The City of London once had over 100 churches serving a large residential population. As people moved from the City to the suburbs these churches have had to find a new role. This walking tour will take in a number of examples from churches converted into gardens, to a centre for peace and reconciliation, those hosting services for other denominations and London's diverse community and those providing other services including cafes and counselling. See how worship continues in the very centre of London. 

Bevis Marks Synagogue

Situated in the City of London just off the ancient thoroughfare of Bevis Marks, this Synagogue is a Grade I listed building and is the only synagogue in Europe that has held regular services continuously for over 300 years. Guided tours can be arranged here. 

The Buddhapadipa Temple 

This is a Thai Buddhist Temple in Wimbledon. It is a home to monks and nuns but visitors are welcome to view the grounds and the temple provided they follow respectful conduct. It is only possible to visit the temple Monday to Friday.  

Kadampa Meditation Centre London 

The KMC is a centre for modern Buddhism and Temple for World Peace. It’s located in South West London in Morden and although can be reached via undergound we advise a coach journey if possible as it is not central. This is a new venue where they are very keen to welcome new groups to visit to learn more about Buddhism and meditation. 

Neasden Temple

This beautiful Hindu Temple located close to Wembley welcomes visitors to take a look around and also has an Understanding Hinduism exhibition which helps them learn more about the values and wisdom of this religion.

London Central Mosque

For London Religious studies school trips, the education team here offer guided tours around the Mosque and will explain the fundamental Muslim beliefs and prayer and followed by question and answers sessions.

St Paul’s Cathedral

As well as a general visit around the Cathedral, school groups are offered a range of themed tours focusing on The Bible, The World of Worship, The Big Issues or Pilgrimages. Themed tours are limited and subject to availability. 

Westminster Abbey 

Westminster Abbey has had a rich tradition of Christian worship for over a thousand years. School groups can take a self guided guided visit or choose from a range of guided tours including pilgrimage and religion in public life, or a ‘Meet a Priest’ workshop. 

ETHICS 

Imperial War Museum   

The Imperial War Museum London covers conflicts involving Britain from the First World War through to the present day. Your Religious Studies students can explore the Just War Theory when they visit the First World War Gallery. 

Freud Museum Tour and Discussion Sessions

Freud had strong views on religion and  believed it to be an illusion based on what we want to be true rather than what is true. The Museum's education team is familiar with GCSE and A-level  RS specifications and can hold informative discussions. A visit here allows  groups to learn more about Freud as they explore his former house and complete pre-set worksheets based on Freud’s religious views.

Forensic Outreach Session – Medical Ethics

From a call to bury the skeleton of a 7-ft tall giant to the possibility of a corpse research laboratory in your own backyard - this unique hands-on session in medical ethics will bring students close to the harrowing issues that are shaping modern science. What specimens should scientists have access to? What is the dark side of gene splicing and human genetic engineering? Explore these topics and more with one of our extremely qualified instructors - all from top-tier research Universities in London - who will be able to help your students navigate the blurred waters of ethical and unethical.

THE HOLOCAUST

Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum offers a wide range of workshops which can be tailored to your needs and include resource materials and activities. Holocaust workshop themes available for KS3 and KS4 are:

Faith and the Holocaust – Using evidence, art and witness testimonials, students will review the opinions of those who gained, kept, questioned or lost their faith.

Never Again Auschwitz: the Story of Leon Greenman – The workshop draws on the life story of a Holocaust survivor through evaluation of his personal artefacts, film and photographs. Through this workshop students are encouraged to reflect on and empathise with individuals.

Witness the Witness – A unique opportunity for students to meet and hear the personal testimony of a Holocaust survivor or Kindertransport refugee.

Imperial War Museum 

The Holocaust Exhibition

Through pictures, artefacts and film the Holocaust Exhibition tells the full emotional story of the Holocaust from the Rise of Nazism through to the liberation of the death camps. 

Wiener Library

The Wiener Library is Britain’s largest and most extensive library and archive on the Holocaust and the Nazi Era. During the week, workshops are available for schools which are designed to help students get the most out of the collections.

London Religious Studies trips offer a great choice of museums and attractions, many of which are an ideal compliment to learning and can be free for students.

Highlights Of London Guided Tour

A half day guided tour of the city on board your coach is a perfect way to see all the major sites. Highly recommended if this is a first time visit to London for many of your students. 

Guided tour of the London 2012 Olympic Sites

Following the outstanding success of the world’s greatest sporting event, there is now huge interest in seeing the area where our athletes won their medals.  This 2 – 2½ hour walk begins at Pudding Mill Lane and takes in the exteriors of the Aquatic Centre, the Stadium, Handball Arena (The Copper Box), the Velodrome and also the new I-City (formerly the International Press Centre). For an additional fee we can pre-book visits inside the Copper Box, the Aquatics Centre and the Orbit within your walking tour. 

Art Galleries Of London

London has a great range of art galleries for religious studies trips, which have free entrance and all offer downloadable resources and education programmes. The most popular galleries are:

• National Gallery
• National Portrait Gallery
• Tate Britain
• Tate Modern
• Victoria & Albert  

British Museum

With more than 7 million objects within its collections, the British Museum illustrates and documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present. Famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, the Sutton Hoo and Mildenhall treasures and the Portland Vase making it one of the greatest museums in the world.

London Eye

Breath-taking sights make the London Eye a highlight of the city which you should not miss!

Madame Tussauds

A thrilling and exciting visit containing inspiring wax works of some of the world’s most influential and famous people. Galleries include  Sport, World Leaders, The Royal Family and Music along with the Spirit of London ride and Marvel Super Heroes 4D experience.

Museum Of London

Step inside Museum of London for a memorable journey through London’s unsettled history. Telling London's story students can enjoy the prehistoric, Roman and medieval London galleries through to the present day.

Natural History Museum

Hundreds of exciting, interactive exhibits including the ultimate dinosaur exhibition, a human biology section or visit 'Investigate' -an exciting new hands-on science centre perfect for engaging students.

Thames River Cruise

This cruise along the Thames is a great way to see some of the major sites of the city. We recommend groups take the 40 minute cruise from Westminster to Tower which takes in Westminster, Big Ben, Somerset House, London Eye, Oxo Tower, The Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge, Tower Bridge and the Tower.

West End Theatre Performance

Whatever your London trip aims, a West End show is a great opportunity to reward those on school trips to London with a thrilling night at the theatre.  Current top West End Shows include:

• Lion King
• Wicked
• Frozen
• Matilda The Musical
• Mrs Doubtfire The Musical
• Les Misérables
• Back To The Future
• Harry Potter & The Cursed Child
• Six
• We Will Rock You
• Phantom of the Opera 
• Mamma Mia

Whatever show you are interested in seeing, we can advise you on the best time to go and arrange your group seating.

Walk Eat Talk Eat 3-hour Food & Drink Walking Tour

What better way could there be to explore the diverse cultures and communities which make up London than taking walking tour through the streets of the city where you get to sample the great range of cuisines on offer. You can try both modern and traditional dishes, British treats and foods from across the world. There are three different tours to choose from all of which centre around a few different food and drink stops where you may sit down and dine at the venue, pick up the food and taste it outside, or just walk and talk with the food. It really is a fantastic experience!

Restaurants

Make your evening meal a night out with a restaurant visit. We can book tables at an exciting range of restaurants offering pre-theatre dinner packages to suit all budgets.