LONDON - LOCATION GUIDE

ART & DESIGN

Exceptional Tours Expertly Delivered

Our location guide offers you information on the range of visits available in London. All visits are selected with your subject and the curriculum in mind, along with the most popular choices for sightseeing, culture and leisure in the area.

The information in your location guide has been provided by our partners in London who have expert on the ground knowledge of the area, combined with advice from education professionals so that the visits and information recommended are the most relevant to meet your learning objectives.

Making Life Easier for You

This location guide is not a catalogue of opening times. Our Tour Experts will design your itinerary with opening times and location in mind so that you can really maximise your time on tour.

Our location guides are designed to give you the information that you really need, including what are the highlights of the visit, location, suitability and educational resources. We’ll give you top tips like when is the best time to go, dress code and extra local knowledge.

Peace of Mind

So that you don’t need to carry additional money around with you we will state in your initial quote letter, which visits are included within your inclusive tour price and if there is anything that can’t be pre-paid we will advise you of the entrance fees so that you know how much money to take along.

You also have the added reassurance that, WST is a member of the STF and our featured visits are all covered as part of our externally verified Safety Management System.

ART & DESIGN VISITS

TATE MODERN As the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, the Tate Modern is a great opportunity for students to see various forms of international modern art, all in one gallery. The awe-inspiring Turbine Hall runs the length of the entire building and you can see amazing work by artists such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Dalí, Pollock, Warhol and Bourgeois.

Educational Resources: The gallery’s website includes various free teacher resources including interactive whiteboard materials, exam help, games and collection focus, all available for Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. In addition Tate led workshops are available for school groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays which last for 90 minutes. These workshops get booked up quickly so early pre-booking is essential.

Website: www.tate.org.uk Location: South Bank Underground: Southwark or Mansion House (walk over Southwark Bridge)

TATE BRITAIN Home of British Art to the present day, the Tate Britain is an iconic gallery that is a must see for students to appreciate the progression and changes of British Art through the decades. Particular attention is paid to Blake, Turner and Constable; however the gallery houses a diverse range of some of the finest pieces of British Art.

Educational Resources: The website includes various free teacher resources ranging from interactive whiteboard materials to exam help which are great to use prior to or after your visit, available for Key Stage 3,4 and 5. In addition Tate led workshops are available for school groups on Mondays and Thursdays which last for 90 minutes. These workshops get booked up quickly so early pre-booking is essential.

Website: www.tate.org.uk Underground: Pimlico

NATIONAL GALLERY An iconic attraction, situated in the renowned Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is a must see for school groups. From Reubens, Van Gogh, Turner, Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet, Rembrandt and many more, the gallery houses the national collection of Western European painting from around 1250 onwards.

Educational Resources: The gallery also offers workshops tailored to Key Stage 3, 4 or 5. Themes are Sketchbook Skills, Talking Paintings and Chemistry in Art (KS5 only).

Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk Underground: Charing Cross

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY The National Portrait Gallery is home to the best collection of portraits in the world. The gallery gives students an exclusive insight into the men and women who have shaped British history. The permanent exhibitions also go together with a wide range of special exhibitions and events.

Educational Resources: The NPG offer a range of online, interactive resources focusing on portraiture, that can be used in the classroom prior to your trip to prepare for your visit. The gallery offers free discussion and practical drawing sessions and workshops designed for Key Stage 3 to 5.

Top Tip: If you have students with a particular interest in photography the NPG provides free photography workshops for Key Stage 4 and 5. These are led by professional photographers and last for a full day from 10.30 to 15.30. Alternatively, you will find there is an extensive permanent photographic portrait collection where they can choose to spend the majority of their visit.

Website: www.npg.org.uk Undergound: Charing Cross or Leicester Square

VICTORIA & ALBERT The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's greatest museum of art and design, representing over three thousand years of human creativity, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. Highlights include the Medieval Renaissance galleries containing some of the greatest surviving treasures from the period, the breathtaking William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery and the stunning British Galleries, illustrating the history of Britain through the nation’s art and design.

Educational Resources: The museum offers a range of educational resources and support: Gallery tours – Designed to encourage discussion and investigate different approaches to Art & Design. These tours can focus on a variety of topics such as architecture, sculpture, fashion design and ceramics. Students are encouraged to take their sketchbooks on the tour. DesignLab Workshops – Your students can work with V&A designers to experience the design process from start to finish. Themes include fashion, lamp design, architecture and product design. Each workshop lasts for 2½ hours. Suitable for Key Stage 3, 4 and 5

Website: www.vam.ac.uk Underground: South Kensington

SAATCHI GALLERY Housed in the historically significant Duke of York HQ, the Saatchi Gallery has become renowned in providing a platform for unknown, young, contemporary artists. The gallery is a refreshing alternative to the state museums as it exhibits bold and in some cases daring pieces making it a great visit for aspiring artists.

Educational Resources: You can download an education pack on the theme ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ which focuses on exhibits throughout the gallery and offers points for discussion after your visit.

Website: www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk Underground: Sloane Square

THE HAYWARD GALLERY The Hayward, within Southbank Centre, embraces visual art from all periods. The gallery does not host permanent collections but instead 3 or 4 major temporary exhibitions each year.

Website: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery Underground: Embankment

3D PRINTING SESSIONS This exciting new 3 hour session is provided by a senior designer at a state of the art store and office in central London. The session will include an introduction to 3-D Printing technology, demonstrations, a short tour, a Q&A and your chosen souvenir 3-D printed object. Your visit can be tailored to your main area of interest and age of pupils. The standard sessions will focus on:

- Possibilities of a Desktop 3D Printer and the latest material innovation (with sample objects) - A process overview from a concept idea to a 3D Printed object - Introduction to 3D design software - Demonstration of designing, preparing and printing a 3D design of choice Underground: Farringdon

FORENSIC ART WORKSHOP Inspired by a 2010 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, this fascinating 90 minute session combines the use of mass spectrometry and art history to shed light on fake or altered Grand Master paintings. A brilliant supplement to any art or art history courses!

GRAFFITI & STREET ART TOURS Street art has a natural home in London where the city makes the perfect canvas for their artwork. We can arrange a walking and tube train tour to see some of London’s best graffiti locations with an expert guide. Places likely to be included are Stockwell, Waterloo and South Bank. Pieces discussed include work by artists including Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Space Invader, as well as lesser-known, up- and-coming talent. The constantly changing nature of the work on display means each tour is unique as well as cutting-edge.

Top Tip: Make sure you take cameras along with you, there are some amazing photo opportunities.

Meeting point: East London – your guide will confirm in advance the exact location dependent on the sites you will visit.

CITY ACADEMY WORKSHOPS These exciting new workshops can be tailored to your group's age and ability levels, so just let us know.

Life Drawing This introduction to Figure Drawing will take students back to basics, starting with simple drawing techniques and mark making.

Fashion, Costume & Set Design In these classes, participants will be introduced to basic theory and technique to design, which can be specified for fashion or stage

Fashion or Stage Make-up These Make-up workshops can be tailored to both fashion and theatrical requirements, and will introduce students to techniques to create flawless, up-to- date looks.

Studio Lighting City Academy’s Studio Lighting workshop will cover the basic principles needed to take great photographs in a studio. Please note students are required to provide their own digital camera, and it is best if they have some prior photography knowledge.

Lighting for Theatre This workshop will introduce students to the basics of lighting a show on stage.

Photography These Photography classes are unique opportunities for participants to explore the diversity of London’s city-scape using a digital SLR and the most important functions of the camera. Please note, students are required to provide their own digital SLR camera.

CULTURAL VISITS

London offers a great choice of museums and attractions, many of which are an ideal complement to their learning and can be free for students

GUIDED TOURS

Highlights of London 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.

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour Always in the evening and at its best when London is cold and misty, this eerie tour takes students back in time to 1888 to follow in the footsteps of the London Metropolitan Police as they try to catch a killer.

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. A vast urban regeneration programme has transformed East London and is still making headline news. This 2 – 2½ hour walk begins at Pudding Mill Lane on the Greenway overlooking the Aquatic Centre and the Stadium and then goes into the park to past the Handball Arena (The Copper Box), walks by 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. Please confirm at the time of booking.

Top Tip: Please note the tour does not allow access to all areas of the Olympic Park. A number of buildings including the Olympic Stadium and the Velodrome are still not open to visitors. However, these key sites can still be seen from great viewpoints around the tour.

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.

Educational Resources: The British Museum website contains an extensive range of downloadable resources particularly for students of Art & Design which include detailed information on relevant exhibitions, points for discussion and project ideas. Topics for Art & Design students include sculpture, objects in motion, symbols and textiles. Resources are aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4.

Website: www.britishmuseum.org Underground: Holburn

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Free guided tours are available throughout the year. These tours must be booked directly by the school using the specific educational booking line and at certain booking periods. Please follow these links for information on when you can make a booking and rules of booking. www.parliament.uk/education/visit-parliament-with-your-school/palace-of- westminster-tour/ www.parliament.uk/documents/education/docs/Visiting-Parliament/Information- for-bookings-day.pdf

Please note that tours are very popular and places are limited, so generally have to be booked about six months in advance. Your tour will last around 75 minutes.

Educational Resources: In addition to a guided tour, you may also request a curriculum focussed workshop and possibly a Q&A session with your MP, subject to their availability. Workshop themes are Elections and Voting, Your Voice and Making Laws. These workshops get booked up well in advance so please apply early.

Website: www.parliament.uk Underground: Westminster

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM The Imperial War Museum covers conflicts involving Britain from the First World War through to the present day. The Centenary of the First World War is highly topical and with it’s new First World War galleries the IWM is a must for any group visiting London.

Website: http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london Underground: Lambeth North

LONDON DUNGEON The London Dungeon combines real history, horror and humour to bring gruesome goings-on back to life in the 21st century. A thrilling and exciting trip that students will love, with actors recreating events such as the Great fire of London, Sweeney Todd, the Plague and Jack the Ripper.

Website: www.the-dungeons.co.uk/london Underground: Waterloo

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

Top tip: If you are looking for ways to keep your students entertained, this is an excellent evening activity.

Website: www.londoneye.com Underground: Waterloo

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.

Website: www.madametussauds.com/London Underground: Baker Street

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.

Website: www.museumoflondon.org.uk Underground: Barbican

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.

Website: www.nhm.ac.uk Underground: South Kensington

RIPLEY’S, BELIEVE IT OR NOT Based in the heart of the West End, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is the most wonderfully weird visitor attraction in London. Home to countless curiosities collected by the legendary adventurer Robert Ripley, you’ll step into a fascinating world where the bizarre and the unbelievable come to life and where amazement is waiting around every corner. From unusual art to underwater wonders, an upside down room and even a dungeon, at Ripley’s London there are mindboggling experiences for even the wildest imagination.

Website: http://www.ripleyslondon.com/ Underground: Picadilly Circus

SCIENCE MUSEUM The Science Museum allows you to introduce children to science with fun, hands-on interactives and encounter the past, present and future of technology in seven floors of galleries. At the Museum you can find all this and more with topics ranging from space and travel to food and medicine.

Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Underground: South Kensington

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL With its iconic dome that dominates the London skyline, St Pauls Cathedral is a must see for all groups visiting London. Over the years, decoration has been added and removed so that today the history of the nation can be seen in mosaics and stone carvings throughout the building. School groups can take a self guided visit or a themed guided visit.

Top Tip: In addition to the crypt and the Cathedral, weather permitting, you can take your students to the climb up to the exterior galleries for an amazing view of London. This is an additional cost which can be paid on the day.

Website: www.stpauls.co.uk Underground: St Pauls

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 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. This 40 minute cruise packs in many of London’s major sites.

Meeting Point: Westminster Millennium Pier

TOWER OF LONDON See where numerous individuals lost their heads and visit the Prisoners exhibition which looks at some of the Towers more notorious convicts including Anne Boleyn, Edward V, Guy Fawkes and Sir Thomas More.

Website: www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/ Underground: Tower Hill

WEST END THEATRE PERFORMANCE Whatever your study aims, a West End show is a great opportunity to reward those on school trips to London with a thrilling night at the theatre.

Our top West End Shows for school tours to London:

 The Lion King  Wicked  Matilda The Musical  Les Miserablés  School of Rock  Aladdin

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. Choose from:

Bubba Gump Shrimp Planet Hollywood Rainforest Café Hard Rock Café Pizza Hut Pizza Express Maxwell’s Sticky Fingers Palm Court Brasserie Piazza

We can also arrange for packed lunches to be delivered to your hotel or an appropriate meeting point in the city.

Top Tip: These restaurants usually offer a 2 or 3 course menu based on a set meal, but can always offer a vegetarian alternative so please let us know if you have any vegetarians in your group.

HOODED SWEATSHIRTS We can help you to arrange hooded sweatshirts for all the participants on your trip. We work with an experienced team who can offer you a choice of sizes, colours and personalise them. So, not only do your students have a greater sense of identity with being on the trip, they have a memento to keep afterwards.

‘They were brilliant! Really impressed with the quality. Pupils made comments about them being better than the ones they had for netball tour! They loved them! Definitely want them next year!’ Wydean School