Art School Trips
Each of our art school trips features a diverse array of artworks, providing context that enhances your pupils' learning experience. From permanent collections and the latest temporary exhibitions, to world-famous architecture and landmarks, you’ll not only get to discover amazing, unique works, but will also be inspired by the culture of these great locations.
From London and Paris, to Madrid or even New York, there are so many experiences to choose from, whatever discipline or era of work you’d like to cover. Plus, our free gallery booking service means no waiting, no queuing and an itinerary that runs more smoothly.
What are the benefits of art school trips?
Art school trips offer numerous benefits for students. Firstly, they provide a hands-on learning experience that goes beyond the classroom, allowing students to engage directly with artworks, sculptures, and exhibitions. This interactive approach not only deepens their understanding of art but also sparks creativity and inspires new perspectives.
Additionally, art school trips expose students to diverse artistic styles, movements, and cultures, broadening their cultural awareness and appreciation. By exploring different galleries, museums, and studios, students have the opportunity to encounter artwork from various periods and regions, fostering a rich understanding of global artistic heritage.
Browse our art school trip destinations
We’ve got many inspirational art & design school trips and tours available across the UK and overseas. Check out our selection below, or get in touch with the team for more information.
London
London
London is home to some of the largest permanent collections and most thought-provoking temporary exhibitions across the globe.
Bristol
Bristol
Bristol provides a budget-friendly and immersive experience for your art & design students. Famously the birthplace of Banksy, the city is still features the world-famous street artist's works throughout the city.
Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall has been attracting world-class artists for centuries. Walk in the footsteps of Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach, John Opie, explore the Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum or enjoy a specialist art workshop.
Liverpool
Liverpool
The vibrant city of Liverpool is home to the largest collection of galleries and museums outside London, which means that it is the perfect place to choose for an art & design school trip!
Manchester
Manchester
A city bursting with charm and character, art is available in abundance! With a vast range of galleries to explore, why not take a look at the latest exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery, or discover one of the region’s most famous artists, L.S Lowry?
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is ideal if you want your group to study a wide spectrum of art in one visit.
Barcelona
Barcelona
A school trip to Barcelona offers pupils the chance to see amazing architecture, some of the best art galleries in the world and the works of world-renowned artists including Gaudí, Picasso and Dalí.
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is a hot spot for the international art world and few other cities have such an extensive and concentrated art scene.
Florence
Florence
30% of the world’s most important works of art are in Florence!
Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is home to the ‘Golden Triangle of museums’ offering gallery after gallery of masterworks.
New York
New York
There is an outstanding selection of dynamic contemporary works here, especially at the world-famous Guggenheim Museum.
Washington DC
Washington DC
Washington DC offers a whole host of experiences.
Learn more about our art & design trips to Washington DC here
Paris
Paris
A full range of specialisms are showcased in famed locations such as the Musée d’Orsay, Louvre and Pompidou.
Rome
Rome
It’s the ideal place to focus on traditional approaches to art in the many impressive galleries and museums.
Venice
Venice
Beautiful surroundings, stunning architecture and fascinating street scenes.
Our most popular art and design trip destinations...
Our most popular art and design trip destinations...
London
A school trip to London is guaranteed to incite a response from pupils and enrich and inspire their work. In this exciting city, pupils will get to take in the latest thought-provoking collections, museums, galleries and innovative talent, whilst developing an understanding of British heritage and culture.
New York
This ever-evolving art and design scene is home to influential, modern art museums including the Guggenheim and MoMA, plus you’ll find an outstanding selection of photography museums here too. A study tour to this dazzling destination will leave your pupils feeling excited and inspired.
Take a look at one of our art & design adventures in Rome...
Art & Design exhibitions, events & news
Stay up-to-date with what’s new and upcoming in the world of art – from exhibitions, events, festivals and visits, to gallery and museum news from around the globe. You’ll find some exciting updates on our art & design exhibitions, events & news page.
Planning your first school trip?
If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process.
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Additional support, resources & information:
Tour planning service
Tour planning service
With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:
- Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
- Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
- Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals
You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.
FREE school trip promotion pack
FREE school trip promotion pack
We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:
- Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete
- A3 posters to promote your trip around school
- PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
- Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
- Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip
For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.
Risk assessment support including preview visits
Risk assessment support including preview visits
Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.
Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.
Planning first school trip
Planning first school trip
Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. Our helpful guide covers the following:
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track.
With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.
Watch our short Locate My Trip video here.
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you.
With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too.
What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go.
Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here
Free classroom resources
Free classroom resources
We've created a range of free resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!
Take a look at our downloadable posters here
Speak to one of our school travel experts
Our team of school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too! So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.
Why choose NST...
Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...
- Unrivalled knowledge
Your dedicated art & design Tour Co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.
- Making it easier for you
With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.
- Free group leader inspection visits
We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning.
- Value for money
We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.
- More than 50 years’ experience
With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.
- Risk assessment guidance
Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.
- Peace of mind
Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.
- Offsetting carbon emissions
For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions.
Looking for protection on your next school trip?
Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.
Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial.
Financial protection from the moment you book
NST are fully bonded:
- ABTA
- ATOL
- IATA
Managing safety on school trips
For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:
- 24-hour emergency cover
- Audited accommodation & transport
- Excursions & school visit assessment
- Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning
We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured
The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.
