SU London's Spring 2012 Field Trips
Check below for the official schedule of the Spring 2012 SU London field trips!
Mark your calendars for the TRAVEL SEMINAR at 6:00pm on Tuesday, 24th January in the Faraday House Auditorium. The Travel Seminar is an orientation session on all of the SU London travel offered over the semester. Do make an effort to attend as you will learn loads about what we have planned and some field trip sign-ups begin on this night. Bring £10 notes as a refundable deposit to secure your place on the Friday field trips & £5 notes as a refundable deposit on the walking tours.
Optional course-related and all school overnight field trip prices will be announced in London at the Travel Seminar. These trip fees are payable by Mastercard or Visa only.
Spring 2012 Field Trips
Tour of London to Greenwich
Sunday, 22nd January 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 9:45am / SIGN-UP BEGINS WEDNESDAY 18th JANUARY at the Housing Desk at Faraday House / There is a £10 refundable deposit due when you sign up for this trip.
To welcome you to London we have organized this bus tour of our most famous historical and tourist attractions, ending at world-famous Greenwich: home to the Meridian Line, the Royal Observatory and the outstandingly beautiful Baroque architecture of the Royal Naval College, overlooking the Thames. Greenwich has become extremely fashionable in recent years and has been chosen as the site for the 2012 Equestrian Olympic events. Join us for your chance to lunch in this bijou corner of London, or shop vintage and modern in its trendy markets.
Stonehenge and Salisbury
Friday, 27th January 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 8:30am / SIGN-UP BEGINS WEDNESDAY 18th January at the Housing Desk at Faraday House / There is a £10 refundable deposit due when you sign up for this trip.
Stonehenge is Britain’s most famous ancient monument and one of the world’s most astonishing engineering feats, built probably for ceremonial and religious purposes.
Salisbury is a preserved medieval city and home to the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral which dates from 1075. Its spire was built in 1330 and is the tallest in Great Britain! King John sealed the Magna Carta here in 1215.
Please be aware that you must be at the meeting point before 8:30am to board the coach – Stonehenge is at least a two-hour drive out of London and we want you to make the most of your day! Please dress appropriately for the weather – this is clearly not an indoor venue!
East End Markets Walking Tour
Sunday, 29th January 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Meet at the Kindertransport Memorial by McDonald's at Liverpool Street Station at 9:45am / SIGN-UP BEGINS WEDNESDAY 18th January at the Housing Desk at Faraday House / There is a £5 refundable deposit due when you sign up for this trip.
Join us to celebrate the richness of multi-cultural London’s diversity as we share with you the magical colour and texture of a fascinating district not normally seen by visitors. Be the first in your group to locate London’s only 24 bagel shop! We begin the day with a guided tour of this culturally rich and vibrant area which still echoes the 19th Century when it was the established Jewish quarter and Jack the Ripper prowled its alleys.
The East End has always changed with the times. As new shops, boho bars and hipster Art Galleries spring up, it’s edgier than ever! Irish, Jews, Maltese, Somali, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities have all influenced these kitsch markets.
Hampton Court Palace
Friday, 10th February 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 9:00am / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
This enthralling day out takes you back in time to marvel at the splendours of royal antiquity: if you only ever visit one royal palace, Hampton Court Palace should be THE one! Henry VIII ‘coaxed’ Hampton Court Palace from Cardinal Wolsey in 1514, and this a great opportunity for you to discover the newly-restored Tudor kitchens just as they were back in those days! You will also be able to see the Banqueting Hall, Great Hall and the superb gardens complete with 300 year old maze!
Americans in London: The Civil War Connection Walking Tour
Sunday, 12th February 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Meet at Marble Arch Tube Station at 3:00pm / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £5 refundable deposit is required.
This unique walking tour brings back to life the long forgotten stories not only of the Union & Confederate agents and diplomats stationed in London throughout the war, but the British response to the American Civil War arriving at their doorstep.
Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
Wednesday, 15th February 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Meet at 5:00pm at Faraday House or 6:00pm at Tower Hill tube station / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £5 refundable deposit is required.
The tour will be led by the leading authority on Ripper history, author and ex-City of London policeman Don Rumbelow. His famed walk takes you to the heart of Ripper territory. Rumbelow is the man to whom Johnny Depp turned for help when researching his role in the movie ‘From Hell.’ Who better to guide you through this eerie East End excursion?
We meet for the tour at Tower Hill tube station (District/Circle Tube lines). You must be there and ready to commence the walk at 6:00pm sharp! If you are not sure how to get there, an escort will be departing Faraday House at 5.00pm.
Saffron Walden and Cambridge
Friday, 17th February 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 9:00am / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
Cambridge is one of the most beautiful towns in England. Luscious lawns, amazing architecture, sophisticated shops and punting on the willow-tree shrouded River Cam. Lunch at the Eagle Pub – a haunt of the American airmen based there during World War II, many of whose signatures still adorn the ceiling! En route, we pass by the picturesque medieval town of Saffron Walden. It is a small country market town with early origins, the name Walden meaning "valley of Britons".
Cadbury World
Friday, 24 February 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 8:30am / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
Channel your inner Charlie Bucket with this AMAZING tour of Cadbury World in nearby Birmingham. Students on this day trip can explore and discover chocolate's history, learn about the origins of the Cadbury business (one of the world's largest confectioners), and oh -- eat some chocolate! This is the first time we are offering this Wonka-esque trip, and we have a feeling it's going to be a popular one!
Blenheim Palace and Oxford
Friday, 2nd March 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 9:00am / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
The extravagantly opulent Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Winston Churchill) is one of Europe’s largest palaces (and setting for the recent Jack Black movie, 'Gulliver's Travels'!). Its gardens are now a World Heritage site. Afterwards, we visit the City of Oxford, to see the ‘city of dreamy spires’, home of the oldest English-speaking University in the world. Renowned for its charming shops, museums, pubs and cafes, Oxford is also the location for the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘The Golden Compass’ films. Your visit will include a guided tour of this historic and beautiful city.
Winston Churchill's Wartime Walk & War Rooms
Saturday, 3rd March 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Meet outside the Embankment tube station at 2:30pm / Sign-up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
Winston Churchill was recently voted the ‘greatest ever Briton.’ Although history tells us that he was not exactly top of the class in his school days, his legendary charisma and leadership got Britain through the World War II – earning him the enduring respect of Londoners along the way, particularly for his courage in refusing to leave the city during the Blitz. This walking tour expertly recaptures the mood of wartime London and brings to life arguably the greatest – though somewhat eccentric! – British Prime Minister of all time. We'll continue our tour at the Churchill War Rooms, an underground bunker deep under Central London where Churchill and his staff changed the course of history.
Dover Castle
Friday, 23rd March 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 9:00am / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
Visit Dover Castle! After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror strengthened this key fortification. The secret underground tunnels here date back to the middle ages and played an important role in defending England during World War II. This trip includes a tour of these tunnels which show them just as they were in the war. You will also be able to see the spectacular white chalk cliffs of Dover overlooking the English Channel - a proud English symbol for those arriving and departing our shores. Explore Dover town - one of Henry Vlll’s Cinque Ports - part of his ‘taxes for ships’ deal.
Time and traffic permitting, you will also pay a visit to the ethereal coastline and shingle beach at Dungeness.
Jewels of Paris: History Through Architecture
Thursday, 29 March - Sunday, 1 April 2012 / First priority goes to students enrolled in HOA 208, unclaimed spots open to ALL SCHOOL / Sign-ups begin at the Travel Seminar: Tuesday, 24th January / Price to be announced at the Travel Seminar
Ahhhh, Paris! A city never destroyed by enemies; perpetually renewing itself and rightly nicknamed “the city of light”. Paris has a perfect setting on the River Seine with its splendid monuments and landmarks, great museums and galleries, stately prospects and views and elegant squares and gardens. Add to this its lively café-life, fine cuisine, great department stores and fine specialty shops and you'll leave bedazzled by this city's true “joie de vivre”.
Over the weekend, you will experience more than a glimpse of Paris. This is an opportunity for a broad overview of this great city. We include many of the excitedly anticipated tourist attractions, but via both private coach and guided walking tour, you will be shown a Paris that leaves you with deeper impressions than the majority of casual visitors could hope for.
Windsor Castle
Friday, 30th March 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 9:00am / Sign up in Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
With last year’s Royal Wedding, our Royal family very much hit the headlines lately! We know you will appreciate this opportunity to visit the magnificent Windsor Castle, which has been occupied for 900 years, making it the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world! Our current Queen spent much of her childhood here. St George’s chapel at Windsor Castle is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Britain, and is the final resting place for many of the great names in British monarchy.
Harry Potter Walking Tour
Wednesday, 4th April 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at (time TBD) / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £5 refundable deposit is required.
Be the envy of all your friends back home when you let them know you have actually been to see the real Platform 9 3/4, checked out the leaky cauldron, explored Diagon Alley, marvelled at Gringotts Bank and of course strolled along the Millenium Bridge!
This is not your regular walking tour - this is a fun afternoon jaunt with an expert guide and will last at least a couple of hours: bring your Oyster cards!
Bath, England
Friday, 13th April 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Departs Faraday House at 8:30am / Sign up in the Student Life Office, SR109 / A £10 refundable deposit is required.
PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST BE AT FARADAY HOUSE IN GOOD TIME FOR YOUR 0830 DEPARTURE!
The beautiful Georgian town of Bath is the only town in England to have been awarded the distinction of World Heritage Site. It is one of the most popular destinations with students on our program. Jane Austen wrote some of her novels here, and Gainsborough established himself as a portraitist and landscape painter. The city is known for its elegant Georgian crescents and buildings and plaques highlight its eminent inhabitants from its heyday as a spa resort. The Roman Baths are the city’s most famous attraction, and this day trip includes a visit to them. You can taste the waters in the Pump room! Edgar, the first king of a united England, was crowned in Bath in 973.
Istanbul, Turkey: Explore the Magic of Byzantium and Constantinople
Thursday, 12th April – Sunday, 15th April 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / PARTICIPANTS FOR THIS TRIP WILL BE SELECTED BY LOTTERY. To enter the lottery you will need to complete a form which must be submitted to the Student Life Office, SR109, office by NOON on Wednesday, 12th February. This process will be further detailed at the Travel Seminar.
This is the jewel in the 'All School Field Trip' crown! Come explore the magic of Byzantium and Constantinople!
The fee for this trip includes your round-trip flights from Heathrow with three nights’ bed-and-breakfast at a hotel in the historic heart of Old Istanbul, conveniently located within walking distance of the Grand Bazaar, the Hippodrome and the amazing Topkapi Palace – all close to the beautiful Bosphorous sea and Golden Horn. We also include all guide fees and entrance fees PLUS visits to all the major historic sites and tourist attractions of Istanbul such as the 5th Century Aya Sofya, the Basilica Cistern and the opulent Dolmabahce Palace as well as tours and transfers within Istanbul. Shop around and see how much more we offer for your money! Most established tour companies will include two or at most three sites. We are justifiably proud of this, our most popular field trip.
Queen Elizabeth II: Diamond Jubilee Walking Tour
Saturday, 28 April 2012 / This is an ALL SCHOOL field trip / Meet at Green Park Tube Station at 11:00am / A £5 refundable deposit is required for this trip.
The year 2012 marks our famous Queen Elizabeth II's "Diamond Jubilee", or 60 years of reigning as the British monarch! Only one other monarch (Queen Victoria) has reigned longer than Elizabeth. Explore the life of our storied Queen with this fascinating walk through Cenrtal London. We'll start at Green Park, one of London's most picturesque Royal Parks, wind our way through Elizabeth-sights, and end up at the Queen's principal residence: Buckingham Palace!
