Cultural Tour to New York by air: 5 days, 3 nights

Your cultural school trip to New York is a wonderful opportunity to bring elements of the KS3 and KS4 curriculum to life and cross-curricular links can help make the tour viable for term time travel as well as peak time. We can tailor-make the tour to suit your learning needs.

Suggested itinerary

Day one
Fly from the UK to New York
Arrive in New York
Transfer to accommodation

Day two
9/11 Memorial Museum
New York Highline
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Empire State Building

Day three
Sight-seeing cruise, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty
Guggenheim Museum
Madison Square Garden or Radio City

Day four
Depart accommodation
Leisure Time
Board flight back to the UK

Day five
Arrive back in the UK

Excursion Locator Map

Excursion Ideas

  • High Line walk

    Subject range: Art

    What you’ll experience: The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated 30 feet above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. The High Line was transformed from a derelict structure to one of New York’s most beloved public spaces. High Line Art presents a wide array of artwork including site-specific commissions, exhibitions, performances, video programs, and a series of billboard interventions. High Line Art invites artists to come up with creative ways to engage with the uniqueness of the architecture, design, and history of the High Line.
    Select says: The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. River and city views provide a different vantage point from which to discuss the surrounding architecture.

  • Empire State Building

    Subject range: Art, History

    What you’ll experience: It’s hard to think of the city without picturing this iconic building of the New York skyline. The views from the observation decks are stunning and particularly beautiful at sunset. The visit also includes the newly restored lobby with its beautiful art deco ceiling murals, the historical Dare To Dream Exhibit, the new Sustainability Exhibit, and an interactive audio device. Find out more here.
    Select says: The view of the building is also amazing. The Empire State Building’s tower lights have maintained a tradition of changing colour to recognize various occasions throughout the year. In 2012, a new computer driven LED light system was installed capable of displaying 16 million colours.

  • Guggenheim Museum

    Subject range: Art

    What you’ll experience: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as ‘The Guggenheim’, is an art museum and permanent home of a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions throughout the year. A guided tour is recommended.
    Select says: It is possible to browse and view the collection online for use pre-tour and post-tour on the Guggenheim website.

  • Ellis Island and Museum/Statue of Liberty

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: An exciting and memorable experience that will take you to the iconic Statue of Liberty, along with a visit to Ellis Island Immigrant Museum. At the museum, visitors learn about Ellis Island’s history before, during, and after its use as America’s immigration station. The museum also tells the stories of why so many people immigrated to America and what became of them after they arrived. For the Statue of Liberty there are two options for you to choose pre-tour: access to the pedestal or the pedestal and crown.
    Select says: Audio Tours are included with the purchase of every ticket. The audio tours, which complement the National Park Service (NPS) Ranger-led tours on the islands, provide a major enhancement to the visitor experience on both islands.

  • 911 Memorial and Museum

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: The Museum’s 110,000 square feet of exhibition space is located within the archaeological heart of the World Trade Center site. It tells the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, archives, narratives and a collection of monumental and authentic artefacts. It serves as the country’s principal institution for examining the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of the events and exploring the continuing significance of September 11, 2001.
    Select says: The museum’s website has an excellent interactive timeline for pre tour work and post tour follow up/discussion.

  • Jewish Heritage Museum

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: Created as a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust, the Museum honours those who died by celebrating their lives. The core Exhibition and award-winning special exhibitions present the 20th and 21st century experience from the perspective of those who lived it. New generations are taught how to recognize and fight contemporary instances of injustice and oppression.
    Select says: Aspects of the collection which contribute to areas of the curriculum include: Holocaust ghettos and camps, Nazi and collaborationist materials, non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and Jewish participation in the Civil Rights Movement.

  • American Museum of Natural History

    Subject range: Science, Cultural, History

    What you’ll experience: One of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world. Located in park-like grounds across the street from Central Park, the museum complex has 27 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls. The museum collections contain over 32 million specimens of plants, humans, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, and human cultural artifacts, of which only a small fraction can be displayed at any given time.
    Select says: Check the American Museum of Natural History website for current exhibitions.

  • Radio City Music Hall

    Subject range: Cultural

    What you’ll experience: The Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in Rockefeller Center. Known as the Showplace of the Nation, for a time it was the leading tourist destination in the city
    Select says: It is possible to take a tour. Please see the Radio City Music Hall Website.

  • Madison Square Gardens

    Subject range: Cultural

    What you’ll experience: Madison Square Garden is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Midtown Manhattan, located between Seventh and Eighth Avenues from 31st to 33rd Streets. This is a chance to go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most famous arenas. Discover the place where the likes of Elvis Presley, U2 and Elton John have performed and the home of many significant sporting events.
    Select says: Madison Square Garden sits directly above Pennsylvania Station.

Cultural Trip to New York by air: 5 days, 3 nights Accommodation

Vanderbilt YMCA

Our rating:

Location: Manhattan

Capacity:

Conveniently located on Manhattan's East Side near Grand Central Station and Fifth Avenue. An excellent base from which to visit the many attractions in New York City, the YMCA Vanderbilt is a great budget option that welcomes school groups.

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Rooms: Shared bathroom.

Facilities: Common room, Wi-Fi available, swimming pool, vending machines.

Holiday Inn

Our rating:

Location: Manhattan

Capacity:

Comfortable, well-located accommodation in Midtown 57th street, within walking distance of Central Park, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.

Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.

Facilities: Large lobby, bar and restaurant.

Comfort Inn Chelsea

Our rating:

Location: Manhattan

Capacity:

Central location near Madison Square Park and the iconic Flatiron Building in Times Square. The Comfort Inn offers comfortable rooms with friendly staff in a very convenient location to explore the city.

Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.

Facilities: Breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi available.

Broadway Hotel & Hostel

Our rating:

Location: Manhattan

Capacity:

Well located accommodation on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, only minutes from world-famous attractions. A great choice for groups offering newly renovated, comfortable dormitory-style rooms, friendly service, and contemporary design.

Rooms: Shared bathroom.

Facilities: Restaurant, free Wi-Fi, 24 hour reception, lounge area.