History/Politics tour to New York by air: 5 days, 3 nights

We have selected excursions that specifically relate to and provide the best learning opportunities for different areas of the GCSE revisions for the AQA, OCR and Edexcel syllabuses. Please ask your travel advisor for advice on which excursions are most appropriate for your exam board. ‘Prices from’ is based on low season departure, inclusive of flights, transfers and room only accommodation.

Suggested itinerary

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

Day two
Ellis Island and Museum/Statue of Liberty
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Group dinner Little Italy or Chinatown
Empire State Building

Day three
Tenement Museum
Central Park
American Museum of Natural History
New York Historical Society – Museum and Library (tours possible)
Uptown pizza dinner
Broadway show

Day four
Depart accommodation
Jewish Heritage Museum
Board flight back to the UK

Day five
Arrive back in the UK

Excursion locator map

Excursion Ideas

  • 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.

  • Wall Street

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: A guided walking tour in the Financial District, the financial capital of the world. A relative theme is the Wall Street stock market crash in October 1929 when the world economy was plunged into the Great Depression.
    Select says: You will pass by the Federal Hall National Memorial – George Washington was inaugurated on the balcony of the original Federal Hall.

  • 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.

  • Empire State Building

    Subject range: Art, History

    What you’ll experience: It’s hard to imagine the city without picturing this iconic building of the New York skyline. The views from the observation decks are 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.

  • Tenement Museum

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: The Tenement Museum preserves and interprets the history of immigration through the personal experiences of the generations of newcomers who settled in and built lives on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The museum tells the stories of 97 Orchard Street – this tenement apartment building was home to nearly 7000 working class immigrants who faced challenges such as making a new life, working for a better future, and starting a family with limited means.
    Select says: The materials on the museum website will help enrich your visit and aid teaching students about immigration.

  • Harlem History Tour/Uptown Bus Tour

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: A guided tour of Harlem is a fantastic opportunity for students to walk in the footsteps of history with possibilities including passing the club where Billie Holiday once sang and seeing where Malcolm X delivered his speech in 1963.
    Select says: A wonderful tour for bringing aspects of the curriculum to life for your students, and aid their understanding of the contributions that 1960’s Harlem made to the American 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: We recommend a shorter visit that focuses on areas of the museum that best meet the students’ learning requirements especially the ‘Human Origins and Cultural Halls’ where you will find the ‘Hall of Plains Indians’. The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall may also be of interest. Further information and an interactive floorplan is available and can be printed prior to your visit.

  • New York Historical Society – Museum and Library

    Subject range: History

    What you’ll experience: A group visit to the New-York Historical Society gives students the opportunity to experience a taster from over 1.6 million works of art and 40,000 objects that tell compelling stories about New York and the nation’s history. Look out for new additions to the museum – in December 2016, the fourth floor will be transformed into a new destination for historical education.
    Select says: The museum offers a variety of educational options suitable for different themes covered by the various exam board specifications. Please see their website and contact us for further details and to view current and upcoming exhibitions relating to learning requirements.

History/Politics trip to New York by air: 5 days, 3 nights Accommodation

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rooms: Shared bathroom.

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