History Trips To New York & Washington

Who's it for?

  • Secondary School, Sixth Form & FE College

Curriculum Included

Key Highlights

  • Visit the National Mall
  • Go on a walking tour of Historical Sites
  • Take a tour of the White House
  • Take a tour of Manhattan
  • Visit the 9/11 Memorial
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About this trip

From exploring the origins of Civil Rights in New York, to the political powerhouse of Washington DC with its many free museums and monuments, this trip is a fantastic way for GCSE and A-Level students to get a well-rounded view of different aspects of American history.

Combining these two great American cities, a history trip to New York and Washington allows insight into the country's vast historical and political past. Let our experts create this memorable school trip to New York and Washington for you.

Why choose WST for school trips?

I just wanted to touch base to say thank you for all your support with our Washington and New York trip. The pupils and staff had an absolute ball and consensus is, it was our best one yet! There are so many highlights amongst the kids, but everything ran like clockwork and that is in part due to the support from WST and yourself in being so accommodating and supportive of our requests. I am always promoting WST and recommending you to teachers planning a trip as your support makes a huge difference to the experience we can offer to our young people.
Alva Academy, New York & Washington, February 2023

Sample Itinerary

Use our sample itinerary to help picture what your trip could look like. Our itineraries are flexible, visits and timings will be planned based on your needs.

Select an itinerary:

Sample itinerary for a 7 Day trip to New York & Washington

Day 1
Morning

Daytime flight to New York and transfer to your accommodation.

Day 2
Morning

Walking tour of Midtown Manhattan including Central Park, Broadway and Times Square.

Afternoon

Visit the UN Building for a guided tour followed by free time in Midtown Manhattan around Fifth Avenue to see a major shopping area.

Day 3
Morning

Walking tour of Downtown Manhattan including financial district (Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, Battery Park).

Afternoon

Visit Ground Zero, 9/11 Memorial and Museum and then St Paul's Church, followed by Statue Cruise to Liberty & Ellis Islands.

Day 4
Morning

Transfer by coach to Washington DC. En-route guided visit around Gettysburg National Military Park.

Day 5
Morning

Guided walking tour of the historical sites and memorials (including the Lincoln Memorial steps to see where Martin Luther King gave his infamous 'I Have a Dream' speech).

Afternoon

Free time to visit Arlington National Cemetery.

Day 6
Morning

Guided walking tour of the political sites focusing on the Capitol Buildings.

Afternoon

Transfer to airport for overnight return flight to the UK.

Day 7
Morning

Arrive back in the UK

Trip Details

Educational Visits In New York

Other Study Visits

  • Downtown Manhattan Walking Tour
    As always the best way to get around and see a city is on foot, especially when looking at it from a historical perspective. New York history school trips' downtown walking tours will take in some of the well known locations in New York’s political and economic history including Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and Battery Park.
  • Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
    The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is an American military and maritime history museum with a collection of museum ships in New York City. It is located at Pier 86 at 46th Street in the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood on the West Side of Manhattan. The museum showcases the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST, a Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance place and the Space Shuttle Enterprise.
  • Personal Experiences At The 9/11 Tribute Center
    Located next to a FDNY firehouse, the centre offers a ‘person to person history’ to help visitors understand the historic events and the people who experienced them. Various visit options are available, we highly recommend a 90 minute education programme where students will first tour the galleries learning through primary sources, before meeting with a 9/11 Tribute Centre guide who will share their unique personal 9/11 experiences, answer questions and engage students in dialogue about the future.
  • Museum Of American Finance
    A trip to the Museum of American Finance can help your students to learn more about the Wall Street Crash and to understand how finance impacts their daily lives today. Whilst visiting the Museum, along with a guided tour, your students can take part in a 45-60 minute lesson taught in the education center by museum educators and industry experts.
  • Radio City Music Hall
    As the largest indoor theatre in the world, when depression hit this prime spot in Midtown New York, it was turned into the Radio City Music Hall. Visiting Radio City can allow your students to learn about its history, listen to the ‘mighty Wurlitzer’ and enjoy ‘a masterpiece of American Modernist design’.
  • Spyscape
    The world’s preeminent spy museum and experience. Explore the fascinating world of hacking and espionage, and discover your inner spy. Real spy challenges include lie-detection in interrogation booths, observation in surveillance missions, and agility in special ops laser tunnels. Their profiling system (developed with a former Head of Training at British Intelligence) will tell you what kind of spy you’d be. SPYSCAPE brings amazing spy artefacts and stories to life in a uniquely entertaining experience.

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We can include specific visits in your itinerary, additional visits can be added based on the trip length and needs of the curriculum or teacher.

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Other Study Visits

  • US Holocaust Museum
    Take your students to this remarkable museum for an unforgettable trip which explains the story of the Holocaust using film footage, artefacts and eye witness accounts. Along with telling the history of the Holocaust, the museum addresses the subject and prevention of human genocide.
  • National Air And Space Museum
    The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. Highlights include the original Wright Brother’s ‘Spirit of St Louis’ flyer and the Apollo 11 command module. This is an ideal visit if you are studying the Cold War as students can discover more about the Space Race.
  • National Museum Of American History
    This museum displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Throughout the year the museum runs a series of exhibitions based on a variety of subjects so always check the website to see what’s on.
  • National Museum of African American History & Culture
    This museum is a place where people can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience. The collection of stories there give unique insights into three key themes that continue throughout the museum - history, culture and community of African Americans.
  • The Pentagon
    Secure a tour around the world’s largest office buildings. The headquarters of the Department of Defense is home to many significant moments in American history where your students can take an hour on a guided tour walking through 1 and a half miles of the huge building. The Pentagon is located approx. 4 miles outside the centre of Washington and can be easily reached by Metro. If you wish to visit the Pentagon you must apply directly to the British Embassy.
  • World Bank Visitor Center
    The Visitor Center showcases the World Bank Group’s efforts to end poverty and boost shared prosperity for the world’s poorest people. Guided tours can be arranged here and also a discussion with a World Bank Group expert on a specific subject matter, for example, economy, poverty, gender, private sector development.
  • Gettysburg National Military Park
    Take a coach trip out of Washington to visit the site of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. Along with a visit to the museum and visitor centre, a battlefield guide will join you on your coach for a 2 hour tour of the area which will take you through the key points of the civil war and the importance of this battle.

Ready to start planning your trip?

We can include specific visits in your itinerary, additional visits can be added based on the trip length and needs of the curriculum or teacher.

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Other Cultural Visits

  • 911 Memorial
    Located on the World Trade Center site this memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honour to the people killed in the terrorist attacks of 11th September 2001.
  • One World Observatory 
    The tallest observatory in the western hemisphere, located at the 911 memorial site, offering spectacular panoramic views of New York.
  • TV & Movie Sites Tour
    Choose from a range of coach or walking tours around the city, taking in locations of well-known shows and movies, venues where the stars hang out and even see where your favourite celebrities live.
  • Shopping
    A trip to New York is not complete without a trip to world famous shops and department stores.
  • Restaurants
    There are many restaurants in New York – our most popular choices being the Hard Rock Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Ellen's Diner or smaller restaurants in China Town or Little Italy

Ready to start planning your trip?

We can include specific visits in your itinerary, additional visits can be added based on the trip length and needs of the curriculum or teacher.

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Other Cultural Visits

  • The Capitol Steps
    This Capitol Steps are an American political satire group. Originally formed in 1981 by senate staff, they perform every Friday and Saturday evening at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. They dig into the headlines of the day, create song parodies and skits with their own special brand of humour. This show is more suitable for age 16+.
  • Crime & Punishment Museum
    Described by Good Morning America as a "must see for CSI fans," this museum includes a crime lab and the filming studios for America's Most Wanted, a simulated shooting range, high-speed police-chase, and hundreds of interactives and artefacts.
  • Mount Vernon
    This is the most popular historic estate in America, and was home to Commander-in-Chief of American forces and the first President of the United States, George Washington for more than 40 years. Now, you can visit the Mansion, more than 10 original structures, Washington’s Tomb and almost 50 acres of his extensive estate.
  • Georgetown
    Georgetown is a popular Washington, DC neighbourhood for shopping. This shopping mecca appeals to the younger crowd but also has plenty of boutiques and antique stores for all ages.
  • Penn Quarter
    This revitalised neighbourhood near the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, DC is bustling with activity among the new museums, contemporary restaurants and trendy shops.
  • Capitol Hill
    You’ll find lots of upscale shopping at Union Station, the city’s train station and a shopping mall with more than 130 stores, several restaurants and a 9-screen movie theatre.
  • Potomac Mills
    With over 100 stores and restaurants, Potomac Mills is a great place for everyone, with stores from Vans outlets to IKEA, Abercrombie and Fitch to Papaya, there really is something for everyone. Approx. 1 hours drive out of central Washington.

Ready to start planning your trip?

We can include specific visits in your itinerary, additional visits can be added based on the trip length and needs of the curriculum or teacher.

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