Art School Trips and Workshops

artistic inspiration for young creatives

What art and design school trips in the UK spark creativity and connect to the curriculum?

Art educational visits feature galleries, studios, and outdoor sketching sessions encouraging techniques, appreciation, and personal expression across primary and secondary levels.

Looking for places and ways in which you can inspire your art and design students or your Arts Award Scheme? There are countless ways to learn about art beyond the classroom and enhance learning experiences within the subject.

Teaching art and design in a classroom environment has its limitations. Books and modern digital devices are great, but if you want to really inspire your art class, taking them to see works of art first hand is a must. Looking for an Arts Award Supporter to help your class?

Arts Week School Trips UK | June 2026

Go all out with creativity to celebrate Arts Week this year. Below you will find a huge range of UK school trips and workshops. From gallery visits in London or Edinburgh to drama workshops and street-art tours. Whether your topic is art history or graffiti, the possibilities are endless. Pupils can sketch, perform, design and explore different cultures through art.

The educational visits on this page work brilliantly across primary and secondary, building confidence and self-expression. And we have ideas to suit every school and every budget. If you're looking for Arts Week school trip inspiration for 2026, you are in the right place. The most popular trips and workshops book up early so make your enquiries today!

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UK Art Trips

Here in the UK we can motivate your group with everything from medieval textile art at Warwick Castle to modern design classics such as Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower. Helping to enhance their critical thinking and develop knowledge around the subject, the art & design day trips we feature can support your study of artists, architects and designers and the skills and processes they employ.

Overseas Art & Design Trips

For older students wishing to travel on an extended art trip, we have an exciting range of tailor made art and design tours. Whether you fancy an architecture trip to Russia, a historical art and design trip to Amsterdam or a far flung voyage to Japan for a once in a lifetime chance to study the arts of the Far East.

Find a school trip or workshop for the following Art topics: Animation, Bookbinding, Comics, Craft, Design, Drawing, History of Art, Multimedia, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles, Urban Arts, and more.

Want to book Art trips and workshops?

Let us find the Art experience experience for your school group




Popular school trip September 2026 !

National Marine Aquarium

location icon South West
apple iconArt, Careers, Engineering, Geography, Environmental Geography, Science, Biology, Seaside, Sustainability, Wildlife


With a variety of amazing animals and habitats, there is no end of artistic inspiration available at the National Marine Aquarium. We offer a dedicated art tour, which will allow students to practice a different technique and media in each of the exhibit spaces. Our brand-new stop-motion animation w...

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logo of astronaut helmet
The Moon Landing: Neil Armstrong
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All our workshops use drama, dance and/or movement to stimulate learning and capture children's imaginations. Our team of performing arts professionals have a range of activities up their sleeve to...
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Image for Mary Seacole Black history month school workshops KS2 KS3.
Mary Seacole-Black History Month
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Our workshops include tailored, fully interactive, drama games, role play, teamwork exercises, songs, movement and more, led by a professional costumed actor.
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Image for online school workshops for Anti Bullying and PSHE for KS1 KS2 and KS3
Anti-Bullying Workshops - Online
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OpenView Education are a team of professional performers who are also subject specialists. Drama is embedded throughout our approach and delivery. All online anti-bullying workshops and shows are full interactive. Students will take part in role-play and group activities.
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actor dressed as a strict victorian school master
Victorians
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Through out the day the children will take a look at life as a Victorian child. The workshop leader will be in dramatical character as a Victorian teacher and Chimney Sweep. There will be times for the children themselves to get involved using drama as a medium.
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eden project in cornwall
Eden Project & Cornwall for Primary and Middle Schools-Curriculum Travel
map pin South West

The performing arts encompass a wide array of disciplines, and we are pleased to confirm our ability to support nearly every variety of ensemble. Should you desire to inspire your students through an...
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Image showing PSHE workshops for KS2 and KS3 for online school workshops
E-Safety Workshops online
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The online workshops includes character monologues performed by actors to bring learning to life for your students.
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Kenwood House
Kenwood House
map pin London & South East

Study the Robert Adams interiors and renowned art collection and use the paintings as inspiration for your own work. To enhance learning, book an expert-led Discovery Visit workshop: - FACE TO FACE...
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Anti-Bullying Workshops
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Performance and drama is at the core of everything that we do. Our approach uses forum theatre and role-play. So your students will be up on their feet taking part and learning new skills through...
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Internet Safety Training workshops for KS2 schools.
Internet Safety Training
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OpenView Education's Internet Safety Workshops align with performing arts education by incorporating drama, storytelling, and role-play into our sessions. These interactive elements engage students...
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Archery at Conway Centres Tattenhall
Conway Centres Tattenhall
map pin North West

Conway Centres offer Creative Arts programmes which provide a wide variety of opportunities for children and young people. Whether you need subject specific themes or would like us to select the theme...
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group of school children with brightly coloured backpacks
Creative School Trips
map pin London & South East

We offer multi-award winning drama, dance and performing arts workshops and courses in partnership with West End productions, on specific practitioners work or styles of performance, all designed to...
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Image showing PSHE workshops for EYFS and KS1 school classes.
Safer Internet Day Workshops
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Our approach to education uses theatre and drama to bring learning to life for students on important topics. In our online safety workshops students take part in role-play activities to help them to apply new skills and strategies to stay safe online.
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actor dressed as a celtic briton
Roman Workshop
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Our workshops include tailored, fully interactive, drama games, role play, teamwork exercises, songs, movement and more, led by a professional costumed actor. Within our Roman Workshop the...
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Anti Bullying worksop poster for online workshops KS2
Anti-Bullying Show - Online
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OpenView Education are a team of professional performers who are also subject specialists. Drama is embedded throughout our approach and delivery. All online anti-bullying workshops and shows are full interactive. Students will take part in role-play and group activities.
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building at the hive activity centre
Unforgettable Residentials at The Hive
map pin London & South East

Creative sessions aim not only to help develop young people's creative thinking, expression and practical abilities, but also help bring other areas of the curriculum the life. For example, making...
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actor dressed as the baker from pudding lane
The Great Fire of London
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Our workshops include tailored, fully interactive, drama games, role play, teamwork exercises, songs, movement and more, led by a professional costumed actor.
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actor dressed in elizabethan costume during a school workshop
Elizabethans
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Our workshops include tailored, fully interactive, drama games, role play, teamwork exercises, songs, movement and more, led by a professional costumed actor.
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actor dressed as a roman soldier during a school workshop
The Romans in Britannia
map pin in-school workshop

Through out the day the children will be taken on a historical journey by the workshop leader who will be in dramatical character. There will also be times for the children themselves to get involved using drama as a medium.
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children in a circle holding hands in a drama workshop
Seaside Holidays of the Past
map pin in-school workshop

Drama days and workshops are a great way for children to make memories and retain topic information for years to come! Drama is a great way to explore History topics, allowing children to learn...
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KS1 group exploring a meadow
Countryside Explorers
map pin West Midlands

Nature art, using natural material to create artwork, temporary or take home. Activities such as Nature Canvas / Sculpture / Sticky postcard / bookmarks.
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Inspiring Art & Design School Trips - Teacher FAQ

6 March 2026

What's the value of art and design trips for schools?
Art trips allow students to see original artwork, including colours, textures, and materials that cannot be fully experienced through photos or textbooks. Visiting galleries helps pupils develop appreciation of different techniques and styles while inspiring their own creative work. These visits support curriculum goals around artistic understanding and experimentation.

Art workshop at school or gallery visit - which works best?
Workshops at school focus on practical techniques and hands on making (£150-£400). Gallery visits provide inspiration by exposing students to a wide range of artistic styles and historical works. Many schools combine both, using workshops for skill development and gallery trips for creative ideas.

Free art places schools can visit?
Many major galleries in the UK offer free entry. The National Gallery in London is free, and many museums allow school groups without admission fees. Outdoor spaces such as parks and sculpture trails can also work well for sketching and observation activities.

Top 10 art and design school trips teachers recommend in 2026:

1. National Gallery, London (classical masterpieces, free)
2. Tate Modern, London (contemporary art)
3. V and A Museum, London (design and decorative arts)
4. In-school artist workshops (painting and mixed media)
5. Yorkshire Sculpture Park (outdoor sculpture)
6. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow (varied collections)
7. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (historic and world art)
8. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (fine art collections)
9. Local street art tours (urban creativity)
10. Hepworth Wakefield (modern sculpture)

Art and design trips for SEND pupils - what helps?
Many galleries offer touch tours and sensory experiences. Workshops can adapt tools and materials for different abilities. Tactile art activities and texture based projects often work well for visually impaired pupils. Planning ahead with venues ensures accessibility and inclusive activities.

Typical cost for art and design trips:
- Free galleries plus travel: £3-£10 per child
- Paid museums or exhibitions: £5-£15 entry
- Workshops: £150-£400
- Residential art camps: £120-£250 per child

Schools may be able to access grants from arts organisations or local cultural programmes.

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Ideas for teaching Painting, Textiles, Photography, and more.

Discover engaging art trips and workshops ideas for primary school groups. Enhance creativity, explore art techniques, and bring the curriculum to life through inspiring outdoor activities, museum visits, and specialist art sessions.

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Four subjects to take outdoors this summer term

We’ve reached that point in the academic year where lessons need freshening up, and taking learning outdoors is the perfect way to add excitement to National Curriculum topics. Take a read and...

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Theatre Workout turns 20 in 2026. We met up with Adam to discuss theatre, education & travel

Theatre Workout is a unique company, spanning the education, theatre, and travel industries, creating unique opportunities for schools to engage with creativity and culture first-hand. Their energy, passion, and expertise has won...

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