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 October 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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actor dressed as a Victorian
A Victorian Christmas
map pin online/in-school workshop

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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Uno - Online Primary Workshops
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All our online workshops use drama, dance and/or movement to stimulate learning and capture children's imaginations. We also make sure to tie in key curriculum objectives linked to your chosen topic....
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actor in astronaut clothing with a globe
Space Travel
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At The Drama Hut all of our workshops include tailored, fully interactive, drama games, role play, teamwork exercises, group activities, songs, movement and more, led by a professional costumed actor.
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actor telling a World War II story
WW2 Workshops
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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 with a dinosaur poster
The Dinosaur dynasty
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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 this workshop the class will have...
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colourful recycled fish design
Green Up Your Act Education
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We use art and craft as a medium to bring environmental issues into focus for young people. In each session pupils first explore a topical environmental issue and are then invited to make a colourful...
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school children dressing as Romans at Lullingstone Roman Villa
Lullingstone Roman Villa
map pin London & South East

Lullingstone Roman Villa provides a hands-on insight into the lives of the Romans living there and brings the curriculum to life in a fun and engaging way. Lullingstone is amongst the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain.
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children in a school hall answering questions
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
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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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actor during workshop on mobile phone
Online Safety Performances
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The children will watch three professional actors, which is a hugely inspiring experience, which gives the pupils lots to reflect on back in class. Altru only works with excellent quality,...
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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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suffragettes banner reading deeds not words
Suffragettes 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.
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actor dressed as a roman soldier during a school workshop
The Romans in Britannia
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During the workshop the children will paint their own individual shield which will then be used later during the shield battle tactic activity. A follow up lesson can be used by the teacher to finish off the shield design.
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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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KS1 child with a magnifying glass on a bug hunt
Day Visits
map pin London & South East

Our art sessions encourage children to use natural materials around them to create art. This could be through mud painting, clay sculpting or Hapa Zome. Our Mindfulness and Natural Art Discovery Day also uses these activities to help children practice mindfulness in the great outdoors.
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actor dressed as a tudor lady
Tudor Workshops
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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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children in a school hall workshop
Early Islamic Civilisations
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All of our activities are designed to support children's learning in Drama and Performing Arts. Through carefully planned activities and exercises, children use their bodies and voices expressively, develop their imaginations and learn new theatrical vocabulary.
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logo of chinese lantern
Shang Dynasty
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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 ensure your chosen topic is as accessible and engaging as possible for your pupils.
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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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actor dressed as a strict victorian school master
Victorians
map pin in-school workshop

During the workshop the children will design and paint their own Victorian penny (over sized) to be able to use later in the day to access the Victorian penny school class. The children are also shown what the writing and numbers around the 'old penny' mean.
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early islamic art logo
Early Islamic Civilisation
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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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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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