Art School Trips and Workshops

artistic inspiration for young creatives

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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




summer school trip giveaway competition

Win a York day trip with Wizard of York

Experience the wonder of York with The Wizard Walk of York, who are offering the chance to WIN a spellbinding private tour for one class of up to 30 children, plus 4 teachers. A quest to find magical creatures against the backdrop of The Shambles, York Minster, Mad Alice Lane and other key sites. Ignite pupils' imaginations with this unique blend of magic, comedy, storytelling and local history! WINNER Best Tour of York four years running, Experience of the Year 2025 and 2026 and more. Enter now and find out why schools often say it's the highlight of their entire trip!

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Ingestre Hall historic building
Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre
map pin West Midlands

Drama at Ingestre Hall focuses on creating an original performance. Students create short scenes and sketches in small groups which are then performed to the whole group for peer feedback, before...
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Ingestre Hall historic building
Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre
map pin West Midlands

Art workshops at Ingestre offer the time to explore a chosen theme with the depth and variety of techniques that may not always be possible in school. Skills and techniques used include drawing,...
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School art workshop at the Walker Art Gallery
Walker Art Gallery - Virtual Classroom
map pin online/in-school workshop

Virtual Classroom: The Art of Wellbeing KS1 - Students will use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. They will develop a wide range of art and...
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school child at the walker art gallery
Walker Art Gallery
map pin North West

Big Art EYFS - Students are able to experiment with collage materials and mark making. There are opportunities for imaginative and creative play through small world toys, block play, costumes, puppets...
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Audley End
Audley End
map pin East of England

Discover Audley End's impressive collection of portrait miniatures and Old Master paintings, including works by Hans Holbein, Hans Eworth, Pieter Claesz and Jan van Goyen. You can also use our outdoor activity pack for inspiration and draw the flora in Audley End's extensive and beautiful grounds.
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children in tie-dye tshirts during an art workshop
Urban Arts - Graffiti - Fashion - Beatboxing - Breakdancing - DJ
map pin in-school workshop

Our urban arts workshops directly support and enrich the national art curriculum by encouraging creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking. Through hands-on experiences in graffiti, fashion...
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children in tie-dye tshirts during an art workshop
Urban Arts - Graffiti - Fashion - Beatboxing - Breakdancing - DJ
map pin in-school workshop

Our workshops offer a dynamic and engaging way to meet key objectives within the Performing Arts curriculum. Sessions such as beatboxing, rap & lyric writing, and breakdancing encourage students to...
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poster about hive activity centre
Unforgettable Day Visits 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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environmentally friendly project using a bike and recycling
Arts, Crafts & Planet Friendly Projects
map pin in-school workshop

We support teachers in delivering the art curriculum through exciting, hands-on workshops including recycling art projects, SFX makeup, graffiti, and more. Our creative sessions align with curriculum goals, helping students build skills, express themselves, and think sustainably.
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view of middleport pottery museum from the canal
Middleport Pottery
map pin West Midlands

Art and Design was crucial to the potteries, using different mediums and workshops we can help engage your students with creative learning activities such as printmaking, pattern design, heritage art...
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actors with protest signs associated with black history
Black History KS1: Nelson Mandela & Rosa Parks
map pin in-school workshop

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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computer game logo
Game Over
map pin in-school workshop

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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Rock climbing at Conway Centres Anglesey
Conway Centres Anglesey
map pin Wales

Based at our Conway Centres: Anglesey we have an excellent range of facilities for both the Performing and Visual Arts. We offer high quality education aimed at encouraging creativity, providing...
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World war I poster
World War 1
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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logo of astronaut helmet
The Moon Landing: Neil Armstrong
map pin in-school workshop

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...
> read

actress in pantomime
Preparing for Panto!
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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british flags in a world war II exhibition
World War 2
map pin in-school workshop

During the workshop the children will receive a cut out of the Lee Enfield rifle that they will paint on the one side replicating the one on show. This will be used later in the marching drill. As...
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actor dressed as a nurse from WW1
WW1 Workshop
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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school children dressed as ancient egyptians with a mummy
Exciting Egyptians
map pin in-school workshop

The workshop looks at the basics of the Egyptian form of writing - HIEROGLYPHICS. the children are given the opportunity to write their name on their own 'cubit' stick in the form of drawing the hieroglyphic equivalent.
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school children dressed as ancient egyptians with a mummy
Exciting Egyptians
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.
> read

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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Four subjects to take outdoors this summer term
Art Day Trips

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 find out how you can give your subjects a new lease of life in Lee Valley Regional Park.

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

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 them many accolades, and exclusive partnerships with major shows,...

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Award-Winning Theatre Trips
Art Residential

Book your award-winning theatre trip with TheatreWorkout and get the whole package: travel, workshops, tickets, tours and more!

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