School Trips to New York City


About school trips to New York City

New York City is one of our most popular destinations popular with pupils and parents alike. Trips focused on theatre studies, business studies, cultural immersion as well as a range of specialists topics have all been run in the city.

Pupils on school trips to New York City will have the chance to visit some of New York’s most famous landmarks, including Times Square, Grand Central Terminal and take pictures from the top of the Empire State Building as they survey the iconic skyline.

Students of history and art will marvel at the architecture, from styles as diverse as Gothic and Beaux-Arts as they explore the city or take in the wonderful views of Lower Manhattan from the North Shore Waterfront Esplanade.

There is also ample opportunity to board one of the iconic Staten Island ferries to the Statue of Liberty, or visit the city’s many art galleries and museums.

Suitable For: History School TripsSTEM School Trips

Support we offer on school trips to New York City

We support schools embarking on trips to New York City in a variety of ways, including:

  • Tailormade itineraries to match your school’s learning objectives
  • A launch evening at the school for parents, students and teachers
  • One point of contact for planning and preparation
  • A comprehensive pre-departure briefing
  • A highly qualified Expedition Leader to accompany your group

For more information regarding planning and executing an expedition to New York City with your school, see our comprehensive guide on how to plan a trip here.

Day 1

Arrive in New York

Fly from the UK to New York where you will be met by your Gapforce Leader and transferred to your accommodation in the city centre.
After checking into your accommodation and freshening up, there will be a chance to indulge in some retail therapy in some of the many shops and department stores before enjoying a group welcome dinner

Day 2

Lower Manhattan

This morning you take a guided tour of New York’s world famous financial district. Learn about financial icons J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller as well as the importance of the Dow Jones Index. Stops include:

  • The New York Stock Exchange
  • Federal Hall
  • Trinity Church
  • Stone Street
  • Delmonico's
  • US Customs House
  • Bowling Green
  • The Wall Street Bull

After lunch, you will take a visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum which commemorates the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 1993 attack.
In the evening, there will be a chance for some more shopping before dinner.

Day 3

Museums & Midtown

After breakfast, you will visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) followed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). The former boasts a fine collection of modernist art and the latter has a vast array of art from all over the world.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a walk through Midtown Manhattan, the area of the city most visitors envision when they think of New York City. Home to some of the city’s most iconic architecture, from Gothic to Post-Modern and from Beaux-Arts to Art Deco (lots of Art Deco). Sights you will pass include:

  • Times Square
  • New York Public library
  • Grand Central Terminal
  • The Chrysler Building
  • Rockefella Centre
  • St Patrick's Cathedral
  • The Empire State Building

This evening you will have dinner in Theatre land, followed by a show.

Day 4

Staten Island Ferry

This morning, we take the Staten Island Ferry, one of the last vestages of an entire ferry system that transported New Yorkers between Manhatten and the Outer Boroughs. The 30 minute ride provides one of the best methods of seeing the Statue of Liberty. Once on Staten island, we head to the North Shore Waterfront Esplanade for spectacular views of Lower Manhattan.

Central Park

On returning to Manhattan, we’ll head north for a walking tour of Central Park which includes Cherry Hill, Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle and Delacorte Theatre. Your afternoon ends with Ice Skating in Wollman Rink
In the evening you will have a farewell dinner

Day 5

NYU and return home

Today you’ll have a chance to visit NYU and have a tour of the facilities a student Ambassador. The tour includes the library, a classroom building, the student center, and a residence hall lobby. There may also be a chance to sit in on a class or information session on admissions
After lunch, there will be a chance of some last minute shopping before returning to the airport for overnight flight home

Day 6

Arrive back in the UK

Arrive back in the UK after your New York adventure.

Whats included poster

Gapforce New York City Expedition Leader

Throughout your expedition you will be accompanied by a Gapforce New York City Expedition Leader. Gapforce is renowned for the select team of enthusiastic leaders who run our worldwide expeditions.

We hire great people experienced in delivering inspiring and safe travel experiences, many of whom have graduated from our intense 3-month Expedition Leader Training which includes:

  • Mountain Leader Training
  • RGS Off-site safety management
  • RLSS Water Safety
  • QA Level 2 Activity First Aid
  • Rescue Training
  • Wilderness Medical Training
  • Advanced Survival Training
  • Expedition Planning
  • Incident Management