Art & design school trips to New York

The place where bright lights, shopping, and shows collide, Times Square is a bustling amalgamation of the New York seen on screens, providing an unforgettable experience for your students. Spot yellow taxi cabs, soaring skyscrapers and street entertainment in this thriving heart of the Theater District, which draws around 50 million visitors each year.

Discover the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Museum via ferry on this excursion, where your students can enjoy magnificent close-up views of the Statue of Liberty. We can’t wait to show you the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the United States, as well as a different perspective to Mid and Lower Manhattan from the water.

One of the undisputed icons of New York, Brooklyn Bridge offers incredible vistas that we’ve seen stun countless school groups. While the view from Manhattan is likely to take your students’ breath away, we recommend venturing on to the world’s first steel suspension bridge to enjoy the sights of the city, its twinkling lights reflected against the East River.

Located inside the 9/11 Memorial Gardens, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum commemorates the horrific terrorist attacks at the Twin Towers in 2001, which killed almost 3,000 people. Students can contemplate the museum’s collection of more than 40,000 images, 14,000 artifacts, 3,500 audio recordings and more than 500 hours of video – each surrounding the deadliest terror attack in human history.

Enjoy the spectacular views of the Empire State Building's 86th Floor Observation Deck with this fantastic excursion, which is one of our favourites here at Equity. Inside, school groups can also explore the landmark’s brand new galleries, which are complete with interactive exhibitions around the building’s construction and engineering.

Once a dingy freight line, the 2.33-kilometre High Line is a shining example of urban renewal and an icon of American contemporary landscape architecture, stemming north from the city’s Meatpacking District. As one of the city’s best-loved green spaces, students will relish the opportunity to relax in the park, where they can take in fantastic views across Manhattan’s urban landscape and the Hudson River while enjoying public art installations and food from independent vendors.

Known informally as “The Whitney”, this art museum reserves almost 6,000 square metres of floor space for a dazzling collection of American art. Wander through the museum’s bright galleries and your students will discover works by all the great American artists spanning the last 100 years, including Edward Hopper, Georgia O-Keeffe and Jasper Johns.

Boasting breathtaking panoramic views of New York City, the One World Observatory offers one of the best views of Lower Manhattan from the top of the One World Trade Center (also known as the Freedom Tower, after the 9/11 attacks). The Observatory also offers an opportunity for students to learn about the tragic event, and what the building means to the city.

Housing a mind boggling collection of almost 200,000 pieces of artwork, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York plays a fundamental role in the collecting and development of modern art in the United States. We can’t wait to see your students’ eyes light up with inspiration here, as they set their sights on famous art pieces such as Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, and The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali.

Famed for its spiralling staircase which allows visitors to view its artworks from different perspectives, the Guggenheim is a prestigious art museum that’s not to be missed. The museum houses a wide selection of works from world famous artists including Vincent Van Gogh, Franz Marc and Vasily Kandinsky, providing an inspiring stop for art students.

Let us take you to the largest art museum in the States, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (also known as The Met), which has a permanent collection containing more than two million works of art. With works representing Western, African, Asian, Oceanian, Byzantine, Islamic art and more, there’s plenty to inspire your students. Highly recommended by Equity staff.

One of the world’s most recognised green spaces, Central Park brings scenes from the silver screen to life with its tree-lined walkways guiding visitors through fields, European-style gardens and a lake – among other glorious features. Do as New Yorkers do and lounge on Sheep Meadow (the perfect spot for a lunch break) or head to Central Park Zoo to prompt unforgettable experiences in nature for your students.

A familiar setting of so many famous film scenes, Grand Central Station is one of the most recognisable train terminals in the world. With a guided walking tour of the station, school groups will learn about the creation, evolution and restoration of this iconic terminal. Be sure not to miss the Whispering Gallery, which is famed for its acoustic properties.

On a Hershey's Sweet Educational tour, your group will first be divided in half to allow more focused learning opportunities about one of North America's most popular chocolatiers. While one half is toured around by a guide, the other half of your group will be guided to make their own Hershey's chocolate products, or shop Hershey’s merchandise. They'll then swap over, so each student has equal time to explore the wonderful world of Hershey's.

Combine the glitter and glamour of the world’s most famous faces with an interactive and educational experience at Madame Tussauds. Located in Times Square, this activity is always a hit among student groups, who we’ve seen excited to pose alongside their favourite celebrities. Enhance your students’ experience by adding a Behind the Scenes, Business & Marketing or The French Revolution seminar to your itinerary.

A small, yet beautiful, gallery located in New York’s Upper East Side, Neue Galerie is a showcase of Austrian and German art, featuring works from Paul Klee, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Gustav Klimt, among others. Don’t miss Klimt’s incredible Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, which was bought for $135 million and is by far the most valuable artwork in the gallery.

N.B. Children aged under 12 are not permitted to enter the gallery.

No trip to Manhattan is complete without experiencing the bright delights of a New York Broadway Show. From timeless classics such as Chicago and the Phantom of the Opera to modern favourites such as Wicked and Mean Girls, there’s a wide variety of performances to inspire your entire school group. For many students, a Broadway show is the highlight of their trip.

Set in a huge mansion that reflects its former residential status in ‘Millionaires’ Row’, the Frick Collection is a spectacular exhibition space that is bound to impress your school group. Despite the gallery displaying several prestigious international masterpieces from the likes of Titian, Vermeer, Van Dyck and Rembrandt, you students are also likely to have the place all to themselves – an experience you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in New York, particularly with art of this calibre.

There are few museums quite as cool as MoMA PS1, the Museum of Modern Art’s wilder, contemporary arm. Here, students can wander the site’s former classrooms to discover a variety of innovative and experimental pieces, from digital art to pieces which play on perspective and are only visible through a hole in the wall. Visits here are a brilliant way to demonstrate to budding artists there’s much more to creativity than painting on paper.

An essential stop for art and design trips to New York, the International Center of Photography (ICP) is the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. Here, students will view incredible images constructed to challenge their views on the world, and can learn how to frame their own thought-provoking shots through additional classes and workshops.

An offshoot of Washington DC’s Smithsonian Institution, the Cooper Hewitt Museum is the only museum in the whole of the United States devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design, and a must-see for art students. More than 210,000 pieces are displayed here, depicting 3,000 years of design aesthetic and creativity across a range of media, from ancient textiles and paper craft to modern design and cutting-edge technologies.

Led by Dia Beacon’s gallery guides, this tour provides a one-hour overview of the gallery, where students will gain an in-depth explanation of the Dia Art Foundation’s collection. Spanning from the 1960s to the present day, exhibits include temporary shows of large-scale sculptures which complement the permanent collection of monumental works by Richard Serra, Dan Flavin and Louise Bourgeois. A must-see for students looking to deepen their understanding and knowledge of contemporary art.

Featuring more than 130,000 artifacts relating to film, television and video, the Museum of the Moving Image is a brilliant excursion for budding filmmakers and artists, as well as students seeking some light-hearted entertainment. Students can explore the development of cameras from analogue to digital over the last 200 years, play vintage arcade games, and interact with artistic displays that show the science behind the art.

Part museum, part thrilling aerial tour of the New York skyline, this one-of-a-kind interactive experience gives student groups an immersive view into the city that never sleeps. At RiseNY, students can expect a three-part journey that covers New York’s most famous sites, its global impact, and its incredible history, through captivating film, galleries, and a soaring rise that suspends you 30ft in the air!

Embark on a culinary adventure in the cultural melting pot of New York City. From iconic establishments like Hard Rock Café and Ellen's Stardust Diner to the flavours of Little Italy, our restaurant recommendations provide educational and cultural benefits for students, ensuring a delectable experience in the Big Apple.

Experience the thrill of live sports in the heart of New York City. From iconic venues like Madison Square Garden to the energetic atmospheres of Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, our sports excursions offer unforgettable opportunities to witness basketball, hockey, and baseball, while fostering teamwork and cultural appreciation of the city.