Looking for an out-of-this-world trip to inspire your scientists? Houston, we have lift-off.
It might come as a surprise to you, but school trips to America are increasingly popular and affordable.
The global appeal of American music, TV, and film means that on our USA school trips, your students will experience a country that they will, in many ways, already be familiar with but may not have had the opportunity to visit.
Whatever your subject or learning objectives, the USA is a great choice. Plus, it's a destination that your students will never forget.
Browse our trips
School Science Trip to Houston
Political History & Civil Rights School Trip to Atlanta
Are your students studying civil rights? Then you cannot miss the opportunity to take them on a school trip to Atlanta!
£1499PP
School Media Studies Trip to Los Angeles
Inspire your media studies students with a school trip to Los Angeles, where they'll explore all that Hollywood has to offer!
£999PP
School Performing Arts Trip to Los Angeles
Known as the 'Creative Capital of the World', Los Angeles is the perfect setting for your next performing arts school trip!
£1099PP
Political History & Civil Rights School Trip to New York
Explore the diversity of New York and how various communities have affected the city's politics on your school trip to New York!
£1249PP
School Art Trip to New York
Looking for the ultimate art school trip to inspire your students? Look no further than the Big Apple - New York City!
£1249PP
School Business Studies Trip to New York
Considered the world's premier financial centre, where better than New York for business students?
£1249PP
School Performing Arts Trip to New York
Explore the incredible theatrical scene around Broadway on your unforgettable performing arts school trip to New York!
£1249PP
School Media Studies Trip to New York
Explore film and TV locations and visit working studios on your unforgettable media studies school trip to New York!
£1249PP
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Activities in America that your school group will love
Guggenheim New York
The original Guggenheim Museum, conceived by Solomon Guggenheim in 1937, is a must-see when visiting the Big Apple.
Financial District Walking Tour
This four-hour guided walking tour weaves together history, events, architecture and the people of Downtown - the birthplace of New York and the financial capital of the world.
Broadway Workshops
We can arrange a selection of Broadway-related workshops, including the audition process, singing and choreography, stage combat, and many more.
Alcatraz Cruises
To this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's most legendary prisons.
Kennedy Space Center
Just 45 minutes from Orlando, NASA’s headquarters is the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas, meet an astronaut, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, and even view a launch.
Universal Studios
Go behind the scenes, beyond the screen and right into the action of your favourite TV shows and films at Universal Studios.
Smithsonian Institution
The world's largest museum complex and research organization is composed of 19 museums, 9 research centres and the National Zoo.
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial stands at the west end of the National Mall as a neoclassical monument to the 16th President.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is a spectacular sight and not to be missed on any trip to Utah.
NatureBridge Yosemite
NatureBridge Yosemite gives your students the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, among the stunning surroundings of Yosemite National Park.
National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, the assassination site of Dr.
Space Center U
Space Center U is the official visitor centre for the NASA Johnson Space Center and is one of the top attractions in Houston.
Why choose the USA for a school trip?
1. Influential culture
Trips to the US are always a hit with students because American culture is so far-reaching. Your students will have grown up watching American films and TV programmes and listening to American music. So if you’re looking for a trip to inspire performing arts or media studies groups, then the USA could be the answer!
Why not discover the history of American music on a school tour of the South, from Nashville to New Orleans? Or learn more about the media in North America on a trip to Los Angeles?
And you can even explore the American fashion industry and art scene in New York City.
2. A huge choice of destinations
The hardest thing about a school trip to America is choosing which of its incredible cities to base your group in.
New York always makes a great impression on students of almost any subject. Being on the East Coast means shorter flight times, too.
Also on the East Coast, Washington D.C. really is a must for any groups interested in American history or politics.
In the South, you could choose to visit Atlanta, where your students will have the opportunity to explore the civil rights movement and its most famous figures.
And don’t forget about the West Coast, where you can choose to experience the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles or learn more about the USA’s fascinating geography in San Francisco.
3. It's perfect for any subject
America is a huge, diverse country and this is reflected in the variety of educational opportunities it offers for school groups.
New York can cater to most subjects, including food technology, business studies, maths and religious studies.
Perhaps you want your students to see science in action on a science school trip to Orlando, where you’ll explore the physics of rollercoasters and learn more about space exploration at the Kennedy Space Center?
Why not head out west to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park to explore the USA’s spectacular geography? The possibilities are almost endless, which also makes the USA a great choice for cross-curricular trips.
We’ll tailor your trip to meet your specific learning requirements so, whatever the motivation for your educational tour to America, we’ll ensure that your learning objectives are supported by a well-designed itinerary.
Where to visit in America
Houston
Inspire the next generation of rocket scientists on a trip to Houston.
Your students will have the chance to see behind the scenes at NASA, take part in exciting engineering-based activities, and get a taste of the real Texas.
Atlanta
Choose Atlanta as your base to explore America's Deep South.
Atlanta is most popular with political history groups. It was an important city for the civil rights movement and home to Martin Luther King Jr., plus many other key figures who fought for desegregation and racial equality.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles will provide your students with the exciting opportunity to experience the glamour of Hollywood!
Los Angeles is a great option for both media studies and performing arts groups. There are many exciting activities to enjoy here, including being part of a live studio audience and taking a tour of the Sony Pictures Studios.
New York
A trip to New York is an unforgettable experience for any student and one that will be remembered forever.
New York is a great destination for many different subjects, including art, business studies, design and technology, fashion, food technology, maths, media studies, performing arts, politics and religious studies. And with so many options, it's ideal for cross-curricular tours too!
Orlando Florida
If you're looking for a destination that will inspire young scientists, Orlando will take some beating.
Visits here can include the Kennedy Space Center, as well as STEM workshops offered by some of the theme parks that Orlando is famous for.
San Francisco
San Francisco is an exciting option for geography groups.
With its history of devastating earthquakes, San Francisco is the perfect option for any group interested in how populations in seismically active areas can prepare for earthquakes and prevent damage. You can also include visits to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the most fascinating landscapes on Earth.
As such, it's very popular with geography groups who come here to find out how physical processes have affected land formation in the area. You can also visit Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.
Washington DC
Washington D.C. is ideal for groups interested in US political history.
Your students will love this opportunity to explore how the US federal system works. They'll also have the opportunity to learn more about the life and death of Abraham Lincoln. And they'll deepen their understanding of the civil rights movement.
New Orleans
New Orleans offers an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating history and diverse culture of the USA.
Ideal for performing arts groups keen to explore the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans is a fantastic choice of destination for any history or politics groups learning about slavery or the American Civil War too.
Nashville
Discover America’s musical heritage on a trip to Nashville.
Nashville is great for performing arts groups who want to learn more about the USA’s incredible musical history. One of the highlights will be a visit to the studios where Elvis first recorded.
Learn more
07 Jun 2024
Exploring New York and Washington D.C.
Some of our team have just got back from New York and Washington D.C. Check out their top tips here.
21 Feb 2022
Need inspiration for your next field trip? Here are six popular ideas for studying different aspects of your curriculum.
21 May 2019
Alex and Zoe's American Adventure
Here Alex tells us about his and Zoe's trip to New York and Washington DC.
Related resources
The Ultimate Guide To Organising School Trips
Everything a teacher needs to know about organising a trip – from start to finish.
Risk Assessment For School Trips
Worried about the prospect of completing the risk assessments for your trip? We're here to help.
How Do I Write A School Trip Letter?
Our top tips for writing a letter to get parental permission.
What To Pack For Your School Trip
Bombarded by questions from parents and students about what to pack? Share this handy guide and free, downloadable checklist!
Why Are School Trips Important?
Finding yourself having to justify wanting to run a school trip? We're here to help.
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Tours Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
FAQs
I can't see the exact destination I want to visit in the US, does this mean you can't help me?
No, the destinations featured on this page are only our most popular school trips to America.
We have great relationships with suppliers across the US, so there shouldn't be any problem for us to arrange whatever it is you want to do. Just get in touch and we'll see what we can do for you.
And remember all the trips featured on our website are examples of what can be achieved - your itinerary will be totally tailored to you, you can go for longer or shorter durations and you can do different activities.
Do my students need a visa to visit the USA?
To travel to the USA on a school trip, you will usually require an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver. This can be applied for online and costs $14. There may be different requirements for members of your group travelling on a non-British passport. You can find out more on the US state department website.
Do you offer travel insurance?
We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs).
If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group.
Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?
Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.
Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time.
So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want.
Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know.
How far ahead should I be planning my trip to the USA?
Generally, we recommend planning 12-18 months in advance for any school trip. This just means all the key tasks are spread out so you don't get overwhelmed (after all, you're already extremely busy), and parents have plenty of time to pay for the trip.
For a long-haul destination, like the USA, we recommend planning your trip as early as possible. For one thing, it will be more expensive than a trip to Europe, so you need to give parents a bit more time to pay.
If you do want to travel sooner and you're sure that students' families will be able to pay for the trip comfortably in that timeframe, we can certainly arrange a trip for you. Just note that availability will be more limited and prices may be a little higher (although where we see opportunities to keep costs down, we'll certainly point them out to you).
What accommodation options are available in the USA?
As you'd expect, a wide variety of accommodation options are available in the USA. It will largely depend on where you want to go as to what exactly is available.
But rest assured that wherever you go, we'll only suggest accommodation we believe to be suitable for school groups, as we're an Assured Member of the School Travel Forum and have a rigorous Safety Management System in place.
Let's chat!