Political History & Civil Rights School Trip to Washington DC

A politics school trip to Washington D.C. will help your students to better understand America’s political system and how it is different to that of the UK!

Washington D.C. was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital. In its time as the capital, Washington has experienced everything from civil war to civil rights protests.

As spending increased in the capital, new government buildings, memorials and museums emerged. Its history is told through its varied architecture, with many classic designs seen in its historic and contemporary buildings, including Victorian, Queen Anne and Georgian. A rich and diverse history for your students to explore and enjoy awaits.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Flight from UK to Washington

Afternoon

Transfer to accommodation on arrival

Evening

Optional evening meal at a local restaurant

Day 2

Morning

Morning visit to Capitol Hill and take a free guided tour of the Capitol Building

Afternoon

Explore the Mall including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial Visit Ford's Theatre for the museum, talks and a show

Evening

Optional evening meal at a local restaurant

Day 3

Morning

Visit some of Washington's famous and free museums such as the US Holocaust Memorial Musem

Afternoon

Cross the Potomac River into Virginia and visit the Arlington National Cemetery

Evening

Optional evening meal at a local restaurant

Day 4

Morning

Visit the White House Visitors Center and take a photo stop outside the house

Afternoon

Transfer to the airport

Evening

Return flight to the UK

Day 5

Morning

Arrive back in the UK

3 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation
Airport transfers in resort
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
Detailed information pack
Flights inclusive of tax
Free staff place ratio 1:10
Itinerary planning service
VAT

Accommodation

Cambria Hotel

Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., Cambria Hotel is within easy reach of the top attractions, including the White House, Smithsonian Museum and Lincoln Memorial. Rooms come in the following sizes: King Studio Suite - four people; 2 Queens Studio Suite - five people; One Bedroom King Suite - four people; Executive King Corner Suite Studio - four people; King Suite, Accessible* - four people; 2 Queens Suite, Accessible* - five people; One Bedroom King Suite, Accessible* - four people. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms. (Accessible* = walk-in shower with safety grab bars.)

Generator Washington DC

Generator Washington is a vibrant, trendy hotel designed to feel fresh and energetic and is perfect for groups. Rooms range from suites to 4 bed dorms, each with ensuites, storage lockers, wi-fi and TVs. The hotel benefits from a cafe and restaurant on site, as well as chill out areas, meeting rooms, a gym, outdoor seating and luggage storage. It is also fully accessible.

Tour highlights

Visit Capitol Hill

Home to the United States Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and several other important institutions, Capitol Hill is an essential stop on your politics school trip! Capitol Hill is not only a metonym for the United States Congress, it’s also one of the oldest and most densely populated neighbourhoods in Washington D.C. It’s been home to the United States Congress since 1800 and was carefully selected for this role by Pierre Charles L’Enfant in his plans for the new federal capital.

Did you know?

The Capitol building is huge – it has 540 rooms with 658 windows!

See the Lincoln Memorial

This impressive memorial to Abraham Lincoln, 16 th President of the United States, has become a symbolic venue for the Civil Rights Movement. The Lincoln Memorial has two of Lincoln’s most memorable speeches inscribed on its walls – the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address. And the memorial has, of course, been the setting for other historic speeches, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s *I Have a Dream* speech, which makes it a must-see on your politics and civil rights school trip to Washington D.C.

Did you know?

The Lincoln Memorial is absolutely enormous! It’s 99 feet tall and 202 feet wide. Plus, it’s foundations stretch 66 feet underneath it, in order to support the weight of this colossal marble structure!

Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

Visit the Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum complex in the world, with 19 world-class museums, galleries and gardens – there’s even a zoo! Around 30 million people visit the Smithsonian Institution every year and all are admitted completely free of charge. The Smithsonian was founded in 1846 using funds from the estate of British scientist James Smithson. It was his wish that an institute be founded in his name for the ‘increase and diffusion of knowledge’.

Did you know?

The Smithsonian is nicknamed ‘the nation’s attic’ thanks to its vast, eclectic collection which consists of around 154 million items!

Educational Activities

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill's landmarks include not only the United States Capitol but also the Senate and House office buildings; the Supreme

Ford's Theatre

The site of Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theatre offers museum exhibits, live theatre and immersive learning.

Holocaust Memorial Museum

At the start of the tour, each visitor is given an identity card of a Holocaust victim that matches the

Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial stands at the west end of the National Mall as a neoclassical monument to the 16th President.

Smithsonian Institution

The world's largest museum complex and research organization is composed of 19 museums, 9 research centres and the National Zoo.

The White House

The White House is the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. Built

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial

Deliberately setting aside the controversies of the war, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial honours the men and women who served when

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is the most prominent attractions in Washington D.C. It was built in honour of George Washington who

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.