Throughout the six weeks, St Mary’s offers activities included in the programme price to help you get to know each other and your new city.
These include:
- virtual pre-arrival session to prepare you for your experience
- round-trip transfer between Heathrow Airport and campus on arrival and departure days (at specified times)
- in-person orientation session to help you settle in at St Mary’s
- welcome reception
- walking tours of Twickenham and Kingston
- five academic field trips
- an opportunity to join London Theatre students on theatre visits on cheap ticket deals.
In addition, staff will be on hand to point you to your next adventure. Fancy a picnic in the park or a visit to one of London’s iconic outdoor markets? Perhaps you’d like to enjoy the great outdoors with boating on the Thames or hiking in a nearby area of natural beauty. There’s always something new to discover in London.
Optional social programme
We work with established tour operators to bring you offers for additional social activities. The availability of these tours is subject to change, and we will confirm what is available closer to the time, but students in previous years have taken some of the following trips.
Greenwich Boat Cruise
Board your boat at Westminster Pier for the best view you can get of Tower Bridge before travelling east towards Greenwich – the village in the Big City. Hear tales of London’s maritime past and present and enjoy a walking tour of the Royal Naval Hospital and College. Finally, we climb the hill for one of the best views in all of London.
Put one foot in the Western Hemisphere and the other in the East as you enjoy the view! Entry to the Observatory is included so you can learn what Greenwich Mean Time is all about. Afterwards, relax and enjoy wandering around the vintage stalls of Greenwich Market.
Oxford and the Cotswolds
Visit England’s oldest university town. See the river where Lewis Carroll took the real Alice in Wonderland, the Hogwarts dining hall (when available) and the colleges where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien taught. Paired with the enchanting Cotswolds countryside, this is a perfect day!
Stonehenge and Bath
Visit the enigmatic Stonehenge. Was it built as a healing temple, a calendar, or perhaps a burial place? Solve the mystery before traveling on to Bath, a golden-hued city that will take your breath away. Here you’ll visit the Roman Baths and experience high society living. Gorgeous!
Cardiff and Caerphilly, Wales
This two-day trip lets you enjoy warm Welsh hospitality, visit the enchanting cities of Cardiff and Caerphilly, take in gorgeous abbeys, castles in the countryside and learn about the rich history of mining at the Big Pit Museum before heading back to London.
Dover and the White Cliffs
The White Cliffs of Dover were recently recognised by the Lonely Planet as on the best places in the world to visit! Rising 350 feet on the coast of the Strait of Dover, the Cliffs are one of England’s most spectacular natural features steeped in historical and wartime significance. Experience the sweeping views and a lovely coastal walk during this unforgettable trip.
Brighton
Enjoy a quintessential day at the seaside. Located on England’s southern coast, Brighton is a cool little city bursting with charm. Fill your day browsing in independent shops, visiting a unique museum, enjoying a carnival ride on the pier, and sampling fresh fish and chips or delicious vegetarian dishes. There’s no better way to spend a summer day!
You are also welcome to organise your own excursions independently, and students often take advantage of London’s excellent transport connections to visit cities in Europe on the weekend, which are just a short flight or train away.