The trip in a nutshell

This seven-day tour is the perfect way both to experience London life and visit TOP British universities, according to the latest international rankings.
After this unique experience, you will know what does it mean to live in a World TOP University like Oxford, Cambridge, King’s college, UCL, Imperial college, Essex and Queen Mary University.
 

 

Tailored visits to top UK universities

Each visit gives you the opportunity to experience hands on what each institution and course can offer to students:

• we arrange customized visits to the departments that you are interested in studying. You can already start to build your network by meeting researchers and experts in your field of interest.
• by visiting the university you can truly see what feels good to you. Academics aside, when walking around a campus you can look around and take in the atmostphere which helps you gain a more valuable understanding of the setting. This helps you understand what type of places you like and by visiting campuses you can also see if any of the universities ‘lights a spark’ for you.

 

Enjoy London life as a local

The travel is well balanced between visiting Universities and having a bit of fun: this is also a wonderful opportunity to make new international friendships while exploring the most prestigious museums, making international dinners and enjoy London’s nightlife.
 

A great “eye-opening experience”

After the tour, you can effectively evaluate each college you visit to make the best choice for your investment in a World leading university, but you will also come back home with new friends and experiences that you will never forget!
 
 

Summary of the travel

 
 
 

Itinerary

N.B:

Here are some useful information about your weekly itinerary day by day. There might be some
minor changes in terms of days/timing due to logistical constraints, but all of the university and
activities mentioned will be visited and experienced during the week in UK.
 
 

Day 1: Arrival & check-in at accommodation

Upon arrival at one of London’s airports (Gatwick, Stanstead, Heathrow), you will follow the instructions to reach our meeting point in London Victoria Station (we will send you detailed info on how to reach this from your airport of arrival).
You will then meet our tour leader who will guide you to check-in at your accommodation in London.
After check-in and luggage drop-off you will meet the rest of the group for a quick briefing of the weekly activities.
In the evening there will be dinner in a local restaurant/pub to socialize and get to know each member of the group.

Activities of the day:

• Arrival at airport, travel to Victoria station to meet tour leader
• travel together to the accommodation
• Check-in & luggage drop-off
• meeting with the group
• dinner with the group

 
 

Day 2: Imperial College & NHM

The first day of the tour will include a visit to Imperial College London campus in South Kensington. After visiting the campus we will stop for lunch in one of the local bars around Hyde Park, one of the most beautiful spots in West London.
In the afternoon we will visit the Natural History Museum with access to laboratories and Darwin’s collections.
In the evening depending on time, we will have dinner in the city centre or closer to the accommodation.

Activities of the day:

• visit to Imperial College London campus
• visit of the Natural History Museum facilities and laboratories
• dinner with the group

 
 

Day 3: Oxford university

In the second day, we will travel by coach to Oxford university from Victoria coach station in London. We will aim to be in Oxford between 10-11am to allow a good visit of the departments and the grounds before a late lunch around 2pm.
In the afternoon there will be a visit to Oxford Natural History Museum and other areas of Oxford with a stop for tea & scones in one the local iconic tea shops.
In the evening we will get back to the accommodation where we will have dinner at a local pub/restaurant.

Activities of the day:

• trip to Oxford with visit to the departments and grounds
• visit Natural History Museum and local tea shop
• dinner with the group

 
 

Day 4: Cambridge university

In the third day, we will travel to Cambridge university from King’s Cross or Liverpool street station in London. We will aim to be in Cambridge between 10-11am to allow a good visit of the
departments and the grounds before a late lunch around 2pm. In the afternoon, we will visit other areas of Cambridge where we can stop for a snack in a local bar.
In the evening we will get back to the accommodation where we will have dinner at a local pub/restaurant.

Activities of the day:

• morning trip to Cambridge with visit to the departments and grounds
• afternoon visit to other areas of Cambridge plus snacks
• trip back to London & dinner together closer to the accommodation

 
 

Day 5: UCL & King’s College

In the fourth day, we will visit UCL campus in London with access to some of their facilities. We will then stop for lunch in Soho or Covent Garden where we can also visit some of the London’s
attractions and landmarks.
In the afternoon we will visit King’s College campus and some of it’s facilities.
In the evening we can move closer to the accommodation, where we will have dinner together and share some of the experiences of the week.

Activities of the day:

• visit to UCL campus
• lunch in central London
• visit to King’s College campus
• dinner together plus experience sharing with the group

 
 

Day 6: Essex & Queen Mary University of London

In the morning we will travel from Liverpool Street station to Colchester where we will visit the University of Essex. Here we will experience some of the vibes from the Eastern county, but we
will also access some of the university laboratories and facilities.
We will have lunch on campus and after lunch we will take the train back to London where we will visit Queen Mary University of London campus.
The campus is located near Mile End in the East part of the city where we will spend the rest of the evening. As a real Londoner we will experience the vibes of East London with a taste of the local cousine and bars.
In the evening we can also visit some of the bars around Brick Lane where most students from East London spend their weekend.

Activities of the day:

• visit to Essex university and lunch in campus
• return to London and visit Queen Mary
• dinner & drinks in East London
• return to accommodation to recover from the long week

 
 

Day 7: Fun activities

In this last day before leaving we will take things in more relaxed way, during the morning there will be the possibility to visit the British library and King’s Cross station with the famous Harry Potter platform 9 3⁄4.
We will then have lunch together in the city centre, while the afternoon will be free for different kind of activities. You will have the possibility of visiting a museum if you wish (e.g. National Gallery, British Museum, Tate Modern etc…), or go shopping in Regent Street, Carnaby Street or Oxford Street. You can also take some time off and relax by the river bank in some local pub or enjoy some time off in one many London’s parks. The tour leader will be always available to give ideas and options to make the most out of this time.
In the evening we will have dinner together in a local restaurant, with final sharing of experiences of the whole week and luggage preparation for departure.

Activities of the day:

• visit to the British Library & King’s Cross station
• lunch together in the city centre
• afternoon free for different activities
• dinner together and luggage preparation

 
 
 
 

Day 8: Check-out & return to airport

We will have to leave the accommodation and check out by a specific time agreed beforehand. The tour leader will show you the way to the airport and make sure you are ready and prepared to leave the UK without any problems. As for the arrival, there will be detailed information on how to reach your airport of departure, if you are in any doubt, don’t hesitate to ask our tour leader to explain this in further details.

Activities of the day:

• accommodation check-out
• trip to airport and final departure

 
 

 
 

What’s included

 
 

What’s not included

Everything that is not specified in the “what is included” section. All lunches & dinners are not included plus all extra expenses such as gifts or visits to museum etc… Flights are not included but will be managed and booked by our third party agency. If you are in doubt don’t hesitate to ask further information.
 
 

 
 

Frequently asked question

Prior to departure

What documents do you need to take with you to travel to United Kingdom?

To travel to UK you need:
– a passport
– a visa to enter the UK
– Supporting letter
– Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK. It gives you permission to travel to the UK, and it is electronically linked to your passport.

You will not need an ETA if you have either:
– a British or Irish passport
– permission to live, work or study in the UK
– a visa to enter the UK

What other precautions should I take before travelling to United Kingdom?

Clothes:
Remember there will be a lot of waking throughout the whole week so make sure you have comfortable shoes and clothes and don’t forget we are in the UK so a bit of rain is always expected, and weather can change very rapidly!

Others:
All of your personal documents need to be with you all the time, don’t forget your passport and some extra money. We advise to get some British Pounds in your own country or as soon as you arrive at the airport. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most places in the UK, but a bit of extra cash is always useful. If you have to take any drugs or medical prescriptions please let us know in advance, as well as any food intolerances or allergies. Don’t forget electric adapters to UK plugs!

About the trip

Where are we based during the trip?

The accommodation is based in South London, you will have the possibility to book a single or double room with breakfast included. Upon request we also offer a four people apartment with two double beds in case you are travelling with your parents or close friends.

How we will move during the tour?

The pickup point is set in London Victoria in the central part of the city. You will be provided with a weekly travelcard to travel inside London for the whole week. In addition to this, you will be provided with train tickets for Cambridge, Oxford, and Colchester so that all of the internal transportation and logistics will be sorted for you.

How many students in each trip?

Each trip has between 3-8 students to maximise one-to-one assistance and support throughout the whole experience. We encourage English speaking both with our native English leader, but also among students as part of our experience.

Can you visit a college not in our package?

We have a list of top universities carefully selected based on their world university ranking and prestige which students will be able to visit during our trips. However, depending on timing and availability students can request to visit a specific department or another institution in London, but we can cannot guarantee this option to be satisfied. Each trip is composed of students from different parts of the World with different interests and requests.

Can I participate for less than a week?

Unfortunately we only take into consideration students who want to take part of the full week experience with us. Shorter trips will not be taken into consideration.

Can my Family travel with me?

We encourage students to join our trips individually or with a friend, as we want students to experience a typical week of British students and this will help them to know what to expect if they decide to study and move to the UK. However, we will also take into consideration family trips with the same objectives, where parents can join the trip but the experience is finalized to maximise student’s output.

Rights and obligations of the customer

What are you Terms of payment?

50% at the time of booking, 50% 40 days before departure.

What’s your refund policy?

You are entitled to be refunded:
– if you cancel your reservation 60+ days prior to departure date: full refund
– if you cancel your reservation 30-60 days prior to departure date: 50% refund
– if you cancel your reservation less than 30 days prior to departure date: no refunds

What’s your Student behaviour policy?

Students are to display good manners and courtesy to all staff and students at all times.
Students should treat their own possessions, those of other Students, staff or other third parties with respect. Any damage incurred will result in charges payable by the parent.
The following behaviour will not be tolerated by any student:
– Any behaviour which is contrary to the health and safety of the student, other students, staff or other persons
– Intimate relations
– Dishonesty or theft
– Aggressive behaviour, bullying, racism, or unkindness towards others