Summer 2026 Excursions!

Our summer 2026 excursions are here, and we’re excited to have you join in on the fun! We have a variety of events to be sure there’s something for all of our students to enjoy that showcase the best of London and beyond. Throughout this blog you’ll read about all of our paid events, and get a highlight of a few free events we’ll be offering. In addition to the below, we will be releasing a few free mental health events closer to the start of the summer semester.

Registrations for these events go live on April 30 so have a look below and see what adventures you most want to be a part of this summer!

Paid Events

Cambridge Day Trip

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Take a journey to the scholarly old English town of Cambridge on this exciting day trip. After a quick train journey from London you'll head straight to a canal for a traditional punting experience. You can admire the buzzing city from the calmness of the water, while taking as many photos of the medieval buildings and floating swans as you’d like. After punting, you will have free time to explore the University; see numerous filming locations from movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Chariots of Fire; visit Parker's Piece, which is supposedly where the rules of Football were invented; and you may even spot a cow grazing in the public green spaces due to a centuries old tradition.

Price: $45

Includes: Roundtrip train tickets from London to Cambridge and a guided punting experience.

Accessibility: There will be some cobble stone streets and uneven grounding around the city, along with one boat ride.

Brighton Day Trip

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Just an hour south of London, this colourful city by the sea offers rocky beaches, fantastic shopping, sightseeing, and the Royal Pavilion – a sprawling, Arabesque palace that was a favourite of King George IV.

Spend the morning at the famous Royal Pavilion before enjoying free time to explore in the afternoon. Browse the quirky independent shops in the North Laines or enjoy Fish 'n Chips on the pier. You need at least one trip to the seaside during your time in the UK, and Brighton is the best of the bunch!

Price: $45

Includes: Roundtrip train tickets from London to Brighton and entry to the Royal Pavilion.

Accessibility: There will be some cobble stone streets and uneven grounding around the city, and the Royal Pavilion will have ramp access to the first floor and video presentations of any exhibits happening on the second floor.

Women’s Cricket Match

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Watch an exciting Women's Cricket match between England and West Indies. To many, cricket is a mystery - how can you play a game for 5 whole days and then end in a draw? A T20 is different - a shorter, faster version of the game, you can expect excitement and rivalry with England playing West Indies. With plenty of opportunities to grab food and drink, this is about as British an experience as you can get at Lord’s, known as the Home of Cricket (think of it as London’s answer to Fenway Park!).

Price: $25

Includes: Seated tickets to the cricket match.

Accessibility: Lord’s is fully accessible, and you will be seated.

Hampton Court Palace

Saturday, June 27, 2026

We’ll be traveling via a short train ride to and from London to discover the magnificence of Henry VIII’s favourite royal residence on this day trip to Hampton Court Palace in Richmond-upon-Thames. This palace is most famous for its ties to the Tudors, but you will see that many other periods have influenced its architecture over time. You'll also be able to explore 60 acres of gorgeous garden space in the peak of summer.

Price: $40

Includes: Return travel from London to Richmond-upon-Thames, and entrance into the Palace and gardens.

Accessibility: Find out more about the Palace’s accessibility here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/visit/accessibility/ 

Climb to the top of Big Ben 

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Get ready to experience an iconic London experience where you will be climbing up a spiral 334-step staircase to the top of the Elizabeth Tower, aka the famous Big Ben! You’ll start this tour within Westminster Hall, where the Queen lay in state for four days before being buried at Windsor Castle. A guide will then lead you up to the belfry where you’ll get to see the Big Ben bell alongside a few others. You’ll have a few stops along the way to learn about the history of the bells, clocks, and traditional crafts involved in the tower so you won’t be too winded by the time you reach the top.

While taking in the views at the top of the tower, you’ll be able to hear and see the bells ring at the top of the hour. Then, you can see the large clock face from behind (each dial spans 6.9 meters wide). After making your way back down the tower, you’ll have free time to check out parts of Parliament.

Price: $40

Includes: A guided tour to the top of the Elizabeth Tower and access to Westminster Hall.

Accessibility: The Big Ben tour is not suitable for everyone. Students must be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells – ear plugs will be provided. The total tour duration is 90 minutes and toilet facilities are available at the beginning and end of the tour only.

Natural History Museum – Our Story with David Attenborough

Saturday, August 1, 2026 

A cinematic experience at The Natural History Museum, inspired by the work of David Attenborough. Witness the birth of life on our planet and see it evolve over billions of years. 

In 2025, the Natural History Museum was officially announced as the most visited attraction in the UK. This summer, we will be visiting their immersive experience which is inspired and voiced by David Attenborough. In this cinematic journey, the walls and floor come alive around you, tracing the story of life on Earth through stunning natural footage and cutting-edge animation.

Located in South Kensington, you’ll also be steps away from world-famous institutions like the V&A and the Science Museum. Both of these have free entry, allowing you to spend a whole day museum hopping if you wish!

Price: $10

Includes: A timed entry ticket for 'Our Story with David Attenborough', along with free time to explore the museum afterwards.

Accessibility: Find out more about the museums’ accessibility here:  https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/access-at-south-kensington.html 

Free Events

Theater at The Globe: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Friday, July 3, 2026

Immerse yourself into the Shakespearean world of the 1500’s. With these standing tickets, you’ll be able to experience the quirky and magical comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in the iconic Globe Theater. “The course of true love never did run smooth”, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream explores this in a (romantic) comedy where two couples enter the woods and are bewitched by a cunning fairy; causing rifts, love triangles, and laughter (Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

The Globe Theater was rebuilt to the times of Shakespeare, inclusive of a 360 design, no roof over the central yard, and the audience is often incorporated into the show with actors running through the standing space. The Globe stands out as an iconic old fashioned building, and is the only thatched-roof building left in London.

Price: Free

Includes: Standing Tickets to A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe Theater.

Accessibility: Find out more about The Globes accessibility here: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/visit/access/the-access-scheme/ 

Rooftop Garden & Borough Market 

Friday, July 17, 2026

Join us on this free event to visit a stunning Rooftop Garden in London. It offers an incredible vantage point to admire the cityscape from above. Take a well-deserved break from the hustle of the city below and enjoy the peaceful gardens and famous views. Afterwards, we'll take a leisurely stroll to Borough Market. A true London landmark, a market has been on this spot for almost 1,000 years! These days you can buy food from all over the world, so we can almost guarantee you’ll find something to suit your taste buds.

Price: Free

Includes: Access to a rooftop garden and a small walk from the garden to Borough Market.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access to the rooftop garden, but there will be a few cobblestone roads on the way to the market. 

Wellcome Collection

Friday, July 24, 2026 

Join us on a private guided tour of this this museum and library that has dedicated their collections, exhibitions, and events to exploring the past, present, and future of health. They focus on the health, medicine, and human experience with many different displays throughout the year. They are a part of the charitable foundation Wellcome, which helps build a healthier future for everyone. If you’re interested in science or a medical field, this event is a must.

Price: Free

Includes: Private guided tour at the Wellcome Collection

Accessibility: Find out more about the museums accessibility here: https://wellcomecollection.org/visit-us/accessibility 

Notes on Booking Events

• Bookings for paid events open via your Arcadia portal on Thursday, April 30 at 12pm EST.
• Free events won't be available on April 30, they will be added to your Arcadia Portal the week before the event takes place, along with more information.
• Please make sure you have completed all of the checklist items in your application to be sure you are able to register for events when they go live!
• Events that are running outside of your Programme dates will not appear on your Arcadia Portal.