Overview
Take your team to two of Europe’s most iconic cities for an experience that perfectly blends soccer and history. They’ll learn from professionals in exclusive coaching clinics, compete against local teams, attend a professional soccer match, and even get a behind-the-scenes tour of an English Premier League stadium. Players will experience London through iconic sites like the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. They’ll take the Eurostar from England to France (under the English Channel!) to explore Paris, including a scenic cruise on the River Seine.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to England
Day 2
Arrive in London
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Welcome meeting and orientation
Training session led by your own coaching staff
Participate in a training session at a local field in the area.
Day 3
London city walk
Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, China town
Friendly soccer match
Play an international friendly match against a local club or academy team. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life.
Day 4
Professional coaching clinic
Participate in this special clinic with a guest coach, player, or instructor. The clinic is designed exclusively for your team and to enhance your skills in the areas identified by your coaching staff.
English Premier League stadium guided visit
Take a behind-the-scenes stadium guided tour of one of London's five Premier League sites, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace or West Ham. Most of the tours include a guided tour to visit areas such as the Director's Box, the Home and Away changing rooms, the Players' Tunnel, and the opportunity to go pitch side. Tours typically conclude with a visit to the museum or Trophy Room, followed by a visit to the club's super store.
Day 5
Tower of London visit
Step inside the Tower of London, a vast 18-acre fortress of 20 towers, winding staircases, and hidden passages on the Thames. From the 11th to 16th centuries it served as royal palace, treasury, and prison. Learn the fate of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two wives of Henry VIII executed here, see the Crown Jewels with their dazzling 530-carat diamond, and hear stories brought to life by the Beefeaters who still guard its gates.
Attend professional soccer match (pending availability)
Attend a professional soccer match. Seeing international players compete in person would itself be unforgettable, but add the passionate crowds singing, cheering and chanting and you will enter an atmosphere that can only be understood through personal experience. Please note: This activity is subject to availability as it is based on the league’s fixture list at the dates the group is travelling.
Day 6
Eurostar Chunnel crossing
You’re so close, why not continue to London? Hop on the Eurostar under the English Channel and, faster than you can say anything in French, you’ll zip through the tunnel and arrive in London.
Seine River cruise
See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. Spot the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.
Dinner
Day 7
Training session led by your own coaching staff
Participate in a training session at a local field in the area.
Paris guided sightseeing tour
What’s that huge white arch at the end of the Champs-Élysées? It’s the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. Your licensed local guide will elaborate on this and other Parisian landmarks. See some of the city’s most famous sites, including the ornate 19th-century Opera, the presidential residence, and the Place de la Concorde—where, at the center, you’ll find the Obelisk of Luxor, a gift from Egypt in 1836. Spot chic locals (and plenty of tourists) strolling the Champs-Élysées. Look up at the iron girders of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Visit Les Invalides (a refuge for war-wounded soldiers) and the École Militaire (Napoleon’s alma mater).
Dinner
Day 8
Versailles guided excursion
The ultimate palace, Versailles was begun by Louis XIII and transformed by Louis XIV into the seat of royal power until the French Revolution. Inside, admire the 250-foot Hall of Mirrors, flanked by the salons of War and Peace, and the State Apartments where lavish ceremonies unfolded. Step into the magnificent Gardens of Versailles, a masterpiece of fountains, sculptures, and sweeping vistas. Be sure to visit Marie Antoinette’s rustic hamlet, where she escaped court life by tending sheep and playing at village life. Please note: Versailles is closed on Mondays.
Friendly soccer match
Play an international friendly match against a local club or academy team. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life.
Dinner
Day 9
Flight home from Paris
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Dedicated team practice time (details in itinerary)
Tickets to local games/matches (details in itinerary)
Scenes from London & Paris
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.