Overview
Travel to London and Paris with your student ensemble to perform in two of the world’s most art-loving cities. In-between performances at important venues like Gothic Southwark Cathedral, your students will tour London landmarks including Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. In Paris, your group can ascend the Arc de Triomphe and take in the timeless collection of the Louvre before performing at a stunning performance venue like the Église de la Madeleine.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to England (London)
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.
London city walk
Take a city walk through the heart of London. Cross Trafalgar Square, a lively gathering place for the city, and step inside the National Gallery, home to masterpieces by da Vinci, Monet, and Rembrandt. Continue past the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, and finish in Covent Garden, where markets, street performers, and the Royal Opera House showcase London’s lively spirit.
Day 3
British Museum visit
Explore the British Museum, home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Marbles, and the Sutton Hoo Treasure.
St. Paul’s Cathedral visit
Visit St. Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's Renaissance-style masterpiece and yet another home to a stunning resident choir. Our visit will include an ascent to the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic marvel in which the faintest whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side. We also will visit the American Memorial Chapel. If we are lucky, we will be present when the organ is being played.
London performance
Potential venues include (but not limited to): Southwark Cathedral, The Community of St. Stephens, Victoria Park Bandstand, St. Gabriel's Church Pimlico, the lively Spitafields Market, Hillsong Church, Christ Church Spitafields, or an exchange with a local school, university or community group. Additional options such as Cadogan Hall or St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square are available at additional cost.
Day 4
Westminster Abbey visit
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.
Day 5
Eurostar Chunnel crossing to Paris
You're so close, why not continue to Paris? Take the Eurostar under the English Channel and, faster than you can say anything in French, you will zip through the tunnel and arrive in Paris.
Paris city walk
This city was made for walking. Stroll grand boulevards with sweeping views of the city, pristine parks with trees planted in perfect rows, and narrow streets crowded with vendors selling flowers, pastries and cheese. Then head to the Île de la Cité, a small island in the Seine, to see Notre Dame Cathedral.
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.
Day 6
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.
Paris performance
Potential venues include (but not limited to): La Trinité, where Messiaen served as organist and where Hector Berlioz had his funeral, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, The American Church in Paris, and the Église de la Madeleine, which is another of our most popular venues for attracting good audiences. Finally, the Église St-Roch regularly hosts concerts. It is an excellent venue for visiting choirs and has good facilities and very organized publicity.
Day 7
Louvre Museum visit
The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre, is housed in a former medieval fortress and entered through I.M. Pei’s striking glass pyramid. Inside, discover masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory, along with vast collections of Egyptian antiquities, Greek ceramics, and works spanning seven departments. Please note: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
Arc de Triomphe ascent
Climb 284 steps up to the rooftop terrace of this iconic memorial to see panoramic city views and learn about its dedication to the soldiers who fought for France during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
Paris performance
Potential venues include (but not limited to): La Trinité, where Messiaen served as organist and where Hector Berlioz had his funeral, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, The American Church in Paris, and the Église de la Madeleine, which is another of our most popular venues for attracting good audiences. Finally, the Église St-Roch regularly hosts concerts. It is an excellent venue for visiting choirs and has good facilities and very organized publicity.
Day 8
Musée d’Orsay visit
Visit the Musée d’Orsay, housed in a former railway station on the Seine. The museum showcases French art from 1848 to 1915 and is renowned for its Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Cézanne.
Paris performance
Potential venues include (but not limited to): La Trinité, where Messiaen served as organist and where Hector Berlioz had his funeral, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, The American Church in Paris, and the Église de la Madeleine, which is another of our most popular venues for attracting good audiences. Finally, the Église St-Roch regularly hosts concerts. It is an excellent venue for visiting choirs and has good facilities and very organized publicity.
Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing
Discover Montmartre on a Tour Director-led walk through the hilltop neighborhood that inspired artists like Picasso and Van Gogh. Stroll the lively Place du Tertre, where painters still work today, see the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, and climb to the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur for sweeping views over Paris.
Dinner in Montmartre
Day 9
Return home OR Extend your stay
Board your flight home or choose to extend your trip with a two-day visit to Rome, Italy’s timeless capital. Travel by train and begin your journey with a city walk through some of its most iconic landmarks, including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and lively Piazza Navona. The following day, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets as you explore the city’s ancient and artistic treasures. Visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, admire St. Peter’s Basilica, and step back in time at the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, and the Roman Forum.
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)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Adjudicated group performances and an optional solo/duo competition
Scenes from London and Paris
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
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.
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.
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.