The Miami Valley School: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland (2024)

Depart on overnight flight to London.

Check into hotel and get settled

Today, you will take a walking tour of London visiting:

• The Strand
• Trafalgar Square
• Leicester Square
• Convent Garden

Today, you will also go to the Museum of London and look at their Sugar and Slavery exhibit. You will discover how the transatlantic slave and sugar trade shaped London.

End the day with a delicious welcome dinner.

After breakfast, take a guided tour of London highlighting:

• Big Ben
• House of Parliament
• Piccadilly Circus
• St. Paul’s Cathedra
• Tower of London tour: You will learn how the Tower guarded royal possessions and even the royal family in times of war and rebellion. The Tower has been a visible symbol of awe, power, and fear throughout history. Kings and queens imprisoned their rivals and enemies within its walls. The stories of the prisoners, rich and poor, still haunt the Tower.

After lunch, we will put on our walking shoes and go on the Empire, Power and People walking tour. London is often called a “melting pot,” but many people don’t know how London became the diverse city we know it to be. This walking tour will show you a different side of the city by disclosing details of colonial history and commonwealth migration that is hardly talked about. There will be a stop in the famous market where you can grab a bite to eat. In The City, you will hear about Britain’s colonial history including the rise of the East India Trading Company. You will then walk from the city through Whitechapel and hear why the area has become a place of Bangladeshi pride. The tour will end by the overground bridge where you will get to spot some creative street art.

Visit the Migration Museum. This museum explores how the movement of people to and from Britain across the ages has shaped who they are – as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Migration is a pressing contemporary issue and is at the center of polarized political and online debate.

This evening you will partake in an Indian foodies walking tour for dinner

Visit Westminster Abbey. You will get to experience one of London’s most iconic buildings and marvel at the breathtaking gothic architecture. You will get to see the famous Coronation Chair and walk through the memorials in Poets’ Corner. Westminster Abbey is the burial place for all of the great historical figures of Britain from the year 1066 onward.

Explore Harrods, the famous department store, and partake in a delicious high tea lunch.

Visit the British Museum, the first national public museum in the world. It brings together under one roof the cultures of the world, spanning continents and oceans.Today we will focus on the sections of the museum that look directly at colonialism and the Empire. Partake in a possible scavenger hunt to search for stolen artifacts.

OPTIONAL OFF THE BEATEN PATH ACTIVITY: Discover Underground Art in Leake Street Arches: Hidden beneath Waterloo station, this disused railway tunnel turned urban art gallery is covered head to toe in stunning murals by world renowned artists such as Banksy. It also boasts a board game cafe, several independent restaurants and an immersive theater.

Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London.

At night, you will get to take in a fantastic show in the West End.

Take an early morning train to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Arrive Edinburgh early afternoon
Check into hotel

This afternoon we will take a tour of Edinburgh where you will have a chance to walk the Royal Mile and view Edinburgh’s famous castle.

Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner.

Today we will embark on a walking tour of the city.
Then, we’ll walk along Princes Street, through cemeteries, making our way to The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse.

We will continue our walking tour of the city by heading underground. Here you will step into Edinburgh’s hidden underground vaults with a guide to explore the winding passageways and hear grisly stories from its dark past. You will hear of the poor souls who sought refuge in the depths, gain insight into city life during the 18th century, and learn of the deadly diseases which threatened Edinburgh’s inhabitants.

This afternoon, we will visit the Scottish Parliament. If Parliament is in session, we will have a chance to sit in on diplomatic activities.

This evening we will have dinner in a traditional Scottish pub.

Tour The University of St. Andrews and discussions with students and see their perspective on the changes Brexit has caused and how it’s impacting their future job outlook.

After lunch, we will travel to the Highlands of Scotland to visit Culloden Battlefield. Here you will learn about the Scottish cleansing and the demise of the Highlands. This was the precursor to English domination over the Scottish people and the final unification of Great Britain.

Today we will take a boat ride to Loch Ness and learn about the myths, legends, and lore of this mysterious loch. See if you can spot Nessie!

Learn about the system of castles in Scotland that were built to repel the English invasions by visiting Urquhart Castle. Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence and was held as a royal castle, being raided several times during its history.

Head back to Edinburgh in the evening.

Fly to Belfast in the morning
Check into hotel
Visit the museum of Orange to learn about the struggles between the Protestants and Catholics, the Irish formation of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and the Sinn Féin political party.

Bloody Sunday Tour: Ireland has a rich history, especially in Derry. Today you will learn about the happenings that took part in Derry during the troubles with a Derry Bloody Sunday walking tour. Visit historical Bogside, including the Bloody Sunday Massacre site and the Free Derry Corner, and hear the story from a guide who was directly affected by the Troubles.

Enjoy a traditional Irish dinner this evening.

Belfast Political Tour-Conflicting Stories Walking Tour: Today we will be taking a half-day walking tour of political murals and the Peace Walls. Belfast has a strong culture of street art and is particularly known for its numerous political murals inspired by themes from The Troubles. Join ex-political prisoners, who served time in jail for standing up for their beliefs, to learn about the political history of Belfast. Hear stories about the two opposing views of The Troubles and visit city landmarks including the Peace Wall and the murals along Shankill Road.

In the evening we will have a special dinner hosted by Darren Kew, a foremost authority on the peace process with Northern Ireland. Darren will discuss the ongoing challenges facing Northern Ireland today.

Today we will be exploring the Titanic Museum. You will get to learn the story of the legendary ocean liner and her fateful journey across the Atlantic at the Belfast Titanic Experience, the world’s largest exhibit dedicated to the Titanic. This is a great opportunity to learn about how class and status built the empire and how class challenges still affect Great Britain today.

Experience the Giants Causeway (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on this day tour from Belfast. Admire the famous Dark Hedges and Dunluce Castle.

Depart on flight back to the United States.