New York Film & Theatre

Upon arrival in New York, you will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, take some time to unpack, settle into your surroundings and recover from the flight. Later, head into the heart of Manhattan for your first encounter with the energy and excitement of Times Square. Surrounded by towering digital screens, famous theatres, brightly lit stores and the unmistakable stream of yellow taxis, you will immediately understand why New York is known as “the city that never sleeps.” Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before exploring the surrounding streets and experiencing Times Square as its dazzling lights illuminate the Manhattan skyline. Afterwards, return to your hotel for a well-earned night’s rest.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will travel to the New York Film Academy for an exciting group session introducing the worlds of filmmaking, acting and visual storytelling. Known for its practical approach, the academy gives aspiring creatives an insight into the techniques and teamwork required to bring an idea from script to screen.

Following lunch, join a guided New York TV and Movie Sites Tour. Over approximately three hours, you will explore instantly recognisable locations featured in popular films and television programmes while discovering how New York’s streets and buildings are transformed for the screen. Your entertainment-themed day concludes with dinner at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where talented singing servers perform Broadway favourites and popular songs as you enjoy a selection of American classics.

After breakfast, your coach will take you to The Battery, where you will board a ferry across New York Harbor. Enjoy magnificent skyline views as you travel to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, two landmarks that tell powerful stories of freedom, migration and the people who helped shape modern America.

Returning to Manhattan, take photographs beside the famous Charging Bull before enjoying lunch in the Financial District. You will then continue to the Museum of Modern Art, better known as MoMA. Its internationally celebrated collection introduces students to painting, photography, film, design and contemporary visual culture.

Following dinner, experience the excitement of a live Broadway production. From powerful acting and choreography to spectacular sets, lighting and costumes, the performance will demonstrate how many creative disciplines come together to produce world-class theatre. The selected show will be confirmed according to the programme dates and availability.

Following breakfast, begin your day with a walk across the historic Brooklyn Bridge. As you cross the East River, enjoy memorable views of the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn waterfront and Statue of Liberty. You will then visit Time Out Market in DUMBO, where you can choose lunch from a variety of food outlets while admiring the bridge from a completely different perspective.

In the afternoon, travel to Astoria to visit the Museum of the Moving Image. Through original costumes, cameras, props and interactive exhibits, you will discover how films, television programmes and digital media are created. Students can explore everything from animation and sound design to editing, special effects and video games. Complete your day at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, combining dinner with a movie screening in a venue celebrating the shared experience of cinema.

After breakfast, your driver will take you to the High Line, one of New York’s most imaginative urban regeneration projects. Created along a former elevated railway, this unique park winds through Manhattan’s West Side, combining landscaped gardens, public art and striking contemporary architecture. Along the way, there will be opportunities to photograph, sketch and observe the city from a fresh perspective.

Continue into Chelsea, one of New York’s leading contemporary art districts, where you may visit the David Zwirner Gallery or another gallery featuring an exhibition available during your stay. Alternatively, step behind the scenes at Radio City Music Hall and discover the history, architecture and technical production of this legendary entertainment venue. Later, enjoy dinner at Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery, famous for its New York-style cheesecake, before returning to your hotel.

Following breakfast, enter the world of American television with The Tour at NBC Studios, located inside the famous 30 Rockefeller Plaza. During this behind-the-scenes experience, you will learn how television programmes are developed and produced while exploring the technology, studios and creative roles involved in broadcasting. The tour normally lasts approximately 75–90 minutes and is separate from attending a live television recording.

After lunch, ascend the Empire State Building and enjoy spectacular panoramic views across Manhattan and beyond. In the evening, have dinner before returning to Broadway for another outstanding theatrical production. A performance such as & Juliet would provide an energetic conclusion, combining contemporary pop music, choreography, imaginative staging and a playful reinvention of Shakespeare’s famous story. The final production will remain subject to the travel dates and ticket availability.

After breakfast at your hotel, begin with a visit to New York University. During your time around its Greenwich Village campus, you will gain an introduction to university life in one of the world’s most dynamic cities and hear about the academic and creative opportunities available to students.

After lunch, continue to the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where exhibitions explore fashion, costume, design and the changing influence of popular culture. This replaces the Harry Potter exhibition previously listed, which has now permanently left New York. The exhibition’s official website confirms that its New York season has ended.

You will then have time to explore Macy’s Herald Square and the surrounding shopping district. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, surrounded by costumes, instruments and memorabilia celebrating the history of popular music and performance.

Central Park and home

After your final breakfast, check out of the hotel and store your luggage securely before setting out for one last New York experience. Your coach will take you to Central Park, the city’s magnificent green heart and one of the most frequently filmed locations in the world.

Explore its pathways, bridges, lakes and open spaces while capturing final photographs, sketches or short pieces of film. From Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge to the Mall and surrounding skyline, the park provides a wonderful natural backdrop for creative work and a peaceful contrast to Manhattan’s busy streets.

Following an early farewell dinner at a traditional American restaurant, return to collect your luggage and transfer to JFK Airport. As your New York adventure concludes, you will leave with new creative inspiration, unforgettable shared memories and a greater understanding of film, television, theatre and visual culture.