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Before the trip
Before the trip
Review the full risk assessment for the day's destination and activities.
Ensure you have the group register and emergency contact numbers for all leaders and students.
Make sure students have plenty of water. Encourage them to refill bottles with tap water and explain that tap water is safe to drink in Ireland.
Confirm that you have all necessary tickets or booking confirmations.
Wear the official group T‑shirt or hoodie for easy identification.
Fully charge your phone and bring a power bank.
Remind students to bring a raincoat or umbrella in case of light rain.
Encourage students to wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for walking and outdoor terrain.
Take a quick headcount before departure.
Prepare to take group photos at key locations and share them in the programme WhatsApp group.
Confirm arrival time to avoid long queues.
Prepare students for extensive walking around the gardens.
Remind them of safety rules if they plan to climb to the Blarney Stone area
London Trip Itinerary - Approximate times
London Trip Itinerary - Approximate times
08:30 – Depart Ruskin College by coach
10:30 – Arrive near Tower of London (external view) OR the South Bank, near the London Eye Pier
11:00 – Queue for the river cruise
11:20 – Cruise departs Tower Pier/London Eye Pier
12:00 – Arrive near Westminster Pier
12:00 – Walking tour: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament
13:00 – Walk through St James’ Park – free time & packed lunch
13:45 – Arrive at Buckingham Palace for photo stop
14:15 – Walk to Trafalgar Square, then Leicester Square
14:30 - Free time
16:00 – Meet at Leicester Square, walk to coach pickup
16:30 – Coach departs London
18:30 – Return to Ruskin College
Overview of the Day
Overview of the Day
This trip is a full-day walking tour of London designed for teenage students learning English at B1 level. You’ll be accompanying a group of 30 or more students,, plus at least two Group Leaders. Students bring packed lunches and the pace of the day is relaxed, with roughly two hours of free time included.
Departure Point: Ruskin College, Oxford
Arrival in London: Approximately 10:30am - 11:00 (depending on traffic)
Return to Oxford: Coach pickup from Waterloo Place at 16:30, aiming to arrive by 18:30
There are two route options depending on the origin of the river cruise (either starting at Tower Bridge Pier OR starting at the London Eye Pier for a round trip), but both end with a walking tour from Westminster through central London.
Once the boat trip is over, there follows a walking tour of Central London (Westminster, Big Ben, St James Park, Buckingham Palace) with time for lunch in St James Park before moving on towards Leicester Square where the students can have a little free time,
Speaking Notes for Activity Leaders
Speaking Notes for Activity Leaders
Overview
Overview
Coach Introduction – Welcome to London!
Good morning everyone, and welcome aboard! Today we’re travelling to one of the most exciting and famous cities in the world — London.
London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and home to nearly 9 million people. It’s a place where the past and present mix together — full of kings and queens, double-decker buses, historic buildings, modern skyscrapers, green parks, and food from all over the world.
You’ll see many famous landmarks on our tour today — like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square. We'll hear interesting stories, take lots of photos, and maybe even spot a royal guard or a film location!
Before we arrive, let’s test your knowledge (or your guessing skills!) with five quick true or false questions about London. Don’t worry — no one’s keeping score!
London True or False Quiz (Ask on the Coach)
London has more trees than people.
→ True! London has over 8 million trees — about one for every resident!The London Eye takes 10 minutes to go around.
→ False! It takes about 30 minutes for one full rotation.Big Ben is the name of the clock.
→ False! Big Ben is actually the bell inside the clock tower.You can see pelicans in one of London’s parks.
→ True! They live in St James’s Park and were a gift from Russia in the 1600s.All London taxis are yellow.
→ False! They’re usually black, and the drivers study hard to learn every street.
Tower of London
Tower of London
1. Tower of London (Exterior View)
We're starting at the Tower of London — one of the most historic buildings in the city. It was built nearly 1,000 years ago by William the Conqueror. Over the years, it’s been a palace, a prison, and even a zoo!
The Crown Jewels are kept here, and many kings and queens once lived here. Some people were even executed here — like Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.
Fun fact: They say if the ravens ever leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall!
Questions for students:
Who built the Tower of London?
What animals used to live here?
More info from Historic Royal Palaces
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
2. Tower Bridge
Now look at Tower Bridge! It was built in the 1890s and is one of the most photographed places in London. It can open in the middle to let big boats go through.
The towers are connected by walkways and decorated in blue and white. It looks like something from a storybook, doesn’t it?
Fun question: What do you think is under the road when the bridge opens? (Hint: big engines!)
Questions for students:
What colours can you see on the bridge?
Can this bridge open? Yes or no?
The London Eye
The London Eye
4. The London Eye (Exterior View)
Behind us is the London Eye — a huge wheel built in the year 2000. From the top, you can see very far — up to 40 kilometres on a clear day!
It takes 30 minutes to go around once. Each glass pod holds about 25 people.
Questions for students:
When was the London Eye built?
Would you like to ride it? Why or why not?
Big Ben and Westminster
Big Ben and Westminster
3. Big Ben & Westminster
Welcome to Westminster! This is where the UK government works. The famous clock you see is Big Ben. Actually, Big Ben is the bell inside — but most people call the whole tower Big Ben.
The big building next to it is the Houses of Parliament. It has over 1,000 rooms!
Edward the Confessor, the Saxon Monarch, built the first Palace of Westminster on this site in 1050. This World Heritage site has been in continuous use since the 11th century, as a royal palace and now as the centre of British Government.
Fun fact: The tower chimes every hour.
Questions for students:
What is Big Ben — a clock or a bell?
How many rooms are in the Houses of Parliament?
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues today. At its centre is the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint.
St James' Park
St James' Park
5. St James’s Park
This is one of the oldest parks in London. It’s full of birds, trees, and a beautiful lake. The park was made in the 1600s and has pelicans that were a gift from Russia!
It’s a perfect place to relax, eat lunch, and enjoy nature.
Activity: Try to count how many bird species you see!
Questions for students:
What animals can you see here?
Why do you think the park has pelicans?
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
6. Buckingham Palace
This is the King’s home in London! When the flag is flying, he’s inside. The palace has 775 rooms — can you imagine living there?
This is where big royal events happen, like weddings and the Changing of the Guard.
Quiz: What are the tall black hats the guards wear called? (Answer: Bearskins)
Questions for students:
Who lives in this palace?
How many rooms does it have?
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
This is Trafalgar Square, named after a sea battle where Britain won against France and Spain in 1805. Admiral Nelson is the man on top of the tall column.
The square is often used for events and celebrations.
Challenge: Can you find the smallest police station in London? (Hint: it’s in a corner!)
Questions for students:
Who is the statue on the tall column?
What kind of events happen here?
Leicester Square
Leicester Square
This is Trafalgar Square, named after a sea battle where Britain won against France and Spain in 1805. Admiral Nelson is the man on top of the tall column.
The square is often used for events and celebrations.
Challenge: Can you find the smallest police station in London? (Hint: it’s in a corner!)
Questions for students:
Who is the statue on the tall column?
What kind of events happen here?
The Route
The Route
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