Religious Studies trips to New York

Set your alarms early and head to Lower East Side, where you’ll visit the Tenement Museum. This archetypal brick building is said to have accommodated 15,000 people from over 20 nations from 1863 to 2011 – that’s a lot of people! The museum celebrates the role that immigration plays in America and its history – an important visit considering current world issues.

Catch the subway across the city towards Battery Park for your next stop: The Museum of Jewish Heritage. This living memorial to the Holocaust allows you to hear the experiences of Holocaust survivors through recordings, giving your students a difficult lesson on the not-so-distant past.

Onto the water now as you board your vessel for a boat trip around Liberty Island! Take some snaps of the majestic Statue of Liberty (it wouldn’t be a trip to New York without seeing her!) then disembark at Ellis Island. Here, you’ll visit the National Museum of Immigration, which offers an eye-opening look at immigration in America.

It’s been a day packed full of sightseeing, so why not stop for an evening meal in Chinatown? It’ll give you the chance to discover another bustling area of the city before heading back to your accommodation for some much-needed shuteye.

Today you’ll visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, where your tour guide will recount the horrific events of that tragic day and the immense acts of courage displayed by New York City’s residents. This is a very moving visit, so we recommend spending some important reflection time in Central Park afterwards.

In the afternoon, make your way to The Jewish Museum on Fifth Avenue, where you’ll get a snapshot of Jewish culture through the various art exhibitions on display. Photography, paintings, abstract installations and more – this museum keeps things interesting all year round to provide its visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience!

Take a break from the swarming subways and head back to Central Park, where you can spend a couple of hours watching the day-to-day happenings in New York.

After that, hit the shops, cross off some more iconic landmarks or take your pick of the plethora of museums in the city – the options are endless here! Cherish every last second of your time in New York before catching your overnight flight home, when your students can finally rest and reflect on their epic trip.