We arrived at Selby Train station at 7am, bags packed and waiting to catch the train to London alongside 29 of my friends and peers. I was really excited for the trip, as it was going to be a great opportunity for us to get out and make memories with our friends, as well as meet new people in the Art and Design department.

With the latest galleries, exhibitions and museums at our fingertips, we made the most of it by travelling on the London underground from museum-to-museum. This included The Tate Modern, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and The Cartoon Museum and many more. We managed to pack a lot in, but the highlights included the Amy Winehouse Exhibition at the Design Museum and some thought-provoking work by Louise Bourgeois at the Hayward.

On the first night of the trip, we where we were lucky enough to see the musical Back to the Future at the Adelphi Theatre, which was a brilliant production. The second evening included a visit to Odeon BFI, Britain’s largest IMAX screens, to see ‘Uncharted’.

There was something for everyone on the course – whether that was inspiration for illustrators, animation, fine artists, photographers, fashion and textile designers. But in between these opportunities, I’ll remember the times where we were given freedom to explore, treated as adults and were able to spend time with my friends on the course.

It is trip I will never forget and one I feel lucky to have experienced alongside my fellow course mates and tutors. It has made my passion for Art and Design even stronger and I can’t wait until I can visit again!

I felt it was important to provide the students with an opportunity to go and explore and see a place which is packed with culture, as well make memories and have fun with their fellow course mates. This was such a valuable opportunity that we wanted the students to experience after a challenging few years due to the pandemic, so when restrictions started to ease, we knew we had to make the trip. It also gave them the chance to experience first-hand the work and research of other artists, which is invaluable to their learning and enrichment. Myself and colleagues who also attended the trip were so very proud of how our students embraced their time in London. We hope they remember it well and that it will bring a smile to their faces as they remember the trip, as it does the same for me.