In an exciting adventure across the pond, Grade 8 students set off from Thursday, January 15 to Tuesday, January 20 on a five-day Curricular Travel Path to London. The hands-on exploration through 400 years of London’s literary and performing arts history was led by English faculty member Lee Marcus and accompanied by chaperones Middle School (MS) Dean Amanda Rose, Dean of Faculty and MS History teacher Andrea Del Valle P’29, ’33, and MS Drama teacher Andrew Cooper-Leary. Head of School Noni Thomas López and Head of Middle School Dan Doughty joined the group for part of the trip. 

From grand institutions to bustling storefronts, our students discovered new interests, broadened their cultural understanding, and learned to navigate an international city together. They rode the Tube, sampled classic British meals and international cuisines in the East End, and attended two theatrical productions. In advance of the performances they attended, students participated in a choreography workshop led by creatives from The Devil Wears Prada and a Shakespearean acting workshop at The Globe–experiences that brought the plays to life in an immediate and meaningful way. “It was a joy to lead this trip and see the impact that curricular travel can have on students’ global mindsets and character,” said Marcus.

Enjoy the following reflections of six student travelers, Caroline P. ’30; Amina D. ’30; Eleanor W. ’30; Arjun S. ’30; Gabriel Y. ’30; and Serena A. ’30, as they recall favorite moments of their shared adventure.

The Beginning of the Journey: The First Day in London

By Caroline P. ’30

Caroline captures the excitement, red-eye flight exhaustion, and small moments that stood out after touching down. 

“This morning, we arrived from our overnight flight at around 8:00 AM, London time. To my surprise, we got out of the airport almost immediately; the customs process in Heathrow was very efficient. That was especially appreciated as we were all still pretty tired. The whole day felt a bit hazy because none of us got very much sleep on the plane, but we pulled through and had fun. London’s Tube was a lot nicer than the NYC subway; it was clean, new, and our route was full of natural light. As we pulled into the aboveground station, it felt like the trip had truly begun. We sat with our peers, talking and playing trivia. The rest of the day consisted of visiting London’s main attractions like Big Ben, the British Library, 10 Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace’s guards on horses. At the British Library, we learned that every published book in Britain has a copy [there], which I found incredible. So many things are published each day, it must be a huge job to keep track of all of the things they store. They also had famous documents like the Magna Carta (1215) and a folio of original Shakespeare works (1623). Our guide, Sean, did a great job of telling us a little bit about each piece. It was a lot more interesting than I had expected it to be!

We went to our hotel for a much-appreciated break before heading back out for dinner. Dinner was within walking distance of the hotel and included our first ‘truly British’ meal: fish and chips, steak pie, and sticky toffee pudding. Eating these kinds of classic British meals that I had heard about my whole life was amazing. The day was really fun. I’m jet lagged but excited to be here and to make the most out of the trip.”

History in Hand

By Arjun S. ’30

Students had the opportunity to step directly into history, moving from a guided exploration of imperialism and colonialism at the British Museum to rare literary artifacts at the British Library, hands-on theater workshops, and an evening performance in the West End. For some, like Arjun S. ’30, the day sparked a personal connection to the past, especially as history could be seen, held, and vividly imagined.

“In the afternoon, we did a scavenger hunt at the British Museum, which kept me walking through the galleries rather than standing in one spot.” wrote Arjun.

“As I walked, I found things that caught my eye. The South Asian section made me very aware of my surroundings, and I noticed many coins that I found interesting. I really like coins, and I have a strong passion for them. One simple Indian gold coin I came across kept me thinking about how someone over 2,000 years ago used it in their daily life. I always imagine someone from that period using whatever object I see at a museum. The museum felt full of different cultures gathered together. The scavenger hunt was fun in itself, but the experience of walking around while trying to find an object was the best part.”

Vibrant Colors, Culture, and the East End

By Amina D. ’30 and Eleanor W. ’30

Poly students explored London’s iconic street art scene and its rich food culture. Through East End walking tours and hands-on workshops, the city became both a gallery and a classroom, offering new ways to see how art, history, and community intersect.

“On the third day of the trip, we went on this amazing street art and food tour,” wrote Amina. “We saw so many different forms of street art and learned the history behind it. The tour felt like walking through New York again in the best way possible. Everywhere we walked, there were huge murals and colorful drawings covering buildings, alleys, and lampposts. There were even mini sculptures made out of chewing gum on the sidewalk, which were so detailed and intricate. It made the city feel so alive and creative. We even got a chance to use spray paint ourselves in a workshop, and seeing my classmates create such cool art was amazing. We saw a different side of London—full of colors and history, and it was by far my favorite part of the trip.”

Stepping Onto Shakespeare’s Stage

By Gabriel Y. ’30

The final day of the trip brought students face-to-face with London’s theatrical legacy.

“On January 19, we took a long walk to the Globe Theater. There, our tour guide gave us several fun facts about Shakespeare and his theater. He explained a lot of the reasons for how the theater was made and Shakespeare’s intentions in his plays. We walked inside to the Globe Theater and watched a rehearsal for the upcoming Romeo and Juliet happening in the spring. The wooden chairs and columns made it feel so old and was a huge part of what made the theater feel special. After the exceptional experience of witnessing a professional rehearsal, we walked over to a building which the Globe performers used as rehearsal spaces. The rehearsal room was also made of wood, but it seemed newer and more refined. There, the tour guide taught us how to act in one of the scenes in the play which involved ‘biting our thumbs’ at each other and ‘dueling to the death.’ After learning about the Globe, Shakespeare, and a Romeo & Juliet scene, we slowly made our way over to a nearby pub called the Anchor. The inside was made of dark brown wood and had many paintings and posters on the walls. We walked upstairs to the top floor where we sat at two long tables. The foods we ordered varied, consisting of a traditional mac and cheese, chili, a sirloin steak sandwich, and more.”

Final West End Performance

At the Royal Crown Church of Scotland, students learned choreography from “The Devil Wears Prada” and later saw the show in London’s famous West End. Its star, Vanessa Williams, took time to speak to students after the performance.

By Serena A. ’30

On the last night of our trip, we went to see The Devil Wears Prada. With outfits fit for the cover of Vogue, catchy songs, and dances in perfect synchrony, this musical was incredible. I was completely mesmerized by every element of the show. As a young actress, it was inspiring to see so many brilliant, gifted women pouring their hearts into their performances. Afterward, we met Vanessa Williams, who played the character of Miranda Priestly (the stand-in for Anna Wintour). She gave us insight into the world of acting and making a name for yourself, which hit close to home as she described a younger version of herself with a dream. Her story of hard work and determination was motivational, and I hope to take her advice into my future performances. This experience was a wonderful end to a trip that we will never forget.

Three Years Strong: The Continued Success of Literary London

Lee and fellow faculty members enhanced the planning leading up to this year’s journey. Through a series of pre-departure meetings that included team-building activities, devising daily challenges, keeping families back home up-to-date via a live photo blog, a strong and supportive community was forged. “Now that the Literary London trip has matured into its third year,” says Marcus, “my team and I were able to focus on building a culture of teamwork and collaboration amongst the students. This year’s Literary London travelers seemed even more confident in stepping out of their comfort zones and experiencing firsthand the joys of embracing opportunity throughout the adventure.”