EBS High School teachers Tiina Kapten and George Franchi reflect on the trip:
On Wednesday morning, an early flight via Helsinki took us to one of Europe’s best-known airports – Heathrow – followed by a one-hour train journey into central London. After a short refresh at the hotel, we headed out on a walking tour of Trafalgar Square and Soho, led by the first group of students. Afterwards, everyone had free time to explore Oxford Street for shopping or to enjoy a meal at a place of their choice.
One of the special features of the London study trip is that the city tours are conducted by the students themselves. Before the trip, they were each given a theme, designed their own routes, and prepared informative presentations. In addition to historical and cultural context, they also researched fun facts about the sights. This gives the students valuable experience in planning routes in an unfamiliar city, presenting engaging content, keeping a group together, and managing time effectively.
Thursday morning began with a visit to the London office of LHV Bank, where we were hosted by CEO Erki Kilu. The rest of the day featured student-led tours around the City of London – we visited Guildhall, with its rich art collection and Roman amphitheatre, admired the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, and walked along the banks of the River Thames.
After a lunch break, we continued to the Southwark and Bankside area, where we discovered Borough Market – London’s oldest market, operating on the same site since 1756. The day ended with a stop by the Thames to admire the HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy ship that served in the Second World War and now houses a museum.
Friday was spent exploring Southbank and Westminster. Along the way, we visited the Imperial War Museum, where we spent an hour learning about the history of wars and conflicts. On Saturday, before our return flight, there was still time for a visit to the British Museum.
The study trip to London gave students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an international environment – broadening their worldview and deepening their understanding of European cultural history.
