Itinerary

More details can be found on our website here.

Monday 14^th April

 02:15 – meet at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School site and report directly to your group leader before meeting up with friends.

When arriving at school, please park on the school side of the road before assembling outside Glenn’s opticians (please avoid parking on this side of the road in order to allow the coach to draw up)

 Bags should be placed tidily, away from the kerbside; you will be provided with a luggage label for your case.

Any spare medication should be handed to Mrs Barry at this time; containers must be in original packaging with the student’s name and be placed inside a plastic bag similarly labelled.

Before leaving home, please ensure that you have taken travel sickness medication if required and that you have sufficient repeat dosage for the flight and the coach travel in New York.

Students should not board the coach until asked to do so by a member of staff.

Once aboard the coach, participants should pass unsealed spending money envelopes to their group leader. These should be labelled with your name and the amount enclosed; this will be checked in your presence. Due to the constraints of time in New York, we would encourage participants to bring cash, rather than travellers’ cheques; money will be locked away once at the hotel. Please be aware that students should not bring large amounts of cash.

We will ask for students’ passports a week before departure; these will be locked in the school safe and given to students prior to check-in.

Bring sufficient money (Sterling) to purchase food and drinks at the airports where we expect everyone to have something to eat and a warm drink. You should also have a small amount of US currency for when we arrive at New York (e.g. $10).

Each day we will have a ‘bank’ session so that participants can take money for the day; you will be expected to use this facility and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

Departure for Manchester airport and flight (VS 3046) to London Heathrow, arriving at 07:55, prior to departure of flight (VS1) to Newark, New York, arriving at 12:25 New York time.


New York Guided Coach Tour

Having collected our bags, we will take a coach tour around some of the key locations of the New York, guided by a native of the city. This is an opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the sights.

 Check in at Hotel Wolcott

Students are roomed in single sex, three- or two-bedded en-suite rooms; staff will be in close proximity and the students will know where this is. The hotel is experienced in catering for groups and prides itself on its security.

Students may congregate in each other’s rooms although there will be a ‘lights out’ limit to this and they will be expected to be security conscious at all times. Linens and towels are provided.

20:00 - Although it is likely that everyone will want to head to bed after our long day, anyone who requires food at this point will be accompanied to the nearby diner where we will be having our

breakfast each day.

Tuesday 15^th April

Pre Breakfast Room check

Each morning, staff allocated to each room will check that they have been left in an acceptable state.

Bank
Before breakfast, group leaders will offer participants the opportunity to collect some of their spending money. Money will then be locked away and cannot be accessed until the next day.

Breakfast

Each day, we will have breakfast at the Café au Bon Gout diner, consisting of:

 - hot breakfast buffet (omelette or breakfast sandwich)

 - danish or muffin or cereal

 - coffee or tea or orange juice

Due to the demanding nature of the schedule, we expect everyone to have a proper breakfast each day even if this is not the norm!

Throughout our visit, we have the choice of travelling around New York by subway or on foot; this will be decided according to whichever is most efficient, enjoyable and the weather conditions!

10:30 Workshop #1

Taking place in one of the many Broadway rehearsal spaces, we will participate in our first drama workshop. The emphasis is on fun and a willingness to join in – it does not matter whether you have done a lot of drama or none!

Lunch

Each day, we will purchase lunch from one of the many sandwich shops and delis around the city.

13:00 Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour

We will take a ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island and on to Ellis Island where we will spend some time before embarking once again for our return to Battery Park. 

 17:30 Evening Meal

We will enjoy a meal at the Stage Door Diner, close to the theatre district.

 20:00 Broadway Show #1

 This evening we will watch the first of our 3 ‘mystery’ shows. A moving and classic play, this will be a terrific introduction to Broadway theatre.

Wednesday 16th April

Breakfast

Room check, bank and breakfast.

10:30 Guggenheim Museum

Housed in a building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim features work by artists including Chagall, Picasso and Kadinsky.

Central Park

Once we have purchased lunch, we will visit the world famous park (did you know that the design of Central Park was inspired by that of Birkenhead Park? We suspect that you may find the former a more exciting prospect!)

Subject to weather conditions, we intend to spend some time at the park-exploring, visiting Bethesda Terrace, riding the merry go round if open and, perhaps enjoying a picnic lunch and visiting their shop!

19:45 Evening Meal

This evening’s meal will be at centrally located ‘Bubba Gumps’ which was a favourite with participants on our previous visit!
 

21:30 Top of the Rock

At the top of the famous Rockefeller Centre, the observation deck provides an outstanding view of New York at night, including the Empire State Building.


Thursday 17th April

08:30 TV and Movie Tour

Following an early breakfast at ‘our’ diner and having already seen many of the ‘sights’, we will be guided around some of the many locations used in TV and film productions in New York.

13:30 Workshop #2

Today’s workshop will once again take place in one of Broadway’s professional rehearsal studios with the opportunity to learn about Musical Theatre!

17:00 Evening Meal

No trip to Broadway would be quite complete without a visit to this evening’s restaurant, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, with waiting staff drawn from the talent working in the city.

19:00 Broadway Show #2

This evening, we will see a musical you are bound to enjoy – try to avoid singing along, however, as it seems to be frowned upon!

Friday 18th April

Breakfast

Room check, bank and breakfast.

10:00 NY Film Academy Workshop

One of our new activities during this visit, you will participate in a two hour film workshop at one of the most famous centres of excellence for training in the film industry.

Afternoon Activity

We are considering a number of options for this afternoon – whatever we decide, you’re sure to have a great time!

19:30 Hard Rock Café

One of our favourite destinations to eat as the atmosphere is fantastic!

 21:00 Ghost Tour*

 * tbc

Saturday 19th April

Breakfast

Room check, bank and breakfast.

10:00 Workshop #3

Our final workshop will explore the skills involved in Stage Combat. Led by experienced professionals, this is a highly popular activity – and a great way to conclude our theatre workshops.

14:00 Lincoln Centre

Having purchased lunch, we will visit the world-renowned theatre, home of the New York State Theatre, the Avery Fisher Hall, the Metropolitan Opera House and the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. During our previous visits we were fortunate to see a number of different performances in rehearsal.

 17:30 Evening Meal & Broadway Show #3

 Following a meal at Mama Sbarro on Broadway, we will see our final

show, another exciting musical theatre spectacular. 

Sunday 20^th April

Breakfast

Final packing, room check, final bank and breakfast.

Check Out and Final Retail Opportunity

Although we offer the opportunity for you to do some shopping throughout the visit, there should be time on the last day for a final spree!

Heading Home

Following lunch, we will depart for the airport, departing JFK, New

York (VS46) at 19.30 (New York time)

Monday 21^st April

Arrival

Our flight arrives at Heathrow at 07:50 (UK time) and we depart for Manchester (VS3041) at 09:30, arriving at 10:30.

 We estimate our return to MTGS will be 12:00 although we will use the ‘show line’ to confirm this.