Excursions Announced for 2017!
Here is just a selection of the exciting excursions we have planned for our 2017 Summer School students…
IWM Duxford, Cambridge
Who: Clare College (session 4)
This historic airfield makes for a fascinating day out, as you get up close to perfectly-preserved aircraft and get a sense of what it would have been like to live and work at Duxford during wartime. The attached museum hosts permanent exhibitions such as a Concorde display and a Conservation in Action hangar, revealing just what is required of Duxford’s team of staff and volunteers to ensure all the exhibits are kept in top condition for future generations.
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Who: Yarnton Manor (sessions 2 & 5); St Catherine’s College (session 4); St Hugh’s College (session 3); St Peter’s College (sessions 4 & 5); Jowett Walk (session 3); Merton College (session 3)
A must-see country house surrounded by acres of perfectly-manicured parkland, just a few minutes north of Oxford city centre. Blenheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its distinctive architecture is archetypal of the rare English baroque style. Sir Winston Churchill was born here, and the house remains the principal residence of the Duke of Malborough, who has kindly opened its state apartments and grounds for the public to enjoy.
Warner Brothers Studio Tour, London
Who: St Hughs College, St Peter’s College, Jowett Walk, Lady Margaret Hall (all session 3)
A real hallmark of the ORA experience for 13-15s! Discover for yourself the world of the Harry Potter film series, from the vast Great Hall to a full-scale Hogwarts Express (last call for Hogsmeade, anyone?) Get up close to iconic props such as Harry’s Nimbus 2000, or wander down the cobbles of Diagon Alley and lose yourself among the fabulous store fronts. The walking tour also includes behind-the-scenes glimpses at the special effects used across all eight films.
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Who: Queen’s College (session 3); Balliol College (session 4)
Stratford-upon-Avon is a picturesque medieval market town, adjacent to the River Avon and best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The well-trodden bookworms’ pilgrimage to Stratford takes in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s riverside theatre, as well as the site of the playwright’s house, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (the home of Shakespeare’s wife prior to marriage), and Mary Arden’s house, the family farm owned by Shakespeare’s mother.
Woburn Abbey and Safari Park, Bedfordshire
Who: Yarnton Manor (session 1); Lady Margaret Hall (sesion 4); Clare College (session 3); Queen’s College (session 5)
Woburn Abbey is the seat of the Duke of Bedford, and its adjacent safari park ensures you’ll have a day out to remember. The Abbey itself is a beautiful listed building, home to a breathtaking collection of western art: the works of Joshua Reynolds, Diego Velasquez, and Canaletto are all represented on its walls. A 360-acre Safari Park may seem like an unusual addition to a country house, but the 11th Duke of Bedford was president of the Zoological Society and is largely to thank for the impressiveness of the park today.
Have these excursions tempted you to book onto an ORA Summer School Programme? You can apply online or request a copy of our brochure today!
Image credits: duxford; blenheim; platform 9.75; stratford-upon-avon