LIYSF Optional Visits: Palaces, Landmarks and Day Trips for Science Students in London
Two weeks in London is a rare opportunity, and the students who attend the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) want to make the most of it. Lectures from Nobel laureates and visits to world-class laboratories fill the main programme. Alongside these, LIYSF offers a set of Optional Visits that let students explore royal palaces, ancient monuments and famous landmarks with new friends from around the world.
This guide covers every LIYSF optional visit, what is included in the price, when the trips take place and how students can book them.
What Are LIYSF Optional Visits?
Optional Visits are extra, paid excursions that sit alongside the core science programme. They are not compulsory, but LIYSF encourages students to join as many as possible. They are a fun and easy way to discover British history and culture during the Forum.
What does the price include?
- Entrance tickets to the attraction
- Return travel on the London Underground
- An LIYSF staff member who goes with the group
For the longer day trips to Stonehenge and Oxford or Cambridge, students travel by private coach instead.
The Top LIYSF Optional Visits
1. Buckingham Palace State Rooms
Step inside the official London home of King Charles III. The State Rooms are used for royal ceremonies and official entertaining. They are filled with treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Canaletto and sculptures by Canova. For many international students, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see inside the palace.
2. The London Eye
Get a bird’s-eye view of the capital from the London Eye. From the top, students can pick out the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. The price also includes a one-day Underground travelcard, so students can keep exploring afterwards.
3. London Guided Coach Tour
See London’s best-known sights in a single trip. Students ride a private sightseeing coach with an official Blue Badge guide, who shares the stories behind the city’s landmarks along the way.
4. Stonehenge
Travel back in time to one of the world’s most mysterious monuments. Stonehenge was built in several stages. The first henge dates back about 5,000 years, and the stone circle was raised around 2500 BC. The surrounding landscape also has early Bronze Age burial mounds. It is a fascinating day out for anyone who loves history or archaeology.
5. Oxford or Cambridge Day Visit
This full-day Sunday trip includes a private coach, an LIYSF staff member and a guided tour. Students choose either Oxford or Cambridge, and each coach goes to only one city. The trip is meant for the city they did not already visit during the programme’s science visit days, so students can experience both famous university cities.
6. Tower of London
Founded under William the Conqueror, the Tower of London has served as a fortress, a prison, a place of execution and a jewel house. Nearby Tower Hill was once a public execution site. Today, visitors can see the Crown Jewels and the Royal Armouries, meet the Yeoman Warders in their Tudor-style uniforms and spot the famous ravens.
7. Hampton Court Palace
Discover the world of Henry VIII, his wives and children, and the Tudor court. Highlights include Henry’s Great Hall, the huge Tudor kitchens, the baroque palace built for William III and Mary II, and around 60 acres of gardens.
8. Theatre Night
LIYSF also offers trips to London theatre shows. Each show goes ahead only if enough students book it. Theatre prices do not include a travelcard, so students make their own way to the theatre.
When Do the Optional Visits Take Place?
In the LIYSF 2027 programme (18 to 31 July 2027), the optional visits are planned as follows:
| Date | Optional visit |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 July | Buckingham Palace State Rooms or the London Eye |
| Saturday 24 July | Guided coach tour of London |
| Sunday 25 July | Choice of Stonehenge, Oxford, Cambridge, Hampton Court Palace or the Tower of London |
| Thursday 29 July | Theatre night |
How to Book
- Only registered LIYSF students can book optional visits.
- Bookings open later, when LIYSF announces them, through the student’s logged-in registration profile.
- Registered students receive full information and a direct purchase link in their profile.
- Optional visits are paid for separately and are not included in the main LIYSF programme fee.
Don’t Forget Your Souvenir
Students can also buy official LIYSF merchandise to remember their time at the Forum: an LIYSF T-shirt for £15 or an LIYSF hoodie for £25.
Which Visit Should You Choose?
- Love history? Try the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace or Stonehenge.
- Want the classic London experience? Go for the London Eye or the guided coach tour.
- Curious about royal life? Don’t miss the Buckingham Palace State Rooms.
- Thinking about university? The Oxford or Cambridge day visit is a must.
- Enjoy the arts? Book the theatre night.
Final Thoughts
LIYSF Optional Visits turn a science forum into a full London adventure. Students can walk through royal palaces, stand beside ancient stones and see the city from above, all with LIYSF staff and new friends from around the world. For students attending LIYSF, booking a few of these trips is one of the best ways to make the most of their time in the UK.
For the latest details, visit the official LIYSF Optional Visits page.