Year 12 English students recently took part in the English Department’s annual Modernism Trip, immersing themselves in the literary and artistic landscape of interwar London.
The day began with a guided walking tour through the St James’s area, where students explored the places once frequented by some of the twentieth century’s most influential writers and thinkers. From Virginia Woolf and Edith Sitwell to Graham Greene, Aldous Huxley, Evelyn Waugh and Siegfried Sassoon, students discovered the fascinating stories, relationships and cultural movements that shaped the Modernist era.
Led by literary guides Cindy and Mike from London Literary Tours (Home – London Literary Tours), the visit brought the period vividly to life. Through engaging storytelling, dramatic readings and opportunities for students to perform extracts themselves, the group gained a deeper appreciation of Modernist literature while standing in the very locations where many of these literary figures lived, worked and wrote.
The trip continued at the National Portrait Gallery, where students explored artistic responses to the same period. Drawing connections between literature and visual art, they examined how key themes and techniques of Modernism were reflected across different creative disciplines, enriching their understanding of the movement and its lasting influence.
This memorable experience provided valuable context for students’ studies, bringing classroom learning into the heart of London and offering fresh insight into one of the most exciting and influential periods in literary history.
