We all need our knowledge banks topped up once in a while and an educational trip to one of the most exciting cities in the world is a guaranteed mind expander. New York is a frenzied and fabulous place that has more culture, art and architecture than you can shake a mortar board at, and boasts some of the best museums, art galleries and theatres as well as historic neighborhoods, world famous performance spaces and an abundance of iconic attractions.

Start spreading the news; school tours to New York offer a wealth of money-can’t-buy experiences for students. There aren’t many places on Earth that rival New York for the sheer breadth, quality and wealth of exceptional educational experiences.

To help you take a big bite out of the Big Apple we’ve compiled a list of seven of the best sights, attractions and experiences.

Get Close to an Icon

From Times Square and the Empire State Building to the Rockefeller Center, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, New York packs more legendary landmarks into one place than almost any other city.

Take in a Show

There are big shows and big names in musical extravaganzas, dramas, farces and fairytale productions. There are shows for every age group, but remember it’s not just about Broadway. You can catch a ballet, listen to symphonies or jump up and down in popular concerts at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts.

Visit a Top-Notch Museum

New York is busting at the seams with cultural experiences, being home to a dizzying number of museums in art, photography, natural history, television and technology. There’s a lot of ground to cover, but if you have an opportunity visit the Metropolitan Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum.

Participate in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Be a part of a tradition that dates back to 1924. This annual celebration of America is the nation’s favorite Thanksgiving Day Parade and is packed with pageantry, fun, magic and more than a few surprises. It heralds the start of the Christmas holiday season and features giant-sized colorful floats, Broadway stars and marching lively bands. Why not register your school band to be in with a chance of performing in front of a national audience of millions?

Become a Studio Audience Member

Rub shoulders with some of the country’s most popular stars and get a first class education experience for any student looking for a career in show businesses. Many of the country’s biggest networks such as ABC, NBC and CBS film their most popular shows in the city. Become part of a live studio audience during your visit to learn how great television is made.

Let History Come to Life

By taking fascinating and insightful walks around some of the city’s historic neighborhoods including Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown. Get a feel for the real New York and learn how yesterday made it what it is today.

Embark on a Fashion Tour

Feel fabulous and look gorgeous as you tour some of the city’s fashion haunts. With catwalks that rival Paris, Milan and London, New York offers the student of fashion a range of colorful insights. For a start there are more fashion magazines in NYC than anywhere else, plus you have the famous shopping venues of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s on your doorstep. To understand more about how the fashion forward Big Apple defines style and launches trends visit the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.