London Big Ben by river
London, England

Creative Writing in Literary London

Program at Capacity | Contact CIEE to be Waitlisted

Arts & Culture

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$6,950

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$6,950

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Enroll Now

Request Information

Program Overview
Spark your literary inspiration in London, home to countless authors and stories that have shaped the world. 

Take a captivating trip through London, turning it into a central character in your writing. Through expert-led workshops, develop the tools and techniques needed to write in different genres. Take cues from renowned works of prose, poetry, and drama and analyze how these forms are reimagined in contemporary mediums—films, web-based media, and graphic fiction. As you refine your literary taste, you'll craft your own creative writing portfolio! 

Connect with writers and storytellers. Roam the real sites that served as backdrops for the works of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Woolf, and more. Examine the contrasting facets of London, exploring both its Gothic shadows and its aspirational allure that has enticed migrants from across the globe to call it home.

Discover the places and people that make London buzz with creativity. Meet local teens and indulge in local flavors, like fish and chips. Experience life outside of London, too, on an excursion to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. In the end, you’ll realize your literary ideas and add your unique contributions to London’s literature.

The Take-Aways

Real-World Experience

Experience London through the eyes and pen of a writer. Try out literary techniques and structures to develop your own writing process in different genres. Come home with the skills to create original works.

Credentials for Your Future

Topics for your college essays, experience to inform your future career, and a Creative Writing Portfolio to showcase your own writing.

Life Skills and New Friendships

Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and improved communication skills. Enjoy a broader worldview and diverse friendships from across the U.S. 

45

Hours of Expert Instruction

3

Weeks Pursuing Your Passion

1

Life-Changing Experience

The Destination
  • London financial district
  • London St. Paul's Cathedral
  • london St. James park

The Destination

Welcome to London, the backdrop for innumerable works of fiction. 

Walking through the streets, squares, and alleys of London, you’ll transport yourself to the literary works they’ve inspired! From Oliver Twist to Sherlock Holmes, the city’s iconic characters have resonated with audiences all over the world. Represented in fiction as both charming and menacing, London is the most multicultural city in Europe and a cradle of creativity. With a population of over 9 million, hundreds of ethnic groups mingle at every turn. It’s hard to not feel a bolt of inspiration when out for a stroll. 

Famous landmarks—like the London Eye, Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace—stand royally across the city. Cruising along the River Thames, take in the lovely views of Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Its thriving markets, like the medieval Leadenhall Market, one of your excursions, and pleasant green areas like Kew Gardens lead you into the day-to-day life of Londoners. From its vast number of bookshops, theatres, museums, and art galleries to its innovative street artists and performers, you’ll be amazed by all there is to do! 

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in London.

Daily Life

Daily Life

Monday–Friday

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.  

  • Breakfast at the hostel/hotel
  • Hands-on classes with expert instructors and professional writers   
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators  
  • Out and about for a cultural activity or workshop
  • Dinner at the hostel/hotel or out in the community   

Weekends   

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites  
  • Quality time with friends  

Housing

Hostel/hotel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators

24/7 Support

1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff

Weekly Learning Goals

Settle into your new community and begin understanding how London has inspired the works of literary masters. Start your creative writing portfolio.

Explore how classic works have been adapted for the contemporary reader. Continue working on your stories, inspired by a trip to Shakespeare's hometown.

Attend presentations on culture, society and identity and engage with British authors disrupting the London literary scene. Finalize your portfolio drawing from the literary and social themes learned and experiences lived on program.

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Twist Museum - 25 July 2023

By Marina Flores at CIEE

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”--Albert Einstein Today, the Creative Writing students made their way to the Twist Museum, London’s “playground of perceptions”... keep reading

From CIEE

The Cursed Child

By Marina Flores at CIEE

A trip to London isn’t complete without a visit to the West End! The Creative Writing Program had the amazing opportunity to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a... keep reading

From CIEE

Weekend Getaway - 22 July 2023

By Marina Flores at CIEE

Though rainy, Bath was beautiful. Upon our arrival, we were able to drop our overnight bags off at the YMCA Bath Hostel where we stayed before getting a few hours... keep reading

Activities

Sample Activities

High school student looking at statue in museum in London

Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!

  • Explore London and Victorian Gothic tracing the footsteps of Charles Dickens on a walking tour. 
  • Hunt for location settings for your own stories visiting the British Museum, Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, the Museum of London Dockland’s Windrush stories, and the Twist Museum.
  • Meet for street food at the Borough Market and walk along the South Bank to the Globe Theatre.
  • Explore London’s maritime history with a visit to Greenwich, arriving by river boat. Find the Prime Meridian that divides the western and eastern hemispheres at longitude 0° and visit its atmospheric market.  
  • Enjoy afternoon tea in Oxford. Take overnight trips to Bath, a World Heritage site known for its Roman spa, and to Lacock, an unspoiled medieval village and film site. 

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience. 

What Students Are Saying

  • “I met so many friends and extraordinary people that I can’t imagine life without them now. I’ve discovered new things about London and myself. It’s an experience everyone deserves.” 

    Lizzie R., Global Navigator Alum

  • “It’s allowed me to see how big our world is. There is so much culture, so many people, and things to try. It’s a time to explore the world as it is.” 

    Kayla J., Global Navigator Alum

  • “You make a lot of close friends, go through the thick, the thin, and the fun. Very memorable experiences are made!”  

    Matthew M., Global Navigator Alum

  • “It was fun and I learned a lot. I’ll never forget our Oxford trip!”

    Isabella R., Global Navigator Alum

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.   
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page.

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$25 

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.    

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2024 3 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $6,950
Program Summer Session II 2024 3 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $6,950

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to Local Phone and WIFI

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Our Staff

Our Staff

Mark Simmons

Center Director

Mark Simmons has an M.A. in History from the University of Aberdeen and a postgraduate degree in Administrative and Information Management from Napier University Edinburgh. 

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