NEW YORK Capital of modern art
7 days | £5995 per person with flights | 11 - 17 May 2026
Capital of modern art
By the late 19th century New York was one of the world's wealthiest and most dynamic cities. It was also emerging as a leading centre for the arts, with fabulously wealthy entrepreneurs rivalling each other as much in the splendour of their collections as the lavish extravagance of their lifestyles. The legacy of their patronage can still be experienced at institutions like the Frick Collection, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and MOMA, while their tastes and enthusiasms shaped the development of modern art in Europe and America, from Impressionism to Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Focussing on the 19th and early 20th centuries, this Art Pursuits Study Tour will introduce you to some of the highlights of a spectacular city - its buildings, parks, monuments and art collections. We will encounter outstanding works of art by painters from both sides of the Atlantic: Homer and Millet, Manet and Cassatt, Hopper and De Chirico. In the process, we will trace the shifting relationship between artistic trends in Europe and America, achieving an entirely fresh perspective on the story of modern art.
Day to day Itinerary
Day 1
Fly from London to New York. On arrival, transfer by private coach to our hotel in the heart of Manhattan. Some time to settle in is followed by a welcome dinner together.
Day 2
After breakfast we set out on foot for the Empire State Building, located just a short walk from our hotel. Completed in 1931, the famously spectacular views offered by this icon of the New York skyline are the perfect way to orientate ourselves. Coach transfer to Pier 83, where a relaxing river cruise will give us unparalleled views of some of Lower Manhattan’s most famous architectural sites. Time for an independent lunch followed by a visit to the Frick Collection, the collection of Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). Housed in Frick’s former residence, one of the few remaining Gilded Age mansions in the city, highlights of the collection include works by Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Goya, and Whistler. Stroll back to our hotel through Central Park before an evening free for independent activities.
Day 3
By coach to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright’s UNESCO-listed masterpiece – we will spend the morning exploring its treasures. Walk to the Neue Gallery, where, by contrast, a collection of early 20th-century German and Austrian art is housed in a Louis XIII-style townhouse of the same period. Traversing Central Park, we arrive at the New York Historical Society Museum for a private visit of its exhibits, exploring the rich cultural and social history of New York and the USA. Afterwards, enjoy dinner together in the museum’s stylish restaurant.
Day 4
A day devoted to exploring the glorious treasures of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which holds one of the world’s finest collections. We spend our morning in The Met Cloisters, the Northern Manhattan branch of the museum devoted to the art and architecture of mediaeval Europe. Transfer by coach to The Met Fifth Avenue, the museum’s main site, where, after lunch in one of the restaurants, we dive into this enormous collection. A trove of more than 2 million works, some of the best-loved masterpieces here include impressionist and post-impressionist works, the greatest collection of Egyptian art and artefacts outside Cairo, and the American and Lehmann Wings. The evening is free for your own leisure.
Day 5
Coach transfer to Brooklyn Heights where we will walk the famous bridge, stopping for coffee in true New York style along the way. Afterwards, a coach tour of Lower Manhattan, the cradle of New York City, will reveal the major sites of the area that were not visible on our cruise. After an independent lunch in Greenwich Square, we walk to the Whitney Museum, where the focus of this large collection is 20th and 21st century American art. In 2015, the gallery moved to a striking new Renzo Piano-designed home at the foot of the High Line, the elevated parkway created in 2009 on a former New York Central Railroad. We stroll the length of this elevated oasis. Free evening for independent exploration.
Day 6
After breakfast, walk to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where the morning is ours to explore this fabulous and influential collection. The museum holds more than 150,000 treasures, with numerous iconic highlights. In the afternoon, we walk on to the Rockefeller Centre, where some free time for lunch is followed by a journey up to the ‘Top of the Rock’, the observation deck with sweeping views across skyscrapers of midtown and downtown. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish but we will reconvene in the evening for a special farewell dinner in the charming Grand Central Oyster Bar.
Day 7
After breakfast, enjoy some free time for last-minute visits or shopping. Coach transfer to the airport for our return overnight flight.
Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square
The Riu Plaza New York Times Square is located in the heart of this great city and is surrounded by emblematic sites such as Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall and the luxury stores on Fifth Avenue. Its extraordinary location makes the hotel the ideal spot from which to enjoy the authentic pace of New York life and an interesting array of cultural and leisure activities.
With Flights: £5995
Join Direct: £5695
Single Supp: £875
Deposit: £550
Departure Dates:
11 - 17 May 2026
Duration:
6 nights / 7 days
Your Holiday Includes:
- Scheduled return flights (Economy class) from London to New York
- Six nights’ accommodation at the Hotel Riu Plaza Times Square in Manhattan
- Private coach transfers and excursions
- Three evening meals and one lunch
- Guided visits to the sites and monuments listed in the programme
- Services of the Tour Lecturer and a Tour Manager
- Detailed programme and study notes
- All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff
Tour Lecturers
Dr Kathy McLauchlan
Dr Kathy McLauchlan is Course Director of three year courses at the V&A Museum. After graduating from Oxford Kathy obtained her PhD from the Courtauld Institute with a thesis on the work of students at the French Academy in Rome. Kathy lecturers widely to adult audiences.
Travel Information
The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.
Please note that Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.
Stamina
Please note that most of our tours involve a large amount of walking, across uneven ground and often without the opportunity to sit down for at least half an hour. We ask that clients inform us if they have difficulties before booking to avoid any issues whilst on tour.
