A troop of 800 Borehamwood students descended on London last week to get a taste of what the big smoke has to offer.

Youngsters from Hertswood School, which has campuses in Thrift Farm Lane and Cowley Hill, were accompanied by about 100 staff on a day trip to the capital, where they sampled some of the free attractions.

With help from 15 coaches and one train, students and staff left Borehamwood to see some of London’s famous sites including the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and the South Bank.

Headteacher Jan Palmer Sayer said: “It was a truly magnificent day. We are so lucky to have this on our doorstep.

“It was astonishing how many students had not been to London before, considering how close we are.”

From mapping the areas affected by the Blitz to meandering down the Serpentine, students made sure they had a packed day.

Each group was also given a “Boris” teddy bear dressed in a Hertswood jumper and students got points and prizes for the different people and sites he was photographed with.

One group caught rock band Status Quo during an open air performance on the South Bank and got a photo with the band’s lead singer and guitarist, Rick Parfitt.

Although each group started at a different point in the city, everyone met at midday at the Victoria Tower Gardens, in Westminster. There they were greeted by Hertsmere’s MP James Clappison, who also arranged for a small group to enter the Houses of Parliament.

He said: “I was delighted to meet them. They clearly had a great time. They were very good ambassadors for both Hertswood and Borehamwood.”