UCO London Study Tour 2026
By: J. David Chapman, PhD, / May 22, 2026
I’m writing this week’s column from London as the 2026 University of Central Oklahoma London Study Tour moves through another remarkable week of exploration, research, and discovery. Every year this experience reminds me that London may be one of the greatest classrooms in the world. History, finance, architecture, transportation, culture, and urban development all collide here in ways difficult to fully appreciate until you walk the streets yourself.
We began the tour with something uniquely British: football. Our students toured the stadium of Chelsea F.C., one of the world’s premier professional football organizations. Beyond the sport itself, the tour provided insight into the massive economic ecosystem surrounding Premier League football. Stadiums in Europe are not simply athletic venues. They are economic engines, tourist destinations, branding machines, and cultural gathering places woven directly into the fabric of the city.
From there, we shifted to a very different type of cultural study at the Museum of Brands. The museum tells the story of consumer culture through packaging, advertising, toys, household products, and marketing campaigns stretching across generations. For students studying business, finance, marketing, and real estate, it is a fascinating reminder that brands become part of our collective memory and identity.
One of the most fascinating portions of the trip has been our deep dive into Roman London. We toured the Guildhall Art Gallery and explored surviving sections of the original Roman wall that once surrounded the ancient City of Londinium. Along the route, students encountered remnants of Roman forts, the ancient London Mithraeum, the historic London Stone, and the ruins of the Billingsgate Roman House and Baths. It is difficult to describe the feeling of walking through a modern global financial center while standing next to structures built nearly 2,000 years ago.
The historical layering of London becomes even more apparent around Fish Street Hill and the towering The Monument to the Great Fire of London, which commemorates the devastating fire of 1666 that reshaped the city forever. London constantly reinvents itself while preserving reminders of every era along the way.
Our museum visits continued with the Treasures Gallery at the British Library, where students viewed some of the world’s most important manuscripts and historical documents. We also explored the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Churchill War Rooms, and the Imperial War Museum. These locations collectively tell the story of Britain’s artistic, political, and military influence across centuries.
Another highlight was our journey down the River Thames to Greenwich by boat. Seeing London from the river offers a completely different perspective of the city and helps explain why the Thames has been central to London’s growth for centuries. We also toured Lloyd's of London, one of the world’s most influential insurance markets and a cornerstone of international finance.
A particularly meaningful experience for our finance students was a visit to the Bank of England, where Director Tom Mutton discussed the future of financial technology and digital currency. Conversations about fintech, digital payment systems, and the evolving role of central banks gave students a firsthand look at how rapidly the financial world is changing.
Of course, no London experience would be complete without the arts. This year our group attended Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s famous West End. The production was outstanding and served as another reminder of London’s incredible theater culture.
As the trip continued, students explored the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, walked through the energy and activity of Borough Market, toured St Paul's Cathedral, and stopped by the historic Twinings Tea Shop, which has served tea from the same location for more than 300 years.
The final portion of the tour included visits to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and a guided exploration of the British Museum, one of the greatest repositories of human history ever assembled.
What makes this experience so valuable is not simply the landmarks themselves. It is the opportunity for students to connect ideas across disciplines and across centuries. In a single week, they move from Roman ruins to fintech discussions, from medieval cathedrals to modern skyscrapers, from war history to global commerce. London teaches students that cities are living organisms shaped continuously by transportation, finance, architecture, politics, culture, and people.
For many students, this study tour becomes one of the defining educational experiences of their college careers. And honestly, for the faculty as well.
Dr. J. David Chapman is Chair of Finance & Professor of Real Estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu)