Excellent School Trips to Explore the History and Culture of the UK

School trips are a valuable part of the academic year, and no matter what the subject of focus or the age of your students, these excursions can be educationally rich and great fun. Every year, in June, enrichment week offers all students in years 7, 8 and 9 to take part in week long activity based school trips; if you are stuck for ideas of where to go and what to do this year, look no further.

There are excellent specialised educational travel companies offering wonderful school trips that give students the chance to discover new places and experience new things. Booking with a reputable company ensures that the itineraries are well researched and will be a valuable extension of classroom learning.

Great UK Based Excursions

London

London is an exciting place to take students, and its plethora of museums and famous attractions are just the start of a journey to discover the capital. After days exploring the city and visiting the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral or the London Eye, students can revel in the excitement of a famous West End show. A river cruise is a great way to explore the city and afford students the chance to see it from a different perspective. The vibe and energy of London is truly captivating and students are bound to be inspired.

Stratford–upon-Avon

How about taking your students to Warwick and Stratford–upon-Avon? Here students can discover the world of our most famous playwright, as well as exploring the dungeons, walking the walls and climbing the towers of England’s greatest medieval castle. Ghost tours around the city of Stratford are lots of fun and you can also include a trip to Cadbury World and the technologically advanced Land Rover factory.

The West Country

There is no denying that Cornwall and the West Country make a great destination for activity-based trips. Here students can discover the largest greenhouse in the world at the Eden Project. Tropical environments survive next door to Mediterranean ones and students can learn about the production of some of our most favourite everyday foods. The sea life centres and dramatic coastline in Cornwall are among the many fascinating attractions of this beautiful part of the British Isles.

Edinburgh and York

Edinburgh and York are two other exciting destinations that you could consider for Enrichment Week trips. Discover the incredible Viking history in York and explore the pasts of Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes. This city is one of history and mystery and a ghost walk of the streets is an enlightening way to learn about the people that have lived here in days gone by. You can also visit the Railway Museum or discover the dungeons of this fascinating medieval place. Edinburgh has a wonderful zoo with two famous pandas as the star attractions, and many excellent parks and museums are just waiting to be discovered in this beautiful city. Full of culture and with a vibrant arts scene, Edinburgh is an eclectic destination for young learners on school trips.

Angela Bowden works for EST (Equity School Travel), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school trips for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. Tours with EST can encompass a wide range of learning opportunities in worldwide destinations.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.