Living There
School trips are a rewarding experience, and students lucky enough to embark on such adventures are likely to remember them for the rest of their lives. Not only can these trips be a great reward for hard-working pupils, but they can also be educational and can complement children’s learning.
Deciding where to go can be a struggle, so here we run down ten of the best destinations for school trips.
New York
Taking students to ‘The Big Apple’ is a sure-fire way to educate and inspire students of all ages. They’ll be delighted to get the chance to explore one of the world’s most famous cities that until now, they’re likely to have only experienced through their TV screens. Visit all the famous landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Central Park.
Memorial Gardens provides the perfect setting for reflection and contemplation. A 60 minute guided tour of the 9/11 Museum can help students to understand the scale of what happened.
Paris
Stunning architecture, amazing works of art, and delicious French cuisine, are just a few of the wonderful things that students can experience during a school trip to Paris.
For schools looking to immerse their pupils in French culture while also strengthening their language skills, Paris may just be the perfect location to do so.
Students of all ages can visit the Louvre and enjoy lunch by the Pyramid, before getting a taste of French history and art in the Musée de l’Orangerie.
London
Boasting stunning architecture, world famous landmarks, and incredible museums, London is a fantastic school trip location for children of any age. The capital has everything you need for an exciting and educational school trip.
The beauty of school trips to London lies in the city’s versatility. The Churchill War Rooms, Museum of London and the Imperial War Museum are perfect for History students or those looking to brush up their history knowledge.
Meanwhile, English and Drama students will love the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the West End. Budding artists can also brush up on their fine art knowledge at the National Portrait Gallery, while getting a necessary dose of inspiration.
After wandering around so many galleries, museums and tourist attractions, students can relax by the South Bank and reflect on what they have learnt so far.
Opal Coast
The beautiful Opal Coast consists of fine sandy beaches that stretch for 120 miles. A peaceful and idyllic location packed with elegant towns, and small fishing villages, this is the perfect destination for students looking to get a taste of French culture while getting to grips with the language.
There are a variety of accommodation options available with everything from family-run seaside hotels to large youth hostels designed to cater for school trips. With a wealth of restaurants and cafes, there are plenty of places to relax and sample some French delicacies.
Krakow
During a time when so many other cities were destroyed, the medieval city of Krakow managed to survive World War II. One of German occupied Poland’s most popular destinations, Krakow is an ancient city which despite its popularity has a haunting and distressing past.
On a school trip to Krakow, students can embark on a harrowing journey while broadening their history knowledge. Students are sure to arrive back at home with a greater understanding of the atrocities that were committed by the Nazis in the 1940s.
Auschwitz
A trip to Auschwitz is undoubtedly one that students will never forget. The largest concentration camp in German occupied Poland, the Auschwitz site held more than one million prisoners between 1940 and 1945. Prisoners, most of whom were Jewish, were forced to work in awful conditions before being killed.
The Auschwitz site still contains many personal possessions belonging to the prisoners that were held there, including registration documents, shoes, clothes and other items seized by guards at the time. Students will be taken around the camp by a tour guide who will tell the tale of those who lost their lives within its walls and those who survived.
Rome
Beautiful, ornate and rich in history and culture, a tour around Italy’s capital, Rome, is sure to stick in the minds of students for years to come. Packed full of art and architecture, visitors will love exploring the various ancient landmarks of the city, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
There’s also the unforgettable St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums located within the heart of Vatican City.
Iceland
After landing at Keflavik airport near Reykjavik, tourists will be able to visit one of the 25 Wonders of the World, The Blue Lagoon. A geothermal spa located in a lava field in south western Iceland, the lagoon is a breath-taking location which offers fantastic photo opportunities.
The Golden Circle is another much-loved tourist area, covering approximately 300km and includes several of Iceland’ most popular areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Geneva
One of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Geneva is situated at the foot of the Alps and is a popular destination for schools looking for a trip filled with learning and fun.
The city is packed full of educational resources such as the History of Science museum and the ICT Discovery Centre. There’s also the fascinating CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, which will give students the opportunity to learn all about how the universe began and what it is made of.
A trip to Geneva will allow pupils to have fun while improving their knowledge of science and ICT without even realising it.
Catalonia
For creative students with a love for all things art and architecture related, Barcelona is the place to be. Situated in the heart of Catalonia, this dream-like city is sure to be the school trip destination of budding artists’ dreams. Students will be able to immerse themselves in Catalonian culture while exploring this bustling and lively city overflowing with character and individuality.
Barcelona is most famous for its incredible architecture designed by Antoni Gaudi in the last 1800s and early 1900s. Gaudi’s buildings can be found scattered across the city – often in unusual and hidden locations – creating somewhat of a treasure hunt experience. Students will be delighted each time they stumble upon another work of art such as the Sagrada Familia or Park Guell. Photographs and postcards don’t quite do these one-of-a-kind masterpieces justice and so they really are best seen in the flesh.
School trips can help to shape children’s futures by inspiring them and encouraging them to take interest in new hobbies or subjects. By immersing pupils in a new environment and teaching them along the way, children can receive a much more diverse learning experience, often taking in more information and remembering what they have learnt for the rest of their lives.
There are countless destinations to choose from, and if you need some assistance finding the right place for your trip, then a school trips provider such as WST may be able to help you.
