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School Trips in the UK 

Exciting day trips or overnight stays are right here on your doorstep.

School trips in the UK are a valuable and often cost-effective way to complement your class curriculum and support practical learning outside of the classroom. We offer a range of trips around the UK for primary school and high school classes, giving young people of all ages a chance to have fun while learning about particular subjects and areas of the country. 

Our range of English literature, drama and performing arts tours is second to none and features school trips to Stratford and London – a chance to visit the origins of Shakespeare, Dickens and many more UK cultural icons. The West End plays host to world-class productions and musicals which take centre stage on many performing arts tours too. 

Educational UK school trips packed full of experiences

Pupils can visit London to study British history, maths, geography, music, art and design, psychology and sociology, religious studies, science, media studies and business studies. Since 2021 we’ve introduced a range of UK school trips for French, German and Spanish language pupils to keep your students engaged in language learning. These have carried through 2023 where we host closed group language lessons in London with native speakers

We also offer UK theme park trips tailored for both secondary and primary school children which add a dash of fun to the learning experience.

Primary-aged pupils can find visits of interest all around the UK, from cities to the countryside and coastlines. London, York and Scarborough, the Isle of Wight, Dorset and Bournemouth, North Wales and Edinburgh unveil a treasure trove of learning opportunities. 

It’s surprising how much is going on right on your doorstep – get in touch to find out more about how to start planning your ideal educational trip and take a look at our most popular options below. 

All destinations cater for day trips or longer durations. Discover our range of educational trips today. 

Learn more about our trips in the UK

Bournemouth & Dorset

Bournemouth & Dorset

Primary Schools

Our primary school trips to Bournemouth and Dorset are particularly popular with primary school groups looking for a short distance trip that still offers plenty of valuable learning opportunities.

Learn more here

If you’re looking for more information or free advice, get in touch with one of our expert travel advisors today.

Bristol 

Bristol

A UK school trip to Bristol provides a great value, year-round destination for school groups with excellent educational visits on offer.

You can find more information on each trip we offer below.:

Cultural Trips
Named the best place to live in the UK twice, Bristol is a colourful creative city that provides a great value, year-round destination for a school trip to help bond your group and increase their sense of wellbeing. 

Art & Design 
Bristol also provides fascinating art galleries and museums for inspiration.  During a Street Art Experience Tour your students can discover the works of art, of the the city's graffiti legends; whilst also getting the opportunity to take part in creating their own artwork through a hands-on workshop. 

History
The city provides fascinating museums and walking tours for insight into the city’s centuries-old heritage and culture.  Visit M Shed,  the city’s social history museum housed in a 1950s transit shed and the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery – a magnificent space exploring the city’s archaeology, natural history and more. 

Psychology & Sociology 
Take part in a memory and cognition workshop at the award-winning science museum We The Curious, learn about mental health awareness at local charity Changes and learn how hypnosis can be used to help with anxiety, fears and phobias in our Hypnosis workshops.

Cornwall

Cornwall

A school trip to Cornwall and the beautiful south coast of the UK offers plenty of diverse learning opportunities. 

You can find more information on each trip we offer below, or visit our page about Cornwall school trips.​

Primary Schools
A safe yet inspirational destination for your pupils, Cornwall offers an abundance of natural attractions, excursions and history to keep primary school pupils entertained and engaged.

Geography
Cornwall provides geography pupils with the ideal learning environment to investigate coasts and tourism, and of course, a visit to the amazing Eden Project.

Art & Design
On an art and design school trip to Cornwall, your pupils will feel inspired by the beautiful setting and could even walk in the footsteps of Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach, John Opie or other influential Cornish artists.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland’s historic capital city provides a unique learning experience for students of all ages, full of quality sights, landmarks and activities. That means there’s a lot to consider when planning your ideal school trip to Edinburgh. 

You can find more information on each trip we offer below, or visit our page about Edinburgh school trips.​

Primary Schools
Edinburgh is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities, full of fascinating museums, enchanting history and heritage. It’s an ideal destination to give primary school groups perhaps their first taste of a remarkable capital city. 

Learn more here

Psychology & Sociology
A psychology & sociology school trip to the Scottish city of Edinburgh is undoubtedly a year-round destination that offers great value.

Learn more here

Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight

Primay schools

We have been organising school trips to the Isle of Wight for over 50 years! The Isle of Wight is particularly popular with primary school groups looking for a short distance trip that still offers plenty of valuable learning opportunities.

Learn more about our primary school trips to the Isle of Wight here

Find more information about our school trips to the Isle of Wight here

 

Liverpool

Liverpool

As a former European City of Culture, Liverpool is a great location for a school trip. With the Titanic Museum here, various art museums and a major music scene born from the beetles it is the perfect location for a UK school tour.

You can find more information on each trip we offer below, or visit our page about Liverpool school trips.

Primary Schools
Primary school groups visiting Liverpool can take advantage of a major touring musical at the Empire Theatre, take a ferry across the Mersey and take a tour at Anfield Stadium.

Art & Design
With the largest collection of galleries and museums outside London, Liverpool is the perfect place for an art and design school trip.

Music
Home of the Beatles, the famous Cavern Club, and the British Music Experience, Liverpool is a cultural capital for budding musicians. Find out more here.

Llandudno & North Wales

Llandudno & North Wales

Primary Schools 

This is an ideal primary school trip destination if you want to touch upon many aspects of the curriculum outside the classroom. A stay in Llandudno and North Wales offers several great opportunities to take in the top attractions in Wales. 

Learn more about our primary school tours here

London

London

School trips to London offer young people a valuable new perspective outside of the classroom and a chance to experience the sights, sounds, hustle and bustle of a major global city. We offer trips in a wide range of subjects with plenty of activities perfect for aiding the development of your students.

Find more information about our school trips to London here

 

Manchester

Manchester 

Exciting things have been happening in Manchester over recent years, and this vibrant city offers lots to see and do.

You can find more information on each trip we offer below, or visit our page about Manchester school trips.


Primary Schools
A primary school trip to Manchester is a fantastic alternative to London for groups based in the north or Scotland with a colourful array of educational and cultural visits.

Manchester is perfect for all ages as the science and industry museum. Pupils can benefit from Interactive Science Exhibits and look at historical artefacts of Manchester.

Art & Design
A city bursting with charm and character, art is available in abundance, with art and design school trips to Manchester often boasting a number of fascinating galleries on their itineraries. Why not explore the latest exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery, or delve into the works of the region’s most famous artists, like L.S Lowry?

York

York 

Primary Schools

School trips to York and the Yorkshire coast provide an incredible learning experience for children of all ages, particularly primary school groups who are looking to learn more about one of the most iconic Roman cities in the UK.

Learn more about our primary school trips to York here

Find more information about our school trips to York here

Yorks is brimming with historical significance, with roman wills, the roman bath museum and the York Minister it is a great UK school trip to show the roman conquest throughout Britain. 

Midlands

Midlands 

Business Studies

Home to world famous brands such as Cadbury and Jaguar Land Rover, a visit to the Midlands is a must for business studies groups for its diverse array of visits, with a chance to look at marketing strategies, production, logistics, business responsibilities and priorities.

Learn more here

Stratford Upon Avon

Stratford Upon Avon

Thousands of school groups flock to Stratford Upon Avon every year to enjoy the iconic sights and shows found in Shakespeare’s home town. 

You can find more information on each trip we offer below, or visit our page about Stratford Upon Avon school trips.


Drama & Performing Arts
Explore the historic world that shaped Shakespeare’s life, including world class productions and performance arts workshops, in the beautiful town of Stratford.

Learn more here 

Primary Schools
A primary school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon is guaranteed to inspire your pupils, plus there’s also the opportunity to explore a wealth of attractions throughout the West Midlands.

Learn more here

Suffolk 

History

For school groups studying the First World War, we have joined up with Great War Huts in Suffolk to offer a UK experience to enable students to learn more about this period of history and enrich their knowledge.  This experience provides an excellent alternative to the school tours to the First World War battlefields of Belgium and France.

Learn more here.

 

Theme Parks

Theme Parks 

Our theme park trips are a very popular idea for activities week or a class reward for hard work.

View trips for KS2 here

View trips for secondary schools here

 

Available at 12 PGL centres 

Restart Adventure is available at 12 PGL centres 

Suitable for KS3 
 
This new programme is designed to re-connect students with you, each other and with the great outdoors.  

Through our partnership with PGL, the UK's leading outdoor education provider, this exciting new 2-day programme offers fantastic value for money, and is designed to be a fun, uplifting and motivating adventure for your students.

This allows students to benefit from the outdoors on school trip in the UK. Experiencing exciting activities such as raft building, rock climbing and 

 

UK LIVE! Student Events

UK LIVE! Student Events

Inspire their future career at LIVE! - Immersive student events for KS4 & KS5 learners

UK LIVE! Is a perfect UK school trip that combines a conference led by expert speakers, workshops & talks, team-based challenges and outdoor adventure activities.  A three-day weekend event which brings together the best possible learning experience for your students in a fun, memorable and safe environment.

UK LIVE! takes place at our activity centre Liddington near Swindon.

See our full range of events here


Experience one of our trips in the UK...

Work with our experts...

Hundreds of groups travel across the UK with NST every year, and members of our team are regularly travelling up, down and across to really get to know the ins-and-outs of each city and area, from logistics and visits to our range of student-friendly accommodation.

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their knowledge of the UK to create an itinerary that’s tailor-made, perfectly timed and meets your exact school travel needs.

They’ll be able to share their first-hand experience, suggest options you might not have considered and give you insight into the feedback other teachers have given us too.

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information:

Tour planning service

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:

  • Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
  • Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals


You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

Free school trip promotion pack

Free school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
  • Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip


For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip. 

Planning first school trip

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process.

If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way.

Our helpful guide covers the following:

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist


View our essential guide to a successful school trip here.

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here.

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you.

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too.

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go.

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here.

Free classroom resources

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!

Take a look at our downloadable posters here.

Why choose NST...

Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of the UK to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

  • Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.

  • Free group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

  • More than 50 years’ experience

With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

  • Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.  

 

Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

 

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

Students are safe on UK school trips

There is no need to worry when you book a UK school trip with NST. With our safety management system you have 24-hour emergency cover on all of your trips incase anything goes wrong giving you peace of mind.