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Normandy History School Trips & Tours - WWII

A history school trip to Normandy will allow your pupils to see first-hand the beaches, upon which so many sacrifices were made and to reflect on World War Two themes within many GCSE and A-level courses.

We can tailor-make your study tour to cover any specific topics or aspect of the conflict to ensure that you get the very most from your trip.

This popular tour seeks to bring to life the events of June and July 1944. With a wide array of museums and educational visits which will guide you through every aspect of the conflict, this school trip to Normandy will help to bring to life classroom-based learning in an unforgettable way.

Prices start from£499pp

Price Shown includes

  • 3 nights’ full board accommodation
  • Executive coach transport from and to school and throughout your stay
  • Extensive group travel insurance
  • 1 in 8 free place ratio

Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from selected departure points and is subject to availability.


On-tour support

Get even more from your trip with an NST History Subject Expert from only £10pp per day. 

 


Accommodation

Popular options in Normandy


Top visits

The Falaise Memorial - The Civilians War

During your visit to the Falaise Memorial, discover three large spaces: one dedicated to the daily life of civilians under Occupation, another on the liberation and an immersive room plunging you into the heart of the hell of the bombings of the Second World War.
Pupils can analyze archive documents, discover historical objects and explore the different rooms of the museum which successively address: daily life under the Occupation, the Vichy regime, the Resistance, persecutions, genocide and the Normandy landings.

Caen

The scene of vicious fighting after the D-Day landings, Caen was largely destroyed. There is the opportunity to view the impressive castle ramparts as well as the beautifully restored centre.

Mémorial de Caen

A journey into the heart of 20th century history, passing through WWII, the Cold War and the world today. A school visit can include a 30-minute D-Day and the Battle of Normandy film. Activities based around several themes can be organised, subject to reservation. 

Online teacher resources available. 

Arromanches Invasion Museum

This museum contains a collection of models, photographs, dioramas, arms and equipment of the WW2 Allied forces.

Arromanches 360 Cinema

A new film entitled ‘Normandy’s 100 days’ projected on 9 screens, tells the story of the battle of Normandy with images gathered from around the world. After the film groups can enjoy the panoramic view of the artificial harbour set up by the Allies from the roof of the Arromanches 360 Cinema.

 

Mulberry Harbour

This great engineering feat built for D-Day sped up the unloading process so that allied troops were supplied as they advanced across France. The remains of this enormous structure can clearly be seen lying off the coast of Arromanches.

La Cambe German Cemetery

In the years following WWII, the German War Graves Commission decided to establish six main German cemeteries in the Normandy area. La Cambe, started in 1954 is the main German cemetery in the beach area. A total of 21,222 German soldiers are commemorated there.

Memorial ‘Pegasus’ Museum

The capture of this bridge over the Caen Canal was vital to the success of the British airborne assault on D-Day. The original bridge was replaced when the canal was widened but it may still be seen in the Airborne Museum nearby.

Ranville Cemetery

The village of Ranville was captured on the morning of D-Day and the cemetery there contains the graves of many of the men of the Airborne Division killed on that day and in the subsequent fighting, including some of the casualties from Pegasus Bridge.

D-Day Landing Beaches

Tours of several of the landing beaches, such as Omaha, Utah, Sword or Juno can be arranged. Possible stop-offs include the Canadian-focused Juno Visitor Centre.

Pointe du Hoc

The shattered remains of one of the most powerful German coastal batteries in the area stand amidst a sizeable area of preserved battlefield on top of the impressive cliffs, from which men of the American Rangers made their famous attack on D-Day.

1944 Museum

The Utah Beach Landing Museum is set up at the site of the US landing on the 6th of June, 1944. Guided tours are offered to explain German defences and the different stages of the landing on Utah Beach.  

American National Cemetery and Memorial

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is located on the site of the temporary American St Laurent Cemetery, established by the US First Army on June 8, 1944 and the first American cemetery on European soil in WWII. The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 American military, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. 


Evening activites

  • A quiz or disco at your hotel (many hotels can provide a room for groups to use in the evenings)

Study themes

  • The Failure of Peace (1918-1939)
  • The Phoney War
  • Life in Nazi Occupied France & Belgium
  • D-Day in the Context of Events in Germany & on the Eastern Front

 

  • The Events in Northern France & Belgium Following D-Day
  • Alliance with the US
  • The War in the Atlantic

Study levels

A Level

AS Level

GCSE 

 


Expert's comment

The D-Day landings were a defining episode in WWII. A vast allied armada delivering 100,000s of soldiers to the shores of Normandy marked the opening of the Second Front against Nazi Germany. A plethora of museums, memorials and historical sites await you.

Jeff, NST History Subject Expert 


Transport

Available from any location in the UK, our executive coaches are fitted with seatbelts, toilet facilities, air conditioning, DVD and reclining seats.

Coach

We can arrange for your group to fly from a range of UK airports and we’ll work with you to plan your route at the best value possible.

Flight


Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

  • Your own dedicated NST contact
  • Bespoke tour itineraries
  • Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
  • Curriculum linked visit programmes
  • Great value for money - no hidden costs
  • Free group leader inspection visits
  • Risk assessment guidance
  • Safety assured, transport, accommodation and visits

Whilst you're away

  • Free educational resources
  • Group-friendly accommodation
  • Exceptional standards of coaching
  • On-tour support from our reps on the ground
  • Support & assistance from our specialists throughout your tour
  • 24/7 support just a call away
  • Extensive group travel insurance

On your return

  • Priority rebooking services
  • Rewarding your loyalty with our reward scheme
  • You say, we listen - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
  • School travel company of choice since 1967

“Our trip to Normandy was excellent. It was very well planned and ran very smoothly. I am very happy with the way the trip went. Tony, our Subject Expert, was excellent as always. He delivered the information at the right level and helped to plan an excellent itinerary.”

Alison Silto, Lavington Academy