Top places to visit on your residential trip
Residential trips are a great way to create lasting memories for your pupils, not only providing opportunity for learning but also encouraging cultural enrichment. We've listed below our most popular sites to enjoy as part of your residential experience, which can be discovered on a free self-led visit, or one of our immersive and hands-on Discovery Visit workshops.
Please book your visit online at least 14 days in advance and make sure you check our schools pages and what to expect page for full details of what's in place ahead of your trip.
Osborne and Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Include a visit to Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne and Yarmouth Castle on your residential to the Isle of Wight and create a trip to remember. From the opulence of Osborne, which was Queen Victorias's former holiday home, to the romance of Carisbrooke Castle, with its stunning views and Norman Wall Walk, there's plenty for your students to see and do. You can also enjoy our immersive Discovery Visits at both Osborne and Carisbrooke Castle. These sessions delve deeper into the stories and histories of each site, using role play and fun hands-on activities.
Find out moreStay and explore at Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria
See the longest remaining stretch of Hadrian's Wall and explore the remains of Birdoswald Roman Fort with your pupils. Create lasting memories as they discover what life would have been like at the edge of the Roman empire and use our free handling collection providing a fascinating insight into the building of Hadrian's Wall. You can even stay overnight in Birdoswald's Farmhouse, which is perfect for school groups and provides an ideal base from which to visit Hadrian's Wall country.
Find out moreWhitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Inspire your students with a free self-led visit to Whitby Abbey. This iconic landmark on the North Yorkshire coastline allows your pupils to discover a sense of place, whilst also covering a wide variety of curriculum links. Enjoy a visit to this unique site and use our free resources, which are full of fun activities to learn more about the relationship between Whitby Abbey and its surroundings. Or book a hands-on Discovery Visit and delve deeper into life in Anglo Saxon monasteries and the lives of Benedictine monks.
Find out moreScarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Incorporate a visit to Scarborough Castle into your itinerary and discover nearly 3000 years of history. Dominating Scarborough's headland, your pupils will be able to look down upon the town and enjoy panoramic views to the north and south. Book a free self-led visit or enhance your day with an expert-led Discovery Visit, during which your pupils will explore what life was like in the medieval period and how the castle was defended during times of conflict. Create lasting memories and knowledge that your pupils can take with them as they move through their school career.
Find out morePeveril Castle, Derbyshire
Plan a trip to Peveril Castle in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District with your pupils during your residential visit and explore one of England's earliest Norman fortresses. Climb to the castle at the top of the hill and enjoy beautiful views over the Hope Valley and use our free activity trail to collect evidence to discover more about Peverill Castle's Norman and medieval history.
Find out moreLindisfarne Priory, Northumberland
A site of immense religious importance for over 1400 years, your pupils can follow in the footsteps of ancient monks and cross the dramatic causeway to visit Lindisfarne Priory as part of a residential trip.Explore monastic life, the cult of St Cuthbert, and the impact of violent Viking raids by using our free Teachers’ Kit and handling collection, before exploring our museum, now home to internationally significant objects that are on display for the first time!
Find out moreDon't Miss
Take learning on the road and break up your journey with a visit to one of our 400 sites for free. Explore the local heritage of the areas you’re passing through with your class and explore England’s history during an education visit with us.
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Battle Abbey, East Sussex
Stand in the place where history was made in 1066 and learn about the lives and experiences of the Norman and Saxon soldiers during a free self-led visit. Or book an immersive expert-led Discovery Visit and hear tales of Norman power and English rebellion from our Anglo-Saxon storyteller. Our free resources and Discovery Chest containing replica handling items, can also be used to find out more about the daily life of the Benedictine Monks who lived at the Abbey.
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Dover Castle, Kent
From the Roman lighthouse to the medieval Great Tower, the Napoleonic Tunnels to the Secret Wartime Tunnels of the 20th century, Dover Castle is a must-see for any residential trip to Kent. Our expert-led Discovery Visits can help you bring these stories to life, find out more here. You can also combine a visit to nearby Walmer Castle and Deal Castle!
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Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Visit this UNSECO World Heritage site and discover over 5,000 years of history etched into the Wiltshire landscape. See the monument, learn more in our exhibition space and explore our reconstructed Neolithic houses. You can even delve deeper into the history of Stonehenge on a hands-on expert-led Discovery Visit.
Discover sites near you
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London & East
From 'Number One London', the home of the first Duke of Wellington, to the hidden gem of Kenwood House, our sites in London will enable learners not only to stand at the places where history happened, but to delve into an immersive, sensory learning experience like no other.
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Midlands
From the Roman town of Wroxeter to the medieval castle Elizabeth I herself visited in Kenilworth, the Midlands in full of sites to explore as part of a free self-led visit with your class.
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North
Organise a visit to one of our many sites in the north of England and let your pupils experience an unforgettable, curriculum-aligned trip.
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South East
From the iconic Dover Castle situated on the White Cliffs of Dover, to the most famous battlefield in England at 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, there are a multiple sites in the South East to explore as part of a free self-led visit with your class.
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South West
Whether it's Stonehenge in Salisbury, or Tintagel in Cornwall, your class will be inspired by our awesome sites in the South West. Visit for free, or let us lead the way with a great-value, expert-led Discovery Visit.
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Search for trips across the country
Search our 400+ sites across the country to find your perfect school trip. From Roman forts and Victorian halls in the north, to cliff top castles and the iconic Stonehenge in the south, you're never far away from one of our sites, which cover a range of historical periods and topics.
Book A School Visit
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Book online
Make an enquiry or amend your existing education visit booking using our online form and booking portal. Please note, your visit request is only confirmed once you receive a booking confirmaton email.
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By Email
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By Phone
Bookings are best made online, but if you'd prefer to speak to a member of the team, please call 0370 333 1181