School Trip Ideas
From overseas adventures to days out in the UK, discover our school trip ideas for both primary and secondary school pupils.
If you're searching for school trip ideas, we have plenty of inspiration designed to help you plan your next school trip. Our selection of curriculum-linked educational trips are ideal for students in KS2, KS3, and KS4. So, whether you want to explore the best of the UK, or head further afield, you'll find school trip ideas that're perfect for your pupils.
Learning outside the classroom has proven to boost academic achievement, and it has a host of wider benefits for your pupils. School trips can strengthen friendships, boost confidence and create memories that last a lifetime. And at NST, we know how much time and planning you put into giving your students an educational and fun-filled school trip away.
That's why we make it our job to make planning your school trip easier. Your dedicated tour operator provides expert assistance to create a tailor-made and curriculum-linked school trip itinerary to suit your group's exact needs. Plus, we'll guide you through every stage of your school trip, from helping you with risk assessments to providing 24/7 support whilst on your trip. With more than 50 years experience in educational travel, you can rest assured that your group will be in safe hands.
To help you conduct your risk assessments, when you book with NST, you'll receive a completely free group leader inspection visit. This means that you can familiarise yourself with your chosen destination and stay in complimentary accommodation for two nights with a guest - all for no extra cost.
But first thing's first, you'll need inspiring school trip ideas that meet your needs and exceed the expectations of your students. So, whether you're looking to stay in the UK, or take your school trip overseas, our experienced team are here to help.
For adventure-filled excursions, learning experiences and cultural activities, browse our school trip ideas below.
Browse Our Primary and Secondary School Trip Ideas
London
The capital where old meets new. Take your pupils to visit London and they'll experience British history through the bustling global city. From the iconic Globe Theatre, to the crown jewels, London is bursting with exciting sights for both primary and secondary school students.
Browse our London school trip ideas
Edinburgh
The Scottish capital comprises breathtaking landmarks, medieval streets and fascinating museums, making this an ideal school trip destination for all ages.
Browse our Edinburgh school trip ideas
Cornwall
Cornwall is a perfect destination for pupils to learn and explore. With sleepy fishing villages, some of the UK's most famous beaches and landmarks, and stunning geographical sites, Cornwall is a fantastic trip destination that's not too far from home.
Browse our Cornwall school trip ideas
France
Perfect for boosting language skills and exploring a country steeped in fascinating history, France is an ideal school trip destination. With WW1 battlefields in the Somme and the cultural capital of Paris, there's plenty to discover on a French school trip.
Browse our French school trip ideas
Germany
Steeped in history, Berlin is a fascinating city which boasts diverse learning opportunities for any age group. An alternative for pupils studying German is Rhine and Mosel, where better to put their budding language skills to good use?
Browse our Germany school trip ideas
Italy
Offering a plethora of cultural and historical experiences, Italy is teeming with ancient architecture, making it an eye-opening location for pupils of any age. Also home to Vesuvius, mainland Europe's only active volcano, and an incredible landscape, Italy is also perfect for geography and geology enthusiasts.
Browse our Italy school trip ideas
Spain
A school trip to Spain offers countless cultural experienced for students of all ages. Visit the iconic Gaudi architecture, practise Spanish in a tapas restaurant, or tour the ecosystems of a geographically-diverse country. Whatever Spanish trip you choose, the learning possibilities are endless.
Browse our Spanish school trip ideas
USA
Take your students across the pond for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the USA. Discover a taste of American politics in Washington D.C, marvel at the iconic New York City, or visit the Kennedy Space Centre in Orlando. Wherever you visit in the USA, it's sure to leave your students with memories that will last a lifetime.
Browse our USA school trip ideas
School trip experts
Our team of school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too! So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.
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
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 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 Switzerland 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.
