Top 5 Educational School Trips in Kent

**this blog has been updated in August 2023

School trips are a valuable way to consolidate classroom learning, put theory into action and inspire students to continue discovering for themselves. Sometimes, the best way to learn is through experience, and these top 5 educational visits are bound to fully immerse your students in the learning process!

From workshops to self-guided visits, here are our top 5 picks of educational days out in Kent:

1) Bore Place, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, TN8 7AR

“It was truly a one of a kind experience and a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage with nature.” (Wallington County Grammar School).

Incorporating sustainability, global citizenship, healthy eating and much more, Bore Place is the ideal school trip to get your students learning about the world around them.

This 500-acre organic dairy farm is home to a market garden, woodlands, ponds and meadows: a fantastic venue to get your pupils to step away from technology and discover Kent’s countryside! 

Bore Place offers a wide range of tutor led activities for primary and secondary schools. The activities help to enhance learning in a range of curriculum topics and areas, including geography, history, DT and art and design. Each school is provided with a classroom space for use throughout the day. 

Bore Place also runs Residentials and a SEND programme. Find the full range of school visit packages offered by Bore Place here.

2) Leeds Castle, Maidstone, ME17 1PL

“The Education Department were extremely good at gaining the interest of our pupils and drawing their attention to important points in the story of Leeds Castle. The engaging manner of delivery was wonderful and the pitch was just right, especially the role-pay activity.” (The Weald Primary School). 

Take your students on an educational visit that they won’t forget at the ‘loveliest castle in the world’! Leeds Castle can provide educational sessions, workshops, talks, tours or written resources designed to suit your pupil’s educational requirements from KS1 to KS5. 

Choose from a range of themed workshops and talks, self-guided visits and directed itineraries to discover almost 900 years of history. Students will also enjoy additional free time to explore the twists and turns of the maze, the underground grotto and playgrounds!

3) Lullingstone Roman Villa, Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, DA4 0JA

Lullingstone Roman Villa offers schools a hands-on insight into Roman Britain and what life was really like for the people who lived at the Villa. 

Covering multiple curriculum topics, including history, art, geography and religious studies, Lullingstone provides educational visits from KS1 groups through to KS3. 

Choose from Free Self-Led Visits around the Villa to suit your curriculum objectives, or Expert-Led Discovery Visits to engage in exciting hands-on activities with a site expert. Please note that the Discovery Visits will be available from April 2020. 

Find out more about Lullingstone school trips here.

4) Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover, CT16 1HU

“We’ve spent a lot of time doing pre-work about castles in the classroom, but it makes such a difference for them to see for themselves what they’ve been learning about” (KS1 Teacher).

Covering a range of topics, from the medieval period through to Operation Dynamo, Dover Castle is the ideal attraction to bring your History lessons to life. Educational visits to Dover Castle cover KS1 to KS5. 

English Heritage enables schools to choose from Free Self-Led Visits, where you and your students can freely explore 2,000 years of history, Expert-Led Discovery Visits, involving interactive and immersive sessions, and School Visit Itineraries to take the stress out of planning your educational visit to Dover Castle.

5) Manor House Forest School, Margate, Kent CT9 5QX

Forest School offers children holistic learning opportunities, and is particularly effective at promoting children's personal, social and emotional development. Within the Forest School environment, children build relationships with their peers as well as developing their confidence and independence as they engage in activities and explore the environment.

At Manor House Forest School children can experience the magic of the forest during 1 day trips, Christmas 1 day trips and seasonal adventures. The 1 day trip enables children to get hands on with nature with a range of fun outdoor activities including bug hunting, scavenger hunts, den building & tool skills. Children will even get to toast marshmallows on an open fire and get to visit the farm to get up close to the animals.

A school trip to Manor House Forest School enables children to build confidence, learn about wildlife and nature and supports positive wellbeing. What’s not to love!

A ‘Forest School’ style of outdoor learning is something we often hear being used in an educational setting but what exactly is it and how do we know if we are delivering it appropriately? Read our blog "Maximising Outdoor Learning" to find out more.