10 top tips for planning the ultimate school trip in London

London offers endless itineraries to suit any learning objective. But with so much to choose from and to think about, how can you go about booking the ultimate school trip?

 

Be an early bird

As one of the world’s most visited cities, attracting some 30 million tourists each year, it isn’t worth leaving plans to the last-minute when heading on school trips into central London.

Instead, aim to start planning those school trip ideas at least 6 months in advance, or even longer if looking to book a residential stay in a central location. If you are staying longer, pick three can’t miss activities and educational visits per day and confirm those first. Everything else can fit around. 

Starting early can also improve affordability, making it possible to offer students a phased payment plan to spread the cost.

 

Set your objectives

Whatever your learning objective, London can help bring it to life. For geography school trips you could embark on a cruise down the River Thames. Amaze aspiring young historians with an unparalleled view of the city’s famous landmarks aboard the London Eye. Or capture the attentions of drama students with a performance at one of the West End’s iconic theatres, Whatever the subject and whatever the learning objective, a trip in London can help connect the dots, and boost engagement and excitement.    

 

Tailor the itinerary

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to London trips so don’t feel afraid to tailor any itinerary to focus on educational visits that suit your needs. This should take into account class age and abilities, including additional learning needs, dietary preferences and the level of adult support you’ll have on hand.

For example, for a relatively small group of teenage students, it might be possible to build in time to explore independently at certain attractions or even take a stroll around high-traffic neighbours like Covent Garden. But for a larger group with additional needs, you might find more structured activities, perhaps with a guided tour element, work better.

Ask the experts

Reach out directly to any London attraction prior to booking to ensure you’ve got all the information that can help you make the most of your trip. They may be able to make you aware of excusive rates for school trips, advise on which times of day would be the best time to visit with larger groups and also answer any additional questions you have around public transport, accessibility or safety protocols. 

If you’re booking a school residential trip, ask plenty of questions of accommodation staff too. Many larger hotel and hostel chains will offer special deals that may include some meals and be able to assist with booking additional trip elements like transport. 

You'll also find many attractions will offer supporting risk assessments to help you in the writing of your own. 

 

Prepare for the unexpected

Chances are your trip will go smoothly. But it’s always worth having a contingency plan just in case the unexpected happens. That could be as straightforward as an alternative route on the London Underground in case of delays or line closures. In case of any accidents ensure you’ve identified nearby medical facilities at each attraction or venue too and have a list of each student’s emergency contacts. It’s also worth carrying out a short safety briefing with students on the outward journey.

 

Drum up excitement

Don’t miss the opportunity to build up student’s anticipation of a school trip. Doing so can inject excitement into their learning weeks, even months ahead of the trip. 

Check out The London Classroom to help you here. Created by the team at the London Eye, this new educational programme is a collection of free cross-curricular resources that allow teachers from KS1 to KS3 to use London as a lens for learning for students. It includes everything from one-off quick downloads to comprehensive assembly packs, digital lessons and even London-inspired mini projects – everything you need to drum up plenty of excitement prior to embarking on your trip.

Buddy up

It goes without saying but in a city the size and density of London safety needs to be top of your to-do list. Risk assessments for each element of the trip should be carried out as part of your early planning phase. While on the trip there are a few easy measures you can put in place to keep everyone safe.

Create a buddy system prior to leaving, assigning each student a peer to watch out for. Ensure everyone has a reliable means of communication too. For older students, this might mean allowing them use of their smartphones and asking everyone to download a dedicated app, like for easier location sharing and messaging. For younger students, identify easily recognisable meet-up points, such as a ticket kiosk, to head back to if they become separated from the group.

 

Enhance each stop

Amid all the excitement of a school trip, it can be easy for students to get a little, well, distracted. Give them a helping hand in meeting those learning objective by factoring in a few pre-prepared activities to complete while at an attraction or even during free time at their accommodation if it’s a school residential trip. Keep these fun, creative and straightforward.  

For example, why not make use of one of our tailored pod plans here? Each plan includes learning objectives, impressive stats to reel off to students during the 30-minute flight and a few easy activities to print off and distribute.

 

Don’t waste a moment

There is so much to experience in London that there needn’t be any dead time. Turn a trip on public transport into a sightseeing tour, challenging students to list how many landmarks they can spot out the window. Stop off at one of the city’s incredible foodie markets and allow students to experience international cuisines during their lunchbreak. If you’re planning a residential trip, there’s plenty of age-appropriate ways to spend an evening too, from a trip to a West End show to a walking tour at dusk to see those landmarks lit up for the night. 

 

Make the end, the start

The positive impact of a school trip can continue after the coach arrives back at school, so make sure you plan ways to sustain all the interest and inspiration that captured students.

Set aside some time to simply chat through trip highlights and share anecdotes. Use this discussion to ask questions that might encourage debate and set off new avenues for learning. Create post-trip activities that let students relive those moments, while also building on their knowledge, skills and understanding. Even where an itinerary didn’t quite go to plan, use these as an impromptu learning exercise.