STEM, Computing & Science School Trips, United Kingdom

Discover the home of Charles Darwin - Down House, Kent

Students can discover the life and work of Charles Darwin at Down House where he lived from 1842 to 1882 and wrote ‘On the Origin of Species’. Science learners head for the immersive exhibition which will guide them through Darwin’s voyage aboard the Beagle, his scientific discoveries and the impact of his revolutionary theories on Victorian society. History students can explore the house’s original interiors and reflect on the Victorian culture in which Darwin and his wife Emma raised their children. Expert-led discovery visits and teacher support materials also available.

Learn to spacewalk - National Space Centre, Leicester

Take an unforgettable educational trip to the award winning National Space Centre with six interactive galleries, 42m high rocket tower, 3D SIM rides and plenty of practical activities for students such as mining moon rock, controlling a spaceship, learning to spacewalk and exploring a mock of the Columbus Module from the ISS. Students can learn how space informs weather forecasting and watch a stunning 360-degree movie in the planetarium opened by Sir Patrick Moore. The centre offers fun and informative school workshops including Forces and Rockets or Earth, Moon and Sun are available for students in KS1 – KS4.

© Science Projects Ltd, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Observatory Science Centre, East Sussex

Set amidst the historic domes and telescopes of the former Royal Greenwich Observatory, the Observatory Science Centre is one of the leading ‘hands on’ science centres designed to give students an appreciation of science and technology through an exciting range of interactive science based activities, exhibits and experiments. School group admission includes a bespoke science workshop or guided telescope tour (suitable for KS1 – KS4) and/or science show (KS1 – KS3).

© Clive Perrin / Viking Longhouse, Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne, Dorset

Ancient Technology Centre, Dorset

Students step back in time to experience the realities of life of their predecessors from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Anglo Saxon and Viking eras. This outdoor education centre provides curriculum-based historical experiences where students learn ancient skills from blacksmithing, rope-making and fire-making in an authentic setting of reconstructed ancient structures including a Viking longhouse, Roman forge, Saxon workshop and Iron Age earthouse. Day trips, field trips and residentials available for school and college groups.

© Jim Linwood https://www.flickr.com/photos/brighton/

Science Museum, London

Founded in 1857, Science Museum is one of London’s major attractions and one of the most famous of the UK’s science attractions. School groups can explore the history of space travel and take a virtual tour of the International Space Station, discover the science of climate change, find out how the body works and visit the Discovery Motion 3D cinema. As well as a permanent children’s gallery, Wonderlab, the museum offers an excellent programme of educational shows school projects and teaching resources.

© James Clark, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

We The Curious - Science Museum, Bristol

One of the country’s best hands-on science centres with a changing programme of events such as the Invention Lab, where they can make their own light-up badge, Good Vibrations, a stage show that explores the science of sound, and the exciting 3D planetarium show. The passionate Live Science team will and help students get the most from the exhibits, and there are loads of experiments to take part in, from building with giant blocks to examining your own veins.

Play retro computer games - National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park

Located at Bletchley Park, though operating independently, the museum is home to the world's largest collection of working historic computers where you can follow the development of computing from Turing’s Colossus of the 1940s through to the mainframes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, to the rise of personal computing, mobile computing and the internet. The museum offers a variety of hands-on computer science and maths workshops and programmes for school groups.

© Peter Facey / Intec Science Centre and Planetarium, Winchester

Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium, Hampshire

Winchester Science Centre & Planetariums is guaranteed to spark your student’s enthusiasm for science and maths with live astronomer-led shows featuring the stars and planets in the largest standalone planetarium in the UK. The centre’s education team are highly skilled science communicators who lead interactive challenges and school workshops on Rockets, Sounds, Matter, Space and Life Science for students in KS1 – KS3. Sleepover experiences are also available for school groups.

© Mike McBey https://www.flickr.com/photos/158652122@N02/

Buckler’s Hard, New Forest

Once a thriving shipbuilding settlement which provided ships for Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, the historic village of Buckler’s Hard now hosts a maritime museum, shipwright’s workshop, historic riverside walk and a period cottage decked out to show how families lived in the 18th century. The award-winning educational team offer a variety of educational programmes covering History (Nelson, Trafalgar, 18th century village life), Geography (development of an industrial settlement in the 1700s) and Science (ship construction) as well as programmes for children with special educational needs.

National Maritime Museum & Royal Observatory, London

The historic sailing ship, Cutty Sark, fastest of its time, can be found in the beautiful setting of the National Maritime Museum on the banks of the River Thames at Greenwich where students can discover epic stories of exploration and endeavour that have shaped our world today. Or for a brief history of time, take your school group to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the world. All three museums are set within a UNESCO world heritage site alongside the Queen's House Art Gallery.

© Paul Woolley

Frogmore Paper Mill, Hemel Hempstead

See Britain’s industrial heritage in action at the Frogmore Paper Mill. The first paper machine was installed here in 1803 and the story of paper is a fascinating; history of invention, science, engineering and creativity. The enthusiastic education team offer hand-on school workshops including papermaking, letterpress, and braille as well as tours of the working mill which still produces paper using a heritage machine from 1902. Make a day of it and include a skippered boat trip along the Grand Union Canal. Free teacher packs also included.

© Derek Harper and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

There’s plenty for students to discover at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. With 20 galleries spread over three floor displaying world-class collections, from dinosaurs and gems to magnificent fine art, Egyptian mummies and, of course, an original Banksy, there is something for every type of learner at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

© Alan Wilson https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/

Cold War Exhibition - RAF Museum, Cosford Shropshire

Housed in wartime hangars students will find a fantastic display of aircraft, exhibits and interactive experiences and school workshops delivered by the learning team. Schools groups can learn about the bravery of pilots in Test Flight, fly with the Red Arrows in the 4D experience, and experience a Virtual Reality flight in a Spitfire. The National Cold War Exhibition is the only place in the UK where you can see Britain’s V Bombers: the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant.

© Jim Linwood from London, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The world’s best collection of tanks, Dorset

The Tank Museum at Wareham houses 300 military machines and offers moving exhibitions to help students understand the history of this British invention; from the mud of the Somme to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq – featuring powerful stories from the soldiers that fought in them. The learning team offer history workshops on Modern Warfare, WW1 and WW2 and STEM workshops for schools.

350 years of naval treasures at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

School groups can spend a fascinating day visiting the Royal Navy museums in and around Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Learning highlights include HMS Victory where students experience life on board the world’s most famous warship, HMS Warrior, the steam-powered pride of Queen Victoria’s fleet and the chance to explore the decks and narrow corridors of the only remaining WW2 era submarine. We will organise an interactive workshop with the museum’s enthusiastic learning team using artefacts, archives and historic buildings to provide a unique learning experience.

Award winning Fleet Air Arm Museum, Somerset

Housed in four enormous hangars the museum tells the story of naval aviation from kites and airships, seaplanes and biplanes, to jets and modern delta-win craft. Packed with jets and helicopters, students are encouraged to climb into a real Sea King helicopter, board Concorde and squeeze into the cockpit of a Vampire jet. Highlights include an aircraft carrier experience where students witness a jet landing on the vast flight deck and an inspiring exhibition on women aviators. Informative learning programmes for school and college students.

© David Hawgood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Military Medicine Museum, Surrey

Students can explore the fascinating history of army medicine, healthcare, dentristry and nursing from the English Civil War to the current day. The museum also holds collections for Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the smallest Corps in the British Army providing invaluable support to the Army’s animals. School talks and education packs studying Florence Nightingale and World War One are available.

Crack the Code at Bletchley Park

Visit the top secret centre of Allied code-breaking during the WW2 and the birthplace of modern technology where students explore the mansion, museums and famous huts which housed the dedicated code breakers who cracked Enigma and other ciphers. Hear the tales of spies and strategic deception and the major events of WW2 from an enthusiastic learning guide. Highlights include the rare Enigma Machine Abwehr G312, seeing the world’s first modern computer, Colossus, in action and learning about Alan Turing, the father of computing and AI.

© Trevor Harris

Learn to protect our planet - South Downs Sustainability Centre, Hampshire

Based in the heart of the South Downs National Park, the learning and study centre is considered a beacon for sustainability education. The centre offers both day trips and residentials where school groups can conduct a range of geography and science field studies on topics including rivers, renewable energy and water treatment, food, farming and permaculture, sustainability and biomimicry in building design and woodland management.