You don't have to travel to the battlfield of Ypres and The Somme to study the Great War. These World War One History school trip ideas can be visited in a day and are the perfect complement, or alternative, to a school trip abroad.
You don’t have to travel to the battlefields of Belgium and France to give students a deeper understanding of the Great War. With the support of History Teachers, we’ve pulled together the top UK sites that bring World War One classroom studies to life and which can be seen as part of a short tour or day trip.
These sites, conveniently located across the UK, will bring students a deeper understanding of the Great War offering them the chance to walk through a reconstructed WW1 trench system, see artefacts and displays at the Somme memorial, understand the development of modern tank and aviation warfare, or learn about the medical volunteers of the Quaker ambulance unit, this country has a wealth of Great War learning resources.
These WW1 history trips can be an alternative to a tour of the Somme or Ypres, or can be a valuable pre-cursor to your trip abroad.
History Teachers might also be interested in our other British history trip ideas and inspirational UK visits for classes studying World War Two.
When organising a day trip it is essential that your coach is punctual and reliable. Voyager School Travel owns a specialist coach company called Pegasus Coaches, and wherever possible our school groups are transported by Pegasus coach, driven by our own professional driver, so you can be sure of a safe and reliable service.
With expertly designed itineraries, free planning visits, door to door coach transport and the financial security of an ABTA backed service we will help you create a unique and memorable learning experience for your class.
When organising a day trip it is essential that your coach is punctual and reliable and that's why, wherever possible, all our day trips include transport with Pegasus Coaches, our very own specialist school coach company. With expertly designed itineraries, free planning visits, door to door coach transport and the financial security of an ABTA backed service we will help you create a unique and memorable learning experience for your class.
This small museum set in a Grade 11 listed bastion at Hilsea Lines is perfect for school groups studying the Great War. Expect a personal tour from a knowledgeable guide who will bring the WW1 story to life for your students using personal artefacts, exhibits, displays and memorabilia. Features include a memorial area and a walk-through reconstruction trench system.
© Jim Linwood from London, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
© Jon Bennett https://www.flickr.com/photos/nakedcharlton/
Students can see one of only a handful of surviving Great War tanks from 1917 and learn the fascinating history behind the birth of the tank - the machine that broke the stalemate of World War 1 – at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Teacher information packs available.
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.
© geni, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The museum holds an extensive collection charting over 100 years of the British Army in the air. With over 40 aircraft on display, the museum is the perfect place for students to explore the fascinating history of army aviation. Classes studying World War 1 can learn about the pioneers of army flying and the history of how the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918.
© David Hawgood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
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.
© Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
With origins dating back almost 1000 years, the Museum of St John tells the fascinating story of this humanitarian charity. The museum offers interactive workshops exploring history, art, religion and medicine. School groups studying the Great War will also find an exhibition to mark the centenary of WW1 which includes the Roll of Honour for 1077 members of the Order of St John, volunteers of the St John Ambulance Brigade and members of the Territorial Branch of the St John Ambulance Association
Guided tours bring students back in time to 1910 to understand the part played by almost a quarter of a million Irish men and women in the First World War. The museum hosts a collection of First and Second World War artefacts where students learn about the Home Rule Crisis, recruiting and training before heading to France to see the reconstructed trenches of the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
All our UK school day trip packages include:
Voyager School Travel owns a specialist coach company called Pegasus Coaches, and wherever possible our school groups are transported by Pegasus coach, driven by our own professional driver, so you can be sure of a safe and reliable service.
One stop shop – from transport to excursions we take care of every detail. We make it easier to organise a day trip with just one point of contact, a single invoice and help with risk assessments, leaving you more time to deal with students and parents.
Get the most from a short trip – as educational travel specialists we have the expertise to recommend an inspirational day trip which is packed full of learning. You’ll be surprised by what can be achieved in just one day.
Travel safely – we are one of the only school travel companies with our own specialist school coach company which means you benefit from preferential rates, door to door service and drivers who are experienced in looking after school groups (indeed other school travel companies use our coaches too!).
We’ve got your back – book your trip as a package so if you encounter a problem you can rely on our experienced team to sort it out. And with our own coach fleet, we can guarantee that we’ll never leave you stranded.
Peace of mind if plans change – if we have to cancel your trip because of COVID or any other reason, your group is eligible for a full no-quibble refund.
Financial protection - by booking your day trip as a package with us, your trip is completely protected by the ABTA financial guarantee.
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