In the first two years of compulsory education (Key Stage 1/5-7 years), pupils begin to explore their local environment. If the school is lucky enough to have a museum nearby, it will be an important starting point in their development. Further afield, there are activity-based museums such as the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, the Science Museum and the Wellcome Foundation museums in London, or the various museums of childhood in Derbyshire, Edinburgh and the Victoria and Albert in Bethnal Green; all of which are popular venues for Key Stage 1 students.
Many providers cater for both day and short-term residential adventure activities, and both the National Trust and Forestry Commission run activities specifically tailored for the KS1 age-group.
Children are often interested in the theatre and music, and usually begin with trips to pantomimes and musicals in Key Stage 1. You can find guidance on ‘kids’ theatre in London here, and over in East Anglia there is the Norwich Puppet Theatre with Bristol Old Vic in the West Country; there’s bound to be a good venue near you!
The Sharpenhoe group of properties comprises four adjacent countryside areas to the north of Luton. These are (from west to east) Sundon Hills, Moleskin and Markham Hills, Sharpenhoe Clappers and Smithcombe Hills.
Sundon Hills has a lovely picnic area, which is located immediately adjacent to the car park; benches are provided or bring a blanket and sit on the grass.
Tamworth Castle is a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle located in the centre of Tamworth surrounded by the Castle Pleasure grounds. The oldest parts of the Castle are believed to date from the 1180s. There are 15 period rooms to explore with many hands-on activities for all ages.
Schools and Groups
A must-see for any visitor to the picturesque market town of Helmsley in the North Yorks Moors National Park.
Discover how the castle evolved over the centuries, from a mighty medieval fortress to a luxurious Tudor mansion, to a Civil War stronghold and a romantic Victorian ruin.
The perfect stop on any trip - if you’re out walking or cycling.
Come and enjoy Spetchley, one of Britain's best kept secrets! Just three miles east of the beautiful cathedral city of Worcester and surrounded by glorious countryside, is the beautiful and romantic garden of Spetchley Park.
Tamworth Snowdome is a real indoor ski slope welcoming schools and families.
The 170 metre main slope and the two Snow Academy areas (separate 30 metre and 25 metre teaching slopes) offer a wide variety of skiing and snowboarding lessons and sessions.
You can also ice skate or even toboggan or tube!
Arrow Valley Visitor Centre, recently refurbished to a very high standard, offers a conference facility and a large comfortable mezzanine area suitable for parties, meals, receptions and other informal functions.
The newly refurbished Harborough Museum is home to the Hallaton Treasure, discovered in 2000 and one of the most important Iron Age finds in Britain.
The museum celebrates Market Harborough’s long history as a centre of trade and industry in the heart of the Welland Valley at the crossroads between Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
80 displayed aircraft, interactive zone & film theatre - plus regular events!
Collection includes two aircraft of the Queen's Royal Flight, the World Speed Record Holder G-Lynx, Russian Hind Gunship and the 'Huey' Bell UH-1H.
Copter Coffee Cafe, Gift Shop, Picnic Area & Free Car Parking On Site
Housed in the magnificent Boathouse 6, Action Stations offers a wide range of interactive displays and completes the Dockyard story by bringing visitors within reach of today's modern high-tech Royal Navy.
Enjoy a day full of fun at the Theme Park especially designed for the under 10s. We have Adventure play areas, Cafes, Shops, plus lots lots more including the NEW Angry Birds zone.
Your adventure begins the moment you enter the park!
Twinlakes Park offers the very best in family entertainment jam-packed with a breath-taking variety of family Rides, Attractions, Animals and even a Waterpark!
Set in 70 acres of glorious countryside, where you'll find unlimited action and play zones, a massive 125,000sqft indoors plus rides and attractions galore. All weather action all year round!
Arbury Hall, originally built on the ruins of a 12th century Augustinian Priory, now stands in the midst of beautiful 18th century landscaped gardens and surrounded by over 100 acres of lakes and parkland, and has been the home of the Newdegate family for over 400 years.
The police museum was set up in the 1980s to explain and illustrate Northern Ireland's unique and often contentious policing history. Our collection includes police uniforms, equipment, medals and archives from the early 1800s to the present day and also weapons used against the police over the years.
Welcome to Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork (Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross), Cork's Anglican Cathedral situated in the centre of Cork City, Ireland. Designed by William Burges and consecrated in 1870, the Cathedral lies on a site where Christian worship has been offered since the seventh century.
The Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tuam, commonly called Tuam Cathedral, is the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam in Ireland.
Armagh Planetarium was established by the seventh director of Armagh Observatory, Dr. Eric Mervyn Lindsay, who, after 25 years of effort, secured funding from local councils and the Ministry of Commerce of Northern Ireland in 1965. In the same year, Patrick Moore was appointed as Director of the Planetarium to oversee its construction.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo, Ireland, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin. It was opened on 26 July 1874 by Cardinal Paul Cullen of Dublin and consecrated on 1 July 1897. The cathedral was built in a Norman style, and it is the only Norman styled cathedral in Ireland.
The RPSI is an all-island body, run by volunteers, which preserves steam and diesel powered railway locomotives, carriages and other equipment from all over Ireland and uses them for passenger excursions on the Irish railway network. RPSI steam trains carry passengers to places as far apart as Portrush and Tralee, Rosslare and Bangor.
Across four unique sites, we care for and present inspirational collections that reflect the creativity, innovation, history, culture and people of Northern Ireland.
The Live & Learn Project
Children here can play in amongst the interesting jets, Silly Showers and other interactive wet play features during summer: great idea if you are looking for summer family days out in Northamptonshire.
Super adventure playground with a seasonal paddling pool for the smaller ones. Also boasts tennis courts, a skate park and seasonal crazy golf.
Paul's Pirates is an indoor play area in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. We are a family run business with a fun filled pirate ship for children to play on - including a ball pool, 2 slides, swings ropes, mangle, stepping stones, shooting canons, rope bridge and much more!
The indoor play area consists of a giant play frame, toddler play frame,sports arena, bouncy castle and much more. Outside there is another play frame and a sandpit, with further outdoor attractions too.
The indoor play area consists of a giant play frame, toddler play frame, sports arena, bouncy castle and much more.
Fareham’s local museum, tells the story of the Borough. Set in a fabulous Georgian building, the museum is right in the heart of Fareham. There are regular exhibitions and free family activities all year round and during the school holidays.
School visits to Westbury Manor Museum
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.