STEM school trips to London

Whether you’re meeting the Aztecs, unravelling the secrets of Egyptian mummies or discovering what life was like in ancient Britain, the British Museum has a whole host of exhibits to fixate and fascinate your student group. During your visit, students are encouraged to work in teams to solve the mysteries of ancient objects, and document their findings. An excellent learning adventure.

One of London’s most popular museums for school groups, the Science Museum allows students to learn more about pivotal topics related around the STEM subjects. From space technology to the evolution of medicine and the development of machinery, there’s something here to evoke the imagination and interest of every student.

Best known for its incredible and comprehensive dinosaur exhibition, the Natural History Museum is much-loved among students and teachers alike. Featuring as many as 70 million items across botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology, the museum really does have something for everyone, and is a must-see for students visiting the capital.

Night or day, a ride on the London Eye offers spectacular panoramic views of the capital from high above the River Thames. Look out for the city’s biggest landmarks with your students – the Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey will all be visible, alongside the city’s more modern skyscrapers.

Students can discover the amazing underwater world at London Aquarium, with over 500 different species on display. There are also two classrooms themed around its conservation campaigns, where students can learn about the aquarium’s breeding programs for seahorses, butterfly goodeids and jellyfish.

The world’s oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo is home to a massive collection which offers students the chance to observe its near-20,000 animals up close – with everything from Madagascan ring-tail lemurs to tamarins straight from a South American rainforest. We’ve seen students revel in the chance to seek out their favourite animals, meet the zoo’s meerkats, and learn what it takes to keep giraffes.

A favourite among Equity staff and the school groups we host, Legoland is a fantastic adventure for children both big and small. Rollercoasters and rapids spin students past incredible Lego-built models, which depict city skylines around the world, medieval mythology and even scenes from ancient Egypt! We’ve found Legoland to be a reward trip they won’t stop talking about for weeks.

With over 40 rides and attractions for students of all ages, Alton Towers is an incredibly popular reward trip for school groups here at Equity. If you’re looking to integrate educational experiences within your trip, Alton Towers also delivers a bespoke itinerary of talks and workshops covering STEM, business and careers.

Boasting a full day’s worth of thrilling rides and attractions we know your students will love, Thorpe Park is the ultimate end-of-year reward for your students. Alongside its incredibly popular rollercoasters and rides, the park’s educational programme offers several short lessons that align with curriculum requirements, covering STEM and business subjects to challenge their minds in as little as 20 minutes.

Comprising 35 rides and a zoo within its huge 520,000 square metre complex, Chessington World of Adventures is an excellent school trip option to both enrich and excite your students. Here, groups can rally through dozens of themed rollercoasters, and even take part in workshops that cover key curriculum targets, with topics such as STEM, computing and business seminars available from Key Stages 1-5.

Uncover the tales of Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre with a visit to the Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret. Housed in the attic of the church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital, the museum offers your school group an insight into the history of medicine and surgery that’s unrivalled across the continent. Here, students can learn about the efficacy of herbal remedies in an era that predates the discovery of anaesthetic and antiseptics.

London’s highest and best view is located at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 89 and 72. With unparalleled views for up to 40 miles, The Shard offers a fantastic opportunity to teach students about London’s 1,000-year history, using landmarks as markers to support history, English, maths, geography and art subjects on the curriculum.

Students will love the opportunity to ‘meet’ their favourite global celebrities while learning about other famous figures at this amazing waxworks, which has hosted millions of visitors since it first opened over 200 years ago. With figures of both British and pop culture royalty, school groups can examine the realistic figures while learning about their lives.

Fans of Harry Potter rejoice! Students will love the opportunity to explore the breathtaking sets from the hit film series at this studio tour, which has become one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. Groups can also get up close to the real props and costumes from the films. A great excursion we recommend for English and Film Studies students.