History school trips to York

Descend beneath the streets and embark on an archaeological adventure with this exciting excursion, where school groups will be able to explore a bustling Viking marketplace. Students can hear the sounds, experience the smells and feel the atmosphere of life in York 1,000 years ago, using historical evidence to compare how Viking people lived with our modern way of life.

Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views across Old York with this excursion, which makes for an idyllic starting point for any visit to the city. The tower is almost all that remains of the York Castle built by William the Conqueror, and is an excellent site to start student discussions around the city’s medieval history.

Encircling the Old Town of York, the city walls – also known as the Bar Walls or the Roman Walls – date back to Roman times, though much of what we see today can be traced to the 13th century. On this self-guided walk, students have the option of visiting any number of the walls’ individual landmarks, such as the Victoria Bar, Multangular Tower and the elaborate Monk Bar, all while enjoying the views across the city from the ancient elevated fortification.

A persistent favourite among students, York Dungeon brings together an incredible cast of actors, special effects and scenes to deliver more than 2,000 years of the city’s dark history. Here, groups can follow the stories of Vikings, Guy Fawkes, Dick Turpin, and more as they interact with the exhibits and uncover surprises in the darkest depths of the dungeon.

Students will receive a hands-on experience and insight into the history of mining at the National Coal Mining Museum, where they can put on a miner's helmet, collect a battery lamp, then step into a cage and descend deep underground. Tours are led by ex-miners, who tell captivating tales of the men, women and children who worked here.

Explore rail travel through the ages courtesy of this fascinating museum, where school groups can peek into Queen Victoria’s carriage, watch engineering in action in the workshops, and climb aboard a futuristic Japanese bullet train. Students will rejoice at the hands-on experience they’ll receive while investigating how Newton’s Laws of Motion apply to trains; a learning experience they’re sure to treasure.

William the Conqueror’s castle may be long gone, but York’s Castle Museum – housed in an elegant mansion – is an ideal excursion for developing a chronological understanding of York’s storied past. During your visit, students can explore a 19th century street, handle artifacts in a Victorian classroom, and even experience life in the Swinging Sixties!

Unwrap the history of chocolate in York at this fantastic museum, which explores how three entrepreneurial families made the city the home of chocolate in the UK. Here, students will discover how cocoa is transformed from bean to bar, marvel at the skills of the museum’s chocolatiers, and discover the secrets of their favourite brands – with the opportunity to taste some chocolate afterwards. Yum!

In this workshop, students will learn about current citizen science projects in Yorkshire and how citizen science can have an impact on the wider scientific world. By highlighting these projects and the methods used, the workshop aims to inspire your students to make their own citizen science developments in the future – either as individuals, teams, or networks of volunteers from different disciplines.

Hunt out hidden caches with your students on this fun excursion, which will take you to the stunning Yorkshire countryside. Using nothing but maps and GPS receivers to navigate the land, school groups can work together – or separately! – to find these caches where they can log their visit and even receive surprise items.