Residential & Day Trips at The Chellington Centre School Trip
Bedford MK43 7NA
Residential Trip Residentials East of England
The Chellington Centre is a popular choice for school groups, with many returning year after year. Set in a spectacular location, with stunning views across the Great Ouse valley, Chellington is only 30 minutes from the M1 and A1 motorways but a world apart.Exclusive-use residentials for up to 72 and day trips for up to 100 take the children beyond their normal environment with a lasting effect on personal and social development.
Inside this incredible 12th century church, converted and extended into an award-winning venue, you'll find accommodation for up to 36 in with conference/activity hall, 7 dormitory bunk rooms, modern kitchen for self-catering, showers + toilets, 2 large break-out training/social rooms.
Outside, we can now offer camping for a further 36 in our brand new sole-use camping zone, complete with modern showers/toilets in the Herald Building (13 Vaude tents and camping mats to hire if needed).
Enjoy the camp fire and barbeque, make use of the multi-purpose playing field and delight in the views with 360 degree horizons and no immediate neighbours. Immediate access to walks and the dramatic rural landscape, overlooking valley and Great Ouse river.
Connect with nature, learn something new or simply have fun! Choose from a wide range of curriculum-linked activities on-site, an easy walking distance or further afield to enjoy during your stay.
The peace and tranquillity of this rural landscape helps avoid everyday distractions and gives students the space and time to reach their full potential.
The Centre is well located to enjoy good access between M1 and A1 London, Cambridge and Oxford and offers plenty of parking space for cars, minibuses and coaches.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Bursaries or Funded Places Available Resource Packs
We can visit your school in: East of England
What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?
There are three types of activities available at The Chellington Centre:
Free/Low Cost Activities
Fun yet simple activities that can be booked for free or for a small charge, using resources we provide:
Chellington quiz, campfire, movie/karaoke night, soft archery, indoor/outdoor games, Harrold and Odell Country Park visit, local walks, wild letters
Curriculum-Linked Activity Resources
A range of interactive programmes to inspire and bring your curriculum to life outside the classroom. Activities are self-led, but we provide the resources you need:
- Key stage 2: Anglo-Saxons meet the Vikings, Winding rivers, Orienteering
- Key stage 4: GCSE river fieldwork
- Key stage 5: physical geography fieldwork for independent investigations
Activities delivered by third party providers on site at Chellington:
Forest skills, raptor encounters, mobile farm, mobile zoo, boot camp, archery
Free/Low Cost Activities
Fun yet simple activities that can be booked for free or for a small charge, using resources we provide:
Chellington quiz, campfire, movie/karaoke night, soft archery, indoor/outdoor games, Harrold and Odell Country Park visit, local walks, wild letters
Curriculum-Linked Activity Resources
A range of interactive programmes to inspire and bring your curriculum to life outside the classroom. Activities are self-led, but we provide the resources you need:
- Key stage 2: Anglo-Saxons meet the Vikings, Winding rivers, Orienteering
- Key stage 4: GCSE river fieldwork
- Key stage 5: physical geography fieldwork for independent investigations
Activities delivered by third party providers on site at Chellington:
Forest skills, raptor encounters, mobile farm, mobile zoo, boot camp, archery
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Physical Geography School Trip
Rivers Map and atlas Fieldwork
Click to read full text Stage 2: Winding Rivers
Children can explore the physical geography of the local area and how this affects local people. They will develop an understanding of the characteristics of the river through practical fieldwork.
The activities start with a short session in the Ibbett Room to introduce them to the river and its affects on local people. Activities will focus on developing children's field sketching and OS map skills.
Children will visit the river and in groups explore the characteristics of river, including its flow and the material it carries, through simple practical fieldwork. This will involve them working together to use instruments to measure and record their observations.
This programme will normally cost £50 for all materials and is self-led, but this year we are able to offer it for free because of the funding we have been given to develop educational resources.
Up to an hour long briefing with our programme manager will help you deliver these as self-led programmes.
Stage 4: GCSE Geography River Fieldwork
Students can practice the fieldwork skills required to undertake an investigation of the physical and human characteristics of the Great Ouse at two points along its course, which are accessible on foot from the centre. Resources provided on pdf include an advisory risk assessment, site choice and walking route information, student fieldwork booklet and introductory PowerPoint for the investigation.
This activity is self-led.
Stage 5: A Level Physical Geography fieldwork for Independent Investigators
Students can practice a variety of fieldwork skills to widen their experience of working in the field. Data can be collected to cover specification linked content including; carbon storage and sequestration in woodlands, microclimates, drainage basin processes, air and water pollution. Each is set up to follow the fieldwork enquiry process including hypothesis testing and sampling. Resources provided on pdf include an advisory risk assessment, site choice and walking route information and student fieldwork booklet. This activity is self-led.
Saxons School Trip
Invaders and Settlers Saxon Settlements
Click to read full text The children step back in time to the 9th Century. The Vikings have travelled by longboat along the Great River Ouse. On the Danelaw/Wessex boundary, they find the Anglo-Saxon village at Chellington.
The activities start with an interactive session in the Ibbett Room where the group explores how we know what the local area around the Chellington Centre was like during the 9th Century.
The children become either Vikings or Anglo-Saxons and make their own helmets based upon historical and archaeological evidence. The children choose their shield and can decorate to personalise it, based upon artefacts from the period.
Warrior training out in the field introduces the children to the cries, commands and team work required to succeed in battle. The children choose their foam weaponry to complete their preparations and practise their formations and strategy.
Dressed and prepared, the children use drama to re-enact a battle down on the river meadow, based on the old English poem 'The Battle of Maldon'. Will the Viking raiders be victorious? Or will the Anglo-Saxons protect Chellington?
Children take their helmets home! All other resources are provided by the centre for use on the day.
Vikings School Trip
Invaders and Settlers Viking Raids and Invasion
The children become either Vikings or Anglo-Saxons and follow the programme Anglo-Saxons meet the Vikings described under Saxons. This includes:
- making their own helmet
- choosing and decorating a shield to personalise, based upon artefacts from the period
- warrior training on the field, learning the cries, commands and team work required to succeed in battle
- dressed and prepared, the children use drama to re-enact a battle, based on the old English poem 'The Battle of Maldon'.
Will the Viking raiders be victorious? Or will the Anglo-Saxons protect Chellington?
Farm School Trip
Click to read full text MOBILE FARM
Animal Edge is a mobile farm designed to connect children with friendly farm animals, allowing them to experience the joy and wonder of animal interactions up close. Young people can get up close with a pony/donkey, pigs, guinea pigs, chickens, rabbits and goats. The visit supports EYFS and Key Stage 1 and 2 topics including animal behaviour, life cycles, habitats, classifications and animal welfare.
The sessions last up to 30 mins, for up to 15 children and can take place in the field at the Chellington Centre. Multiple sessions can be arranged to fill a 2 hour visit at a cost of £250 + VAT.
RAPTOR ENCOUNTERS
Children can have a close-up experience with a skilled falconer and a selection of birds, usually including a Harris Hawk, Kestrel, Barn Owl, Little Owl and the incredible Eagle Owl. There will be an informative talk and the birds will fly indoors. The children may be allowed to handle the birds (at the discretion of the handler).
This activity costs £250 for 2 hours, for up to 20 per session.
Two 90 minute sessions (to run concurrently) can be booked if your group size is larger than 20, an extra charge applies.
This activity is led by a third party.
Forest School School Trip
Children can practise a variety of forest skills including shelter building, fire lighting, wood craft, as well as learning about trees and wildlife surrounding the centre.
This programme is taught by experienced, fully insured tutors. Groups of 15 are best but we can arrange a day to split up groups between activities.
Half Day (about 2 hours) - £250
Full Day (2, 2 hour sessions) - £450
These prices include one tutor and all materials.
If a group is larger than 15 (up to a maximum of 30 participants), leaders will be expected to help and guide, and monitor behaviour.
What size groups do we cater for?
We welcome school groups of all sizes up to a maximum of 72 for residentials and 100 for day trips.
Inside you'll find accommodation for up to 36 in this incredible 12th century church, converted and extended into an award-winning venue with conference/activity hall, 7 dormitory bunk rooms, modern kitchen for self-catering, showers + toilets, 2 large break-out training/social rooms.
Outside, we can now offer camping for a further 36 in our brand new sole-use camping zone, complete with modern showers/toilets in the Herald Building (13 Vaude tents and camping mats to hire if needed).
Inside you'll find accommodation for up to 36 in this incredible 12th century church, converted and extended into an award-winning venue with conference/activity hall, 7 dormitory bunk rooms, modern kitchen for self-catering, showers + toilets, 2 large break-out training/social rooms.
Outside, we can now offer camping for a further 36 in our brand new sole-use camping zone, complete with modern showers/toilets in the Herald Building (13 Vaude tents and camping mats to hire if needed).
On-site classroom facilities?
Yes, the Main Hall and Ibbett Room, designed with flexible use in mind, can be set-up as a classrooms.
Is there first aid on site?
The Duty Manager who will be on-call 24/7 for the duration of your stay is first aid trained. However, it is important to note that Group Leaders are expected to take responsibility for any first aid needs of their group.
Access for visitors with disabilities
Yes, the Centre has been designed to be accessible throughout; it is all on one level, doors are accessible to wheelchair users and we have an accessible shower and toilet.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Chellington Centre is designed to be fully accessible and has braille signage throughout.
Anything else?
We run a Chellington Bursary scheme offering financial assistance to groups that need it. Please call for further details on how to apply to help with up to 40% of the accommodation costs of your stay.
Who are Chellington Centre?
The Chellington Centre is run by a small team of staff, supported by local volunteers and Board of Trustees of The Chellington Centre Charity.
Our mission is to provide an inspirational and rural setting for young people to develop their personal potential.
We are always happy to discuss and advise on any specific requirements you may have. Call us on or email .
The trustees of the Chellington Centre Charity believe that every young person should have the opportunity to have a life changing residential experience. The Bursary Fund was set up to support this belief by offering financial support (up to 40% of the cost of the residential) to schools, youth groups and organisations who find funding for a residential stay hard to access, with the aim of making The Chellington Centre as accessible as possible to as wide a range of groups as possible. Our primary target group is young people in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. We particularly welcome applications from organisations and groups working with young people in areas of deprivation where funding is not easily available for residential activity. Typically, this might be: - Schools/youth groups working across areas of deprivation. - Charity groups where, by the nature of the need, would only use the centre for a small number of people. - Organisations working with young people with special educational needs. - Organisations working with young people with physical disabilities. - Groups working with young people in our local community. To apply for the Chellington Bursary Fund, go to: www.chellington.org/bursary and complete the application form.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Bursaries or Funded Places Available Resource Packs
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