Outdoor Activity Centres Central England

Residential and day activities for schools

Mount Cook
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Activities & Residentials Central England

Fun & educational outdoor activities and overnight stays



Completely landlocked and not a seagull for miles, Central England, also affectionately known as the Midlands, offers some of the best school journey centres in the country. There are still plenty of excellent lakes and rivers, water based activities are still plentiful, alongside bushcraft, outdoor rock climbing, and numerous other exciting and challenging land activities for school children to experience.

Central England and the East and West Midlands probably boasts more choice than any other UK region when it comes to outdoor activity centres. We believe this is due to the combination of great transport links, both rail and road, which allow large centres of population to quickly and easily access the types of rural areas that typically suit the location of an outdoor centre. Schools in the centre of Birmingham can be out into the fresh air of Shropshire in under and hour, while schools from Manchester, Leeds or Sheffield can access the southern Peak District just as quickly.

The southern extent of the Pennine hills dip into the Midlands and provide a great location for climbing and hill walking, while many of the larger residential centres have many acres of woodland and open space in which to run activities. Purpose built ropes courses, and other challenging activities are an ideal way to get your pupils to bond and develop outside the classroom. If you are struggling to find a good quality activity centre here in Central England, just give us a shout or visit our main UK school residential activity trips page offers a wide range of options - we can definitely help you organise your school trip.

Want to book Midlands trips and workshops?

Let us find the best value residential trips in the Midlands for your school trip.




Popular school trip June 2026 !

Oaker Wood Leisure

location icon West Midlands
apple iconPhysical Education, SEN, Team Building, Watersports, Wildlife, Accommodation Only, Outdoor Learning


Woodland Outdoor Activity centre with 2 Glamping Villages which can be booked by schools for exclusive use. Sleep up to 160 in Glamping Pods. Catered or self catered. High Ropes, Low Ropes, Team Building, Rafting, Zip Wire, Paintball, Target Shooting

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Coracles at Beaudesert Activity Centre
Beaudesert Outdoor Adventures
map pin West Midlands

Beaudesert Outdoor Adventures supports Physical Education through active outdoor experiences that encourage teamwork, coordination, resilience and personal challenge. Students take part in physically...
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Image for a residential school trip at Thornbridge Outdoor Activity centre in Derbyshire KS2 KS3 KS4  School Trips Adventure
Thornbridge Outdoors
map pin East Midlands

A residential visit to Thornbridge Outdoors offers a dynamic extension of the PE curriculum, encouraging pupils to develop physical skills, confidence, and a love for movement surrounded by nature in...
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white water kayaks
Crowden Outdoor Education Centre
map pin East Midlands

We have designed a programme to support pupils understanding of maths, through practical application within an outdoor learning environment. The use of outdoor learning will help students to build...
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abseil tower
Ackers Adventure Residential centre
map pin West Midlands

Personalised Outdoor Learning and Skills Development At Ackers Adventure, we offer a wide range of outdoor activities that can be customised to meet your specific needs and goals. Whether you're...
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three children learning to use a compass during duke of edinburgh training
Bike, Hike & Paddle Ltd
map pin East Midlands, West Midlands, London & South East, East of England, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland

Approved Activity Provider offering Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions across the UK. Combining hiking, cycling and paddling, they deliver fully supported practice and...
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Image for a school workshop for Prehistory KS2
Prehistoric Britain
map pin East Midlands

'Step back in time and imagine you are all part of a Stone Age hunter gatherer tribe living 10,000 years ago. In order to survive this rich yet hostile landscape you must start your journey on...
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Ingestre Hall historic building
Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre
map pin West Midlands

Our delivery combines a learning outcome with a theme that acts as a stimulus. With a theme of your choice, the participants will explore a topic and create something original based on (for example) British Values, or a set of school values.
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YHA Ilam Hall
YHA Ilam Hall
map pin East Midlands

With sprawling grounds and lots of outdoor space to explore, this grand Gothic manor offers a magical location to visit the Peak District and its many attractions.
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School children at Mount Cook
Mount Cook
map pin East Midlands

Located just outside the Peak District National Park, we have fantastic access into the surrounding countryside which includes woodlands, historical trails, quarries, caves and reservoirs. With the...
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children canoeing at walesby forest
Walesby Forest
map pin East Midlands

We help to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that pupils need to play a full part in society as active and responsible citizens. Many of our activities require students to cooperate,...
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Rock climbing at Frank Chapman OEC
Frank Chapman Outdoor Education Centre
map pin West Midlands

A reflective approach to activity sessions enables young people to become confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. They'll develop relationships, make decisions and...
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Image for a residential school trip at Preston Montford Field Centre Outdoor Activity centre in Shropshire KS2 KS3 KS4 Field Studies School Trips
Preston Montford Field Centre
map pin West Midlands

Students will look at a variety of plants and common animals using age appropriate classification keys to identify living things we find in our woodland and in our pond habitats. Discover what...
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big school camp equipment
Big School Camp Midlands
map pin East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England

Big School Camps model to impacts greatly on each individual child's ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to make appropriate choices about their physical health and...
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YHA sherwood forest
YHA Sherwood Forest
map pin East Midlands

YHA Sherwood Forest is located on the edge of Robin Hood territory, surrounded by woodland, walking and cycling routes, and close to Clumber Park.
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Rock UK - Frontier Centre
Rock UK - Frontier Centre
map pin East Midlands

With over 25 instructed activities on offer, including Aerial adventure, kayaking, archery and fencing. Residential breaks at Frontier Centre promotes healthy and active lifestyles for all ages and...
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children learning bushcraft skills
The Bushcraft Company - Boughton Woods
map pin East Midlands

Students work in smaller groups of around 15 students, aiming to encourage communication and inclusion. The activities are designed so the students work collaboratively to achieve the end goal and...
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YHA Edale Activity Centre
YHA Edale Activity Centre
map pin East Midlands

Outdoor adventures in the Peak District don't get better than this! YHA Edale Activity Centre is a grand country house literally on the slopes of Kinder Scout, and surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of the valley.
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Raft building activity at Oaker Wood Leisure
Oaker Wood Leisure
map pin West Midlands

We offer tailor made itineraries from our diverse range of adventurous activities including High Ropes, Low Ropes, Rafting, Pizza Making, Den Building, Target Shooting, It's a Knock Out, Quad Bike...
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YHA St Briavels Castle
YHA St Briavels Castle
map pin West Midlands

Over 800 years old, YHA St Briavels Castle is a Grade I listed ancient monument with a real wow factor, bags of character and a magical charm perfect for a school residential.
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Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning
Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning
map pin West Midlands

The group will dig our archaeology area, unearthing all kinds of artefacts linking to the period they are studying. By the end of the session, children will: 1. be able to link the artefacts...
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Special Offers: Midlands

Want to make your Midlands activity trip even better value? Here are a few of the best deals currently on offer to schools visiting PlanMySchoolTrip!

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The Importance of Teaching Skills in the Outdoors

As a teacher I reflect on both the good and bad learning experiences I have received to develop an effective learning plan when I teach.

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Outdoor Education: Empowering Children with SEND

Peak's Development Programme offers children with SEND a barrier-free, outdoor learning experience that builds confidence and engagement.

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Walesby Forest to launch new Educational Recycling Initiative on Global Recycling Day

Walesby Forest is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new recycling initiative in collaboration with ROB and Enva.

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Discover the Power of Outdoor Learning with Thornbridge Outdoors

Widening the horizons of young people through real outdoor adventures in the Peak District. Nestled in the heart of the Peak District, Thornbridge Outdoors offers impactful residential experiences for school groups that...

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Outdoor Adventure in a Herefordshire woodland!

Nestled in a picturesque woodland setting, we are the premier destination for outdoor activities and glamping in Herefordshire.

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History residentials at Mount Cook get a new look!

History packages with exciting new evening activities. Learn about Vikings Explorers, Roman Invaders or Prehistoric Britain.

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