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.

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




Popular school trip May 2026 !

Oaker Wood Leisure

location icon School Trip West Midlands
apple icon Subjects: Physical 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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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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aerial view of st michaels environmental education centre
St Michaels Environmental Education Centre
map pin East Midlands

Choose from a selection of Adventure walks, and discover local history and geography: Stanage Edge Padley Chapel Bole Hill Quarry Eyam Castleton Hope Or enjoy a shorter local walk, a favourite is a visit to Thorpe Farm to try the local ice cream!
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abseil tower
Ackers Adventure Residential centre
map pin West Midlands

If you would like to include Maths as an outcome then why not Measure and calculate the length of our Ski slope or Zip wire then calculate the speed of descent, Alternatively collect the scores from an Archery session and then manipulate the data back in the class room.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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big school camp trailer and camping equipment
Big School Camp South
map pin East Midlands, West Midlands, London & South East, East of England, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire

1. Feral Science deliver Wildlife sessions based on curriculum Biology from Upper KS2 to GCSE outdoors 2. We use a range of outdoor skills and bushcraft to reveal the curriculum science behind...
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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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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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big school camp equipment
Big School Camp North
map pin East Midlands, West Midlands, London & South East, East of England, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire

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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view of Youth Hostel at stratford upon avon
YHA Stratford-upon-Avon
map pin West Midlands

There's more to Stratford-upon-Avon than Shakespeare - theatre, history and culture buffs of every language love this world-famous location. A superb base for groups and school trips in the West Midlands.
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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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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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YHA Ironbridge Coalport
YHA Ironbridge Coalport
map pin West Midlands

In the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, in a small town famous for being the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, YHA Ironbridge Coalport is ideal for your next West Midlands school trip residential.
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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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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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+Adventure: Going beyond the expected - Q&A
Residential School Trip Shropshire

We talk to Matt Healey, Adventure Growth Lead at Field Studies Council about their new +Adventure residential trips.

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Woodland Activity Days Proving Popular at Oaker Wood
Residential School Trip Herefordshire

A school residential or activity day at Oaker Wood gives children the opportunity to develop valuable life skills while enjoying the great outdoors. From learning practical survival techniques to gaining a deeper understanding of woodland animals and plants, pupils benefit from hands-on...

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What does a visit to Oaker Wood look like!
Residential School Trip Herefordshire

Discover what a visit to Oaker Wood has to offer in this article. From residential stays to action-packed activity days, there's a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy.

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The View from the Peak
Residential School Trip Derbyshire

As we prepare to welcome your group for an unforgettable residential stay in the Peak District, we’re sharing exactly what makes Mount Cook Adventure Centre one of the UK’s premier school trip destinations.

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Exciting Upgrades at Walesby Forest's Tented Village
Residential School Trip Nottinghamshire

We're delighted to share some fantastic news from Walesby Forest! Our much-loved Tented Village is getting a significant upgrade, bringing even more comfort and versatility.

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The Importance of Teaching Skills in the Outdoors
Residential School Trip Shropshire

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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