Outdoor Activity Centres Central England

Residential and day activities for schools

Crowden Outdoor Education Centre
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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 October 2026 !

Oaker Wood Leisure

location icon West Midlands
apple iconAccommodation Only, Outdoor Learning, Physical Education, Team Building, Watersports, Wildlife, SEN


Set within beautiful woodland surroundings, Oaker Wood combines comfortable glamping accommodation with thrilling activities including high ropes, zip wire, rafting, paintball, and target shooting, creating unforgettable school trips packed with challenge 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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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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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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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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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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Anne Hathaway
Stratford Overnight English & History Trip with Equity
map pin West Midlands

Learning more about the life of Shakespeare will allow students to better understand his works. Where better than the town of his birth to study the man and his legacy.
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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

Confidence Through Outdoor Adventure - Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expeditions and Gold Residentials At Bike, Hike & Paddle Ltd, we believe life's most transformative moments are found on winding...
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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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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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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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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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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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roller coaster
Alton Towers
map pin West Midlands

Alton Towers offers school groups a fantastic opportunity to explore the fascinating world of mechanics and engineering. With its world-class roller coasters and rides, students can gain hands-on...
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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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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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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 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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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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aerial view of willersley castle in Derbyshire
Willersley Castle
map pin East Midlands

Designed for older students preparing for exams, our revision weekends offering a balanced mix of focused study in well-equipped classrooms and energising outdoor activities. These weekends help boost...
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Blind trail activity at Culmington Manor activity centre
Culmington Manor
map pin West Midlands

Designed for older students preparing for exams, our revision weekends offering a balanced mix of focused study in well-equipped classrooms and energising outdoor activities. These weekends help boost...
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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 Outdoor Education Bill

Read the latest developments in the UK Outdoor Education Bill advocating for mandatory outdoor learning in schools, Scotland's residential outdoor education Act, and England's Generation Green funding programme.

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Unlocking High-Impact DofE: Insights and Advice from an Expedition Provider

To help you build a smooth and truly successful school DofE programme, specialists Bike, Hike & Paddle share their key observations and hands-on recommendations directly from the field, on how schools can...

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+Adventure: Going beyond the expected - Q&A

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

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The View from the Peak

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...

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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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