School Visits Derbyshire

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Where to visit on a school trip in Derbyshire?

Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands, sandwiched between the urban centres of Greater Manchester and Sheffield, making it a wonderful destination for school groups. Whether you are visiting Derbyshire from Derby or Chesterfield or further afield, there are plenty of learning opportunities.

Most of the county is rural, with almost half covered by the UK's first National Park: the Peak District. All this outdoor space makes Derbyshire a fantastic location for physical geography - upland river valleys, glacial processes. As long as your classroom topics are not coastal, Derbyshire is a gem of a destination for a school trip.

The county's wide open spaces have also attracted some of England's best outdoor activity centres, all boasting superb facilities and a wealth of opportunities for outward bound team building adventures.

School groups can peer into Derbyshire's rich historical past through a variety of exciting educational venues. Learn about life from the Middle Ages or visit Chatsworth House, one of the finest stately homes in the country, where you can learn about subjects like art, history, geography and field studies.

Want to know where to take your school group in Derbyshire? Willersley Castle, built by Richard Arkwright is an 18th century manor with grounds that host outdoor pursuits with Manor Adventure. Over at Bolsover Castle, you can go back further, to the 17th-century and enjoy interactive, hands-on exhibits that really do bring history topics back to life. For more outdoor adventures, stay at the YHA centre in lovely Edale, or Crowden Outdoor Centre in the Peak District National Park. Try a spot of team building with adventure activities like rock climbing and bouldering, abseiling, orienteering, or hill walking. Mount Cook also offer adventure activities and bushcraft, but also have some great workshops with a history theme. Derbyshire has a great variety of locations for learning outside the classroom.

Want to know where to take your school group in Derbyshire? Here are some fun educational trips from venues such as Willersley Castle, St Michaels Environmental Education Centre, Thornbridge Outdoors, Viking Explorer, Roman Invaders, and more.

Able to travel to other counties in East Midlands, have a look at our trip pages for: Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, for more school trip ideas.

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Popular Derbyshire school trip January 2026 !

Viking Explorer

location icon School Trip East Midlands
apple icon Subjects: History, Vikings


We make history fun, engaging and informative by using hands-on outdoor activities, reconstructed artifacts and costumes to provide an immersive experience of the Vikings!

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Viking Explorer
Viking Explorer
map pin Matlock DE4 4LS
Derbyshire

Discover the interesting everyday items that the Viking made out of natural materials. Learn how to make string and rope and how this can be used to aid in the manufacturer of other items. Have a go...
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Roman Invaders
Roman Invaders
map pin Matlock DE4 4LS
Derbyshire

Jump 2000 years into the past with your Key Stage 2 students, and learn how the Romans invaded Britain through hands on activities and outdoor learning. With activities designed to supplement the...
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Peveril Castle
Peveril Castle
map pin Castleton Hope Valley S33 8WQ
Derbyshire

Discover Peveril Castle and get essential insight into life in a medieval castle using our interactive activity trail, including helpful teacher notes and an activity booklet for students. We also offer a teachers' resource pack, activity ideas and a castle timeline.
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Bolsover Castle
Bolsover Castle
map pin Chesterfield S44 6PR
Derbyshire

Many of the rooms throughout the Little Castle at Bolsover are richly decorated with wall paintings – rare survivals from the early 17th century. While the original artists are unknown, all the...
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Residential Trips Derbyshire

Planning an overnight trip for your school or looking for a tailored educational residential programme? Your students can benefit from an activity week in Derbyshire or its neighbouring counties. Discover exciting school residential learning experiences that promote teamwork, and outdoor education.

Willersley Castle
Willersley Castle
map pin Matlock DE4 5BW
Derbyshire

Enjoy a range of challenging outdoor pursuits within the 65 acre estate, Willersley Castle - once the home of Industrial Revolution's Richard Arkwright.
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St Michaels Environmental Education Centre
St Michaels Environmental Education Centre
map pin Thoresby NG22 9AG
Derbyshire

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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Thornbridge Outdoors
Thornbridge Outdoors
map pin Bakewell, DE45 1NY
Derbyshire

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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Mount Cook
Mount Cook
map pin Matlock DE4 4LS
Derbyshire

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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Prehistoric Britain
Prehistoric Britain
map pin Matlock DE4 4LS
Derbyshire

“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 Edale Activity Centre
YHA Edale Activity Centre
map pin Edale S33 7ZE
Derbyshire

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 Ilam DE6 2AZ
Derbyshire

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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Crowden Outdoor Education Centre
Crowden Outdoor Education Centre
map pin Glossop SK13 1HZ
Derbyshire

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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Trentham Monkey Forest
Trentham Monkey Forest
map pin Trentham ST4 8AY
Staffordshire

A primary school art class visits Trentham Monkey Forest, sketching playful macaques, exploring textures, movement, and nature-inspired patterns. The trip sparks creativity while linking real wildlife observation to art learning.
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Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle
map pin Grantham NG32 1PA
Leicestershire

School trips to Belvoir allow pupils to learn about the castle during Regency and Victorian times, including the opportunity to experience a themed lesson in our Regency Schoolroom!
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1620s House and Garden
1620s House and Garden
map pin Coalville LE67 2FW
Leicestershire

We help schools learn about English through talking to our volunteers about the history of the house and our beautifully restored period rooms. Our way of storytelling allows for an interactive and...
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Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre
Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre
map pin Ingestre ST18 9QZ
Staffordshire

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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Alton Towers
Alton Towers
map pin Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB
Staffordshire

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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The Stone Age Company
The Stone Age Company
map pin Shifnal TF11 8JW
Shropshire

We can teach Bushcraft and survival skills including skills such as fire lighting, carving, camouflage, cooking on an open fire, shelter building, plant Identification and more.
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Ackers Adventure Day Trips
Ackers Adventure Day Trips
map pin Birmingham B11 2PY
West Midlands

Ackers Adventure offers a variety of outdoor activities that can be customised to meet your specific needs. Whether you're interested in a GCSE course in Climbing or looking to obtain National...
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Beaudesert Activity Centre
Beaudesert Activity Centre
map pin Rugeley WS15 4JJ
Staffordshire

We can provide a range of levels of Climbing and High Ropes activities, Zip Wire and Via Feratta, Archery, Axe Throwing, sit on kayaks, Coracles, Orienteering and many other fantastic sessions. Our...
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Derbyshire School Workshops

Is your school located in Derbyshire? A huge range of workshop providers can bring the learning experience to you! Allow your students to benefit from specialist knowledge about your class subject or topic..

Chocolate Collective
Chocolate Collective
map pin In-school Workshop

Chocolate Collective facilitate chocolate workshops that are a fantastic introduction into the world of chocolate. Our tailored, interactive workshops inspire pupils and teach them new skills either as an after-school activity or as part of a Nation
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Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous
map pin In-school Workshop

A fun, interactive, and fully-immersive French-language theatre show for schools!
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Stone Age Workshops
Stone Age Workshops
map pin In-school Workshop

Our Stone Age programme is a great way to introduce the Stone Age topic. We offer a unique interactive 'show and tell' to really bring the subject alive and pass around the tools and clothes of the past. Touch, taste and smell the Stone Age.
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Theatre Workout Education
Theatre Workout Education
map pin In-school Workshop

Theatre Workout is one of the UK's leading drama and theatre workshop providers. We deliver bespoke West End Workshops, Outreach Workshops in schools across the UK, and offering weekly classes and clubs in London schools.
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In School Workshops

Discover lots more school workshops in Derbyshire who can provide a tailored experience for your pupils.

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Online Workshops

We can offer a wide selection of workshops that can be delivered to your school entirely online.

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