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Design and Technology School Trips

Innovative problem solving

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How can UK schools find design and technology trips to teach practical skills, materials, and innovation?

Design technology visits include maker spaces, engineering centres, and product design workshops - helping students prototype, evaluate, and create while linking to curriculum projects.

A recurring theme when teachers are asked what they are looking to get from their trip, is problem solving skills - a key aspect of the Design and Technology teaching at KS2 and KS3. Designed to feed children's creativity and imagination, Design and Technology draws on skills from a broad range of other curriculum subject, from maths and science to art and design.

Whatever your design and technology topic, we can help find a school visit that will complement your class activities and inspire your pupils' creativity and understanding. We have visits that focus on scientific inventions, modern architecture, pre-historic technology right through to the Age of Enlightenment. We have trips that will teach your class about how mining methods have changed through the years, and about how cutting edge design is helping to solve the energy problem.

If you need anything more ideas, please use the short form on this page to let us know your design and technology learning objective. Related topics include Cooking and Nutrition, Engineering and Art.

Find a school trip or workshop for the following Design Technology topics: 3D Printing, Architecture, Electronics, Fashion and textiles, Made to measure, Materials, Mechanics and engineering, Virtual Reality, and more.

Want to book Design Technology trips and workshops?

Let us find the perfect Design & Technology experience experience for your school trip




Popular school trip June 2026 !

Isle of Wight - The Island Classroom with Education Destination

location icon London & South East
apple iconArt, Bushcraft, Citizenship, Design Technology, Dinosaurs, English, Fieldstudies, Geography, Environmental Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography, Geology, History, Beyond Living Memory, Edwardian, Elizabethans, Georgian, Industrial, Local History, Medieval, Monarchs, Prehistory, Romans, Saxons, Significant Individuals, Tudors, Twentieth Century, Victorian, Vikings, World War, Maths, Physical Education, PSHE, Religious Education, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Team Building, SEN,


The Isle of Wight is home to many fascinating and innovative companies who can impart real-life practical examples of the use of design and technology on visiting groups. From electronic products design and manufacture, through the use of resistant materials, to systems and control technologies and ...

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Isle of Wight - The Island Classroom with Education Destination click hand icon
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Tudor Galleon workshop in a school hall
Tudor Galleon Workshops
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
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inside view of ely cathedral
Ely Cathedral
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
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KS1 school children building a structure during a STEM workshop
STEM Workshops for Any Location
map pin online/in-school workshop

Our workshops for KS1 and KS2 are linked to many areas of the Design & Technology curriculum, including engineering structures, mechanisms and the design process itself. We'll help your pupils...
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child wearing safety goggles for a school science workshop
Fab Science In-school Workshops
map pin in-school workshop

The Big STEM Challenge: work as a team to build a HUGE pyramid in your school hall. Find out about the varied roles in construction, from structural engineers to demolition experts! The structure is 4M tall and a whole class and fit inside it. Also works well for an engineering topic.
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STEM science workshop in a school hall
STEM Workshop
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We only use two materials in the majority of our workshops; dowel and rubber bands. Using these simple materials pupils can easily grasp the importance of triangulation and strong bond in structures, both made made and natural.
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children reconstructing a windrush era boat
Empire Windrush
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
> read

Isle of Wight - The Island Classroom STEM Trips with Education Destination
Isle of Wight - The Island Classroom STEM Trips with Education Destination
map pin London & South East

The Isle of Wight is home to many fascinating and innovative companies who can impart real-life practical examples of the use of design and technology on visiting groups. From electronic products...
> read

pendennis castle
Pendennis Castle
map pin South West

Use the 'Build me a Fortress!' activity in the Teachers' Kit, available from the English Heritage website, to understand how the castle was built and the materials used, and then create your own model fortress back in the classroom.
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3D design technology workshop
Early Engineers Express
map pin in-school workshop

Designing and making; building structures; exploring mechanisms Our workshop focuses on hands-on exploration, enabling children to make sense of the "made world" through construction and material...
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Mayan workshop in a school hall
Mayan Workshops
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
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group of school children with brightly coloured backpacks
Creative School Trips
map pin London & South East

We offer workshops rooted in set design, and offer a range of bespoke theatrical tours and activities which may cover costume design, lighting and sound design, wigs, make-up design and more. We...
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children in a classroom being show how toys are made
Toy Making Experience Days
map pin in-school workshop

Children learn about, and implement, some of the processes involved to make a toy out of wood. Processes include: - smoothing wooden surfaces with abrasive (sand) paper. - decorating the toy by...
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school workshop showing children building a bridge
Bridge Building For KS1
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
> read

Orford Castle
Orford Castle
map pin East of England

Discover one of England's most complete and unusual keeps, at this fascinating visitor attraction in Suffolk. The unique polygonal tower keep of Orford Castle stands beside the pretty town and former port, which Henry II also developed here.
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school hall workshop for anglo saxon building
Anglo Saxon Workshop
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
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children in school uniform programming robot cars
AI and Machine Learning Workshop
map pin in-school workshop

A fantastic introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. Focusing on their applications in self-driving vehicles, students learn physical computing & coding concepts with BBC micro:bit computers to build & program a robot buggy.
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Image showing VR school workshops for KS2 KS3 tailored experiences fro schools.
Custom VR Adventures: Tailored Virtual Reality Experiences
map pin in-school workshop

The workshop can focus on the technology behind Virtual Reality and developing scenes using photos or creating 3D scenes.
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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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poster of school toys from the past
ToysInSchool
map pin in-school workshop

The children will use (with one-on-one supervision) a range of tools such as "a hand drill" and "hammer" to build their own wooden toy and use glue and string to join materials and components.
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WWII anderson shelter in a school hall made of sticks
WWII Anderson Shelter
map pin in-school workshop

Construction Elements Included, where pupils have to follow instructions together to form the structure, so need to help and guide one another to ensure a successful build.
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Design Technology School Trips FAQ: Workshops, Factory Visits and SEND Tips for Teachers

7 January 2026

Design Technology School Trips FAQ: Workshops, Factory Visits and SEND Tips for Teachers

Why take Design Technology classes on trips?
Design Technology trips allow pupils to see how products are designed and made in real settings such as factories, museums, or maker spaces. Students learn about materials, manufacturing processes, and product design beyond the classroom workshop. These visits often inspire more creative project ideas and support practical curriculum work.

DT workshop at school or visit out - which works best?
Workshops bring tools and materials directly to school (£200-£500) and allow pupils to build or prototype products. Visits to design museums or manufacturing sites provide real world inspiration. Many schools use workshops for developing practical skills and visits to show how design works in industry.

Free Design Technology places schools can visit?
Yes. The V and A Museum design galleries in London offer free entry. Some maker markets and design exhibitions are also free for school groups. Many museums allow educational group bookings without entry fees, though travel costs still apply.

Top 10 Design Technology school trips teachers recommend (2026 check):

1. V and A Museum, London (design galleries, free)
2. Science Museum, London (inventions and engineering)
3. Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire (historic engineering)
4. In-school maker workshops (prototyping and product design)
5. Thinktank, Birmingham (technology and product design)
6. Eden Project, Cornwall (sustainable design ideas)
7. National Railway Museum, York (train engineering and design)
8. Glasgow Science Centre (technology and innovation)
9. Local manufacturing factories (product tours)
10. Kew Gardens, London (nature inspired design)

Design Technology trips for SEND pupils - what helps?
Museums such as the V and A provide tactile exhibits and accessible displays. Workshops can adapt tools and materials for different motor abilities. Larger construction pieces and simplified instructions often work well. Checking accessibility and planning extra adult support helps ensure all pupils can participate.

Typical cost for Design Technology trips:
- Free museums plus travel: £5-£15 per child
- Visitor centres: £8-£18 entry
- Workshops: £200-£500
- Residential design or maker camps: £150-£280 per child

Schools can sometimes apply for grants or industry sponsorship to support Design Technology learning activities.


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