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English and Literacy School Trips

From Spelling and Grammar to Saxons and Shakespeare

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What English and literacy school trips in the UK inspire reading, writing, and Shakespeare for young learners?

English trips feature author visits, theatre performances, literary trails, and creative writing workshops - encouraging storytelling, poetry analysis, and language skills while tying into key texts and literacy goals.

Literacy is arguably the most important part of our National Curriculum. A good working knowledge and understanding of our first language is critical before we can really begin to explore other areas of the curriculum. A child who struggles with comprehension and communication will not understand what they are being taught in other subject areas, or will find it difficult to explain their answers. They could be naturally gifted for a subject like science, but without good reading, writing, speaking or listening skills, they are going to be held back.

International Literacy Day | September 2026

International Literacy Day on 8 September 2026 highlights how important reading and writing still are in our world. For UK schools it is a great chance to book trips that bring stories to life. Library visits, author workshops or even theatre trips based on favourite books all work brilliantly. We have options that link to every key stage and help pupils understand why literacy matters. Children who struggle with reading can find new motivation and create memories that last. If you are planning to tie in with International Literacy Day, find a range of excellent choices below.

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National Libraries Week School Trips UK | October 2026

National Libraries Week in October 2026 (theme 'Your Passport to Reading') highlights the magic of libraries and the joy of stories. UK schools can book visits to public or specialist libraries for author talks, storytelling sessions or creative writing workshops. You may be able to view specialist collections or learn new research skills. These trips make reading feel adventurous rather than routine, and many libraries run special events during the week. Celebrate National Libraries Week with a visit to your local library for free or low cost options. Or check below if you would like an in-school workshop. Plan early for reading adventures this October!

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National Poetry Day School Trips UK | 2 October 2026

National Poetry Day on 2 October 2026 is usually themed around creativity and expression. For school groups, it is a brilliant day to ignite a love of words in your class. Celebrate with visits to literary festivals or even historic sites linked to famous poets like Wordsworth or Keats. Pupils can write their own pieces, perform spoken word or explore poetry through drama and art. Poetry helps with literacy, emotional expression and confidence building. We have options from in-school workshops to gallery or theatre outings. Book early as these events are always popular.

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Clearly the classroom is a great place to teach basic literacy, but the benefits of a school trip, especially once they start to nurture their understanding of the history of language, should not be overlooked. The obvious destination for a school trip with a focus on English Language is the birth place of William Shakespeare; Stratford upon Avon. Also below you will also find inspiration from our other destinations which cover different periods in history, from the Anglo Saxon influence, through to the modern day. If you are looking for a school visit destination that offers high quality educational value for your English trip, you will find it here. Our trips and workshops cater for topics relating to SpaG, Stories and Folktalkes, Theatre and Film, Poets and Playwrights and much more.

Looking for a celebration of World Book Day or National Storytelling Week? We can help with that too.

Find a school trip or workshop for the following English topics: Charles Dickens, Composition, Comprehension, Creative writing, Fairy tales Myths and Legends, Heroes and villains, Journalism, Persuasive writing, Pirates, Poetry, Reading for pleasure, Roald Dahl, Shakespeare, Story writing, Storytelling, Superheroes, Vocabulary grammar and punctuation, Wild West Cowboys, World Book Day, and more.

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Let us find the perfect English school trip for your group




Popular school trip May 2026 !

School Residentials in London

location icon School Trip London & South East
apple icon Subjects: English, Design Technology, Physical Education


Head to the capital to bring learning alive with a huge variety of activities and sights - not forgetting 22 National Museums on offer. Discover Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, along with the Eye, Madame Tussauds and London Dungeons.

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School Residentials in London
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educator dressed as a wizard
The Wizard Walk of York - WINNER Best of York Award
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The Wizard Walk can be used an ideal starting point for pupils to create their own magical stories, with tales of mystical creatures, spells, magic and wizardry. Expect plenty of humour, wordplay,...
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two children on swings at bewilderwood in norfolk
Bewilderwood Norfolk
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The park is based on the book, A Boggle at BeWILDerwood, by local children's author Tom Blofeld, offering a whole range of Literacy and performing arts fun - if you wish to read the books before your...
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World Book Day Workshops
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During our storytelling workshops your students will learn new skills for being a captivating storyteller. Your students will learn how we can use a wide vocabularly to make our stories...
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Quidditch for Muggles
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If you're studying about Harry Potter or the Wizarding World during your English lessons we can give a hands on, immersive experience to really bring the story to life. Take part in our Quidditch...
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school child wearing a VR headset in the classroom
Virtual Reality Day
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At PrimeVR, we understand how difficult it can be to inspire children with their writing. We aim to create excitement by virtually transporting pupils using VR! Not only will we provide your class...
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Roald Dahl
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Our Roald Dahl days are available in two formats and are a great way for the children to explore the author and his works Format one: LEARN AND PRESENT One class of children work together all...
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actress during a roald dahl school workshop
Roald Dahl- 12 days of Christmas
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All our workshops are devised with enhancing primary curriculum learning in mind. Our professional actors deliver interactive, fun, educational sessions using improvisation, role play, song, script and movement helping to bring topic to life and cement learning.
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witches and wizards demonstration in school classroom
Magic, Witches & Wizards Workshop & Wow Day
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Dan Tastic Education brings magic to life with an in school Magic, Witches & Wizards Workshop experience that works as the perfect topic hook for your pupils! Forget dry lists of numbers and facts...
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school children dressed as super heroes
Superhero Workshop & Wow Day
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Dan Tastic Education uses a wide array of props, historical items, videos, group discussion and teacher in role style student participation to cover the following topics during a Superhero Wow Day:...
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Creative Writing Superheroes
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In this workshop we will explore what tools we need to use, in order to create a great story, including how a story can be structured, characterisation and onomatopoeia. We aim to be able to inspire...
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children at a dace workshop
World Book Day Dance Workshops
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Our World Book Day workshop will add a layer of learning, and really brings books to life. Unlocking English, Drama and Dance to it's full potential.
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trees at bewilderwood in cheshire
BeWILDerwood Cheshire
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BeWILDerwood is based on the enchanting tale, a Boggle At BeWILDerwood, if you wish to read this before your visit or extend your adventure back in the classroom, it can be purchased from...
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fair tales workshop in a school classroom
Fairy Tales Workshop & Wow Day
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Dan Tastic Education uses a wide array of props, historical items, videos, group discussion and teacher in role style student participation to cover the following topics during a Fairy Tale Wow Day:...
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World Book Day
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The Drama Hut's Creative Writing workshop offers an opportunity for children to learn through improvisation, role play, song and script work creating a unique learning experience for your class or...
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man reading a book about the big bad wolf
Fairytales
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This Literacy workshop for EYFS/KS1 introduces young pupils to the joys of storytelling. Using well-known, classroom-appropriate fairytales, we'll use drama activities and team work to examine the key...
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creative writing workshop
Creative Writing-Engage and Inspire Roald Dahl
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The Drama Hut's Creative Writing workshop offers an opportunity for children to learn through improvisation, role play, song and script work creating a unique learning experience for your class or...
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Introducing Shakespeare- Engage and Inspire
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During this workshop, led by our professional actor, we will explore how we can use our voice and aim to encourage the children to free inhibitions whilst discovering their inner confidence to perform...
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Creative Writing-Engage and Inspire' - Fairy tales
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During this workshop, we will discuss some of our favourite stories of all time and explore what we think makes a good story. We will learn tools to help us structure a story of our own, create...
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children in a school hall answering questions
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
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This Literacy workshop for KS1 and KS2 introduces young pupils to the magical tale of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Led by a professional drama facilitator, children will explore the...
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Shakespeare
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Children will learn about: - Up to 8 of Shakespeare's plays. - Shakespeare's language and its relevance to the vocabulary we currently use. - Shakespeare's life. - Key Shakespearean characters...
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English & Literacy School Trips FAQ: Top Workshops, Free Visits and SEND Tips for Teachers

8 March 2026

Why take the class out for English when books are in the library?
A trip to Shakespeare's house or a theatre show makes the words jump off the page. Kids start quoting lines or writing stories inspired by what they’ve seen. It helps with literacy, speaking, and reading comprehension, especially when the curriculum demands creativity.

In-school literacy workshop or trip to a literary site - what's smarter?
Workshops with storytellers or poets (£150-£400) bring the magic to you if transport is tricky. Trips to Stratford or theatres add atmosphere you can't replicate. We use workshops for younger students and trips for older ones to build on texts they’re studying.

Free English spots that spark imagination?
British Library in London has free manuscript galleries; local parks for poetry walks. Shakespeare's Globe sometimes runs free tours. No entry fee lets you focus on the creative side without budget stress.

Top 10 English school trips teachers recommend (2026 check):

1. Shakespeare's Globe, London (plays, tours)
2. Stratford-upon-Avon (birthplace, RSC theatre)
3. British Library, London (manuscripts, free)
4. Brontë Parsonage, Haworth (Victorian literature)
5. Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden (storytelling)
6. In-school storyteller workshops (fairy tales)
7. Wordsworth House, Cumbria (Romantic poetry)
8. Jane Austen Centre, Bath (Regency era)
9. National Theatre, London (backstage)
10. Local libraries or book festivals (author meets)

How to make English trips inclusive for SEND?
Ask venues - Globe has signed performances; Dahl Museum has tactile exhibits. For workshops, use multi-sensory stories. Dyslexic students often thrive on audio tours - plan with visuals and short bursts to keep everyone engaged.

Budget for English outings - what's realistic?
- Free libraries + travel: £3-£10 per child
- Theatres/museums: £5-£15 entry
- Workshops: £150-£400
- Residential literature retreats: £120-£250 per child

Look for subsidised tickets for schools.


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From Reluctant Writers to Confident Storytellers: The Power of Drama in the Classroom
English Workshops

With such a strong national focus on raising literacy standards, many primary schools are asking the same question: how do we truly engage children in reading and writing? Recent data from the Department for Education suggests that over a quarter of pupils are still leaving primary school without...

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Reading for Pleasure Teacher Training Resources that are Enthralling, Effective and Free
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Your school is busy, budgets stretched, and demands high. But reading and writing for pleasure is not an 'extra' ' it's the foundation for developing confident, curious, and lifelong learners in all subjects. In association with BookTrust and English Hub, this article shares some of the ways...

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