Teachers and educators looking for an inspiring destination with plenty of cross-curricular potential for primary school trips need look no further than Warwick. This beautiful medieval town in the heartland of the country is a magical destination in its own right, as well as being the perfect gateway to a wealth of exciting attractions in Warwickshire and the West Midlands. Whatever your curriculum focus, there is bound to be something to ignite your young learners’ minds, so read on for some of the top activities that can be enjoyed in Warwick and beyond.

Warwick Castle

While the whole region is bursting with history just waiting to be investigated on primary school trips, the star attraction has to be Warwick Castle, for the closest it’s possible to get to an authentic taste of Medieval England. This fully restored castle is rich with fine details of life and culture from the Middle Ages, providing a challenging, exciting atmosphere for learning. With the halls, towers and dungeons, there’s plenty to explore, while a specially-tailored programme of educational events adds a whole extra dimension. Students can participate in historical activities, watch a joust, take one of the interactive tours led by costumed guides, or attend talks on a range of subjects including the Trebuchet and Birds of Prey.

Stratford upon Avon

Perhaps the most celebrated writer in the English language of all time, Shakespeare continues to captivate new generations with plays full of wit, drama and action. Although those plays span countries and eras, there is plenty of insight and context to be gained from visiting the picturesque town of the playwright’s birth, and learning about his world. The house that he grew up in, and spent the early years of his adulthood, provides plenty of interesting material for discussion, while tours of his wife Anne Hathaway’s cottage offer a glimpse into another side of Shakespeare’s world – guided tours catering especially to primary school trips can be arranged. And, of course, there’s also the Royal Shakespeare Company, which offers regular productions of the plays, as well as an engaging programme of workshops with professional actors and directors – what better way to get children excited about drama?

Cadbury World

For the ultimate treat, organisers should definitely consider putting Cadbury World on their itineraries for primary school trips. The history of chocolate, and of the Cadbury company in particular, is a fascinating one, and discovering it at Cadbury World is a mouth-watering adventure. Students will have the chance to investigate the origins of chocolate in Central America, and trace its development through the ages, from the Aztec civilisation to the Victorians to today – as well as the opportunity to design their very own Cadbury’s chocolate bar.