A school trip to Normandy and the Somme will help students understand the development of warfare between the World Wars!
Normandy is often referred to as France’s answer to Devon, with neighbouring Brittany the Gallic version of Cornwall. And it does offer a similarly relaxed, seaside atmosphere, free of the tourist masses.
This makes Normandy an excellent choice for a trip that will allow your students to immerse themselves in the French language and culture.
Plus, with close historical ties to Britain, easy access, and a healthy gastronomic reputation, it’s no surprise that Normandy is such a popular destination with teachers. In particular, our school trips to Normandy are a great choice for groups studying French, history, and food technology.
You can head to the beaches from the D-Day landings, or visit local producers to learn more about the local cuisine. There will be plenty of opportunities to practise your French, too!
Whatever your reason for visiting, we’ll tailor-make your school trip to Normandy. Your trip will suit your curriculum and specific learning objectives.
We also offer a special accommodation option in Normandy, close to the D-Day beaches. The accommodation is completely self-contained in the centre of a lovely, quiet village. and offers excellent facilities. This is an ideal, safe base for school groups on an educational tour in Normandy.
Browse our trips
History of Warfare School Trip to Normandy & The Somme
School French Culture Trip to Normandy
With short journey times from the UK, historic Normandy is the ideal destination for a French school trip to discover the French culture!
£355PP
School WW2 Battlefield Tour to Normandy
In Normandy, your students will discover the incredible story behind D-Day and Operation Overlord.
£480PP
School Food Technology Trip To Normandy
Known for its incredible dairy produce and its delicious apples, Normandy is a great option for a food technology trip to France!
£240PP
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Tours Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
Why visit Normandy?
Explore the historical ties to the UK
There’s plenty of history to discover in Normandy, from William the Conqueror to Joan of Arc and the D-Day landings of WW2.
And what’s really fascinating for British students is how closely tied the region’s history is to that of the UK. In fact, Normandy was ruled from England by Norman kings for nearly two centuries.
Any school trip to Normandy should include visits to the D-Day beaches, where students can learn more about the beginning of the end of WW2, and the Bayeux Tapestry, where they can learn more about the Norman conquest of England.
The unbelievable food
Whatever your reason for visiting Normandy, make sure you take some time to enjoy some of the tasty treats produced here. We can arrange visits to a local bakery and a producer of local caramel, which are always popular visits with students!
Normandy’s landscape mainly consists of rolling countryside dotted with apple orchards and rich pastures for dairy herds. It’s also one of the best places for mussels, oysters and scallops in France.
This abundance of exceptional produce makes Normandy a particularly good option for Food Technology pupils, with opportunities to explore the local cheese and confectionery, along with finding out how cider, Pommeau and Calvados are brewed.
Other cities in France
- School trips to Amiens
- School trips to Bordeaux
- School trips to Disneyland Paris
- School trips to Dunkirk
- School trips to Futuroscope
- School trips to Lille
- School trips to Loire Valley
- School trips to Lyon
- School trips to Montpellier
- School trips to Nice
- School trips to Opal Coast
- School trips to Parc Asterix
- School trips to Paris
- School trips to Rouen
- School trips to South of France
- School trips to Strasbourg
- School trips to The Somme
Learn more
26 Feb 2018
Great Accommodation for School Groups in Normandy!
Find out more about this exciting accommodation centre in Normandy that's perfect for school groups!
21 Nov 2017
October half-term provided the perfect opportunity to explore beautiful Normandy with its rich history and even richer food!
04 Apr 2018
The beautiful region of Normandy lies just across the Channel, making it a great choice for a school trip that avoids having to spend too long sat on a coach. And yet, it’s still relatively free from the tourist hordes.
Activities in Normandy that your school group will love
Arromanches Landings Museum
Built on the harbour at Arromanches overlooking Gold Beach, this museum uses original artifacts, dioramas and audio-visual presentations.
Bayeux British Cemetery
The largest British military cemetery in France, this site on the outskirts of Bayeux is the last resting place of
Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
The long history of Mont Saint-Michel is thought to date back to 708AD.
Bayeux Tapestry
Justifiably famous as one of the most extraordinary artefacts to survive from the eleventh century, the Bayeux Tapestry is a
Arromanches 360 Cinema
'The Price of Freedom' shown in this innovative 360-degree cinema, blends the original documentary film of the invasion with pictures of the battlefields as they are today.
Graindorge Cheese Factory
Located in the very heart of the Pays d’Auge, La Fromagerie Graindorge is the only independent company which produces Pont-l'évêque, Livarot and Camembert cheese.
Normandie Caramels
Isigny Caramels are made from the finest quality produce of the Normandy region: whole milk, butter, and cream.
Centre Juno Beach
The Juno Beach Centre consists of seven exhibit rooms containing documents, maps, photos, audio and audiovisual accounts and artefacts from WW2.
FAQs
What's the best time to visit Normandy?
You can visit Normandy all year round, but if you're looking to keep costs down on your school trip to Normandy, then we would recommend travelling in low season, from September to February.
What's the best way to get around Normandy on a school trip?
Most of our groups travel to Normandy by coach, which means they have the use of the coach when they're there to travel to visits and activities. This is highly recommended, as Normandy is a rural area and public transport isn't as frequent as in the cities.
Which visits are a must on a school trip to Normandy?
Our groups are always really keen to visit the atmospheric tidal island of Mont St. Michel. And bakery and chocolate factory visits are hugely popular too, especially with [French](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/french) groups. If you're visiting Normandy on a [history](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/history) school trip, you must not miss a visit to the Arromanches Landings Museum. Remember, we'll tailor your trip to meet your specific curriculum and learning requirements, so please don't hesitate to [contact us](https://www.halsbury.com/contact-halsbury-travel) for further information on suitable activities for your trip.
Are there any free things to do on a school trip to Normandy?
There are quite a few free visits and activities that our groups like to include in their itineraries, such as visiting the landings beaches, military cemeteries, local markets and the fantastic Graindorge cheese factory.
Can I arrange a cross-curricular school trip to Normandy?
You certainly can! Normandy is a fantastic destination for [French](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/french) groups, [food technology](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/food-technology) groups and [history](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/history) groups studying either [WW2](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/ww2-battlefield-tour) or the [history of warfare](https://www.halsbury.com/school-trips/subjects/history-of-warfare). Please just [contact us](https://www.halsbury.com/contact-halsbury-travel) for more information on how we can tailor your itinerary to suit the makeup of your group.
Let's chat!