School trips to Kent

Why visit Kent?

Discover the Battle of Britain

The tranquillity of the Kentish countryside was violently disturbed during the Second World War when much of the Battle of Britain took place overhead.

On a trip to Kent, students will learn more about how this part of the country was heavily damaged during the Battle of Britain, thanks to the fact that it lay between German bases in occupied northern France and their primary target in the UK: London.

Kent and London were hit by around 2,500 V-1 flying bombs or ‘doodlebugs’, earning this area the nickname ‘Doodlebug Alley’. The county is now home to some of the best museums relating to this period, including the Battle of Britain Memorial and the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum.

At the visitor centre of the Battle of Britain Memorial, your students will have the opportunity to learn about what the people in Kent would have experienced during the Battle of Britain, with historical footage superimposed over the current view across the English Channel.

Learn more about life on the Home Front

School visits to Kent also offer your students the chance to learn more about what everyday life was like during WW2, from the aircrews who fought in the Battle of Britain to the civilians on the Home Front.

They’ll find out how some of the local population escaped bombardment by sheltering in tunnels deep underground. Ramsgate Tunnels are the UK’s largest collection of civilian wartime tunnels and offer visitors the opportunity to find out how this town beneath a town evolved and to hear some of the personal stories of life underground.

Explore the ‘garden of England’

The rolling hills, dramatic white cliffs, and charming villages make Kent a lovely setting for any school trip.

In fact, the beautiful county of Kent is often referred to as ‘The Garden of England’, thanks to its many fruit-laden orchards and hop gardens.

The county is known for its incredible fruit, including sumptuous summer strawberries, and for being the main centre of hazelnut production in the UK. School groups must stop off for a taster!