School trips to Manchester

Why visit Manchester?

Discover life during the Manchester Blitz

Manchester is a buzzing, youthful city that your students will love. But it also has a long and fascinating history. The city really rose to prominence during the Industrial Revolution, when it was an important centre for textile production, and cotton goods in particular, earning it the nickname ‘Cottonopolis’.

The establishment of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, followed by the Manchester Ship Canal, added to the city’s prosperity, and Manchester soon became a battleground for capitalists and Marxists.

During WW2, the city’s factories were largely commandeered to produce items needed by the British Armed Forces, and so Manchester became a target for the Luftwaffe. Much of the city’s historic centre was destroyed during the Manchester Blitz.

If you visit Manchester on a history trip, your students will have the opportunity to explore what life was like here during WW2 and the Manchester Blitz. They’ll also be able to visit underground air raid shelters in nearby Stockport, where they’ll hear some of the locals’ stories.

Another educational visit for school history groups in Manchester is the Imperial War Museum North, in Trafford Park, an area which suffered heavy damage during the bombing.

And why not combine your history school trip to Manchester with a visit to nearby Liverpool, where you’ll find even more museums and attractions to help expand your students’ understanding of the impact of WW2 on life in Britain?

Incredible art

Manchester is also home to one of the most vibrant art and music scenes in the UK. You can dive into a British music experience or go on an art school trip to Manchester. You can choose to visit the Lowry, the Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth Gallery, where your students will be inspired by the incredible examples of fine and contemporary art on display.

If you choose to visit Manchester on an art trip, you’ll want to make sure you spend some time at the Lowry, learning more about one of Manchester’s most famous artists.

Lowry is famous for his scenes of industrial Manchester and Salford, and a visit here offers an excellent opportunity to learn more about how the environment he lived and worked in inspired his work.

Education and recreation

School trips to Manchester offer a great blend of educational and recreational experiences. The National Football Museum and Manchester United Museum are must-visit attractions for young football enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, in Manchester city centre, your students can explore landmarks like the Cathedral and the Town Hall. Furthermore, Sea Life Manchester and the Manchester Museum are fun experiences to enrich their experience.