On top of all of these options don’t forget to include time to explore Alnwick! Your home, Alnwick Castle, is open daily throughout the tourist season. Alnwick Gardens including the rose garden, pavilion, and Poison Garden are considered the Versailles of the North. Another must-see is the famous Barter Books, one of the largest second-hand bookstores in the UK and center for the rediscovery of Keep Calm and Carry On. 

Newcastle upon Tyne was historically an industrial town know for shipbuilding and manufacturing. Now, it has become the hub of life in the Northeast of England. Filled with museums, food, music, athletics, art centers, theatre, and a beautiful quayside, Newcastle is the place to be no matter what you are looking for. St. Cloud State University partner, Northumbria University is actively engaged with the town regeneration Helix project and various businesses in the area which can help connect your group to educational experiences.

Explore the capitol of Scotland. Edinburgh is an easy two-hour drive from Alnwick by coach or 90 minutes via train. While in Edinburgh there are many different places to explore including including Holyrood Palace (the late Queen’s official Residence in Scotland), Edinburgh Castle, panoramic views over the city from Calton Hill, and more. Edinburgh is also a hub of festivals and events that could be a highlight to any program.

The Northeast coast is the hidden gem of England. The Coastal Castle day trip will explore two different medieval castles and the City of Craster. As one of the sites of the War of Roses, Dunstanburgh Castle is set on the cliff edge of the North Sea and has important historical and archaeological aspects. Walking along the 1.4 mile sea coast, participants will have the opportunity to explore the fishing town of Craster, possibly one of the most scenic fishing villages in all of the UK and home of the Craster Kippers. Further down the coast, this tour will end at Warkworth Castle. A Percy family strong hold and the backdrop to Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 2. 

This day trip includes a visit to two unique locations with historical and geographical importance. The first stop is to Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne. The town of Holy Island is connected by a road that is cut off by the tide twice daily so arrival and departure are organized based on the tide schedule. The other half of the day will include traveling further up the coast to Berwick-upon-Tweed. The town of Berwick-upon Tweed is the northernmost town in England and is 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border. In this town, you will be able to walk around the Victoria Town Walls and Ramparts that were built to keep the Scottish out.

When the Roman Empire Hadrian built this 73-mile wall across the shortest stretch of the island, he could not have predicted that 2000 years later it would be standing as a UNESCO World Heritage site that is visited by people from around the world. It spans the incredible countryside with Mile Castles and Forts throughout its stretch. A short but intense hike from scenic overlook of Steel Rigg will take you to “Robin Hood’s Tree”, made famous by the 1996 film Robin Hood starring Kevin Costner. 

This trip takes the group to the town of Durham which is another UNESCO World Heritage site. Durham is full of breath-taking scenery and attractions. One of those sites is Durham University. A top Russel Group university, Durham University is full of architectural beauty with its towering Cathedral and castle. Don’t miss out on observing the doorknocker on the door of the Cathedral.

After visiting Hadrian’s Wall, this field trip continues on for a short visit to the Lake District taking in the magical stone circle of Castlerigg set in a natural amphitheater of Dales. This magical stone is one of the oldest and best preserved stone circles in Cumbria and consists of 38 stones with a background of scenic mountain landscapes. Once leaving the stone circles, the next stop is Keswick. This town is a short stop away where you have a chance to explore some of the beautiful town and lakeside walks that make this area so special.

This overnight version of the Hadrian’s Wall and Lake District trip takes all of the activities of the day trip before stopping for the night in the City of Ambleside. The group will stay at one of the most scenic Youth Hostels in the world. This hostel has amazing views of the lake and an amazing breakfast that participants have the option of enjoying.

Day two allows for more exploration of the Lake District including hikes in nearby trails that allow for participants to explore waterfalls and nature only seen in the beauty of the Lake District. Another stop is the Wordsworth Grasmere Museum. This location is special because of the amount of historical artifacts present in this town, including some of William Wordsworth’s original collections. Then finally, the Beatrix Potter house - explore the home of Beatrix Potter, author of many stories including the famous Tale of Peter Rabbit.  

The open-air museum tells the story of life in the Northeast of England in the 1820’s, 1900, 1940’s and 1950’s. Historical actors represent aspects of life from the Suffragette movement to coal mining and wartime Britain.

One of the must see cities of the UK and just under three hours away, York is one of the most beautiful cities in the U.K. Complete with town walls, the York Minster, Medieval Shambles, and various tourist attractions from the Jorvik Viking Center to the National Railway Museum, York will not leave you disappointed.