Program example
6 days | Day & overnight travel options | Customised on request
- Day 1 – Departure from home – ferry crossing to Dover Evening departure towards Calais. You cross the English Channel by ferry and set course for England.
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Day 2 – Arrival in Dover – Dover Castle – Rochester
DOVER CASTLE: After arriving on the island, a stop at the impressive Dover Castle above the famous White Cliffs of Dover is highly recommended. From here, you’ll enjoy fantastic views over the English Channel.
ROCHESTER: Afterwards, continue on to Rochester. During an initial walk through the historic old town, you’ll discover Rochester Castle, Rochester Cathedral, and the charming High Street.
HOST FAMILIES: In the early evening, students are welcomed by their host families.
- Day 3 – Day trip to Cambridge CAMBRIDGE: The historic university city is considered one of the most beautiful in England. During a guided walking tour, you’ll discover famous colleges such as King’s College Cambridge, Trinity College Cambridge, and St John’s College Cambridge, along with historic courtyards and gardens. The impressive King’s College Chapel is one of the city’s highlights. With a SENLAC town quiz, Cambridge can be explored in a fun and interactive way. Alternatively, a punting boat tour on the River Cam offers a unique perspective of the colleges from the water. Afterwards, there is time to stroll through the lively old town.
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Day 4 – Excursion to Canterbury – Leeds Castle
CANTERBURY: The historic city of Canterbury is one of the most important religious centers in England. You’ll visit the impressive Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During a walk through the medieval old town, you’ll discover narrow streets, timber-framed houses, and numerous shops and cafés.
LEEDS CASTLE: In the afternoon, you’ll visit the romantic Leeds Castle, beautifully situated on islands in a lake and often referred to as “the loveliest castle in the world.” In addition to the historic castle with its magnificent rooms, you can explore extensive parklands, gardens, and a maze. -
Day 5 – Day trip: Greenwich – London – Departure
GREENWICH: Visit the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory Greenwich with the Prime Meridian. Enjoy a boat trip on the River Thames to Westminster.
LONDON TOUR: Experience world-famous attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Palace of Westminster with Big Ben, as well as St. Paul's Cathedral, The Shard, and 30 St Mary Axe—with or without a guide.
DEPARTURE: An eventful school trip comes to an end today. Evening departure to Dover and ferry crossing back to Calais. - Day 6 – Arrival at home Your Rochester school trip concludes with an overnight coach journey through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands—arriving back at your hometown during the day.
Gallery
Castle hotspot
Castle & palace hopping
Fantastic excursions to impressive castles in and around Rochester, mainly in the county of Kent. Explore the Norman Romanesque Rochester Castle, the artillery fort Upnor Castle, the moated Leeds Castle, Dover’s coastal fortress Walmer Castle, and the highly recommended Hever Castle with its gardens and water maze. All of them have a long and diverse history and have passed through several architectural periods. Activities
- IN ROCHESTER
- Rochester Castle Norman castle dating back to 1120 with a large green area right by the River Medway more
- Rochester Cathedral Second-oldest cathedral and episcopal seat in England, featuring two architectural periods more
- Charles Dickens Walking Trail Themed walking route through Rochester to sites that inspired Charles Dickens more
- Guildhall Museum A journey through Medway’s history—from the Stone Age to the Victorian era more
- Huguenot Museum Explores the story of Britain’s first refugees and their crafts and trades more
- Rochester High Street Historic shopping street with 17th- and 18th-century buildings more
- Restoration House 16th/17th-century townhouse that later inspired works by Charles Dickens more
- Eastgate House Historic Tudor townhouse used as a boarding school, residence, and museum more
- The Vines Park Green space in the city center—once used by monks for vineyard cultivation in the Middle Ages more
- NEAR ROCHESTER (approx. up to 30 minutes travel time)
- Temple Manor (Strood) Medieval site of the Knights Templar, housed in a rare surviving 13th-century building more
- Chatham Historic Dockyard Maritime museums with historic warships, dockyards, and interactive exhibitions more
- Fort Amherst (Chatham) Extensive 18th-century fortress system with underground tunnels and defensive structures more
- Royal Engineers Museum Exhibits include the first torpedo and a map of the Battle of Waterloo more
- Great Lines Heritage Park Large park set on historic fortifications with views over the Medway Towns more
- Upnor Castle Tudor-era artillery fort on the River Medway, built to protect the naval dockyards more
- Capstone Farm Country Park Nature area for outdoor activities with lakes, meadows, and woodland more
- The Strand Leisure Park (Gillingham) Leisure park by the Medway with a promenade and sports facilities more
- AROUND ROCHESTER (approx. 0.5–1.5 hours travel time)
- Leeds Castle One of the most visited moated castles, set in the middle of a lake with parklands and a maze more
- Knole House (Sevenoaks) Tudor estate with over 300 rooms and a deer park with free-roaming deer more
- Canterbury UNESCO World Heritage site with the Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury more
- Whitstable Coastal town with harbor, beach, traditional fishermen’s houses, and maritime history more
- Chartwell Former home of Winston Churchill with museum and gardens more
- London Capital metropolis with world-famous sights such as Tower of London and Westminster more
- Greenwich (London) UNESCO World Heritage site with the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the Prime Meridian more
- Hever Castle Moated castle and gardens of Henry VIII with hedge and water maze more
- Dover Coastal town and major ferry port for crossings from France and Belgium more
Getting there
Coach
For decades, we have collaborated with carefully selected coach partners who guarantee safe, reliable and comfortable travel to your destination. Ferry
Crossing from Calais to Dover aboard a modern Channel ferry, with stunning views of the famous White Cliffs of Dover. Map overview