Stratford~upon~Avon and its Youth Hostel
During the Summer Term, children in Year 4 have the exciting opportunity to take part in a one-night residential trip to the historic market town of Stratford~upon~Avon. The children travel by coach and stay overnight in the Alveston Youth Hostel, which is a magnificent Georgian mansion, set in three acres of beautiful grounds. Stratford is a town with more than 800 years of history, and is the birthplace of English playwright ad poet, William Shakespeare. The town still contains many of the buildings which would have been familiar to Shakespeare.
Children enjoy a delicious evening meal in the Youth Hostel's Hemmingford's Restaurant, which offers a range of meals to suit all children's tastes and dietary requirements. On day 2, the children have a delicious cooked breakfast followed by a walk around the village and orienteering activities in the Youth hostel grounds. They are provided with a picnic lunch at the hostel before packing and returning to school for the end of the school day.
Stratford Butterfly Farm
During the trip, the children visit the award-winning Stratford Butterfly Farm where, whatever the weather, they stroll through the wonderful world of an exotic rainforest: a lush landscape of tropical blossom surrounding splashing waterfalls and fish-filled pools. Pupils get to enjoy the unique pleasure of watching hundreds of the world's most spectacular and colourful butterflies flying all around, and see them feeding and flying in a wonderful tropical environment. The children see their amazing lifecycles in the 'Caterpillar Room', and observe fascinating and strange insects in 'Insect City', where stick insects, beetles, leaf-cutting ants and many more remarkable creatures are to be found. Bolder pupils can get close to the deadly and dangerous creatures in 'Arachnoland', home of the world's largest spider, a scorpion colony and other spinners of webs and dealers of death! Afterwards, the children may purchase one of the small gifts available in the gift shop.
River Boat Cruise
A traditional Edwardian river boat takes the children on a sightseeing tour on which they get to enjoy stunning and unique views of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church, as well as experiencing the tranquillity of the countryside, which the river Avon passes through as it winds its way towards Alveston. This is one of the most naturally beautiful and un-spoilt stretches of navigable river anywhere in the U.K.