School History Trips to Normandy
For a deeper understanding of the D-Day Landings
Normandy’s stunning coastal landscapes bear a heavy history. A visit to the long sweep of D-Day landing beaches will give your students a deeper understanding of the events of June 1944, as they explore the site where the events that changed the course of the Second World War took place.
In addition to the region’s historical ties to the Second World War, there’s so much more in Normandy to interest your budding historians. Visit the beautiful towns of Caen and Bayeux, home to the impressive Bayeux Cathedral and the fascinating Bayeux Tapestry.
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Our Recommended Itinerary
Here’s what your trip could look like
Day 1
Meet History Guide. Coach and channel crossing to Normandy
Pegasus Bridge Memorial & Museum and Ranville Cemetery
Evening meal and Fun Files quiz
Day 2
Musee de la Batterie Merville
Airborne Museum Ste Mere Eglise, American beach, Normandy American Cemetery and Port-en-Bessin fishing village
Activities or swimming at hotel
Day 3
Caen-Normandie Memorial Centre and British Cemetery in Bayeux
Arromanches 360, including Arromanches town and Mulberry Harbour
Activities or swimming at hotel
Day 4
D-Day Landing Beaches
Coach and transfer home
Arrive home
Based on 4 day, 3 night coach tour for 43 passengers (+4 free places) travelling October 2023. Includes History Guide. Subject to availability.
- History Tour Guide
- Coaching for the duration of your tour
- Return Channel crossings
- Full board accommodation
- Travel insurance
- Free staff place ratio 1:10
- 24/7 support
- Vamoos travel app & info pack
- Tailor-made itinerary
- Motorway tolls and taxes
- VAT
- Excursions:
- D-Day Landing Beaches
- British Cemetery in Bayeux
- Pointe du Hoc
- Ranville Cemetery
- Caen-Normandie Memorial Centre
- Arromanches 360
- Mulberry Harbour
- Pegasus Bridge Memorial & Museum
- Gun Batteries, Longues sur Mer
- Airborne Museum Ste Mere Eglise
- Musee de la Batterie Merville
- Normandy American Cemetery
Optional Extras
- Dedicated Tour Manager
- Hoodies and Polo Shirts
Excursions in Normandy
Explore the unique and rugged landscapes
Accommodation
Popular places to stay in Normandy
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Bon Sejour la Plage
Merville-Franceville-Plage
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Centre UNCMT Les Aigues Marines
Grandcamp-Maisy
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UNCMT La Petite Falaise
Lion-sur-Mer
- Located by the beach in Merville-Franceville-Plage
- Indoor and outdoor pools with water slides
- Tennis court
- Multi, quad and triple bed rooms
- En-suite facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Customer Feedback: Having the beach right there was wonderful, as well as good access to the pools and other facilities. The hotel was clean, the rooms were great, food was delicious, packed lunches were generous and easy to make!
- Indoor heated pool
- Outdoor pool with water slides
- Sports hall and wellness room
- Tennis court
- Mini golf
- Restaurant
- Wi-Fi
- Go for a swim in the indoor or outdoor pool and enjoy the water slides
- Get the group together for a game in the sports hall
- Play a game of tennis or mini golf
- Enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant
- Relax in the wellness room
- Take a stroll to the beach
- Located in Grandcamp-Maisy, just 20 minutes from Omaha Beach
- 2 activity rooms
- Quad, triple and twin bed rooms
- Shared facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Dining room overlooking the sea
- 2 activity rooms
- Lounge and TV area
- Small, enclosed, paved courtyard with direct access to the sea wall and beach
- Wi-Fi
- Get the group together for games in the activity rooms
- Relax in the lounge and TV area
- Soak up the sun in the courtyard
- Take a trip to the beach
- Centrally located in the heart of the village
- 50m from the beach
- Activity rooms available
- Multi, quad, twin and single bed rooms
- Shared facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Covered yard (for table tennis)
- Large, shaded courtyard
- Activity rooms available
- Separate area for teachers/group leaders
- Wi-Fi
- Get the group together for some games in the activity rooms
- Play a game of table tennis in the yard
- Relax in the large courtyard
- Stroll to the beach just 50m away
- Explore the village on foot
Curriculum Information
Perfect for KS3 and KS4 (or equivalent)
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Curricular Links
- The Second World War
- Peace and war
- Europe and the 20th century
Additional Information
Your journey doesn’t have to end here! See what else we can offer to help you get the most out of your tour. From expert History Tour Guides to dedicated Tour Managers, we’ll go above and beyond to support you and your students.
Discover more about this tour
Special Feature
There’s so much more to explore…

Explore History Hub!
Full of inspiration, articles and FREE teaching resources. All content is FREELY available online.
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History Tour Guides
Here's why we recommend a History Tour Guide to enhance your School History Trip to Normandy.
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What our customers say
FAQs about this tour
Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
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I am required to complete an Educational Visits (EV) form by our Local Authority and I cannot answer all of the questions?
We are happy to assist you in completing your EV forms and return them directly to your Local Authority on your behalf, just speak to your Tour Consultant.
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Is all of your accommodation audited in advance?
Yes, all of our accommodation is audited prior to us offering it to a group. The criterion of these audits is governed by the School Travel Forum (STF). It is important to remember that each country is governed by their own standards and laws and these may differ from UK law. However, we require our accommodation to meet our standards as a minimum. We work with the hotels and agents to endeavour to ensure that our standards are met.
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Is insurance included with my trip?
Yes, insurance will be included in your trip quotation as standard unless it is requested not to be. Make sure you check the list of inclusions in your quotation and/or confirmation.
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Is our Tour Manager fully DBS (formerly CRB) checked?
Our Tour Manager, Field Study Tutors and History Tour Guides, with UK citizenship, have an enhanced DBS check. Non UK citizenship Tour Managers cannot be checked under the DBS scheme. Rayburn Tours will seek confirmation that Tour Managers are suitable for working with children by liaising with relevant foreign agents and monitoring group feedback.

Travel in safe hands
Your safety is of the utmost importance to us and we monitor the safety aspects of all of our tours to ensure you have a memorable experience for all the right reasons.
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