Bayeux Tapestry

One of the most important historical documents, the Bayeux Tapestry documents the before, during and after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It provides a unique visual insight into the period in question, depicting as it does, the arms, apparel and other objects of the day.

Opening hours: 9am to 7pm in the summer 9am to 6pm at other times. Note: Closes for lunch (12:30-2pm during winter months)

Visit website : www.tapisserie-bayeux.fr

Musée d’Orsay

Opened in 1986, and housed in a former (very grand!) railway station, the Musée d’Orsay houses mainly French works of art, and specialises in Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Gauguin and Van Gogh. The website has a collection of teaching aids to assist with your planning.

The museum is very popular and needs to be booked at least three months in advance.

Opening hours: 9:30am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.

Visit website : www.musee-orsay.fr

Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle

Although founded during the French Revolution, the Museum’s origins lie in the Jardin des Plantes médicinales – the Medicine Garden. Subsequently the museum focussed on natural history, and it contains several galleries and departments covering areas such as palaeontology, geology and evolution.

Opening hours: Vary between 10am and 6pm.

Visit website : www.mnhn.fr

The Louvre

The Louvre really needs little introduction. It is home to the Mona Lisa and countless other works of art. Be warned that the museum can get very busy, especially during the summer months.

Opening hours: 9am to 10pm (Wed & Fri) 9am to 6pm (Mon, Thu, Sat & Sun) Also note that it is closed on Tuesdays.

Visit website : www.louvre.fr

Deutsche Guggenheim Museum

Described as one of the most exciting and experimental art museums in Germany, the museum covers modern and contemporary art.

Opening hours: 10am to 8pm

Visit website: www.guggenheim.org/berlin

Museo Picasso

The museum has one of the most extensive collections of Pablo Picasso’s work. Opened In 1963, the museum focuses on Picasso’s earlier work, notably his Blue Period, and is highly recommended to art students in particular.

Opening hours: 10am to 8pm (closed Mondays)

website: www.museupicasso.bcn.es

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Opened in 1995, the museum embraces Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque artworks, with a particular attention to Catalan.

It includes work by El Greco, Zurbarán, Velázquez, Cranach, and Rubens.

Opening hours: 10am to 7pm (Sun & public holidays to 2.30pm)

website : www.mnac.es

Imperial War Museum

The museum holds collections of personal and official documents, photographs and film, as well as examples of military vehicles, aircraft and equipment. There are several distinct exhibitions, including: Explore History; Firs and Second World War galleries; Conflicts since 1945; and a Holocaust exhibition.

Website has teaching aids.

Opening hours: 10am to 6pm

Natural History Museum

One of the great natural history museums in the world. A wealth of educational opportunities together with the prospect of meeting T-Rex. The website has plenty of educational resources.

The main museum is free, but some exhibitions may have an entry fee.

Opening hours: 10am to 5.50pm

Website: www.nhm.ac.uk

The Science Museum

Originally founded in 1857, the museum has hundreds of thousands of items covering historical and contemporary science, medicine, engineering and computing. The website has teaching aids, and it’s advisable to plan your visit carefully, because there’s too much to see in one day.

Opening hours: 10am to 6pm every day.

Visit website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

The National Gallery contains the nation's collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to 19th century. Sighted on Trafalgar Square it's an excellent and convenient place to visit. It has special tours for both primary and senior schools.

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 6pm (9pm on Saturday)

www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Museum of Childhood

The first museum in the world dedicated to childhood. With toys and games dating back many years, as well as a 1930’s classroom and Victorian street, the museum is a fascinating glimpse into an important aspect of children's lives.  It's a long way from the PSP 3D!

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm (Sun from midday)

Visit website: www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk

National Museum of Scotland

With exhibits that range from Viking brooches to Sir Jackie Stewart’s F1 car to Dolly the sheep, the museum is nothing if not eclectic. The Royal Museum of Scotland, which is part of the museum, is due to reopen in 2011 after a major refurbishment.

The website contains teaching aids.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm

Experience what life must have been like between the XVI and XIX centuries. 

For years the warren of streets that makes up Mary King's Close were hidden beneath the Royal Mile. Since 2003 it has been the site of a fascinating visit with your very own, in costume, guide.

It's open throughout the year from 9 or 10am to 5 or 11pm depending on the time of year.

Website: www.realmarykingsclose.com

Get a unique view of the city of Edinburgh from the world-famous Camera Obscura, located in Outlook Tower on the Royal Mile, and at the same time learn about the history of the city.

Open from 9.30am to 5, 6 or 7pm depending on the time of year.

Website: www.camera-obscura.co.uk

National Railway Museum

The largest railway museum in the world, the National Railway Museum contains a breathtaking collection of locomotives, rolling stock, and other rail-related items. You can also watch work going on in the Engineering Department from special viewing platforms.

Website has teaching materials.

Open daily from 10am to 6pm.

Jorvik Centre

Originally opened in 1984, and refurbished in 2001, the Jorvik Centre is an exploration of the time when Vikings occupied great swathes of Great Britain. The website contains many teaching aids to assist with your preparation for your visit.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm (Apr-Oct) 10am to 4pm (Nov-Mar)

Visit website : www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

Museum of Modern Art

Founded in 1929, MoMA was set the goal of becoming the world’s greatest museum of modern art. You will have to decide whether or not it’s achieved that aim. Covering architecture, design, photography, sculpture, art and modern media, and including works by Cézanne, van Gogh and Matisse.

Opening hours: 10am to 5.30pm (Fri 8pm) Closed on Tuesdays.

Visit website: www.moma.org

Tribute WTC

Set up in the wake of the 9/11 outrage, Tribute WTC allows visitors to the site of the World Trade Center can connect with the people who were caught up in the disaster. School visits are particularly welcome and teaching resources are available on the site.

A very moving visit and one that must be made when visiting NYC.

Opening hours 10am to 6pm (Tue & Sun vary slightly)

Visit website: www.tributewtc.org

National Museum of the American Indian

Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum – along with its counterpart in Washington DC - is dedicated to the preservation, study and exhibition of all aspects of Native Americans.

It contains some 800,000 artefacts and covers all tribes of the USA, most from Canada, and many from Central & South America and the Caribbean.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm (Thu 8pm)

Website: www.nmai.si.edu

This well-established amusement park is ideal for younger pupils, probably in the 7-14 age range. Older children may find it a little tame.

It's located close to the coast between Le Touquet and Berck-sur-Mer, and is open from April to September, although not every day (except for July and August). It opens from 10:30 to 17:00 or 19:00.

Website: www.parcbagatelle.com (English version available)

Disneyland® Paris

The perennial favourite of the young and not-so-young. And we are able to offer a 'two days for the price of one' deal on their two park Hopper tickets.

Opening hours are 9:00am - 8:00pm (although they vary slightly depending on the time of year.

You can download workbooks from their dedicated website: www.disneylandparis4schools.com

The Gaul-ish alternative to Disneyland Paris, featuring all the characters of the famous Astérix the Gaul cartoon.

This is a very popular attraction and definitely has a very French feel to it.

Opening hours: Vary, but typically 10am to 8pm

Website: www.parcasterix.com

Phantasialand

Germany's very own theme park located south west of Cologne, Phantasialand offers groups visiting the Rhine or Moselle Valleys a great day out, and has great rides like the Black Mamba and Stonewash Creek, as well as plenty of other attractions.

Website: www.phantasialand.de

Opening Hours: Typically 9am to 6pm

Owned by Universal Studios, and located on the Costa Dorada about an hour and a half from Barcelona, Port Aventura is a very popular visit for school groups.  It has five themed areas, containing numerous rides, shops and restaurants, as well as an extensive aquatic park.

The theme park is open from the end of March to early January, the aquatic park from the end of May to September

Website: www.portaventura.es

Arromanches 360°

The small town of Arromanches is the landing site of one of the Mulberry harbours constructed following D-Day. The museum has a panoramic cinema showing the film ‘The Price of Freedom’, which is exclusive to Arromanches 360.

Opening hours: Vary depending on the time of year. Typically 9.40am to 5.40pm

Visit website: www.arromanches360.com

Juno Beach Centre

Opened in 2003, the Juno Beach Centre stands as a memorial to the war effort made by Canadians, both military and civilian, during the Second World War.

The museum has specific visits for 7-11 and 13-18 year olds.  You can get more information on this from their website: www.junobeach.org

They have a temporary exhibit (until September 2011) entitled "Allies: Canadians and British during the Second World War".

Opening hours: 9.30am to 7pm (shorter hours during the winter)

The castle at Falaise, which was the home of William the Conqueror, is part of the 'medeival trail' that encompasses Bayeux and Caen as well as Falaise.

It has been restored over recent years in an unusual - and somewhat controversial - manner. In order to easily identify those parts that are original and those that have been restored, the latter have been constructed with modern materials and designs.

Website: www.chateau-guillaume-leconquerant.fr

Open: Feb - December; 10am to 6pm

Stretching  from Peronne in the south to Ypres (and beyond) in the north, there are numerous museums, cemeteries and memorial dedicated to the Great War.  In the Somme department alone there are over 400 cemeteries.

From Albert the main museums are the Somme 1916 in Albert, and The Great War Museum in Peronne.

Among the memorials that are easily accessible from Albert are the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing; Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel, and the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge near Arras.

Eiffel Tower

One of the iconic sights of Paris and indeed the world. It can get very busy during peak months – particularly if you want to visit the first or second floor - and some groups have complained about over-crowding leading to a less than enjoyable visit.

If you wish to go up the Tower you must book in advance.

Opening hours: 9am to midnight (final admittance 6pm except Jun-Aug)

Visit website : www.tour-eiffel.fr

Checkpoint Charlie

The iconic Cold War meeting point of East and West. A fascinating museum that allows for discussion on the whole post-war period, both from the perspective of Berlin, as well as globally.

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm

Visit website: www.mauermuseum.de

Auschwitz-Birkenau

The focal point of any trip to Poland. This visit is both harrowing and moving as well as of enormous educational value.

3 1/2 or 6 hour visits are available, both of which have guided tours included. 

The official website has much information and historical background to help you prepare for your visit, which needs to be booked in advance.

Opening hours: Vary from 8am to 7pm in the summer to 8am to 3pm in the winter.

Website : en.auschwitz.org.pl

Wawel Castle

The magnificent gothic castle is the former home of Poland’s rulers and national art collection.

It even has its own ‘Dragon’s Den’, a series of caves beneath the castle.

Opening hours: 9.30am – 5pm (Tue-Fri) 11am – 6pm (Sat-Sun) Closed on Mondays.

Visit website : www.wawel.krakow.pl

Montparnasse 56

The Tour Montparnasse gives you an alternative panoramic view of Paris to the Eiffel Tower.  Indeed you can avoid the crowds that inevitably bedevil the Eiffel Tower.

Opening hours: 9:30am to 11:30pm (April to September) Closes 30 - 60 minutes earlier at other times.

Website: www.tourmontparnasse56.com/uk/

The London Eye

Already an iconic part of the London skyline, the London Eye is a great way to see most of the city’s landmarks. The website has teaching resources. Booking in advance is a must, and be prepared to queue. Groups can better rates by booking the Eye directly rather than through Encounters.

Opening hours: 10am to 8-9.30pm depending on time of year

Visit website: www.londoneye.com