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Normandy History School Trips & Tours - WWII

A history school trip to Normandy will allow your pupils to see first-hand the beaches, upon which so many sacrifices were made and to reflect on the WWII themes.

With a wide array of educational visits, it is possible to focus on many of the main areas of study for this topic. We can even tailor-make your study tour to cover any specific topics or aspect of the conflict to ensure that you get the very most from your trip.

This popular tour seeks to bring to life the events of June and July 1944. With a wide array of museums and educational visits which will guide you through every aspect of the conflict, this study tour to Normandy will help to bring to life classroom-based learning in an unforgettable way.

Sample itinerary

Our sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific learning outcomes.

Morning Afternoon Evening
1 Flight from Ireland Audio tour of Bayeaux Tapestry Local orientation
2 Caen Peace Museum Pegasus Bridge Museum, Ranville Cemetery & Merville Battery Activities at hotel
3 Arromanches Invasion Museum, 360 Cinema in Arromanches & Mulberry Harbour Pointe du Hoc, La Cambe German Cemetery, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery Colleville & Longues Battery Activities at hotel
4 D-Day Landing Beaches including Omaha & Utah Return flight to Ireland
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Morning Flight from Ireland
Afternoon Audio tour of Bayeaux Tapestry
Evening Local orientation
Morning Caen Peace Museum
Afternoon Pegasus Bridge Museum, Ranville Cemetery & Merville Battery
Evening Activities at hotel
Morning Arromanches Invasion Museum, 360 Cinema in Arromanches & Mulberry Harbour
Afternoon Pointe du Hoc, La Cambe German Cemetery, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery Colleville & Longues Battery
Evening Activities at hotel
Morning D-Day Landing Beaches including Omaha & Utah
Afternoon Return flight to Ireland
Evening

On-tour support

Get even more from your trip with NST History Educationalist Guide contact us for a price

On-tour support includes...

  • Services of a See Off Representative at your departure airport

Accommodation

Popular options in Normandy


Top visits

Caen

The scene of vicious fighting after the D-Day landings, Caen was largely destroyed. There is the opportunity to view the impressive castle ramparts as well as the beautifully restored centre.

Mémorial de Caen

A journey into the heart of 20th century history, passing through WWII, the Cold War and the world today. A school visit can include a 30-minute D-Day and the Battle of Normandy film. Activities based around several themes can be organised, subject to reservation. 

Online teacher resources available. 

Arromanches Invasion Museum

This museum contains a collection of models, photographs, dioramas, arms and equipment of the WW2 Allied forces.

Arromanches 360 Cinema

A new film entitled ‘Normandy’s 100 days’ projected on 9 screens, tells the story of the battle of Normandy with images gathered from around the world. After the film groups can enjoy the panoramic view of the artificial harbour set up by the Allies from the roof of the Arromanches 360 Cinema.

 

Mulberry Harbour

This great engineering feat built for D-Day sped up the unloading process so that allied troops were supplied as they advanced across France. The remains of this enormous structure can clearly be seen lying off the coast of Arromanches.

La Cambe German Cemetery

In the years following WWII, the German War Graves Commission decided to establish six main German cemeteries in the Normandy area. La Cambe, started in 1954 is the main German cemetery in the beach area. A total of 21,222 German soldiers are commemorated there.

Memorial ‘Pegasus’ Museum

The capture of this bridge over the Caen Canal was vital to the success of the British airborne assault on D-Day. The original bridge was replaced when the canal was widened but it may still be seen in the Airborne Museum nearby.

Ranville Cemetery

The village of Ranville was captured on the morning of D-Day and the cemetery there contains the graves of many of the men of the Airborne Division killed on that day and in the subsequent fighting, including some of the casualties from Pegasus Bridge.

D-Day Landing Beaches

Tours of several of the landing beaches, such as Omaha, Utah, Sword or Juno can be arranged. Possible stop-offs include the Canadian-focused Juno Visitor Centre.

Pointe du Hoc

The shattered remains of one of the most powerful German coastal batteries in the area stand amidst a sizeable area of preserved battlefield on top of the impressive cliffs, from which men of the American Rangers made their famous attack on D-Day.

1944 Museum

The Utah Beach Landing Museum is set up at the site of the US landing on the 6th of June, 1944. Guided tours are offered to explain German defences and the different stages of the landing on Utah Beach.  

American National Cemetery and Memorial

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is located on the site of the temporary American St Laurent Cemetery, established by the US First Army on June 8, 1944 and the first American cemetery on European soil in WWII. The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 American military, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. 


Evening activites

  • A quiz or disco at your hotel (many hotels can provide a room for groups to use in the evenings)

Study themes

  • The Failure of Peace (1918-1939)
  • The Phoney War
  • Life in Nazi Occupied France & Belgium
  • D-Day in the Context of Events in Germany & on the Eastern Front

 

  • The Events in Northern France & Belgium Following D-Day
  • Alliance with the US
  • The War in the Atlantic

Transport

We offer flights from a variety of departure airports and we’ll work with you to plan your route at the best value possible.

Flight


Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

  • Your own dedicated NST contact
  • Bespoke tour itineraries
  • Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
  • Curriculum linked visit programmes
  • Great value for money - no hidden costs
  • Free group leader inspection visits
  • Risk assessment guidance
  • Safety assured, transport, accommodation and visits

Whilst you're away

  • Free educational resources
  • Group-friendly accommodation
  • Exceptional standards of coaching
  • On-tour support from our reps on the ground
  • Support & assistance from our specialists guides throughout your tour
  • 24/7 support just a call away
  • Extensive group travel insurance

On your return

  • Priority rebooking services
  • Rewarding your loyalty with our reward scheme
  • You say, we listen - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
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