School Primary Languages Trip to Rouen

Want to introduce your primary students to France but worried that Paris will be overwhelming (for them and for you to herd them around)?

Then you need to take a look at Rouen.

The capital of Normandy offers short journey times and a much more compact centre (it’s easily walkable, making it ideal for younger groups). And it doesn’t skimp on the history and culture either.

In fact, if your students have learnt about the Middle Ages, they’ll love Rouen, where medieval France lives on. Half-timbered houses and imposing Gothic cathedrals are de rigeur here.

And Normandy’s famous for its incredible produce, so you know you’re not going to have any trouble making sure everyone’s well fed – even the pickiest of kids will love the food here. One of the highlights of your trip could be a visit a local sweet factory to find out how they make their apple-flavoured candy – miam miam.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Depart school

Channel crossing

Afternoon

Drive to Rouen

Time to explore the pedestrianised town centre on foot

Check in to accommodation

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 2

Morning

Breakfast at hotel

Guided tour of Rouen

Afternoon

View the famous Gros Horloge and Saint-Ouen Abbey

Visit the Historial de Jeanne d'Arc

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 3

Morning

Breakfast at hotel

Morning trip to Giverny (Monet's Garden)

Afternoon

Guided visit to Les Confiseurs (apple candy confectioners)

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 4

Morning

Visit the covered market and Old Market Square

Drive to Calais

Afternoon

Ferry crossing

Return to school

Evening

Arrive back at school

3 nights' half-board accommodation
Return Channel crossings
Return executive coach travel
Motorway tolls and taxes
Detailed information pack
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
Itinerary planning service
Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet

Accommodation

ibis budget Rouen Petit Quevilly

The ibis budget Rouen Petit Quevilly is a great base for your school trip to Rouen. This 2-star hotel is budget-friendly and offers a comfortable stay for groups. Just 3km from the historic centre of Rouen and only 300m from the nearest metro station, you'll be within easy reach of all the city's attractions. The hotel offers free WiFi and air-conditioning throughout. Guestrooms are offered in doubles, twins and triples, all with en-suite bathroom facilities. A buffet-style continental breakfast with hot and cold options is offered every morning, ensuring your group are fully fuelled for a day of exploring Rouen.

Youth Hostel Rouen - The Robec

The Youth Hostel Rouen - The Robec is the ideal base for your school trip to Rouen. Housed in one of the oldest industrial heritage sites in Rouen, close to the city's old town, the hostel's facilities include WiFi throughout, a kitchen, laundry and daily breakfast. There are also a couple of meeting rooms available to hire. Drivers and staff will stay in twin or single rooms, with students in multi-bedded rooms sleeping 4-8. There's a sink in each room, while bathrooms with showers are shared.

Hotel de Quebec

Approximately an eight-minute walk from the "Notre-Dame Cathedral of Rouen", Hotel de Quebec is also located near Musee Secq des Tournelles – the desanctified 16th century church and museum – which showcases more than 5,000 pieces of ironwork from antiquity to the 20th century. Guests may also visit Panorama De La Cote Sainte Catherine – the hillside lookout that was once painted by Claude Monet. Room options are single, standard, upper, triple and family. Free Wi-Fi on premises.

Educational Activities

Les Confiseurs

See how local sweet makers turn Norman apples into candy at this local confiserie.

Aitre Saint-Maclou

Take a trip back to medieval Rouen with a visit to the Aitre Saint-Maclou.

Fine Arts Museum, Rouen

If your group is interested in the history of art, then a trip to Rouen's Fine Arts Museum is a must.

The Little Train of Rouen

Rouen’s little train takes you on a journey through the medieval district of Rouen to see the city's main sights.

Guided Tours of Rouen

During your guided tour of Rouen your guide will show you the highlights of the city including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the

Tour Jeanne-d'Arc

This tower is the only remainingpart of Rouen Castle that was built in 1204 by Philipe Auguste.

Le Gros-Horloge

The Gros-Horloge is a 14th century astronomical clock in a Renaissance arch crossing the Rue du Gros-Horloge.

Guided Tour of Honfleur

Take the time to enjoy a guided tour of Honfleur, famous for its beautiful old port and the houses around

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.