**British Teens’ Dream School Trip Destinations Revealed: US Edges Out UK, But ‘Home Soil’ Still Popular**
A recent survey has shed light on the most coveted destinations among British teenagers when it comes to school trips, revealing a strong desire for exploration—both abroad and at home. The United States tops the list, but the UK itself remains a firm favourite, highlighting a balance between wanderlust and local appreciation among young people in secondary education.
The poll, which gathered responses from 1,000 students in years 7 to 13, shows 37% of respondents would choose to travel overseas for an educational adventure with their classmates. Interestingly, a significant 23% said they would actually prefer to remain within the UK for their school excursion, underscoring the continuing appeal of Britain’s own attractions and history.
Iconic American landmarks hold considerable allure, with nearly a third of teens saying they would like to visit the Statue of Liberty, while just under as many expressed interest in seeing the Empire State Building. The magnetic pull of these globally recognised sites propels the US to the top of British students’ wish lists for school visits.
Nevertheless, the UK’s wealth of history and culture is far from overshadowed. The home nation came in second place, outpacing popular European countries like Italy, France, and Spain. Buckingham Palace and Big Ben are the crown jewels for pupils hoping to get a taste of Britain’s royal and parliamentary past. According to the data, these two landmarks alone pique the interest of about a quarter of surveyed teenagers.
School trips, it appears, play an important developmental role for many young people. For 29% of the teens questioned, their first school trip was also their maiden stay away from home, while 17% report that their school trip marked their first time travelling abroad. These formative experiences are backed by findings that nearly half of parents believe such outings foster greater independence among their children.
Commissioned by youth adventure provider PGL Beyond, the study delves into the wider benefits of educational trips. Close to half of participating young people claimed that journeys taken with their school made them feel more independent and better equipped for maturity. Parents’ opinions echoed these sentiments, with almost half agreeing that school trips help nurture their child’s ability to stand on their own two feet.
A variety of skills and traits were highlighted by students as key takeaways from school excursions. Confidence, independence, and teamwork rose to the top, while a sense of adventure, improved communication, and strengthened problem-solving abilities also featured prominently in the responses. Such developmental benefits seem to be just as important as sightseeing itself.
Dr John Allan, Head of Impact & Breakthrough Learning at PGL Beyond, commented on the findings by emphasising the value of real-world experiences in a generation increasingly engaged in digital environments. He suggested that trips at home and abroad present authentic challenges, helping children to broaden their horizons and consider perspectives beyond their immediate surroundings.
Parents, looking back, are inclined to think school trips have become more lavish and stimulating than in their own youth. Forty-one percent of those asked believed modern excursions are notably more exciting. Their own fond memories include discovering new cities, sharing rooms with friends, and participating in novel activities—experiences that evidently still resonate decades later.
Interestingly, the impact of school trips often extends far beyond the journey itself. Three in ten young respondents say their trips have directly influenced the academic subjects they have chosen to pursue, with history and geography topping the list. Alison Sudbury, chief customer officer at PGL Beyond, remarked that the formative moments on these trips—curiosity sparked in new settings, friendships forged, and comfort zones stretched—can shape young people’s futures, both academically and in life at large.
The top 20 destinations British young people wish to visit on a school trip are: the USA, England, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Canada, Greece, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, Iceland, China, Wales, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Singapore.
This compelling insight into teenagers’ preferences underscores the enduring value of educational adventures, whether across the globe or around the corner, in shaping the citizens of tomorrow.