First Education and School Travel All-Inclusive Residential Visits

First Education & School Travel (FEST) is part of First Bus UK, one of Britain’s largest surface passenger transport operators. We are a highly experienced team specialising in school trip packages, educational travel and outdoor adventure.

We work in formal partnership with a range of providers across over 100 venues around the UK to offer the best choice of sites and activities, all working to LOtC guidelines.

As a longstanding School tour operator, we offer an all-inclusive service, bringing together each aspect of your trip to make sure you get exactly what you want from your experience. We provide coach transport, accommodation, meals, exciting activities or attractions and a full support service from conception of the trip through to your return to school.

Our all-inclusive range of residential packages offer a wide variety of school trip themes. We offer exciting outdoor adventures, brilliant City Culture tours and challenging STEM programmes to name just three areas. We work with over 100 venues UK wide. We are very much aware that the cost of living pressures that impact on parents, so in a bid to beat the squeeze, we also offer all of our fantastic programmes during the lower season months – generally between October and March when even greater value for money can be achieved.

Our range of residential packages is extensive, we provide many varied themes and content, each suitable for all key stage age groups. Some of our venues specialise in just one type of programme e.g. Outdoor Adventure or Environmental Themes, whilst some venues can deliver multiple themed packages. 

All of our programmes are fully risk assessed and delivered by experienced & qualified staff. Our partner providers are also LOtC accredited for additional peace of mind.Take a look at our brochures for more details. https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/fest/our-brochures

We are an official school tour operator working to UK package travel regulations. We are a fully bonded travel company meaning each deposit payment you make to us is held in trust until your trip has been delivered – thus meaning your money is always safe. 

We are also members of The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

Working in conjunction with a range of UK wide partner providers our specialist team brings together all the necessary aspects of a group travel package experience. Our all-inclusive trips include Transport, Accommodation, Meals, a full program of engaging activities and a full support service from conception through to your return to school.

Typically group sizes vary from between 24 pupils + staff – up to around 100 pupils + staff. 

Please see our venues on our website https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/fest/venues

Our great venues offer a wide range of facilities, from twin rooms through to dormitory rooms, Group Cabins and Tented villages, En-suite or group/gender split bathroom facilities

Photography and filming is subject to permissions from each venue and all group leaders on-site at the time.

Our partnered venues are LOtC accredited and our travel partners are full licensed and audited. Risk assessments for activities and coach travel can be provided as requested.

School Residential Visits Team – school.travel@firstgroup.com – 0203 467 2002

We offer a wide range of fantastic all-inclusive packages for both primary and secondary groups. Pricing is quoted in advance and based on size of group, length of stay and distance intended to travel to your chosen venue. Our principal activity programmes usually run on either a 2 night or 4 night basis. 

The activity themes include:

• Outdoor adventure packages 
• Environmental adventure
• Discovery packages
• Drama & Performing Arts
• Geography
• History
• City Culture tours
• STEM 
• Alex Rider Mission Briefing
• Residential self-led visit

Our all-inclusive packages are delivered all year round with greater value and lower costs during low season – October to March.

Payment process: 

A 10% Holding Deposit payment is due on confirmation

25% Secondary Deposit payment 6 months prior to commencing

Final Balance Invoice payment due 10 weeks prior to the trip commencing.

To get a quote:

Please advise us or your preferred dates, expected numbers, preferred program/venue and your school/pick up address.

Seasonal Clothing should be worn with suitable footwear and waterproofs. Participants should also bring a water bottle. We will provide recommended Kits list along with other useful information to groups leader well in advance of the trip.

Staff at all venues are first aid trained. Schools should also provide a member of staff with first aid qualifications.

Our great venues offer a wide range of facilities, from twin rooms through to dormitory rooms, Group Cabins and Tented villages, En-suite or group/gender split bathroom facilities and can/would typically include the below:

• Outdoor activity areas/gardens
• Dining areas & Dry facilities for eating lunch if the weather is poor
• Wet rooms, Toilets & Changing areas
• Lounge or recreational/games room
• Event rooms/classrooms
• Self-catering kitchen or tea & coffee making facilities making
• A tuck shop providing gifts and confectionary
• For city tours, great locally to city attractions

As part of our all-inclusive package we provide all your meals – from evening meal on arrival day through to lunch on departure day.

All of our venues can cater for the vast majority of dietary requirements – we request special dietary information in advance.

All venues are DDA compliant and DDA compliant vehicle can also be provided on request. Please contact us in advance to inform us of any special requirements.

Feel free to contact us any time by email. Our office is open for calls between 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday.

We have lots of wonderful locations across the UK. Please see our venues pages on our website https://www.firsttravelsolutions.com/fest/venues

Hamilton College: 

“Excellent service by both First Travel & the Centre Staff”

St Johns CE Primary: 

“We cannot recommend First Travel and the Centre enough. From the moment we re-booked the residential, following our visit last year, everything was dealt with promptly. Changes that needed to be made were accommodated and we felt supported during each step of the process, by Leanne and Rick. All forms are sent within plenty of time and are easy to complete. The Centre is in a beautiful location, where the grounds are well kept and there is plenty of space for the children to explore. The staff are exceptional, in particular the Centre staff who took a genuine interest in getting to know our children and were full of knowledge about the area”

Barlborough Primary School:

“Thank you very much to you and all your staff for a very efficient and well organised trip. We had all of our questions answered and everything that we needed. The children had a fabulous time.”