Spend the night with your class in these amazing spaces to give pupils an experience they will never forget.
1. HMS Belfast
The iconic ship in London saw a lifetime of epic adventures. UK school groups are invited to step aboard and experience the realities of life on a warship in this ultimate immersive sleepover experience. Kip in a Ship, as it is known, gives children aged seven to 16 the chance to spend the night on board a ship which made history during World War Two and beyond.
Children can sleep in original sailors’ bunks, pick up new skills in nautical themed activities, explore the ship’s upper decks after dark and even enjoy a Royal Navy inspired dinner. With four packages to choose from, you can be sure to make the most of your stay.
2. Science Museum
Young campers can experience a sleepover like no other at London’s Science Museum, with a night full of activities. Considered the ‘coolest sleepover in the cosmos’, Astronights include science shows, activities and workshops to delve into the topic of space, as well as the chance to see the museum after dark.
The fun doesn’t end there, as after some rest and breakfast the next morning, campers can explore Wonderlab, the interactive gallery with hands-on exhibits and immersive experiences, and watch an educational 3D documentary screening in the museum’s IMAX cinema. The maximum party size is 150, with a ratio of one adult to six children, so large groups can enjoy this together.
3. The Deep
Discover The Deep after dark with a school sleepover, and bed down for the night next to incredible marine life, including sharks, rays and turtles. The school sleepover in Hull is ideal for a memorable, fun and educational trip with your students. For a small additional charge per child, you can add a 40-minute educational workshop for your group, and explore more about The Deep’s turtles and penguins.
4. Colchester Castle
Bring history to life with an overnight stay at Colchester Castle Museum. Knightzzz At The Museum offers exclusive access to the museum after dark and can be themed to suit your class’ history topics, from Roman Invaders to Life in a Castle. Begin by exploring hidden corners of the castle, doing hands-on activities, handling historical objects and learning about the lives of those who lived in Colchester many centuries ago.
Students will also get the chance to visit the museum galleries while they’re closed to the public. Interactive exhibits and gallery trails are used to investigate the sleepover themes, and there are opportunities to take a ride in a Roman chariot simulator and construct a medieval arch. After all that excitement, pupils get to bed down in Europe’s largest Norman keep. A light breakfast will send them on their way in the morning.
5. The Novium Museum
Children start their unique overnight experience once The Novium Museum in Chichester has closed, and enjoy a special night of activities and games before settling down amongst the museum displays. School groups start the night with lights out and torches on, hunting for objects and clues hidden on different floors of the museum, followed by themed craft activity and a big building challenge.
Snacks and refreshments are provided, before bedding down with a special bedtime story. The morning starts with breakfast overlooking the cathedral, before children are picked up for the day. Aimed at seven to 11-year-olds, one of four different themes can be chosen: Stone Age, Romans, Pirates and Smugglers or Space.
6. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
The UK’s biggest zoo invites schools to spend the night at soft play with Hullaba-snooze – a overnight experience at Whipsnade Zoo’s Hullabazoo indoor play. Spending the evening within roaring distance of the park’s amazing animals, groups of 20 or more can bed down in the heart of the Bedfordshire attraction.
After the zoo has closed to the public, young guests can run wild in Hullabazoo soft play before joining an entertaining ZSL host for an animal-themed treasure hunt. Groups will wind down with colouring and a craft activity making a souvenir of their stay, before settling down on their camp beds with a bedtime story and a night inside the zoo’s huge soft play area. In the morning, a tailored tour will take pupils around the zoo before opening to the general public.
7. The Story Museum
Sleepovers at Oxford’s Story Museum offer a magical out-of-hours experience designed to ignite imaginations. The night starts with a scavenger hunt in the Enchanted Library, where children can step through the wardrobe into Narnia or feel immersed in the worlds of Winnie The Pooh, Alice in Wonderland and His Dark Materials. This is followed by games, storytelling and crafts in the Magic Common Room.
Pupils get a ‘midnight feast’ of hot chocolate and a cookie before a bedtime story sends them to sleep beneath the trees of the Whispering Wood. Breakfast is served bright and early, then it’s time to return to the real world.
8. National Space Centre
An out-of-this-world sleepover experience at the National Space Centre in Leicester is a great choice for exploring the subject of space. Your group will have access to the galleries while following a trail before enjoying space-themed activities. The evening becomes explosive with a live rocket science show delving into the power of rocket fuel and the forces of Newton’s Third Law.
Pupils will also be treated to shows in the planetarium, including Astronaut (voiced by Ewan McGregor) and Tour of the Night Sky. When night falls, fall asleep in the astro-themed galleries, including a replica of the International Space Station. The next morning, your class will be served breakfast and sent off with a woven patch and certificate.
Have you been on a school sleepover to remember? Let us know by emailing editorial@schooltravelorganiser.com.
