coaches for school trips london

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School coach travel in and around London

We provide school coach travel for many establishments in and around London, offering a professional, tailored experience ideal for pupil transportation. We can provide you with regular transport services to and from school, as well as specialist transport for school trips and excursions. Whether you are travelling in the UK or abroad, we have the expertise you need when you are responsible for groups of pupils, their safety and their learning.

Our school customers

Dulwich College/Foundation Schools

The Foundation Schools’ Coach Service has worked with Anderson Travel for almost 10 years. During this period, they have constantly proven to be very proactive and knowledgeable in everything transport, and usually the information given us helps us to make informed decisions. We have always worked in a collaborative manner, which helps with the running of such a complex operation. Currently, they are our biggest supplier of coaches, both for regular and ad hoc journeys

Ask us about your coach travel

020 7403 8118

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A flexible fleet of coaches

All our coaches are beautifully presented, comfortable and come with a range of facilities to suit your school party’s needs.

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All our coaches have:

• Comfortable, reclining seats
• Full air conditioning
• A large capacity for luggage – perfect for trips
• PA/stereo sound system

You can also choose the following facilities, perfect for a longer trip:

• USB charging points
• On-board kitchens
• Seat-back tables

We also can offer you a people carrier that has space for 8 passengers, perfect for smaller sports trips or groups of sixth formers.

Contact Anderson Travel, coach hire experts

Our team are ready to talk you through any of our services and answer all your questions. If you would like to arrange your service with us in person, our office is located at Second Floor, 220 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP.

Who uses our school coach transportation facilities?

Our coaches are available to school parties of all sizes, at any time you need them. We offer:

• Regular daily coaches to and from school
• School trips and educational excursions
• Trips abroad and longer distance UK trips

We work around you and your needs, tailoring our service completely. All our coaches are modern and comfortable, not like the picture you might have in your head of an old-fashioned school bus. Think reclining seats, air conditioning, and even the option of Wi-Fi – everything you need to keep children settled and entertained during a long coach journey!

Choosing us to meet your school transportation needs

We have many years of industry experience behind us and we have worked with numerous schools, making us fully able to adapt. We can work with even the most complex of timetables, creating a smooth and seamless experience for those in charge, as well as for the pupils.

Our services are ideal for schools because:

• We have a large capacity for luggage Perfect for trips abroad or school sports trips.
• We drop you off somewhere convenient There’s no need to walk for miles with pupils in your care.
• Value for money Our services are affordable for schools and we keep our prices very reasonable.

Schools enjoy working with us and we have many regular clients who are from a school environment.

This is due to:

• Our values We work to a clearly defined set of values, so you know what to expect from our service.  Read about them here.
• Interaction Our team keep you informed and all coaches are tracked so we can give accurate information about your vehicle.
• Flexibility We will adjust to your needs and can be as flexible as you need during a school trip with multiple destinations.

Get a quote for your transport

If you would like us to reply with a written quotation, just give us the full details of your journey.

Complete our form online – it takes no time at all.

Your coach quote

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COACH HIRE FOR SCHOOL TRIPS

Redwing Coaches provide safe, comfortable and efficient coach transportation for school parties, wherever you might be going in the world. We can organise all aspects of your transportation and put together an itinerary to suit your school, so you won’t need to worry about any of the travel arrangements.

We regularly take school parties on:

Trips to local sites and attractions

Skiing trips

Trips abroad

Music and orchestra tours

Sports trips

Sightseeing and educational trips

This is intended as a guide only – we can adapt to all situations and will be happy to provide school coach travel for any length of journey. Please just let us know your requirements and we will be happy to talk you through the various options.

OUR COACHES

We use the same coaches for school trips as we do for everything else – some coach companies are known to offer lower specification vehicles for school transportation. Complete with all the latest technology, our coaches provide a safe, comfortable, relaxing environment for your trip.

You can select coaches with a range of facilities for your transfer, including:

• On-board CCTV
• Drinks facilities
• Folding seat-back tables
• Climate control
• Lap belts or three-point seat belts

*These are available on certain coaches, please specify if you require them when booking.

All coaches undergo regular maintenance and testing in our on-site workshop. You can rest assured that your school party will enjoy a safe, comfortable journey with Redwing Coaches.

Request your quote now

020 7733 1124

[email protected]

SAFETY FOR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

We know that safety is a primary concern for schools, and it is for us as well. We adhere to the highest levels of safety on board and complete full safety checks before any journey.

All our coaches receive regular on-site maintenance – we inspect and service vehicles more often than we are required to by law. We have three-point or lap seat belts fitted in our vehicles as standard.

Find out more about safety on board our coaches.

WHY REDWING COACHES?

DBS-checked drivers

Our drivers all have full DBS checks to allow them to work with schools.

Communication

Our drivers stay in touch via on-board phones ahead of your pick up.

Comfortable high-tech coaches

Your passengers enjoy a safe and relaxing journey with us.

Flexibility

We work around schools’ busy schedules to provide reliable transport.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COACH TRAVEL?

Coaches offer safe, flexible transportation for teachers and pupils.

Here are some of the benefits of booking with us:

Flexible travel arrangements

Book journeys with pick-up and drop-off points to suit you. All children reach their destination together, so that’s one less thing to think about!

Luggage storage

There is plenty of on-board storage, so it’s ideal for travelling with sports equipment or musical instruments.

Cost-effective travel

Booking coach travel is cheaper than travelling by plane, train or in individual cars. It helps keep costs down for your school trip.

Full itinerary creation

We can put together an itinerary that will work for your school, organising all aspects of your travel for you.

Comfortable vehicles

Choose from a number of features to make your journey more pleasant, including WCs, Wi-Fi and drinks facilities.

If you need to book an accessible coach, please just let us know. Many vehicles in our fleet are equipped with lifts and are fully DDA compliant.

Knowledgeable drivers

The same driver stays with you throughout your trip and will know the routes well, ensuring you reach your destination safely and comfortably.

Safe travel at all times

Your driver will plan all aspects of the journey ahead of time and will complete full safety checks before setting off.

BOOKING YOUR JOURNEY

If you would like to discuss your coach hire requirements further our dedicated customer service team will be only too happy to help.

Call us: 020 7733 1124

Email: [email protected]

Destinations

These are some of the destinations we most commonly cover:

• Leatherhead

If you’d like to arrange a pick-up from another destination, please don’t be put off – that’s not a problem. These destinations are just some of those that we cover most frequently. Just let us know what you require and we will make sure we’re there, on time, in one of our comfortable branded coaches. You won’t be able to miss us.

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London: 020 7228 3515

Kent: 01959 533 543

London Coach Hire For School Trips

Co-ordinating a school trip can be a real challenge, even half-day events can take weeks of planning as there is such a lot to think about – from appointing teachers and receiving parental consent, to finalising details with the destination. To ensure that the day gets off to a smooth start, it is essential to choose a reliable transport company. Here at Guideline Coaches, we offer dependable coach hire London that is perfect for all manner of school trips.

With experience of over 30 years sustained business, potential clients can rest assured that we always provide a reliable, friendly service.

Due to the responsibility that is assigned to teachers organising school trips, we appreciate that safety is the most important criteria when choosing a coach travel London specialist. All of our coaches are equipped with the most current safety features, and they are all safety checked and serviced every six weeks no matter what their mileage. All of our coach drivers have many years experience and all are fully CRB checked too.

Our hire services can be tailored to the exact requirements of each client, therefore no matter what the number of passengers or destination of the school trip, we have coaches at a price to match. Our mini coach hire London is perfect for smaller groups boasting 22 reclining seats, 3-point seat belts, climate control, individual lighting and a PA system.

Visiting our website, trip organisers can take a 360° tour of each of the coaches that we have available on a hireable basis. These provide an insight into the suitability of each for an individual’s needs.

Details about our coach hire services can be viewed by visiting our website, where information about the range of outings that we can supply coach hire London for can be found. Schools who would like to find out more about risk assessments can enquire by filling out our contact form.

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School Travel

School Trips to London

Love to learn in london.

Our specially crafted school trips to London cover a range of topics in a fun, diverse, and engaging way.

From Tate Modern to the National Gallery, the London Eye to the Natural History Museum, a West End show to a Thames cruise, the choice is yours.

Choose from one of our many ready-made itineraries, or get in touch and we’ll help to tailor one to your school’s specific needs.

1 Night to See the Sights

2 Nights to Explore the City

3 Nights in the UK Capital

Charles Dickens 1 Night

All-Inclusive 1 Night

Business Studies 2 Nights

Drama & Theatre 1 Night

Art & Design 2 Nights

Fashion & Textiles 2 Nights

Law & History 2 Nights

Drama Day Trip

Museums Day Trip

Sightseeing Day Trip

London 1 Night

This exciting tour allows pupils to see a wealth of the capital’s most famous and informative places, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and St Paul’s Cathedral.

London 2 Nights

This is the most popular of our school trips to London, including a scenic river cruise along the Thames, and a voyage of discovery on The Coca-Cola London Eye.

London 3 Nights

This trip is perfect for letting students fully immerse themselves in the Capital’s unique environment, with plenty of time for sightseeing.

London Charles Dickens 1 Night

School trips to London are perfect for pupils studying the life and works of Charles Dickens. Enjoy a guided city walk with a Dickens expert, and visit 48 Doughty Street, the author’s home.

London All-Inclusive 1 Night

This overnight and all-inclusive residential will include a selection of handpicked visits, from an open top bus tour to the world-famous Madame Tussauds.

The Making of Harry Potter 1 Night

Who doesn’t want to discover the magic behind the spell-binding special effects and secrets of the Harry Potter film series?

London Business Studies 2 Nights

Three days in the city is a perfect amount of time to visit the Bank of England, the Museum of Brands, Packages & Advertising, and a Blue Badge guided tour.

London Drama & Theatre 1 Night

This visit is full of fun workshops, which are designed to teach students the techniques that are used by actors on the stage. The workshops are followed by an unforgettable West End Show.

London Art & Design 2 Nights

This two-night Art & Design residential focuses on the city’s must-see galleries, ranging from the Tate Modern to the Saatchi Gallery.

London Fashion & Textiles 2 Nights

On this top tour, pupils will get the opportunity to participate in a fashion illustration workshop and see the impressive 24,000-piece dress and fashion collection at the Museum of London.

London Law & History 2 Nights

This is a fascinating visit for students who are interested in law and history. It centres on a selection of legal institutions around the city, such as The Old Bailey and the Middle Temple.

London Drama Day Trip

Check out our whistle-stop Drama Day Trip to the capital. You can pack in a visit to the National Theatre, the Globe, and a West End Show, and be back for bedtime.

London Museums Day Trip

Visiting the capital’s fascinating museums is a great focus for an educational tour, whether your interest is Natural History, Science, or Art & Design.

London Sightseeing Day Trip

This is what school trips to London are all about – seeing the fantastic sights and historic buildings that it has to offer, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and many more.

The Making of Harry Potter Day Trip

This tour gives people of all ages (including teachers!) a fun and educational day out. Iconic props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes secrets can be seen throughout your experience.

OUR CAPITAL CITY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER

OUR ACCOMMODATION:

Refurbished in 2017, this is a purpose-built, 320-bed hostel located on the Thames riverside. The venue is very secure: it has CCTV; 24-hour staffing; electronic gates; is fully enclosed; the staff are very experienced in working with school and youth groups, and so we are confident that all of our groups will appreciate its excellent location and facilities.

Accommodation consists of en-suite rooms, all of which have bunk beds and security lockers, and groups will not be expected to share rooms with the general public. You’ll be able to access the internet from desktop computers, and free Wi-Fi is available at the ground floor reception, bar, and in all other public social areas.

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Request a quote

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Safe, reliable & affordable transport solutions for schools in London & the South East.

Are you searching for a safe and reliable way to travel with a school from London and the South East? 

Readybus is the go-to choice for educational groups across London and the South East, offering trusted coach services. We specialise in providing modern, comfortable and secure coaches and minibuses for all kinds of school travel needs. Our friendly and experienced team ensures that your educational trips are not only fun but also worry-free.

What services do we provide for educational groups?

For 20 years, Readybus has been a popular choice for school trips in London and the South East. We provide safe, comfortable and reliable transportation for educational groups like schools, colleges, and universities.

We are dedicated to guaranteeing a seamless and hassle-free school trip experience! Whether it's a sports trip or any other adventure, you can rely on us to handle every detail.

With a range of vehicle sizes available, we can accommodate education groups of all sizes. Whether you have a small group or a large class, we have the perfect coach to meet your needs. 

Safety is our priority, especially when transporting students. Our coaches have the latest safety features and undergo regular checks to ensure they are always in top condition.

Our team of DBS checked drivers has detailed checks to ensure they can safely transport children. They excel at providing exceptional service by going above and beyond to get you from point A to point B.

Reasons to trust us for your transportation needs

With Readybus, educational groups have access to reliable, safe, and eco-friendly coach hire for school trips and more. We aim to provide excellent service while being environmentally conscious. We are committed to offering value without compromising on the quality of service.

Bespoke Service

At Readybus, we customise our school coach hire services to make sure students are safe, comfortable, and happy. Our team perfectly plans your transportation to meet the unique needs of your school.

Modern Fleet

Our coaches offer flexible school transportation options. All the vehicles in our fleet have 3-point safety seat belts as standard. Some coaches have 3+2 seating, making school travel comfortable and spacious for students.

Professionalism

Enjoy a professional touch with our school transport services. Our skilled drivers and helpful team ensure that you get on time to your destination while enjoying a safe and easy journey.

Peace of Mind

When you choose our school transportation, you also choose peace of mind. We are part of CoachMarque and BUSK, and we make sure we follow industry standards for health and safety.

Added Value

At Readybus, we go above and beyond providing just school coach hire. We help you plan your trips and offer useful help, so your educational travel is easy and hassle-free.

Our vehicles

Our school coaches have air conditioning and 3-point safety seat belts for every seat. For longer journeys, like European skiing trips, we can provide vehicles with USB ports for charging devices and toilets! Plus, our coaches meet London's low emission standards, so you're helping the environment when you travel with us!

16-19 seat minibuses

A 16-19 seat minibus is the ideal solution for transporting smaller groups in comfort and style. Whether you're jetting off and need an airport transfer, planning a theatre break, or taking a UK tour with family and friends, everyone can join in the fun and enjoy fuss-free group travel.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the comfort of our luxurious reclining seats.

Entertainment is important on long journeys, so our coaches have a built-in entertainment system to keep you entertained throughout your trip.

A small, handy refrigerator to keep snacks cool.

29-71 seat coaches

Our stylish, modern 29-71 seat vehicles offer so much more than just a comfortable journey. They are the perfect solution for groups of all sizes, no matter the occasion!

70-76 seat school coaches

A 70-76 seat school coach is perfect for field trips, residentials, or even home-to-school transport. Plus, it provides plenty of safety, comfort, and reliability - giving students an enjoyable journey every time.

23-36 seat luxury VIP coaches

A 23-36 seat luxury VIP coach provides the highest level of comfort and safety for passengers, making it the ideal travel solution for any type of group event or occasion, from going to the races to football teams, corporate hospitality, and so much more.

Mood lighting creates a unique and cosy atmosphere, the perfect ambience for any trip.

Our onboard kitchen allows travellers to enjoy cooked meals and snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks, during their journey.

What our customers are saying

Don't just take our word for it - our customer reviews speak volumes about the transport service we provide. We're proud to be one of the top coach companies for schools in London and the South East!

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Get a quote today for hiring a coach for your school

If you require transport for your school trips, we have the expertise to help you find the ideal solution. Whether it's a day trip or any other educational adventure, rest assured, we have got you covered.

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Contact us:

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• How to Choose the Perfect Coach for Your School Trip in London

Navigate through coach hire options for your London school trip. Discover tips to choose the perfect coach for a safe, comfortable, and fun journey.

Lakshmi Nair

• Published: 16th February 2024 | Updated: 16th February 2024

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Specialising in lifestyle and wellness, Lakshmi Nair brings a holistic approach to her writing, incorporating aspects of Eastern philosophy.

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Planning a school trip in London? Discover how to choose the perfect coach that guarantees safety, comfort, and fun for your students.

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Cross-curricular school trip to London

London has so many engaging attractions to excite and educate your students. We use our expertise to suggest the best visits for your trip.

• Key stage 2 – 16+

Explore our capital city with a school trip to London

London is crammed full of attractions from the educational to cultural and many of which are free, making it a popular destination for our school groups. The majority of London school trips we organise are often short, from overnight stays to 4 days, but we also have experience organising longer trips for international schools visiting from abroad.

We'll work with you to create the perfect itinerary that fits the focus of your trip, whether it's history, art, English, drama, a rewards trip or anything in between. We can recommend a varied mix of curriculum-based visits, sightseeing and fun attractions to make sure you and your students have a great time and get the most out of your trip. We also make sure students are entertained throughout the evening with dinner options at popular restaurant chains like Hard Rock Cafe and Rainforest Cafe.

Some highlights of our school trips to London:

The london eye, buckingham palace, west end matinee show, the tate modern, the science museum, thames river cruise, harry potter warner bros. studio tour.

What Teachers Say - Click here to read about Kirkcudbright Academy School's stay in London! 

We can tailor your itinerary to your unique learning requirements, please contact us for a bespoke quote.

• Depart school
• Arrive in London
• Matinee show in the West End
• Evening meal

Tower of London

Trafalgar square.

• That National Gallery

Tate Modern

• Science Museum
• London Dungeons
• Return to school

British Museum

Housing around 8 million objects, the British Museum is one of the largest museums in the world. Take your time exploring this haven of human history, art and culture.

Globe Theatre

On the South Bank of the River Thames, explore the famous reconstructed Elizabethan theatre associated with William Shakespeare, a must-visit for drama and English students.

Step on to authentic sets and discover the magic behind the Harry Potter film series. Tread the floor Hogwarts Great Hall, encounter animatronic creatures and wander down Diagon Alley. Located at the Studios where all 8 films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the incredible British talent that made the series possible.The award winning education programme includes entrance ticket to Warner Bros. Studio Tour, a 45 minute lesson, planned and taught by qualified teachers in our purpose-built classroom and free green screen broomstick experience. Free teacher inspection visits, teaching resources and digital guides available.

The Tate Modern is London's free national museum of modern and contemporary art. See work by Picasso, Rothko, Dali and Matisse for free and check out the latest big installation in the Turbine Hall. Unmissable for students of art, design and photography.

Take a trip down the River Thames and pass some famous sights of the city of London.

V&A Museum

Get inspired at The Victoria and Albert Museum, the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. This is a top visit for art and design students and there may be a temporary exhibition on during your visit that piques your interest.

West End Show

Experience a live production in London’s West End!

Buckingham Palace has served as the official Royal London Residence for the British monarchy since 1837 and it is still the administrative headquarters for the Queen. A very popular reason for visiting it to see the Changing of the Guard.

The London Eye is a fantastic way to fully appreciate London's beauty and see the sprawling capital from as at the highest point, you'll have 360-degree views from 135 meters above! One rotation on the eye lasts around 30 minutes.

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is London's principal religious house and is the seat of the Bishop of London. You can go and see the spectacular building from the outside but you can even climb to the dome and head into the whispering gallery where sounds can travel from one end to the other.

Tate Britain

Entrance to the Tate Britain is free except for the major exhibitions. Tate Britain runs a school programme which may help to add further depth to your students' experience. You can also hop on the Tate boat which takes you to the Tate Modern in a matter of minutes.

The Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament are must for any students interested in politics or hoping to study law in higher education. It is slightly tricky to gain admission, as you must write a letter to your local MP who should be able to organise a tour for your group around the chambers and up into Big Ben's clock tower. When the houses are sitting, visitors can sit in the galleries to observe committee meeting debates.

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum in Southwark is where London's infamous mental asylum Bedlam was. It is a fascinating museum and is more likely than not to have an exhibition going on when you're there. Its permanent exhibition on WWI trenches gives pupils an idea of what life was like for soldiers on the French battlefields. There is also an extremely moving and informative Holocaust exhibition.

The National Gallery

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square houses one of the greatest collections of European paintings dating from 1250 to 1900. If you're short on time, visit the gallery's website to find out the thirty must-see paintings amongst the collection of over 2,300.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of the most impressive buildings in London. The dinosaurs are always a popular place to start and don't miss the magnificent cross-section of a sequoia tree on the top floor, which dates back to around 400 AD.

The Science Museum covers the workings of everything from extraordinary space technology to ordinary household appliances. There are lots of interactive exhibits for students to try out from simulated earthquakes and 3D cinemas.

Trafalgar Square is one of London's most vibrant open spaces, home to Nelson's Column which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar. It is a wonderful place to soak up London's buzzing atmosphere and an easy stop on your way to other attractions.

The Tower of London is a must for all those wishing to understand the life and soul of British history over the last 1000 years. London's most historic landmark oversaw imprisonment, torture, execution and murder most foul. The Tower currently houses the Crown Jewels. Whilst you are at the Tower, take a stroll down to Tower Bridge, which offers excellent views over the Thames.

Our school trips to London include:

• A detailed itinerary with pre-booked excursions
• Board and lodging as specified in your itinerary
• Return travel by executive coach
• Free teacher place for every 8 students on the trip
• 24-hour emergency back-up service
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Assistance with inspection visits

Extras to budget for:

• Entrances other than those specified in your itinerary
• Hotel damage deposits
• Supplements for small parties, single rooms and additional adults

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Receive a no-obligation quote for your group from one of our educational travel experts.

Other trips you may be interested in

Cross-curricular school trip to Liverpool & Manchester

Visit two of the UK's most exciting cities to explore the industrial revolution and Britain's Colonial past

Cross-curricular school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon

Ye Olde England awaits! Uncover England's Tudor history in Shakespeare's birthplace

Cross-curricular school trip to York

Marvel at Medieval York with your history, geography or religious studies students

UK Activity Week School Day Trips

The best activity & enrichment week visits & fun day trips ideas

School Day Trips

Bliss Travel has a wide experience in school transport, the company has progressed and is one of the leading school coach hire companies in Central London. Quality Systems are audited annually by an outside agency.

We understand the need for child safety and a code of conduct is available on every vehicle, all drivers have read and signed a declaration of commitment and have regular enhanced DBS checks. Drivers have been certified within the Safeguarding Children status.

A qualified IOSH (H & S) manager is available and recruiters have undertaken a recruiting safely national training programme run by Action for Children. All vehicles are tracked and the position can be made readily available at any time to the school. We price school day trips at a lower rate helping you to pass a lower cost on to each student.

• Risk assessment
• Health and safety declaration
• Legal compliance
• CRB checked drivers

Minibus and Coach Rental London, UK | Oxford Coach Hire

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Coach & Minibus Hire For Schools

School trips coaches hire london.

School days are often the most cherished and unforgettable times in a person’s life. School trips and parties create memories that last a lifetime. Beyond just being moments of fun and joy, many important life lessons are learned during these formative years. In an effort to enhance the learning experience for students in London schools, we are proud to provide a secure and dependable School Trip Minibus Hire Service, catering specifically to the needs of schools in London. As part of our commitment to education, we also offer an exceptional Oxford Coach Hire service for school excursions, ensuring safe and reliable transportation for students.

Our Oxford coach hire services are highly recommended for school trips, especially for educational tours and excursions. Within our school services category, we offer a range of minibuses and coaches, including 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, and 72-seater options. This ensures that students can easily travel in groups without the hassle of the journey. We prioritize security and safety in planning every trip. When traveling with us, parents can also relax knowing that their kids are well taken care of during the expedition.

Minibus Rental for School Field Trip

At Oxford Coach Hire , we ensure that the ambiance of our vehicles aligns with the purpose of your trip. Should you require it, we are also able to adorn the vehicle with specific themes to enhance your journey experience.

Today, educational institutions have invested in buses to cater to the diverse needs of their students. These buses serve various purposes, such as facilitating travel for sightseeing tours and exercise classes during trips. Additionally, some schools utilize this mode of transportation to facilitate visits between different educational institutions. Ultimate Minibuses is proud to offer top-notch school trip minibus hire and school trip coach hire services for students at the highest level. Our range of School Trip Minibuses ensures optimal comfort and swift movement for all passengers. For those looking for exceptional services in Oxford, our Oxford Coach Hire is the perfect choice.

Coach hire for schools in London

At Oxford Coach Hire, we provide School Trip Minibuses for outings, excursions, and other purposes such as transporting school teams to sporting events. Our minibuses are fully equipped for various types of trips, ensuring comfort and safety. Our School Trip Minibus Hire service offers comfortable buses with TVs and disc players, allowing for additional video entertainment during the journey. Our fleet consists of vehicles specifically adapted for transporting school children and fully compliant with the regulations set by the Ministry of Transport.

Oxford Coach Hire is the preferred choice for educational groups in London and the South East, providing reliable coach services. Our expertise lies in offering modern, comfortable, and secure coaches and minibuses for various school travel requirements. Our team of friendly and experienced professionals ensures that your educational trips are not only enjoyable but also worry-free.

Coach Hire for School Trips

Our commitment is to provide a seamless and hassle-free experience for school trips! Whether it’s a sports excursion or any other adventure, you can trust us to take care of every detail.

We have a range of vehicle sizes available to accommodate education groups of all sizes. Whether you have a small group or a large class, we have the ideal coach to suit your needs.

Safety is our top priority, especially when transporting students. Our coaches are equipped with the latest safety features and undergo regular inspections to ensure they are always in optimal condition.

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Local, safe and quality school coach hire for any occasion

Primary, secondary or universities, we cover school travel for all ages and occasions..

School coach travel is a popular, safe and economical solution to all school transportation needs. With a combined experience of over 100+ years , we are expertly suited to organising private school buses, coach hires for small and large schools within the UK and across Europe.

At National Express Transport Solutions, all drivers are highly trained and DBS-checked while having vast experience in school transportation. More than anything else, we value the safety of our customers, employees and the community. That’s why we have strict safety standards when it comes to our vehicles.

There is no limit to the type of vehicle we provide.  With access to over 10,000 vehicles, our accessible coach and minibus hire solutions give schools the complete confidence to organise travel for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Download our School Transport Information Pack Shine a light on school coach hire with us - we're here all year round

Click here to download.

DBS checked drivers

All of our drivers are fully DBS compliant

Discounted tickets

Coach hire + attraction tickets = great value day out

Contingency plans

Flexibility to adapt with contingency plans ready to utilise

UK and Europe

Our drivers are experts at journeys across the UK and Europe

Safeguarding

Safety is our top priority offering you peace of mind

School Offers

Explore our school offers to help you utilise your budgets and save money

How we can help with your school transport

Coach hire to local attractions.

We’re here to support you with your National Curriculum programme for all key stages. We offer a range of day trips and are associated with a variety of venues and attractions.

We can offer up to 35% off entry tickets for Merlin attractions such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington when you book your school coach hire through us.

We also have links with the following venues within the UK, book your field trip to these attractions to enjoy discounted rates; Leeds Castle , Kew Gardens , SeaCity Museum , Paultons Park , Drayton Manor & many more.

UK & European Tour Transport

We have wide-ranging experience in providing transport for all kinds of school trips within the UK and Europe.

We’ve done it all - from summer end-of-year trips to Ski tours  to London day trips and transfers . These tours involve the transportation of education groups, students, and staff and involve managing the logistics of multiple coaches travelling at different times and dates.

As the UK’s leading transport provider we have access to preferential rates for the Eurotunnel and Ferry journeys for overseas trips and tours.

Sports & Swimming Lesson Shuttles

Need quick, easy and affordable transport to and from school for swimming and sports lessons? Look no further! We’re here to ensure there is no disruption to your student's school day.

We support schools with transportation for sports and swimming lessons ranging from small classes to multiple-year groups.

Simply provide a timetable of departure dates, times and locations and we will provide you with a bespoke transport solution.

Home to School shuttles

We understand that the safe travel of students from home to school is of the utmost importance for parents and teachers. We’re here to take your stress away!

Our bespoke technology allows you, teachers, students, and parents to book their seats on vehicles and track them in real-time giving everyone peace of mind across the school year.

With vast experience in providing home-to-school student transport solutions , we are equipped to transport your students safely and securely to and from school.

Click here to find out more about our home-to-school shuttle solutions

Just some of our experience within the education sector

South west universities, covid compliant transport solutions for the uni of bristol and cardiff, education first, consistent, reliable ground transport for american educational tour groups, harris boys' academy, transporting students from harris boys' academy to off-site pe lessons, eaton house schools, daily shuttles and ad-hoc transport for eaton house schools group, hts/travelbound, 2010 – 2019 ski and summer educational tours / airport transfers, ski season 2019 travelling to southern & eastern france, canterbury christ church university, providing regular shuttle services, university of kent, providing a shuttle service between the medway and canterbury campus, more stories, how we have helped schools with their coach hire, we are members of the  , british educational travel association.

We're also delighted to have been shortlisted for the 2023  British Youth Travel Awards

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Passenger descriptions

Our passenger descriptions are designed to help you choose the right ticket for yourself or your fellow travellers.

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged 2+. Adults under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel alone on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over or they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Infants 0-1 Inclusive

Children aged under the age of 2, must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied children will not be carried.

Lewis Coaches have been transporting children in London for over 100 years

We operate daily to schools in Rochester, Chatham and Orpington areas.

Select your School and Route from the list to download the timetable and booking form to complete and return to us.

For more information please email us at [email protected] or call us on 02088580031

We always welcome new suggestions for pick up and drop off points. When completing the form please ensure you complete the email address clearly and enclose a picture of the child for the pass.

We are a National Coach Hire Company with branches in London & Peterborough, UK.

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UK Coach Trips

We Cater For All Group Sizes

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Can Be Easily Arranged

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School Trips

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COACH HIRE FOR SCHOOL TRIPS

Crystal Coaches offer a wide range of coach hire options for school trips and days out.  We have one of the largest fleets in the UK ranging from 14 seater minibuses to large 57 seater coaches.

We can help with group transport to local destinations such as museums, sports grounds and zoos, as well as coach trips across the UK and Europe.

All of our drivers are background checked and highly trained and experienced, putting the safety of the children as the priority.  They will work with teachers and team leaders to ensure the coach hire journeys are as comfortable as possible, including regular breaks when on long journeys.

We Offer A Wide Area Coverage

Here are just some Coach Hire areas we cover… if your area below is not listed we may still cover it so please do not hesitate to enquire…

London, Peterborough, Luton, Milton Keynes, Bedford,  Cambridge, Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, Oldham, Manchester, Oxford, Ipswich, Wales, Exeter, Devon, Bristol, Portsmouth, Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Coventry, Norfolk, Northampton, Leicester, Bedford, Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire, Norwich, Scotland, Dover, Kings Lynn, Wisbech, and surrounding areas.

We travel all across Europe including, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Iceland, Hungary, Portugal, Austria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Estonia, Denmark, Switzerland, Netherlands, Moldova, Belgium, Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey, Slovenia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Georgia, Andorra, Malta, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City, Russia

Contact Us Today

For more information about our services please call our office and speak to our customer service representatives on 0800 211 8334

Request A Quote Now

FROM SCHOOL TRIPS TO CORPORATE EVENTS - WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE LOGISTICS

21 vehicles ranging from small minibuses through to large coaches, all our vehicles are regularly maintained to a high standard, school trips – up to 75 seats, private event coach hire, corporate event coach hire, from a local trip for a sports match, a school trip to london or a week-long residential field trip, we have the capacity to cater for all your needs., contact us for a tailored quote: t: 01494 785 451 or 0208 743 8521 or email: [email protected], naughton news.

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School trips to London

A school trip to London is highly recommended to allow your students the chance to explore a cultural hub that is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities on the planet. 

The city’s heritage means there’s nearly always something to learn around every corner, particularly if your focus is on literature, theatre, history, architecture, business, religious studies or general sightseeing. Samuel Johnson famously remarked that “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life” – and we can see just what he was getting at.

Our school trips to London highlights include...

London school trips are a great way for your students to explore the world-famous city's attractions:

Coca-Cola London Eye

Natural history museum, the tower of london, imperial war museum, the west end.

• The London Dungeon
• The British Museum
• National Maritime Museum

Thames River Cruise

Warner bros. studio tour.

• Buckingham Palace 
• The Globe Theatre
• The Tate Modern London
• The Science Museum
• Olympic Park 

Why book a London school trip?

School trips to London offer young people a valuable new perspective outside of the classroom and a chance to experience the sights, sounds, hustle and bustle of a major global city. The capital also boasts a regular events programme that no other city can match, at least certainly not in the UK.

There are so many must-see locations for students in London , that provide tons of educational value. London offers a wide and diverse range of educational visits that will enlighten and expand the imagination of students and pupils across all age groups.

Whether it’s an educational tour of London for students or a fun-filled primary school trip , London has it all. Take a look at some of our most popular London school trips - perfect for primary, high school, or college students. Alternatively, please get in touch for more information or advice, we’re always happy to help.

Browse our curriculum-linked school trips in London

Such is the diversity of London’s offerings, there are venues, sites and attractions that can benefit students who study just about any subject! From Maths to Music, Media studies to Science, you can plan a London school trip that suits the learning objectives of any subject matter. 

Check out our range of curriculum-linked school trips in London below. 

Art & Design

Home to some of the world’s largest permanent collections and with a wide range of art on show, a school trip to London is guaranteed to incite a response from pupils and enrich and inspire their work.

In this exciting city, pupils will get to take in the latest thought-provoking collections, museums, galleries and innovative talent, whilst developing an understanding of British heritage and culture. Add to that the huge array of tourist attractions on offer and you’ll be guaranteed a trip to remember.

Learn more about our art & design trips to London here

Business Studies

Experience one of the world’s largest financial centres on a school trip to London.

The city is home to over half of the UK’s top 100 listed companies and offers fascinating visit opportunities for business studies groups. We’ll book educational visits that enhance your pupils’ learning, as well as group friendly accommodation, your leisure activities and even your meals – all at our great school group prices.

Learn more about our business studies trips to London here

Computer Science

A computing and computer science school trip to London offers pupils the opportunity to explore a range of computing and computer science themes at a number of intriguing visits and hands on workshops, whilst also enjoying a big city experience.

Choose from an app making workshop to a tech city guided walking tour where students can take a first-hand look at the businesses – such as ASOS, Spotify and Zoopla!

Learn more about our computer science trips to London here

For a school trip that will inspire and engage your pupils you need look no further than our very own capital city London!

We can create a London school tour itinerary to suit your tour objectives, the range of visits make it perfect for enrichment week, a cultural tour or a group bonding and reward trip. As well as being great fun, the visits offer pupils the opportunity to Experience big city life, widen their horizons, Learn new skills and develop resilience, independence and confidence.

Learn more about our cultural trips to London here

Design & Technology 

Explore a range of world-class museums, including the Design Museum, the V&A Museum and the Museum of Brands to name just a few. Get a taste for designing and making, electronics, robotics, materials, engineering and computing during our range of educational experiences.

Learn more about our design & technology school trips to London here

Drama & Performing Arts

From the magic of a West End show to interactive dance or theatre workshops or debating at the Royal Courts of Justice, a school theatre trip to London is guaranteed to inspire your pupils!

Whether your group is interested in performing arts, drama, English or literature, you’ll find it all on an English school tour to London! Plus, we work closely with theatres and agencies in the capital to give you access to great group prices, fantastic theatre seats and great availability on the most popular West End shows so you can be sure to get great value for your school theatre trip. That’s why around 600 school groups choose to travel to London with us each and every year.

Learn more about our drama & performing arts trips to London here

Geography, Geology & Environmental Science

Packed full of enthralling visits and attractions, a geography school trip to London provides a massive range of geography visits that will excite, inform and educate your group.

We’ve teamed up with London’s famous Blue Badge Guides to offer a unique geography tour on which your pupils will see for themselves the transformation that the east of London underwent as part of a vast urban regeneration programme.

Learn more about our geography trips to London here

With the curriculum changes placing greater emphasis on the history of Britain and its place in global history, London provides an ideal location for a history school trip.

Covering a large range of themes, the huge numbers of educational visits, museums, galleries and collections have tailor-made programmes required to suit the new curriculum. With our relationships with so many of these education departments, we can help you to maximise the educational benefit of your London visit.

Secondary school trip groups to London can greatly benefit from the educational tours that London provides. And is perfect for all ages.

Learn more about our history trips to London here

For an English school trip that focuses on works of literature and how they can be adapted for stage and screen, you won't be disappointed with NST's London literature study tour.

Learn more about our literature trips to London here

Investigate the mathematics that makes the capital city of London work! From the Wembley Stadium arch, to the Bank of England, your pupils will be surrounded by maths during a visit to London.

Have fun calculating the height of key landmarks, such as Nelson’s Column, or take the opportunity to consider the mathematical challenges engineers faced whilst building the iconic London Eye.

Learn more about our maths trips to London here

Media & Film Studies

If you’re looking to take your media & film studies group to a great budget destination that comes packed with educational benefits, choose London.

Our strong links with renowned organisations – plus expert service and advice from your dedicated Educational Travel Advisor – will make bridging the gap between the classroom and the day-to-day reality of this dynamic industry easier for you.

School trips in London allow media students to experience the fast-moving world of production and the creative industries.

Learn more about our media & film trips to London here

The wide number and variety of performance venues available in London make it an ideal music tour destination for a groups of all ages and abilities.

These outstanding venues, along with the great range of amazing West End theatre shows, workshops, backstage tours and leisure visits, mean NST can provide a great value itinerary that engages, wows and inspires.

Learn more about our music tours to London here

Musical Theatre 

London is a fantastic destination full of opportunities to expose your group to music. So, even if you’re not planning a performance music tour, why not take your pupils to the capital for a few days on a school trip in London, which is filled with West End musicals and vocal workshops - they could even try their hand at Samba drumming!

Learn more about our West End trips to London here

Primary groups

An exciting London primary school trip enables pupils to cover many aspects of their curriculum in a short space of time. We can create a school tour itinerary package around any theme of your choice, from the Tudors and Victorians to Science and Nature.

Primary school trips to London allow younger pupils to experience the great capital of England. Inspire them with the rich history of the city and show them the future plans to bolster London as an economic superpower.

Learn more about our trips to London for primary schools here

Psychology & Sociology

A psychology trip to London offers immense value to psychology and sociology pupils, and is an ideal way to boost grades.

We can tailor an itinerary to suit your group’s exact requirements, from our exclusive mental health visits to a Jack the Ripper walking tour, you can cover a wide range of study topics to cover GCSE and A level curriculum themes in and around central London.

Learn more about our psychology trips to London here

Religious Studies

A religious studies visit to London offers immense value to your pupils. Our itineraries can be tailored to groups’ requirements allowing pupils to see diversity of worship and investigate differing impacts of religious beliefs.

Explore topics (including the Holocaust) further, via a choice of focused study venues, all easily accessible from Central London.

Learn more about our religious studies trips to London here

This exciting destination offers pupils the opportunity to explore a range of science themes at a number of intriguing visits and hands-on workshops, whilst also enjoying a big city experience.

We’ll tailor-make your science school trip to London to suit your group’s specific learning requirements to include the best visits and attractions at great value for money learning outcomes.

Learn more about our science trips to London here

Sustainability

London plays host to a number of sustainability based visits which highlight the importance of protecting and preserving our environment, whilst also having links to the geography curriculum.

Learn more about our Sustainability trip to London here.

Experience the excitement of London with our 90 second video

London trip highlights – our groups love....

The city of London provides a chance for you to combine sightseeing with historical sites that offer rich educational benefits. Here’s what to expect from our London trip highlights. 

Lastminute.com London Eye / Formerly the Coca-Cola London Eye

Arguably the UK’s most famous landmark, the London Eye offers stunning aerial views of the city’s vast landscape. Sat on the banks of the River Thames, you’ll be able to see London’s symbolic landmarks, with views that span up to 30 miles on a clear day. On a school trip in London, you can catch a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and The Shard and admire the dazzling sunset, or opt for an evening visit and experience views of the twinkling capital from up on high. 

Your history students will simply love the offerings provided at the famous Natural History Museum. Embark on a journey through our extraordinary planet’s 4.6 billion-year history. Explore the world of the dinosaurs, travel through time and discover the evolution of the planet or be amazed by the earthquake simulator in the museum’s Red Zone. Quite simply, your students will take so much from their visit, and engagement in your history lessons will be transformed! 

Help to develop pupils’ understanding of the nature of authority and attitudes to crime and punishment in the early modern period on a Tower of London school trip . This is an ideal opportunity for a more in-depth study of Guy Fawkes and his attempt to destroy the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

The Imperial War Museum is a venue that is a synonymous venue that symbolises the history of war conflict. Your students will discover the surreal experiences of those who lived through the First World War, right up to the modern day, with a look at the continuing influence of war on our world. 

If arts and culture are at the centre of your London school trip, then a visit to the iconic West End is simply a must! This educational trip allows students to take in a show at one of the dazzling theatres, or why not explore a workshop that helps your students pull back the curtain on the creative genius of West End professionals? 

Browse our range of school theatre trips to London. 

Explore the Thames with a river cruise that takes in all the wonderful venues that line the river bank. Get up close and personal with Westminster Abbey and cruise past the London Eye. With a range of different river cruises available, unwind and relax as your tour guide educated your students on the historical significance of the river. 

Inject a little magic into your London school trip with a visit to the Warner Bros Studios. Discover the wizarding world of Harry Potter, with an in-depth look at the artistic creativity that helped make the Harry Potter franchise a global phenomenon.  With dedicated sections to the visual effects, props, sets, and costumes amongst much more, art and media students will simply love their time here. 

British Museum

Embark on an exhilarating journey exploring culture and history with a London school trip to the iconic British Museum. This symbolic attraction is home to an estimated eight million pieces, spanning thousands of years of global history. It helps students to build a deeper understanding of significant periods that have helped shape culture and history. Students will love the immersive and interactive learning experiences on offer as you navigate your way through the different exhibitions. 

They’ll learn about the wonders of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, amongst much more! The Museum caters for school group visits, so you can tailor your visit to extract the most educational value suited to your learning objectives. A school trip to the British Museum provides inspiration, learning enrichment and broadens the perspectives of any student lucky enough to explore this majestic venue. It will enhance your students’ appetite for learning and redefine both their and your approach to classroom-based learning! 

Embrace the allure of the natural world with a magical school trip to London Zoo. Situated in the heart of Regent’s Park, this conservation zoo allows students to engage with diverse habitats and awe-inspiring animals that amaze and captivate in equal measure.

Standout attractions include the Students can transport themselves deep into the South American archipelagos and discover the surreal experience of the giant Galápagos tortoises. Marvel at the three species of mischievous monkeys who frolic and swing between the trees, or take a deep sea dive into oceanic life and discover more about the wonders of the ocean. 

National Maritime Museum 

Located in Greenwich, the vividity of the National Maritime Museum will capture the attention of students across a diverse range of subjects. The centrepiece of this exceptional piece of architecture is The Great Map, where you can make your way through the hallowed halls of this stunning attraction.

Explore celestial navigation to observe the grandeur of the stars and outer galaxies, indulge in classic pieces of art from yesteryear and solve the mystery behind Nelson’s ship HMS Victory located inside a giant glass bottle. With dedicated school group visits too, you can make the most of the many inspiring workshops and learning programmes on offer to make your visit an unforgettable one for all.

The London Dungeon 

Combine history and horror with a nerve-shredding visit to the infamous London Dungeon. Delve deep into the dark with a journey through this spine-tingling exhibition that will leave your students both chilled and captivated by what they uncover.  With each echoing footstep, the Dungeon unveils its series of theatrical sets that offer a terrifying reconstruction of the city’s past.

You’ll be confronted by actors who recount the horrors of Jack the Ripper in the Whitechapel Labyrinth exhibition, discover the infamy surrounding Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot and step back in time to witness the inferno of the Great Fire of London. A school trip to London Dungeon brings out the depths of the city’s darkest secrets, combing entertainment and education in a way few places can replicate. 

Highlights of London Blue Badge guided coach tour

See the major sights of the city.

West End shows and workshops

Be wowed at the theatre then take a show-related workshop.

Spot famed landmarks and take in the 30-mile panoramic view.

Learn about the many layers of history that have built up along the river.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

The Making of Harry Potter - Go behind-the-scenes.

Science Museum

Awe-inspiring galleries, interactive resources and inspirational exhibitions.

Discover the amazing diversity of life that has evolved on our planet on a school trip to Natural History Museum .

Art galleries

Appreciate works of art, both old and new, at the fantastic galleries on offer in the city.

Help to develop pupils’ understanding on the nature of authority and attitudes to crime and punishment in the early modern period on a Tower of London school trip . An ideal opportunity for a more in-depth study of Guy Fawkes and his attempt to destroy the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

Discover groundbreaking new WWI galleries and more!

London school trip experts

Hundreds of groups travel with NST to London every year, and members of our team regularly visit to London to really get to know the ins-and-outs of the area, from logistics and visits to our range of student-friendly accommodation. Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their knowledge of London to create an itinerary that’s tailor-made, perfectly timed and meets your exact school travel needs. They’ll be able to share their first-hand experience, suggest options you might not have considered and give you insight into the feedback other teachers have given us too.

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...

• Choosing your destination
• Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
• Promoting your tour in school
• Confirming your booking
• Tailor-make your tour
• Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
• Quick reference timeline
• Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:

• Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
• Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
• Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals

You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

FREE school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:

• Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school
• PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
• Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
• Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip

For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour. Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. Our helpful guide covers the following:

View our essential guide to a successful school trip here .

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here .

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you. With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go. Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here .

FREE classroom resources

We've created a range of free resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom! Take a look at our downloadable posters here .

Why choose NST...

Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...

Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated tour co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of London to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

• Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app , FREE classroom posters and trip launch resources to support in-school promotion.

• Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip. 

• FREE group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

• Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

• Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

• More than 50 years’ experience

With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands .

• Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.  

Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded:

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

• 24-hour emergency cover
• Audited accommodation & transport
• Excursions & school visit assessment
• Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

• Private Hire
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• Testimonials

School Trip Coach Hire

Vehicles are available for both day hire, contracts and school trip coach hire in sizes 16 to 53 seats. CCTV is also available for extra security.

Woods have been awarded the highest safety rating of six stars by the BUSK benchmark scheme, you can be sure that your students will be travelling in safety as well as comfort. For more information on BUSK click here . Our BUSK Safety Charter can be viewed here

All drivers are enhanced DBS checked and Woods run a rolling programme of driver training which includes Emergency First Aid and Safeguarding Children.

For a no obligation quotation click here , or ring 01243 871657.

First of all can I say a huge thank you to P and S for all they did for us during the week. Their professionalism is outstanding and they became part of the team for the week. They were quick to react to the problems at Calais and the impending strike which meant we had to cut short the sea life centre but enabled us to get the children home without worry. P sorted out problems with the restaurant in Paris where they were going to charge us more. Some drivers would just take a back seat and not get involved so a big thank you to P. Both drivers are extremely careful smooth drivers which meant we had no travel sickness at all. Thanks guys. LE of a Local Middle School, Worthing, West Sussex

I just thought you would like to know the feedback from the trip leader. She said that the coach driver was very helpful and the comfort of the coach was excellent. Thank you very much. LBS, Teaching Assistant of a Senior Schoo, Stenying, West Sussex

I just wanted to check in to let you know that we had an absolutely brilliant experience on Friday. G was the perfect driver for a really complicated schedule of pick-ups and drop-offs and he was cheerful and pleasant throughout the day. It was a real pleasure working with Woods Travel - you've been so accommodating to our needs and our overall experience of the company has been excellent. We'll definitely aim to book through you again in the future and will recommend you to colleagues! Organiser for Local University Group, East Sussex

We were very happy with the trip on Tuesday. The four drivers were so professional and polite, and really lovely with the children. We were really impressed! Thank you. Phase Leader of local infant school, West Sussex

Thank you so much for helping us on our visit to Hampton Court Palace yesterday. I really enjoyed seeing where Henry VIII lived with his wives 500 years ago. I learned he chopped off hands when you dropped your sword. My group saw the amazing patterned gardens that were zigzagging the grounds. The gardeners done a great job! Learning about Hampton Court was an exciting part of Tudor topic at school and we had a great day out. Thanks again because it would not have been possible without your help. RB, pupil at local primary school, Rustington, West Sussex

We had the pleasure of L as our coach driver to Winter Wonderland last Wednesday. Please pass our sincere thanks to him - he was fantastic! He was such fun and so kind to the students and they have all requested he is always their driver. Thank you all once again for such great service. LG, Group Organiser at Chichester College, West Sussex

I would like to thank Woods once again for providing us with such an excellent transport service for our school journey to Bournemouth. G and R are highly competent drivers; they are also friendly, helpful and dependable and contributed to the overall success of the trip. During the week they became an integral part of the staff team and for this we are extremely grateful. Please pass on our thanks to them both. SB, Deputy Head Teacher of a Primary School, London

Mrs G who lead the visit yesterday has asked me pass onto you her thanks for the lovely coach driver they had yesterday for the visit. He was very helpful. The day went really well and the children had a great time. W, Secretary of a Bognor Regis School, West Sussex

I am writing to say a huge thank you to G and C our coach drivers on our school journey. Without their fantastic transportation, the week could not have gone on. All our journeys were smooth and fun due to their generous agreement to let the teachers use the microphone on board the coach for announcement and songs and their toleration of our (sometimes) almost deafening chat. Thanks to them our journeys were safe and enjoyable. We hope the future Year Sixes are treated to this amazing coach service. A Year 6 Student from a Primary School, London

Our Sixth Form have just returned from an exhibition in Brighton today courtesy of Woods Travel. Please pass on our thanks to P, our driver, who was brilliant: friendly, professional and punctual. His coach was clean and comfortable, making the trip a smooth and easy one for us. Kind regards. LB, Sixth Form Co-ordinator, local secondary school, West Sussex

Further to our telephone conversation this morning I would like to put in writing our thanks and appreciation for your Driver, G, who took our year 6 pupils to London to see "Wicked". Our Head of Year 6 was so impressed with his knowledge and his attitude towards the children and staff, she wanted me to pass on her thanks and she has said that if we go on another trip she will be putting in a request for G to be our driver, as he made the journey fun and interesting for all the staff and pupils. CW, from a School in Worthing, West Sussex

Firstly I wanted to say how fantastic T, our driver, was yesterday. We had a lovely trip to the theatre, he was an excellent driver and looked after us so well. What a lovely man. CR of local theatre school, West Sussex

I would just like to email to say thank you for the lovely customer service, from the booking to the punctuality of the coach and the high standard of driving. All in all using Woods travel has been a lovely experience. Thank you. AF, contact at local school, Chichester, West Sussex

You took our Year 5 children to the Science Centre in Winchester. On their return to school the class teacher asked me to let you know how excellent their driver T had been. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He spoke to the children in a friendly and helpful way and made their journey a very pleasant experience. We would be grateful if you could pass our comments and thanks onto T. Secretery of a local school, West Sussex

The Coach Driver, G, on our Cissbury Ring trip was lovely, never had such a nice, fun and happy driver. Thank you. JW of a Local School in West Sussex

Just a note to say thank-you again for your excellent service. Everything went seamlessly and T was a perfect driver. We are hoping to do a tour next year to Cornwall and one to York and will be doing a trip to Dixter again next October. Thank you for all of your help, it's always a pleasure dealing with you and your firm. OM, Group Organiser from Ireland

I would like to thank Woods once again for providing us with such an excellent service for our school journey to Bournemouth this year. G and M are wonderful drivers, calm and steady; they are also friendly, helpful and dependable and undoubtedly contribute to the overall success of the trip. Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to them both and many thanks again to everyone at Woods. Head of School, London Primary School

Your lovely driver M drove myself and my class from the Primary School to Fishers Farm today. All the adults on-board the coach commented to me what a lovely professional coach driver he was. He was friendly, professional, personable and great with the children! Thank you for a great service! VL, Class Teacher of a Primary School, Arundel, West Sussex

Our Headteacher would like to send a special thank you to the Coach drivers who took us to the O2 Arena on Thursday 18th January. She said.... They were friendly, kind and accommodating - such a pleasant journey with them! They ensured the journey was direct and took the best routes - no winding roads or extended routes! They most definitely made the day run so smoothly for our staff and a special day full of lovely memories was had by us all. TT of Local Junior School, Emsworth, Hants

Could you please pass on our thanks and gratitude both to T (V&A) last Wednesday and the coach driver from last Friday’s trip. T was lovely so accommodating and pleasant and made the whole trip run like clockwork. The driver form Friday’s nightmare trip again was extremely thoughtful in stopping at services which I know both the lectures and students really appreciated especially as he was driving for such a long time. S from a local College, West Sussex

I just wanted to write to tell you how well your driver, R, handled the adverse weather conditions on our return journey from the O2 yesterday. It was not an easy journey back through the snow but he got the children back safe and sound. The teachers appreciated his help on the return to school while waiting for parents to collect as it was freezing! WT, Secretary of Local Primary School, Bognor Regis

Dear Woods Travel, I just wanted to take the time to thank you on behalf of our school. I have nothing but positive feedback about all the drivers and I know you have gone the extra mile to secure us all the vehicles needed to make our day such a success. Please pass on thanks to the whole team. CS, Assistant Principal of a Local School, Bognor Regis

Thank you to everyone at Woods, especially our driver for ensuring the smooth travel of the Summer School in Sussex this year. We really appreciated that you were able to accommodate the late change to our programme. Once this tour has ended, we are in Norfolk now, I will be in touch to make a reservation for travel with you in 2024. Many thanks. ZS, organiser of Summer School

Please could you pass my thanks on to J in your transport department, and the coach driver who came to rescue our children from the car park at Goodwood on Tuesday. I was very grateful for the time J took trying to problem solve and the solution he found. Fortunately, the 55-seater replacement coach arrived just minutes after the Woods driver came (who very kindly shared his jaffa cake biscuits!). Many thanks again. SN, Deputy Head Teacher of local Infant School, Worthing

I just wanted to say that C is an absolute star – a credit to Woods. Polite, friendly and very helpful. Thank you for sending him! KS, International Social Programme Co-ordinator for an International School

I just wanted to say how wonderful G was! The staff and children cannot speak highly enough to him. Very kind and calming and seemed to generally enjoy being on the trip, our number one! Can I also pencil you in for next year (with G would be great!) Best wishes S.H of a London School

Just a little message to say a HUGE thank you for the lovely two drivers who took us to Littlehampton Beach. Our teachers said that they were both so lovely and really went above and beyond. Office Manager of local primary school, Chichester

I just wanted to send a quick email to thank you for saving the day today for our school! There was a misunderstanding on our part with regards to a booking which then left us without a coach to take us to the Arundel Wetlands Centre today. The day could have been a complete disaster but you were very quick to respond and got a coach to us in a few minutes. This really saved the day and we cannot thank you enough. The driver was polite and professional and the driver who collected us from the Wetlands at the end of the day was very nice and friendly. You really did save the day! Please pass on my thanks to the team and the drivers who stepped in to help today. We really appreciate it and cannot thank you enough. AM, Teacher at local primary school, Littlehampton, W Sussex

We just wanted to say thank you very much for providing transport for our visit to the Saatchi Gallery on Tuesday. Our staff and pupils would like to say a big thank you to your driver, J, for providing an excellent service throughout the day. Her driving was excellent and the staff very much appreciated being kept up to date during the day. The visit ran smoothly and the children and staff had an excellent day. Thank you again. LB of local Primary School, Chichester, West Sussex

I would like to thank Woods once again for providing us with such an excellent transport service for our school journey to Bournemouth. G. & K. are highly competent drivers - I don't know how they reverse the coaches into the hotel car park - but they do! They are also incredibly friendly, helpful and dependable and contribute to the overall success of the trip, please pass on my thanks. I would like to give a special mention to G. who has driven us every year for the past 9 years; we have become very attached to him, he is a fantastic driver, we love his sense of humour and our trip wouldn't be the same without him. He is a tremendous asset to the company, thank you G.! We would like to book our school journey with Woods next year requesting G. and K. as our drivers. Many thanks again to everyone at Woods. Deputy Headteacher, London Primary School

I just wanted to express our gratitude to Woods and our two fabulous drivers yesterday. Such an efficient, friendly and helpful service that we really appreciated! Please pass on our upmost thanks from the Travel and Tourism Team. Warm regards. Deputy Department Head of Local College, W Sussex

Thanks for your excellent service this July. Please pass on my regards to your drivers and thank them for their hard work, professionalism and friendly manner. I hope you all enjoy the rest of summer! PF of local language school, Chichester, W Sussex

For the last 10 years Woods have been taking us on our school journey to Bournemouth, and your driver, G, has driven us every single year - what a feat! I would like to thank Woods once again for providing us with such an excellent service. Your driver knows our schedule very well and, as party leader, it is incredibly reassuring to have someone so friendly, helpful and dependable - it really facilitates the organisation and smooth running of the trip. We would like to book our school journey with Woods again next year. Many thanks again to everyone at Woods. SB, Deputy Head Teacher of London Primary School

I just wanted to email to say a huge thanks for sending a lovely driver and a beautifully clean coach yesterday for our Year 1 trip to the Look & Sea Centre, it was much appreciated. School Secretary, Local Primary School, West Sussex

I just thought you would like to know the feedback from the trip leader. She said that the coach driver was very helpful and the comfort of the coach was excellent. Thank you very much LBS, Teaching Assistant and Trip Organiser of a Local Senior School

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Coach Hire for School Trips

Safe and Reliable Coach Hire for Schools

Here at Coachfinder   we’re experts in large group travel   and have years of experience organising school trips all over the UK.

We understand that learning outside of the school gates can really help your pupil’s development within the classroom; so we have worked hard to bring you some fantastic school trips and safe and reliable coach hire which will fuel their imagination and meet all your key stage learning requirements.

Benefits of School Coach Hire

School trips may be the highlight of the year for students but for educators it can cause a bit of a headache, especially when it comes to the travel aspect, but we're here to help! Dusty old buses are a thing of the past when you step on board a safe, economical and reliable executive coach provided by Coachfinder.

School coach hire has never been better; with access to fully audited coach operators and DBS checked drivers, you can be safe in the knowledge that you will receive not only the   best value coach hire   to fit within your school budget, but also a service that has both you and your classes’ safety at the top of the priority list.

School Trip Ideas and Inspiration

From journeys through time at the famous London Dungeons, to underwater biological explorations at SEA Life, school trips don’t have to be boring! Why not have an educational tour at   LEGOLAND Windsor Resort   where you can speak to on-site engineers or visit Chester Zoo for learning experiences like no other.

Whether you’re a primary school, secondary school or higher education looking for a day trip we’d recommend a   theme park   for an educational trip your students won’t forget in a hurry. Or if you already have a destination in mind, fill in the quote form and start your journey to unforgettable school coach hire today!

Start your journey to unforgettable school trips today

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Passenger descriptions

Our passenger descriptions are designed to help you choose the right ticket for yourself or your fellow travellers.

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged 2+. Adults under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel alone on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over or they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Infants 0-1 Inclusive

Children aged under the age of 2, must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied children will not be carried.

Highway Coaches

Our constant pursuit of excellence and customer satisfaction has helped us build a reputation!

Welcome to Highway Coaches

We have been in the coach business for approximately 20 years establishing our current company eight years ago. Although we have recently expanded and updated our fleet, we still primarily remain a family run business meaning we can offer our customers a more personal service. We are based in West London approximately three miles from Heathrow airport.

Our constant pursuit of excellence and customer satisfaction has helped us build a reputation for reliability, honesty and courtesy. Our vehicles are all fully equipped with reclining seats with armrests, air conditioning, video, DVD players and PA systems. All vehicles are fitted with seat belts as standard. All vehicles are maintained at our own workshop facilities by a team of highly trained and experienced mechanics. All of our vehicles are designated as no smoking.

We have a range of vehicles ranging from 29 seats to 75 seats.

Our drivers are experienced, courteous professionals and are smartly turned out in distinctive uniforms. They are all DBS qualified.

We cover all aspects of work including daily service runs, school runs, all types of tours and excursions both national and European, airport transfers (we are currently sub-contracted at London Heathrow for hotel transfers), all corporate/executive functions and all types of private hire.

We pride ourselves on supplying our high standards of service and the quality of the vehicles we provide, carrying passengers of all ages throughout the UK.

Our Coaches

Our Services

Call Us: 020 8572 3535 Email Us: [email protected]

Private hire coaches.

Private Hire Interiors

School Coaches

Coaches and Minibuses

Airport Transfers, Breaks, Business Trips, Coach Tours, College Trips, Concert Trips, Continental Tours, Day Trips, Excursions, Football Trips, Golf Trips, Hen Nights, Private Parties, Race Meetings, School Runs, School Trips, Seaport Runs, Shopping Trips, Sightseeing Tours, Sporting Events, Sports Trips, Stag Nights, Theatre Trips, Tours.

Bus & Coach Facilities

29 – 51 Seaters, Disabled Access, Private & Contract Hire, Luxury and Executive. We also have 29 seaters, 33 seaters, 52 seaters, 55 seaters and 75 seaters people carrier. Air Conditioned Coaches, Fridge Facilities, Lift Facilities, Toilet Facilities, Uniformed Drivers, Video Facilities, Reclining seat belted seats with foot & arm rests

Types of Bus & Coach

Buses, Coaches, Double Deckers, Executive Coaches

Our coaches are of executive specification with additional facilities designed to make your journey as comfortable as possible. These include TV, video, p.a. system, hot drink machine and toilet/washroom. Our coaches are maintained to the highest level in our own commercial workshop by highly qualified commercial technicians.

Our coaches and drivers operate legally, well within strict guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Transport, especially where the safety of children is concerned, i.e. seat belts must be fitted and serviceable, of which these are part of our daily checks.

Provides an efficient, friendly service, from your initial enquiry with our administration team to our highly experienced and courteous drivers. We specialise in all areas of coach hire. Vast experience of corporate requirements for many blue-chip companies.

School contracts in the London area, and very reasonable rates for day trips and excursions.

Private Hire

Day trips, nightclub trips, weddings, sports venues – you name it, we can supply the coach!

If you require further information on any of our services, please do not hesitate to CONTACT US

Continental Tours

All our coaches are of executive specification with additional facilities designed to make your journey as comfortable as possible. These include TV, video, P.A system, hot drinks machine and toilet/washroom. Our coaches are maintained to the highest levels by our own commercial technicians. We pride ourselves in offering a quality service at very competitive rates.

Get A Quote

Transport requirements.

• Date of hire *
• Time 00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30
• Date of return *
• Return Pick Up Time 00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30
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• Destination Address *
• Passengers * 1-19 20-25 26-49 50-53 54-57 58-100 100-150 150-200 200-250 250+
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TRAVEL LONDON COACHES

Whether you’re organising a day trip or an evening Out in London or home- counties, We can guarantee travel in style & comfort at reasonable price.

Licensed by the Department of Transport and Public Carriage Office, We provide Transport for a comprehensive range of clientele, ranging from school trips to events of national interest.

We care about our customers, who all carry the same importance for us, whatever the size of their business. We ensure that we provide a service which is Safe, Legal and Cost Effective, whilst we commit to Quality, Continuous Improvement and Constant Growth.

We provide account facilities for most companies with itemised invoices issued monthly.

MINIBUSES AND COACHES

Ideal for small group travel, these caoches accomodate groups of up to 16 people, whilst also providing ample room for luggage.

A medium and comfortable coach accomodating up to 24 people.

A medium and comfortable coach accomodating up to 34 people.

Seating up to 49 people, Tourismo is designed for larger groups. The extensive range of online facilities, makes it an ideal coach for longer journies.

Why we are different

Our luxury fleet is equipped with all the latest creature comforts to make your journey as comfortable as possible including storage compartments, tables, fridges, media connectivity and power points to keep you fully charged

Our Services

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Organizing a trip to a West End show?

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Affordable Coach Hire Prices for your School Trips

Book your school transport with berrys.

If your looking to organise a day coach trip for your school kids then Berrys coaches can help. From educational days out to a museum to special trips abroad, we can accomodate all your school trip needs.

Provide as much information as you can through the form below

One of our dedicated organisers with be in touch with you to arrange final details

We’ll provide you with the best price for your party

Get a quick quote today

Please call us on  01823 331356  during office hours to discuss your requirements.

Our office hours are: Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday and Bank Holidays: 9:00am-12pm Sunday: Closed

Alternatively, please complete the contact form below.

Things to consider before you book your coach hire…

Hire duration.

Hire costs are based on duration…

Additional drivers

Longer hires may need more than one driver…

Inbetweener discounts

You may qualify for a discounted price during inbetweener time periods…

Inclusive mileage

Distance makes a difference, look at how you could reduce your costs…

Passenger numbers

The number of passengers will affect the size of vehicle you require…

Vehicle stayover

Prices may vary if a vehicle needs to stay with your party for the entire hire time…

As an approved DVSA Authorised Testing Facility (ATF), we maintain our fleet to the highest industry standards.

A wide range of vehicles to meet your requirements for UK and European Tours.

From the moment you fill in the form to the end of your trip, our team will handle it all for you.

Have another event planned?

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Our Drivers

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Johnsons Coaches have an enviable reputation working with and supplying coaches for a range of education facilities across the Midlands and nationwide. Our highly trained drivers , large modern fleet of coaches , and high operational standards make Johnsons the perfect choice for school coach hire in Birmingham, and the Midlands.

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First-year coaches look to continue winning ways in familiar places

Moments after Milton’s 10-2 comeback win over Bay State Conference rival Wellesley Monday afternoon, a roar went up from the Wildcats’ huddle in shallow left field.

Not only was it their first win of the year, and a resilient one at that, it was the first victory for first-year coach Greg Lannon .

Lannon is one of three new coaches for teams coming off deep runs in the state tournament — along with Casey Cummins at St. John’s (Shrewsbury) and Jon Dunn at Medfield. All three are at their alma maters.

After stepping in for Brendan Morrissey (who departed for Milton Academy), Lannon is tasked with continuing the recent success at 11th-ranked Milton (2-1), punctuated by back-to-back Division 2 titles . Fortunately, he was on the bench for both those runs.

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“I learned so much in all my years here, but especially the last two,” Lannon said. “How to handle the team and handle pressure situations, and I think that’s helped me immensely.

As the junior varsity coach and a varsity assistant the past five years, Lannon knows his relationships with the players will show through since he’s worked with most of the roster. The Wildcats return key juniors Scott Longo , who has committed to Northeastern, and Harry Hinckle .

“It wasn’t a seamless transition per se: it’s a different voice, but I think having some continuity for them really helped,” Lannon said.

In the opposing dugout Monday was Wellesley first-year coach Ted Novio , stepping in following the departure of longtime coach Rob Kane . He is well versed in the Bay State Conference after starring at Braintree (and later the University of Maine).

At No. 4 St. John’s (2-1), Cummins took over for longtime coach Charlie Eppinger , who retired. It’s a full-circle moment for the former Pioneer — after graduating St. John’s in 2008, he joined Eppinger’s staff as an assistant. After not making the varsity team at Merrimack, Eppinger was his first call.

“I knew my playing career at some point, whenever that would be, would end, and I already had an interest in coaching,” Cummins said. “The day I didn’t make the team at Merrimack, I was like, ‘Alright, now coaching has started.’”

After stops across the state — Nichols College, the Worcester Bravehearts of the Futures League, the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Bourne Braves, and Sutton High last year — Cummins returned to St. John’s hoping to join Eppinger’s staff. Instead, he was handed the keys.

“Coming back to St. John’s was always the goal,” Cummins said. “I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity and to realize that it doesn’t come around very often. I truly appreciate the tradition of the program and the weight of the job.”

The Pioneers’ strength is in their pitching. Seniors Noah Basgaard (Stonehill) and Brady Shea (Salve Regina) lead the way for a squad hoping to push past the semifinals, where they were stopped last year by Taunton.

At Medfield, where the Warriors have finished as runners-up in Division 3 two of the last three seasons, Dunn takes the reins from Dave Worthley , who retired.

Dunn, who played collegiately at James Madison, graduated from Medfield in 1994. He spent a few years as an assistant after he returned to the school to teach math, but after taking time off to coach his three children through youth baseball, Dunn is back on the field he used to play on.

“Watching the success that they’ve had, I feel honored to continue that path and be a part of future success,” Dunn said. “It means a lot to wear the Medfield hat and be a part of the Warrior baseball program.”

The Warriors (0-2) graduated 10 seniors from a squad that fell to Oakmont in the state final. But Dunn sees promise in the returning core up the middle, anchored by senior Jack Iovino (Merrimack) in center field. They have a young team, but that’s fine with Dunn.

“I’ve been involved in the game at different levels, so being able to use the experiences that I’ve had and work with young kids to teach them some of the things I wish I had known in high school, that’s exciting to me,” Dunn said. “That’s the one thing that drew me back in, was just being able to work with the kids.”

Extra bases

▪ It was a memorable Wednesday afternoon for the Bushley family when BC High and Catholic Memorial met in a Catholic Conference matchup in West Roxbury. BC High senior righthander Charlie Bushley pitched to his younger brother, sophomore catcher Sam Bushley.

But here’s the twist. Adam Bushley, Sam’s twin, plays left field for CM. So on two occasions, Charlie pitched to Sam with Adam at the plate. In the first at-bat, Charlie struck out Adam on three fastballs. But in the second at-bat, Charlie plunked Adam in the head (by accident), which will surely be a topic of discussion at their Cohasset home.

▪ No. 14 Hanover received a pair of standout pitching performances from Owen Kennedy and Gabe Knudsen to open the season. A senior righthander, Kennedy fired a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Plymouth South before Knudsen, a Globe All-Star last spring as a junior, fanned 14 over six two-hit innings in Wednesday’s 6-1 win over No. 8 Plymouth North . . . Two-time Division 1 runner-up Franklin has lost six regular-season games the last two seasons. The Panthers started 1-2, but got back on track Wednesday with a 6-2 win at top-ranked Taunton. Jake Shaughnessy pitched 6⅔ innings of two-run ball to earn the win and Rex Cinelli slapped two hits and scored a run . . . . Dover-Sherborn’s Brian Olson and Wellesley’s Luke Miele each hit three home runs Wednesday . . . North Andover righthander Cole Mullen threw six no-hit innings Wednesday as the Scarlet Knights topped Westford, 2-0, to grab for a key nonleague win.

Games to watch

Saturday, No. 2 BC High at No. 1 Taunton, 1 p.m . — The top two teams in the Globe’s Top 20 square off for an early-season showdown. Taunton won the last matchup, 3-2, in the D1 quarterfinals in June.

Tuesday and Thursday, Brad Martin Tournamant, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m . — Host Plymouth North and Division 1 contender Bridgewater-Raynham headline the field. They could meet in Thursday’s championship if both survive semifinal matchups against Dartmouth (B-R) and Silver Lake (PN).

Tuesday and Thursday, Sully Tournament, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. — This tournament at Adams Field in Quincy features Milton, Foxborough, North Quincy, and Quincy. Two-time reigning Division 2 champion Milton won the title last spring.

Wednesday, Catholic Memorial at No. 5 Franklin, 11 a.m . — CM ace Brett Mulligan is one of the state’s top pitchers, and could face Panthers lefty Austin Campbell for a phenomenal pitching duel.

Wednesday, No. 19 Walpole at No. 18 King Philip, 3:45 p.m. — Two of the best teams from the Bay State Conference and Hockomock League meet for an intriguing nonleague tilt.

Correspondent Matt Doherty contributed to this story.

Kentucky hires BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s…

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Kentucky hires BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach to replace John Calipari

FILE – BYU head coach Mark Pope talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCF Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Kentucky has hired BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach, bringing home a member of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team to succeed John Calipari. The school announced Pope’s hiring in a release Friday morning, April 12, but did not mention any contract details. The 51-year-old Pope will be introduced at a later date, the release said. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

FILE – BYU head coach Mark Pope talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Kentucky has hired BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach, bringing home a member of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team to succeed John Calipari. The school announced Pope’s hiring in a release Friday morning, April 12, but did not mention any contract details. The 51-year-old Pope will be introduced at a later date, the release said. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

FILE – BYU coach Mark Pope speaks during the Big 12 men’s college basketball media day Oct. 18, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Pope was negotiating with Kentucky to succeed John Calipari, multiple outlets reported Thursday night, April 11. Pope, who played for Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team, was close to finalizing a deal, CBS Sports reported, citing anonymous sources. ESPN, also citing anonymous sources, also reported that an an agreement with Pope was expected. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

By GARY B. GRAVES (AP Sports Writer)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Initially off the radar among Kentucky’s coaching targets, Mark Pope is now entrusted with maintaining the program’s gold standard.

Makes sense, since he helped do so as a player.

Kentucky hired the BYU coach to guide its men’s basketball program, bringing home a captain of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team to succeed John Calipari.

The school announced the 51-year-old Pope’s hiring in a release Friday morning but did not mention any contract details. He will be introduced at a Sunday afternoon news conference at Rupp Arena.

Pope replaces Calipari, a Hall of Famer who took Kentucky to its eighth NCAA title in 2012 among four Final Four appearances in 15 years. Kentucky hasn’t returned there since going 38-1 in 2015. Calipari stepped down on Tuesday and was introduced as Arkansas coach the next day.

Pope was 110-52 in five seasons with the Cougars and went 23-11 in their first season in the Big 12 Conference. BYU is also coming off a second NCAA Tournament appearance in four years under Pope.

He was 77-56 before that in four seasons at Utah Valley and guided the Wolverines to consecutive runner-up finishes in the Western Athletic Conference his final two years. They reached the CBI quarterfinals both times.

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart cited Pope’s impressive 187-108 career record as a head coach and keen knowledge of the program’s meaning to the state. The AD also praised Pope’s “dynamic” up-tempo offense and tough defense and called him an innovator.

“He is a strong recruiter with international ties and a person of integrity,” Barnhart said. “He fully embraces our high expectations and standards and I know that as our fans get reacquainted with Mark, they will be eager to join him on what promises to be an exciting ride.”

Pope said he understands the expectations of taking over college basketball’s winningest program and the high expectations that come with it.

“It’s the definition of blueblood program where hanging a banner is the expectation ever year,” Pope said. “Equally as important, UK changed my life forever as a human being. The love and passion I have for this program, this University and the people of the Commonwealth goes to the depth of my soul.”

Pope’s hiring is highly surprising considering the higher-profile coaches mentioned as Kentucky’s top candidates. But Baylor’s Scott Drew and UConn’s Dan Hurley, both of whom have led schools to NCAA titles, turned down offers on Thursday. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, a Kentucky assistant on that championship team before guiding Florida to consecutive NCAA titles, restated his commitment to the NBA club.

Pope faces his biggest task in returning his alma mater to national title contention after two first-round exits the past three seasons under Calipari. Kentucky’s last deep NCAA Tournament came in 2019, when the team lost to SEC rival Auburn in the Elite Eight.

Saint John’s coach Rick Pitino, a Hall of Famer who led Kentucky back from NCAA sanctions to that 1996 title, believes the school found the right candidate, saying Pope “will go on to greatness.”

“You have one of the premier young coaches in the game. Relish it because he will do you proud,” Pitino said in a video posted to social media . “I know I sit here today in Saint John’s and I couldn’t be any more proud than to see Mark Pope lead the Kentucky Wildcats to another championship. He’ll get it done. He’s got the right stock.”

Pope’s initial mission is rebuilding a roster that has already lost guard Rob Dillingham and 7-foot-1 Aaron Bradshaw to the NBA draft and Adou Thiero to the transfer portal. Several other players appear likely to follow Calipari to Arkansas, while several All-American signees have re-opened their commitments.

However it settles for Kentucky, Pope’s offensive philosophy mirrors the high-octane approach that helped the Wildcats rank second nationally at 89 points per game last season.

BYU wasn’t far behind, averaging 81.4 points to lead the Big 12 and rank 22nd nationally . The Cougars were third with 11.1 made 3-pointers and 18.5 assists, and sixth with a 1.73 assist-to-turnover ratio. They ranked as high as 12th in the AP Top 25 on Jan. 1 after going 12-1 in nonconference action and winning the Vegas Showdown.

Defensively, BYU tied for 104th of 351 Division I teams at nearly 70 points allowed per game and ranked 26th with 39.5 rebounds.

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe thanked Pope in a post on X and said he “left the program in a position of strength moving forward.”

As a player, Pope led Kentucky with 6.3 rebounds per game during the 1994-95 season and was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Tournament team along with MVP Antoine Walker.

Pope played in the NBA from 1998-2005 with the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets.

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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High School Sports | Friday preps spotlight: Longtime Pioneer…

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High school sports | google to stop showing links to california news reports, high school sports, subscriber only, high school sports | friday preps spotlight: longtime pioneer basketball coach leaving for college job, joe berticevich to lead de anza college program. pinewood basketball coach doc scheppler pumped about trip to masters. granada has a new football coach. pittsburg, heritage set for baseball clash..

Welcome to Friday Preps Spotlight, our new feature that sheds more light on the Bay Area’s high school sports scene. For tips and story ideas, email  [email protected] . If you haven’t already,  please subscribe . Your contributions keep us going.

BASKETBALL: PIONEER COACH LEAVING FOR DE ANZA COLLEGE

After 27 years as Pioneer’s boys basketball coach, Joe Berticevich will have a change of scenery next season.

No, he isn’t leaving his day job.

He will continue to teach at the San Jose high school. But Berticevich, 52, will also spend part of his day driving up Hwy. 85 to De Anza College, where he has been named the fifth men’s basketball coach in the 57-year history of the Cupertino school.

“I’ve always liked De Anza,” Berticevich said. “I am looking forward to get going.”

When Berticevich says he is starting from scratch, he means he is starting from scratch.

Because the program was temporarily suspended last season to undergo what the school website called “some changes,” there are zero returning players.

Berticevich will have a clean canvas from which to build a program that Jason Damjanovic led for 17 years before officially stepping down in August.

The team had an interim coach in 2022-23.

“It’s kind of unique,” Berticevich said. “With the spring basketball class, you have your returning basketball players. I don’t have any, so I am working on it. Hopefully by a couple of weeks I’ll have some guys to coach.”

Berticevich, a 1989 Prospect High graduate, was a guard at West Valley College in the early 1990s.

He went on to coach the frosh-soph team and assist with the varsity at Los Gatos before taking over the varsity program at Pioneer more than a quarter century ago.

Berticevich also will step down as Pioneer’s athletic director, a position he has held for 14 years.

Tough decisions, yes, but the opportunity for a new challenge has put some bounces in Berticevich’s step.

“It’s going to be weird seeing someone else on the sidelines,” Berticevich said about Pioneer. “We have a good group of kids coming back. The program’s in a great place. Whoever takes it over is going to have a great group of kids to coach.”

“Obviously I played at that (college) level and really like this level,” Berticevich added. “From afar, I’ve had opportunities to coach at this level and I have turned ‘em down just because I know the time commitment and what it takes. I had two young kids. But now they’re out of school. I have more time and this came up. It was a part-time position, so I could stay at Pioneer and teach my load there and leave in the afternoon.

“The big piece is the recruiting piece, You get to recruit players and build your team from that. I’ve never done that before and my time is running out on that.”

Berticevich still hopes to help coach Pioneer’s girls flag football team in the fall. He was the head coach last season — the program’s first — but would have to be an assistant in Year 2.

“I am hopefully going to still call the plays because the games are at 7 at night,” Berticevich said. “I think it’s great. You’re going to see a lot more teams.”

– Darren Sabedra

BASKETBALL: DOC VISITS THE MASTERS

Doc Scheppler’s voice rose in pitch as he excitedly explained the intricacies of a sport.

No, the longtime Pinewood girls basketball coach wasn’t breaking down his specialty – the science of long-range shooting.

He was describing his trip to Augusta to watch the Masters tournament this weekend. Scheppler made it clear he was going as a fan on what he called a “guy’s trip” with his five former basketball teammates and friends of almost 60 years.

“So I tell my players, look around the room here,” Scheppler said. “You’re going to know each other’s significant others, kids and grandkids. That’s what sports are supposed to be about.”

Scheppler will relish each and every detail as he walks the course and said going to the Masters is a “bucket list item” for the diehard fan.

“You know the par-5s are 13 and 15, and you know 12 and 16 are the par-3s over the creek,” the longtime coach said. “You know the finishing hole. You know everything about it. It’s the Wimbledon of golf. It’s the NBA Finals. It’s going to be so much fun going there with my high school buddies.”

He’s hoping to see Rory McIlroy win his first Masters.

“I get very sentimental, oh I’m about to tear up now, when a guy who has never won the Masters puts on that green jacket,” Scheppler said. “It’s their dream to win this tournament, and when they put on the jacket, they talk with such emotion.”

– Joseph Dycus

FOOTBALL: GRANADA HIRES NEW FOOTBALL COACH

The Brandon Black era has begun at Granada.

The longtime Dublin head coach was hired to lead Granada after the Livermore school parted ways with Marc Moses in February.

“I live in the community, my family’s here and my kids go to school in Livermore,” Black said. “It was a spot that was always attractive to me and when it opened up, it was a no-brainer for me.”

In five seasons at Dublin, Black was 25-21.

The Gaels had their best season under the coach in 2022 when they finished 6-4 overall and 2-2 and placed second in the East Bay Athletic League’s Valley Division.

Black said he plans to implement some of the philosophies that made his teams successful while also adopting Granada’s tradition of winning the line of scrimmage.

“Having that leverage up front is going to play a big role,” Black said. “There are times we’re going to pound the rock, and we can certainly do that now. But I think our mindset and philosophy is we’re going to be more of a spread team.”

Granada went 7-4, 3-1 last season, losing to Rancho Cotate in the first round of the North Coast Section Division II playoffs.

Black believes he has all the tools he needs to build a championship contender.

“Livermore is a community where kids don’t transfer out often,” he said. “I believe it starts with that type of culture. The relationship piece of this is built with the kids, and if you end up at Granada, we’re going to coach you.”

– Nathan Canilao

BASEBALL: PITTSBURG, HERITAGE SET FOR BIG SERIES

Pittsburg and Heritage will meet in a crucial two-game series next week – Tuesday at Heritage, Thursday at Pittsburg – that could ultimately could decide which team wins the Bay Valley Athletic League championship.

Both are among the Bay Area News Group’s Top 20 and undefeated in league play.

“We’re ready for them,” Pittsburg sophomore JJ Robinson said after a victory over Oakland Tech last week. “We got a fire in our stomach to play them.”

The 11th-ranked Pirates have won eight straight games, which include two wins over third-place Freedom. No. 9 Heritage (12-3-1 overall) beat Antioch twice to start league play.

One of the key matchups will be Heritage pitcher Ryan Williams (0.37 ERA) against a Pittsburg lineup that averages seven runs per game.

“There’s great teams in our league,” Williams said. “ It’s just about coming out playing our best baseball and continuing to keep dominating on the field.”

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: DUBLIN FINDS NEW COACH

Kevin Kramer has been named Dublin’s next girls volleyball coach.

He had previously been a head coach Gavilan College, leading the women’s indoor and beach volleyball teams, and coaches at NorCal Volleyball Club in Livermore.

Kramer said Dublin has the infrastructure for success despite having just two winning seasons since 2018.

“There is a sense that when you wear the Dublin logo on your shirt, you better show up to compete because that’s what the expectation is across the athletic department,” Kramer said. “That is exciting and Dublin has done an amazing job of making sure that their athletes are taken care of.”

WEIGHTLIFTING: PIEDMONT DEADLIFTER BREAKS RECORDS

Piedmont sophomore Layth Haddawy rewrote the California state deadlift records for the 14-15 age group’s 132-pound category last weekend.

At the USPA Spring Break competition in Oakland, Haddawy squatted 280 pounds, bench pressed 206, and deadlifted 371 for a combined total of 857 pounds. His father Chris said each of these marks set a new record.

– Joseph Dycus 

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