As the school holidays are set to get underway, many will be ending the term with a trip
Alton Towers Theme Park in 1992(Image: Mirrorpix)
It doesn’t matter what decade you grew up in or where about on Merseyside you are from – there are so many school trips we remember from childhood that are still staples today. And as the school holidays are set to get underway, many of us will be reminded of the school trips we went on at the end of term.
Whether close to home or even further afield, we all remember the excitement being allowed to wear our own clothes or piling onto a bus to sit by your best friends to get to the destination. A day with no lessons and activities, lunchboxes would be filled with sandwiches and treats.
Years on, so many stories from those days still crop up in conversation. Some school trips may have been more popular depending on the era you grew up in, whilst a number of attractions have changed or are no longer around, the Liverpool ECHO previously reported.
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Here, we take a look at just 13 school trips you’ll likely remember from your childhood in Liverpool. Many are still loved by children today, whereas other destinations have changed or even been confined to history.
This list isn’t intended to be comprehensive and memories span generations of school children in Merseyside and beyond. But you can see how many you remember in our list below.
13. Martin Mere
Pink flamingos at Martin Mere
Martin Mere near Burscough is a vast marsh that was, until it was drained, the largest body of fresh water in England. Formed at the end of the last ice age, it was once a giant lake.
The wetland nature reserve opened to the general public in 1975 and has since hosted countless coachloads of pupils keen to learn more about the wildlife, and particularly birdlife, that live there. There was also the model of giant egg of the now extinct Elephant Bird, which although was of course not native to Burscough, it did go down well with a class full of kids in the ’80s.
One ECHO reader nominating Martin Mere said: “[It] felt like we would visit each year but I used to love seeing all the bugs and birds. Each time we went we would discover something new. Only thing is I now loathe bugs and birds. My son loves to run at a pigeons to make them flap about as it always makes me scream!”
12. Colomendy
Young kids in Colomendy back in 2004(Image: North Wales Live)
For over 70 years, trips to Colomendy were a rite of passage for school pupils across Merseyside. It later became called Kingswood Centre.
Colomendy would promise rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing but to be honest, most will just remember the tuck shop, the scavenger hunt, or being terrified of its resident ghost, Peg Leg. One ECHO reader nominating the North Wales holiday camp in a previous ECHO survey said: “Magical time; lovely wooden dormitories; tuck shop; the cat walk; singing Everly Bros “Dream, dream, dream”, brilliant times.”
Remembering Colomendy in the comments of a Liverpool Echo Facebook post previously, Christine Pryce said: “Fantastic holiday while in junior school, great memories.” Patricia Bowers said: “I have to say Colomendy has to be the best school trip for a lot of Liverpool children.
“I was lucky to organise and accompany Teachers to Colomendy with children from Toxteth for many years. The children had the time of their lives. Staff also but wore out. Best times lovely memories.”
While Jay Deus posted: “Colomendy was by far the best trip to go on in my opinion. Three to five nights away, all the activities, tuck shop etc can’t really remember any other trips I did – only remember Colomendy.”
11. Rhyl Sun Centre and funfair
Rhyl Sun Centre back in 1989(Image: Photo © Ronald Searle (cc-by-sa/2.0))
Everyone remembers the good old days at Rhyl Sun Centre and the exciting slides that used to feel huge as a kid. Back in the eighties and nineties, people would spend hours playing on the famous octopus slide, the monorail cars and in the wave pool.
When it opened back in 1980, the Sun Centre was the largest indoor pool in Europe at the time. In 2013, Rhyl’s most popular attraction was shut down suddenly after the council announced they were pulling the plug and the old water park was bulldozed in 2016.
The much loved Ocean Beach funfair opened in 1954 and remained until it sadly closed in 2007. It was later demolished to make way for the Marina Quay Retail Park.
Despite no longer being around, many people have fond memories of the North Wales attractions. In 2021, Paul Kavanagh said: “Rhyl Sun Centre, remember going loads when I was at school.”
Rach Mina Harker commented: “Rhyl funfair and I wore my new ra-ra skirt. Fond memories of a great fairground that’s now gone.”
10. Chester Zoo
Maxie the pygmy Hippo was one of the favourites of the children who visited Chester Zoo in the 1970s(Image: Mirrorpix)
To this day, Chester Zoo remains a popular and exciting school trip. The most visited zoo in the UK, the zoo has around 20,000 animals on site, from black lemurs and Caribbean flamingos to grey-crowned crane’s and spider monkeys.
Welcoming hundreds of Merseyside school children a year, classes will remember splitting off into groups and being allowed to go the gift shop with their pocket money.
9. Alton Towers
Alton Towers Theme Park in 1992(Image: Mirrorpix)
Thousands of us will have visited Alton Towers over the years and ridden on some legendary rollercoasters. Some of the most famous decommissioned rides include The Corkscrew, The Thunder Looper, The Beast, Alton Mouse and The Black Hole.
But school children today can still enjoy Oblvion, Memesis and the Smiler. Sue Evans said: “Alton Towers every year for end of year trip, few coach loads on a Saturday, great days.”
Pam Crockett said: “Speke Hall. Also Alton Towers, nothing like it is today.” Joanne Gandy said: “Alton Towers, always travel sick coming home on the coach.”
8. Gulliver’s World
A ride at Gulliver’s World(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Gulliver’s World was opened in 1989 in Warrington and was the second Gulliver’s theme park to be built in the UK. With over 80 rides and attractions, the attraction has gotten bigger and better as the years have gone on.
Significant rides at the park include The Antelope, Desperado drop and Apache Falls. It now has the Gulliver’s Hotel to provide short breaks – and school children today still love the Dodgems, Pirates Cove and The Joker.
7. Isle of Man
Holidaymakers returning from the Isle of Man make their way along Liverpool landing stage from the steamer ship Mona Isle in 1951(Image: Mirrorpix)
One of the most popular Merseyside school trip destinations through the generations has been the Isle of Man. Classes of pupils will remember embarking on the nearly three hour ferry journey to set up camp for a few days away.
You may have moaned about the time it took to get there or if the weather wasn’t on your side, but the best part was having a laugh staying in tents. Colette Nolan remembered: “A day trip to the Isle of Man by the time we got there it was time to come back.”
Helen Atherton commented: “Best a Camping trip to the Isle of Man the worse was to a pig farm my mum chucked my clothes away just couldn’t get rid of the stink.”
6. Tatton Park
Snowy scenes in Tatton Park before sunset(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire, is one of the UKs most complete historic estates. Home to a Tudor Old Hall, acres of landscaped gardens and a deer park, it’s one of the many places Merseyside schools venture to for trips each year.
Julie Parker posted: “Tatton Hall near Chester in the winter. Memory always stayed with me.”
5. Knowsley Safari Park
Pupils from Ronald House School in Crosby on a day out at Knowsley Safari Park in 1990(Image: Mirrorpix)
Today, Knowsley Safari has over 700 wild animals, from baboons to camels to wildebeest and rhinos. Merseyside pupils will remember lining up to get into the seal show and rushing to sit next to their best pals.
If you were lucky, the coach driver would also let you go through the baboon enclosure, which would result in a lot of screaming and excitement.
4. Southport
Southport Pleasureland in the 1990s(Image: Southport Pleasureland)
We all remember sunny summer days spent in Southport, having fish and chips, enjoying the pier, the arcades and more. Southport Pleasureland has also been offering thrills for generations of school children, who have been able to explore the popular theme park for more than 100 years.
Throughout the 1990s, there was nothing better than a ride on Chaos, and the ever-present Pirate Boat ride, Waltzers and carousel still remain. Ann Mclean remembered: “Southport every year with my school it was called The Treat we had our dinner in Salts Cafe when we got there.”
3. Camelot
Camelot theme park in Chorley, Lancashire(Image: Reach Content Archive)
Anyone who was born in ’80s or ’90s will have fond memories of days out with the family at Camelot Theme Park. The once popular park was located just three miles away from Chorley in Lancashire and first opened its doors in 1983.
It operated until November 2012 and boasted medieval style rides included the Knightmare and the Whirlwind. By July 2021, the park had been dismantled and demolished, but now there is a new vision for the site.
Sarah Jane Bradford said: “Camelot I loved that place x” While Abi Dunn commented: “Camelot! Always the best school trip.”
2. Speke Hall
Speke Hall was a favourite destination for school trips(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Another Liverpool trip loved by local schools was – and still is – a day out at Speke Hall. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and with a Tudor house at its heart, it’s a stunning spot to learn more about Liverpool’s fascinating history.
Many will remember being picked to dress in Tudor-style clothing or having to draw the outside of the house as a task. While many others will remember the rush to be the last one out of the room as not to catch sight of the grey lady.
Mary Shelton said: “Speke Hall with Bedford Road primary school.” Kelly Proctor said: “Menai and Speke Hall all trying to draw it whilst we waited to get in haha x”
1. Ormside
Ormside in Cumbria also appears to have been a popular place especially for kids from Knowsley. A chance to revel in the stunning scenery and enjoy outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering and archery.
In our recent survey, one ex-Knowsley pupil said: “Ormside, as many ex Rufwood School, Kirkby will know, was an absolute blast! My memories span 1969 to 1976 and it was possible I visited in every single year. Sometimes it was ‘House’ or ‘Tutor Group’ trips but often it was for Geography or Biology field trips, all of which were brilliant and evoke so many good memories.
“But perhaps the most enduring time there was during the summer of 1976 when I spent the whole summer holidays as unpaid caretaker. I managed to paint the dormitories and communal areas as well as tidy up the main building. For those that are not Ruffwood scholars, Ormside was, and I think still is, an outdoor pursuits base situated on the Settle to Carlisle railway. Certainly, whenever I’m up that way, I have a gentle stroll by, just for old times sake.”