Archives: Trips

History comes to life

Berlin is a no-brainer if you teach history. The city has been at the centre of the most course-changing events of the last 100 years.

Your students will trace the rise of the Nazis and the horror of the Holocaust through visits to sites like the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, and the Topography of Terror.

Or, focus on the Cold War. You can walk along the remnants of the Berlin Wall, visit Checkpoint Charlie, and stand in the very places where East met West.

For GCSE students, seeing these places in real life will give them a deeper understanding to draw on in their exams.

Rebuilding democracy

Berlin’s recovery from dictatorship, war, and division offers a powerful case study for students of politics and sociology.

Take them to the German Bundestag, learn about life on the Eastern side of the wall at the DDR Museum, or dive into debates around freedom, surveillance, and civil rights at the Stasi Museum.

It can be heavy stuff, but that’s the point. Afterwards, you could always grab some currywurst and head to the local parks to relax.

Modern capital city

Berlin feels young. That might sound odd given the city’s unique and storied history, but it’s true.

There are more students here than anywhere else in Germany, spread across four main universities. That youthful energy gives rise to creativity – you’ll find abandoned buildings turned into galleries and all manner of spaces filled with startups, artists, and activists.

It’s also a hub for tech and innovation, making it a key location for the European markets. For study groups, there is an opportunity to visit businesses in the area and gain an insight into their success.