When Elizabeth McCulloch of Bootham School began planning a culture and history-focused school trip to Budapest, she hoped for something that would be educational, exciting, and expertly run. What she got, she says, was “an extremely well-organised and packed tour with plenty of educational value and culture for the students.”
There were no hesitations about working with a tour operator—in fact, quite the opposite. “Any challenges which arose during planning were solved quickly and without stress,” Elizabeth said. “The step-by-step organisation really helped me stay focused and on track.”
Once on the ground, the experience surpassed expectations. “What surprised me most was just how much the students loved Budapest—and how much we managed to fit into each day without feeling rushed.” The group explored a range of historical sites, including city tours of both Buda and Pest, the nuclear bunker museum, Cinema Mystica, Vasarely Museum, the Interactive Museum and the moving House of Terror Museum.
One moment stands out above the rest.
“Our students clearly loved being up on stage during the folklore show—it was such a joyful, unexpected highlight that brought everyone together.”
The educational impact didn’t end with the return flight. Elizabeth shared that students have continued discussing the trip weeks later—recounting how much they learned and how much they enjoyed the experience. Feedback from parents and carers was equally positive: “They appreciated how well it was run and how enthusiastic their children were afterwards.”
When asked what advice she’d give to other teachers thinking about planning their first school trip abroad, Elizabeth was clear:
“Give yourself plenty of time to organise it—and choose TCBC. Their support throughout was excellent.”
Would she recommend TCBC to others? Without hesitation.
“Definitely! TCBC have organised trips for us to Berlin, Krakow, Washington, New York and Budapest. They are in the process of organising Normandy Landings for us. TCBC make trips as stress-free as possible for staff whilst also ensuring that the trip feels like seriously good value for money.
Inspired?
Let us help you create your own unforgettable school trip experience. Get in touch with the TCBC team or browse our school tours here.
