Berlin History Trip 2026

Miss Hockin, Mr Slater and Ms North had a fantastic time accompanying students to Berlin over half term. We packed a great deal into our few days, visiting many of the sites studied at A Level History while also experiencing some of the best of German culture.

On our first day, we enjoyed a walking tour of the city, taking in some of Berlin’s most significant historical landmarks, including the Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, Hitler’s bunker, Checkpoint Charlie and several Holocaust memorial sites. After lunch, we visited an underground network of shelters, where we learnt more about how people would have sought protection in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.

Following some evening free time, we were up bright and early the next morning for a visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Our guided tour provided a powerful insight into the Holocaust and the experiences of those imprisoned there. The students' respectful behaviour, thoughtful questions and attentive listening throughout the visit were exemplary.

After a busy morning, we enjoyed some free time at the Mall of Berlin, followed by bowling and an evening meal together.

On our final day, we travelled to the outskirts of Berlin to visit the former Stasi Prison. We were fortunate to have an incredibly knowledgeable tour guide whose husband had been the subject of an extensive Stasi file after attempting to escape East Berlin on several occasions. Her personal insight and in-depth storytelling made a real impression on the students, with many commenting that this was the highlight of the trip.

We then made a quick stop at the Panoramapunkt to enjoy spectacular views across Berlin before heading to the German Spy Museum. The interactive activities, including the laser challenge, lie detector tests and the opportunity to put our James Bond skills to the test, proved great fun for both students and staff!

This brought our action-packed trip to an end. The flight home was filled with laughter and students enjoying the company of their peers.

Miss Hockin was incredibly proud of every student throughout the trip. Their fantastic behaviour, thoughtful conversations and reflections, and the way they supported and interacted with one another made the experience particularly special. Every tour guide commented on how kind, respectful and genuinely interested our students were.

A huge thank you to all the students for making the trip so enjoyable, and to their families for their support in making it possible. We hope everyone took away some wonderful memories, as well as a deeper understanding of Berlin's fascinating and complex history!