Wow! What an unforgettable residential in York! It was a jam-packed 3 days and the children have made memories that will last a lifetime.

Day 1 — before reaching our youth hostel, we visited Eden Camp in Malton. Built on the site of an original 1942 prisoner-of-war camp, its 22 restored huts use immersive sights, sounds, and smells to recreate life on the home front and the front lines.

We then checked into our accommodation, which Year 6 found very exciting, before heading out into York for a spooky ghost walk - a mischievous pigeon even joined in with the jump scares ! We headed back to the hostel and watched the first England match before getting a good hour’s sleep for the next day!

Day 2 — we visited York Minster - the gothic cathedral that is a soaring masterpiece of medieval architecture. The children were mesmerised by its size and beauty.

Next stop was a tour of York’s Chocolate Story. We learned about the 4,000-year history of cocoa and how legendary local families built York's confectionery empire, producing iconic treats like the KitKat and Terry's Chocolate Orange. We even had a go at making our own chocolate confectionery.

Then we wandered the narrow, cobbled streets of the Shambles to do a spot of souvenir shopping.

We then had a leisurely boat cruise on the River Ouse. A nice way to have a quick relax! Tea back at the hostel and we were off to an evening of ten pin bowling. After such excitement, the children got a good couple of hours’ sleep in preparation for our final day!

Day 3 — a few children struggled to rise this morning! We had breakfast, packed our bags and tidied our rooms, then headed off for our final adventure - The Forbidden Corner. Set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, it is an award-winning labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and watery surprises! After much fun and laughter, we boarded the coach for one last time and began the long road back to rainy Cumbria.

We know the children had the time of their lives, and we hope they’ve had a good rest over the weekend.

Apologies for the massive photo dump!

Until next time, farewell, York!