Give your pupils a first taste of independence in a setting designed just for them. At Château d’Ebblinghem, everything is easy, secure and expertly managed – while delivering a rich, authentic French experience.
Why schools choose Château d’Ebblinghem
Just 45 minutes from Calais for easy travel
Immersive French language and culture
Ideal base for local excursions, markets and battlefields
Incredible on-site history and educational activities
Sample authentic French cuisine
Secure, spacious grounds with private accommodation
Explore Château d’Ebblinghem
A true taste of France
Food is part of the experience at the château
At Château d’Ebblinghem, pupils enjoy three tasty meals a day, blending familiar favourites with authentic French flavours.
Breakfast includes croissants, pain au chocolat, fruit, cereals and yoghurt. For lunch, students make their own packed meals with fresh baguettes, meats, cheeses, salads and snacks – perfect for excursions.
Meals are child-friendly with plenty of choice, while also offering opportunities to try something new, including:
- French cheese tasting
- Snail tasting on the final night
- Hands-on crêpe making
Allergies or dietary requirements? No problem, we can cater to your needs.
Safe, secure and perfect for young travellers
Ideal for pupils on their first trip abroad without parents, with safety and comfort at its core.
We have four stand-alone accommodation blocks, complete with private dining and activity spaces – so you’ll be the only school group in your building.
Fully-fenced, secure 4-hectare grounds
Sole occupancy accommodation and dining blocks
Students eat, sleep and learn only within their school group
A dedicated Group Co-ordinator as your guide
Centre Facilities at Château d’Ebblinghem
Château d’Ebblinghem has everything you need for a successful school trip. It’s the perfect base to explore Northern France, with local excursions, learning opportunities nearby – plus plenty of on-site excitement including floodlit football pitches, volleyball courts, French boules, a games room, gift shop and campfire.
On-site Shop
Meeting Rooms
Teacher Lounge
En-suite Bedrooms
Teacher Wi-Fi
Accessible Bedrooms
Campfire
Sports Pitches & Recreation
Games Room
Stay where real history happened
During WWI, the surrounding area served as a vital base and field hospital hub for British soldiers heading to the Western Front. British regiments were stationed at the château, while wounded soldiers were treated nearby after arriving from the battlefields.
Interactive WWI experiences for school groups
Today, the château brings this powerful history to life for school groups through on-site, hands-on educational experiences, including:
Handling real and replica WWI artefacts
Trying on military uniforms, rifles and medical kits
Immersive ‘Journey to the Trenches’ experience
Army biscuit baking
Perfect base to visit WWI battlefields
Dedicated on-site support from a member of our team
You’ll be allocated a dedicated member of the team to ensure the smooth-running of your school trip and providing all-round support. During the course of your stay they will:
Meet you on arrival, and give you a welcome talk and tour.
Accompany you on excursions and share destination knowledge.
Help supervise your group in the dining area.
Organise and supervise evening activities.
Encourage and help your pupils to use their French.
Accommodation at Château d’Ebblinghem
Your own private space
Enjoy exclusive use of your own dedicated space, with four fully self-contained buildings designed for school groups. At Château d’Ebblinghem, your group can stay together in a private accommodation block, complete with pupil bedrooms, en suite teacher rooms, a dedicated dining area, staff lounges and activity spaces.
Everything you need is in one place – safe, convenient and exclusively yours.
Our four accommodation blocks
L'Auberge
L’Auberge
Guests: 3 x 4 beds (2 bunk beds)
Leaders: 3 x 2 single beds (en-suite)
La Caserne
La Caserne
Guests: 18 x 4 beds (2 bunk beds)
Leaders: 6 x 2 single beds
All bedrooms are en-suite
La Gareyne
La Gareyne
Guests: 13 x 4 beds (2 bunk beds)
Leaders: 3 x 2 single beds
All bedrooms are en-suite
Le Manoir
Le Manoir
Guests: 1 x 6 single beds, 2 x 5 single beds, 9 x 4 beds (2 bunk beds)
Leaders: 3 x 2 single beds
All bedrooms are en-suite
The following programme is available at Château d’Ebbinghem
French Culture
Provide your group with a real taste of life in France. The Opal Coast is easily accessible and close to channel ports, whilst offering fantastic visits which will introduce your pupils to a new culture, and fascinate them with an environment so different to their own!
Find Out More
Enriching excursions from Château d’Ebblinghem
The local area is full of cultural and historical excursions to explore. From bakeries and markets to theme parks and goat farms – there’s a varied mix of excursions and activities to explore.
Arques Crystal Glass
Tour the visitor centre and small museum of the Arques Crystal Glass factory. The works was founded by the Durand family in 1825 to make demijohns for Bordeaux winemakers. Today, it markets a full range of tableware products in more than 160 countries.
Bellewaerde Theme Park
Spend a day at this fantastic theme park, home to a wonderful mix of rollercoasters, shows, animals and water features.
Biscuiterie
Famous for their culinary credentials, see how these delicious biscuits are made.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
Take a guided tour and explore the Roman old town, spending time in its shops and cafés and practising language skills, and comparing French life past and present. Local market days are Wednesday and Saturday - pupils can interact with traders, build language confidence and pick up a bargain or two.
Calais Dragon
Ride aboard the Calais Dragon and discover a breath-taking view of Calais, the beach and the Côte d'Opale. The dragon awakens and a unique 45-minute journey begins.
Calais Lace Museum
Established in Calais, inside an authentic nineteenth century lace factory, the Museum of Lace and Fashion is a specialist museum for the famous lace woven on looms.
Caves at Naours
Take a guided tour of the underground refuges at Naours. Hollowed out of the limestone by local people as a refuge during invasions, pupils will love wandering around this maze of 28 tunnels and 300 chambers.
Chocolaterie de Beussent
Learn about the industry of chocolate making and combine the demonstrations of melting, moulding and coating with worksheets, a guided tour of the workshop (in English or French), and the chance to enjoy tasting samples!
Dairy Farm
Visit this dairy farm and see how the animals are reared and how their milk is used to make the delicious cheese.
Journey to the Trenches
An interactive activity taking the group from enlistment through to life in the trenches. Within this session, the group will discover more about life as a WWI soldier, create their own propaganda posters, consider a soldier’s personal items taken to war in addition to seeing WWI artefacts and tasting army biscuits with camp coffee! Must be pre-booked.
Le Touquet
Le Touquet sits at the estuary of the River Canche and is the perfect location for Tourism Studies. Observe and describe key sites and locations, and gather information to produce a sightseeing guide. Le Parc de l’Estuaire also offers the opportunity to study the natural sand dune and woodland ecosystems of this area.
Les Escargotières
Get a real taste of France! At a working snail farm, your group will learn how one of France’s most famous foods is reared. Then sit back and see which of your pupils will be first to sample one for themselves.
Lille Zoo
Spend a fun couple of hours wandering around this zoo and enjoy the antics of the wildlife.
Local Boulangerie Visit
There are a number of boulangeries in the region where your pupils will watch and listen to the baker describe, in French, the process of making traditional French bakery products, before getting the chance to produce and eat their own.
Local Goat Farm
Gain an insight into French farming and cheese making. There are also opportunities for cheese tasting and, at certain times of the year, to help milk the goats.
Louvre-Lens Museum
See 5000 years of art history at the Louvre-Lens museum. Explore the museum’s exhibitions and discover masterpieces and sculptures in this beautiful art museum.
Natur’Pom Cider Farm
Visit the organic orchards at this cider farm and learn about the ecosystem of the farm, the cycle of the plant and organic production. Visits can be adapted to the age of pupils and there is an on-site shop for tasty souvenirs!
Nausicaá Sea Centre
Nausicaá promises you an unforgettable voyage to the heart of the Ocean! Discover the 1,600 species who call the Aquarium home. A visit here will convince you that the Ocean is not only a wondrous and rich resource; it is also the future of Mankind. This fascinating sea centre promotes learning through interactive exhibits. Groups can explore three amazing worlds: "Journey on the High Seas," "Mankind and Shores" and "Ocean and Climate."
Pottery Museum and Workshop
Famous for pottery, visit the Ceramics Museum in Desvres and take part in a pottery workshop.
St Joseph’s Village
Give your pupils an insight into 19th & 20th century French Life in this re-created French Village. They’ll develop their French vocabulary as they enter the specially constructed windmill, school, bakers shop, garage, and the chapel, all complete with the equipment of a bygone age.
Sweet Factory
Learn about the history of the sweet shop and see how the sweets and lollipops are made. Pupils will learn from the French commentary, demonstrations and be able to taste the delicious sweets produced.
Town Trails
Follow trail instructions and answer questions in French in this informative way to explore the town. NST’s exclusive trails are an excellent method of getting pupils to read, repeat and understand French words and phrases. Town trails are available in Aire-sur-la-Lys, Boulogne-sur-Mer and St Omer
WWI Biscuit Making
In this hands-on biscuit baking activity, students prepare traditional ‘army biscuits’ which soldiers would have eaten during WWI. Take part in a quiz, then taste the results with camp coffee! This activity must be pre-booked, small charge applies.
Archery Tag
Let the battle commence! Archery with a twist - you are aiming for each other! In this game of skill and teamwork you are equipped with foam-tipped arrows to battle it out in action packed games. You will do some basic skills training before entering the arena to see who comes out victorious! Available March to September
Balloon Splash
Each team completes a series of challenges or games to earn coins that will allow them to purchase items from a mystery box! Teams will then work closely together to create the best contraption to protect their water balloon from destruction.
Campfire
The ultimate way to enjoy the great outdoors as a group! Enjoy a campfire tailored to your requirements. Get hands-on constructing your campfire during the day, and it will be lit ready for you to enjoy in the evening. If your group loves to sing or simply relax with some games around the campfire, our team can cater for all ages in the idyllic settings of our campfires.
Crêpe Making
A relaxing evening of board games and music while guests take it in turn to create their very own pancake. Mix and cook your own pancakes and choose from a selection of tasty toppings available to build your own topping tower!
Dégustation de Fromage
Sample a range of French cheeses and discuss the varying tastes, your likes and dislikes in the target language. A fantastic after-dinner activity at Château d'Ebblinghem. This activity must be pre-booked through your PGL contact. Small charge applies.
Disc Golf
Your group will love trying their hand at this exciting, fast-paced sport in the great outdoors! A flying disc sport, players will take it in turns to throw a frisbee disc at a target as they make their way across a 9-holed disc course! The perfect introduction to both frisbee and golf, Disc Golf is the ideal way to incite a little healthy competition amongst groups!
Disco
A popular last night choice, guests learn the moves to popular hits with “follow-the-leader” sessions, plus lots of unique PGL dances! A fun and sociable evening.
Passport to the World
Hop aboard PGL airlines to take a trip around the world! Here, groups are given a map with a mixture of country flags located around the site. Each country has a plaque located on the point on the map. The plaques have questions to answer related to that country, which must all be answered correctly before returning to base. It might be dark when this activity takes place, so torches are advised.
Quiz
In teams, guests are set a Q & A style challenges to engage their brains & increase their general knowledge.
Silent Disco
Party the night away without the noise of a disco. Every guest has their own set of headphones, where guests can select music from a number of channels to find the tunes they enjoy. Then spend the evening dancing away with friends or trying to guess what song your friends are listening to.
WWI Artifacts
Take a close look at a range of WWI artefacts at the château to help evoke the atmosphere of the war and aid pupils in their understanding of trench life.
PGL Château d’Ebblinghem Residential Trips FAQs
What age groups is Château d’Ebblinghem suitable for?
Château d’Ebblinghem is ideal for students aged 8–13, making it the perfect choice for a first trip abroad. However we can accommodate groups from the ages of 8-18 years old.
Is the centre safe and secure?
Yes – safety is a top priority. The château sits within fully fenced, secure grounds, and groups stay in private, self-contained accommodation with staff on hand throughout the stay.
Will our group have exclusive use of facilities?
There will be a maximum of five groups on centre at the same time as you, however schools can stay in their own dedicated accommodation block, with private dining, social and sleeping areas – so your group can relax and operate independently. La Caserne has space for 80 guests, so this accommodation block is the only one that might be shared with another group.
How far is the château from Calais?
Château d’Ebblinghem is located just 45 minutes from Calais, making travel quick, easy and stress-free.
What does a typical day look like?
Days usually include a mix of educational sessions, cultural activities and excursions, alongside time to relax and enjoy the on-site facilities.
What cultural experiences are included?
Students enjoy a wide range of authentic French experiences, including:
- Caves at Naours
- Lille Zoo
- St Joseph’s Village
- Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Nausicaa Sea Centre
- Local Goat Farm
- Les Chocolats de Beussent
- Les Escargotieres
- Local Boulangerie Visit
- Town Trails
- Bellewearde Theme Park
- Sweet Factory
- Biscuiterie
- Pottery Museum and Workshop
- Dairy Farm
- Natur’Pom Cider Farm
- Arques Crystal Glass
- Calais Lace Museum
What history learning opportunities are available?
The château is located in a historically significant area used during WWI. Students can take part in interactive, hands-on sessions, including handling artefacts, trying on uniforms and learning about soldiers’ experiences.
What food is provided?
Students receive three meals a day, combining familiar dishes with French favourites. They can also prepare their own packed lunches for excursion days.
Is this suitable for a first trip abroad?
Definitely. With its safe setting, short travel time and structured environment, Château d’Ebblinghem is ideal for students travelling abroad for the first time.
What's included in the cost of the trip?
Everything your school or group needs is included in the cost of the trip to Château d’Ebblinghem, with accommodation, evening activities, equipment, food and drinks all covered in the price per person. Additional day time activities* can be added to fit with your daytime excursions
*supplementary cost
What happens in the evenings?
The fun doesn’t stop after the day’s activities! After dinner, our evening entertainment programme will keep your class or group amused until it’s time for bed. We’ve got discos, campfires, quizzes and loads more! We want to create a schedule perfect for your group, so if you have anything in particular then just let us know and we’ll do our best to plan it into your group’s itinerary!
What should pupils pack for their trip?
For a full list of what to pack, see our packing guide. Some essential packing items include:
- Tops/t-shirts (for daily adventure activities)
- Trousers/leggings (for daily adventure activities)
- Sports kit (for sports teams and sports activities)
- Evening clothes (for discos, quizzes, evening games and more)
- Towels
- Toiletries
Does my child need waterproofs for their residential trip?
We recommend that your child bring some waterproofs just in case it starts raining, even in France! We’ll be outside all day, no matter the weather, so bringing a waterproof can keep your child dry during the activities if they need it.
Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
We’re able to cater for a variety of dietary requirements at all of our locations, please visit our Menus and Mealtimes page for further information.
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