School Travel Organiser finds out about Llandudno’s ties to the novel Alice in Wonderland and how these can support a Key Stage 2 school trip.
Llandudno in Wales is said to have been the inspiration behind a number of scenes written in Lewis Carroll’s children’s novel, Alice in Wonderland.
The book marked its 150th anniversary in 2015, and in response, a Llandudno-based company called A.L.I.C.E Ltd launched a new interactive walking trail which is suitable for Key Stage 2 students.
The Alice in Wonderland trails can be linked to English and History are suitable for Key Stage 2 students.
Pictured: A group of children on an Alice in Wonderland trail.
What can students do on the trails?
The Alice Town Trails give pupils the chance to explore Llandudno’s ties to Alice in Wonderland, as well as provide a number of games so that the class can interact with the story.
Each trail is accompanied with its own app that will allow pupils to meet 3D characters from the story on their journey, whilst learning interesting facts about the landmarks visited through audio commentary.
The White Rabbit trail, for example, is based on Llandudno’s links with the real Alice in Wonderland, Alice Liddell, the little eight year old whom inspired the stories.
This is a teacher-led tour and visits landmarks such as St George’s Hotel. The Liddell family are said to have holidayed here, and it is also believed to be where Lewis Carroll wrote parts of his book.
St Tudno Hotel, Happy Valley, Haulfre Gardens, West Shore, and Alice Liddell’s home, Penmorfa, are other trail highlights.
Teachers can also book a tour that supports Drama studies called Down the Rabbit Hole. This tour gives pupils the chance to play games and get involved in activities around Llandudno.
The trails vary between one and three hours to complete, depending on which Alice hotspots are visited.
Rooms in some of the locations featured are available for hire for schools who want personal presentations, and a guided tour of the town by coach is also possible.
School travel organisers can find out more information about the Alice Town Trails by calling 07725-237667, e-mailing alice@wonderland.co.uk, or visiting www.alicetowntrails.co.uk.
Pictured: A group of pupils at one of the trail landmarks.
Other educational opportunities in Llandudno
In addition to the Alice Town Trails, there are many other attractions suitable for schools in Llandudno that could adhere to the curriculum.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo could be added to the to-do list and is a great place for Science pupils to learn more about animals and endangered species.
A ride on what’s said to be the longest cable car in Britain, stretching one mile from the tourist centre up to the top of Great Orme, can be tied into Geography studies.
And for History, teachers can schedule in a visit to Conwy Castle, in nearby Conwy.
For more information on Llandudno visit www.visitllandudno.org.uk.
