Paris trip 2026

What an amazing two day trip to Paris. We enjoyed glorious sunshine and views over this wonderful city from the top of Montmartre and the Arc de Triomphe. We walked about 30,000 steps a day to see the monuments, parks and main thorough ways like Les Champs Elysees and la Rue de Rivoli. We crossed bridges over the Seine and the Canal Saint Martin and strolled around the 4th and 5th arrondissements. We visited the Musée Carnavalet to learn all about the history of Paris and went into the stunning Petit Palais (built for the world exhibition) to see the famous works of art (Monet, Renoir, Rodin to name but a few). We had pit stops in pretty parks, rested our feet in beautiful interior courtyards and played games in the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre.

Our students witnessed first hand the preparations for the visit of the Pope to Paris although we managed to avoid the road closures and still see what we wanted to see.

For many the highlight was the evening cruise up and down the Seine and the chance to see all the famous monuments lit up and twinkling in the case of the Eiffel Tower.

We had a delicious lunch in a very French bistro opposite the Sorbonne University – a favourite with students there and crepes were eaten on the street and ice creams ordered in French at the famous Berthillon pace on Ile St Louis.

Souvenirs were bought and many baguettes travelled home to be shared with families. Conversations with locals were overheard in the metro and on the street as attempts were made to speak French.

Paris has given us memories that will stay with us long after our trip and hopefully inspire further trips there to see what we didn’t this time!

Bethan Williams
Second in Charge of Languages Faculty
bwilliams@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk