News Culture, Language and Adventure in Cologne 12.06.2025

In the Summer Term, the German department took 30 enthusiastic Year 8 students on an unforgettable trip to Cologne, a beautiful and historic city in western Germany. Arriving after an early start, the group enjoyed their first taste of German cuisine with a delicious meal at a traditional restaurant sampling local favourites such as Schnitzel, Flammkuchen, and Bratwurst.

Each morning began with an engaging and challenging German lessons at a local language school. These sessions provided the girls with a unique opportunity to strengthen their language skills in a new and immersive setting. Later in the day, they put their learning into practice by ordering lunch in German at local cafés and interacting with native speakers.

Afternoons were filled with exciting excursions. They climbed the 533 steps of the iconic Cologne Cathedral, explored the cultural city of Bonn—birthplace of both Beethoven and Haribo—and discovered the fascinating world of chocolate production at the Lindt Museum. One of the most thrilling activities was ziplining through the treetops at Schwindelfrei, a high ropes course in nearby Brühl and, of course, the Phantasialand theme park.

The week was full of fun, learning, and new experiences and gave the girls a fantastic opportunity to improve their language skills and experience German culture first-hand. The German department is already looking forward to next year’s trip!