Opening Times

Throughout the year but booking (at least 2 weeks in advance) essential

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

Iron Age settlements, Roman forts, medieval abbeys, Tudor castles, even a Cold War bunker – you name it, all 400 English Heritage sites offer exceptional out of the classroom learning opportunities FREE OF CHARGE to educational groups. We also offer reasonably charged Discovery Visits at 60 key sites throughout the country. These are award-winning, fun, expert-led, site based interactive learning activities. Free teaching resources, property familiarisation visits and hazard information are also available.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

Teacher-led projects can be as cross-curricular as you like. Pupils can learn a wealth of information and cover a huge range of subjects – they can simply have fun exploring or be inspired to feel, write, think and record things, helping with Maths, Science, Art, Technology and many more. Discovery Visits have been specially designed to meet national curriculum learning needs across a range of subjects and key stages. They suit a range of learning styles, incorporate group discussion and individual work, encourage active participation, introduce new vocabulary, develop skills of enquiry and use primary evidence.

What are the activities?

Discovery Visits are hands-on and interactive tours and activities that range from sessions covering all periods of History (eg meet medieval and Roman soldiers, unravel the Civil War, etc KS 1- 4), to the study the business of heritage and tourism (KS 4 -6), Design & Technology (KS 2 Science challenge) and Arts and design (KS 2 Apsley art for sketchbook skills).

What is the age range of the activities?

5 years – university

Sample programme of the activities:

Please see our website ww.english-heritage.org.uk/education

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

Teacher’s kits (downloadable from our website) are provided for most sites. These include site plans, useful pre- and post-visit learning ideas, etc. Some sites also have education rooms, handling collections, artist’s impressions, costumes and/or story bags, etc. Heritage Learning magazine – full of topical teaching ideas - is also available free of charge to teachers twice a year.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

The ratio of adults to children is 1:6 for years up to year 3 (8 years and under) and 1:15 for all other groups.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

Risk assessments are covered for Discovery Visits. For teacher-led projects hazard warning sheets are available for each site, helping to make the legal requirement of risk assessments for free visits easy to meet.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

Yes – these are encouraged and free of charge. Simply show your site permit to site staff on arrival at the site.

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

Many sites have lunch rooms or lunch areas, cafes and a shop selling a range of goods like sweets and pens from under £1 to more expensive items like costumes. Goody bags may be pre-ordered at some sites.

Is specific clothing required?

Visits are likely to involve a fair amount of walking on uneven ground. Stout walking shoes are recommended in all seasons. Some sites are in fairly exposed areas and may have limited cover so warm, waterproof clothing is also recommended. In hot weather sun cream, sunhats and bottles of water are useful.

Do you have first aid on site?

First aid boxes are available at all properties and most have first aiders.

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

Children are encouraged to take photos, describe, draw or otherwise record their trips. We hope to set up a children and student’s club on the education website where such items can be posted before too long.
Please email any material to: lucia.crothall@english-heritage.org.uk

Additional information.

SOUTH EAST
Oxfordshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent - except Dover Castle, Deal Castle and Walmer Castle (see below) & for Isle of Wight (see below).

English Heritage
South East Region
Eastgate Court
195-205 High Street
Guildford
GU1 3EH

Tel: 01483 252013
Fax: 01483 252001



Battle Abbey and Battlefield
Bayham Old Abbey
Bishop's Waltham Palace
Dymchurch Martello Tower
Farnham Castle Keep

Fort Brockhurst
Lullingstone Roman Villa
Medieval Merchant's House, Southampton
Pevensey Castle
Portchester Castle
Richborough Roman Fort
Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth
St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury
Titchfield Abbey
Wolvesey Castle

The following properties manage their own bookings:
Abingdon County Hall (for bookings tel. 01235 523703)
Calshot Castle (for bookings tel. 02380 892077)
Camber Castle (for bookings tel. 01797 223862)
Hurst Castle (for bookings tel. 01590 642344)
Maison Dieu, Ospringe (for bookings tel. 01795 534542)
Milton Chantry (for bookings tel. 01474 321520)
Old Soar Manor (for bookings tel. 01732 810378)
Rochester Castle (for bookings tel. 01634 402276)
Rycote Chapel (for bookings tel. 01844 214468)
St John's Commandery, Swingfield (for bookings tel. 01533 631330)
Temple Manor, Strood (for bookings tel. 01634 828878)
Upnor Castle (for bookings tel. 01634 718742)

DOVER, DEAL AND WALMER CASTLES
English Heritage
Dover Castle
Dover
Kent
CT16 1HU
Tel: 01304 209899
Fax: 01304 204475


ISLE OF WIGHT
English Heritage
Osborne House
State Apartments
East Cowes
Isle of Wight
PO32 6JY
Tel: 01983 280201
Fax: 01983 281380


Appuldurcombe House
Carisbrooke Castle
Osborne House
Yarmouth Castle

LONDON
Central London, Greater London

English Heritage
Apsley House
149 Piccadilly
London
W1J 7NT
Tel: 020 7499 5676
Fax: 020 7493 6576


Apsley House
Chiswick House
Down House
Eltham Palace
Jewel Tower, Westminster
Kenwood
Marble Hill House
Ranger's House
Wellington Arch