Pevensey Castle

School Visits

Pevensey Castle has a long history dating back over 16 centuries, which began with the Romans in the fourth century and was famously the place where William the Conqueror landed in 1066. Bring your teaching to life and stand at the spot where history happened. 

"Visiting sites such as Pevensey Castle is great for taking learning out of the classroom and making it much more real - helping increase pupil engagement and developing greater depth of understanding".  James Whitaker, Head of History Bede's School

Curriculum Links

Bring history to life with a visit to Pevensey Castle and inspire your students. Not only can you cover multiple time periods and topics during a visit, but cross curricular links too.

  • KS1-3 History: Local history study
  • KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places; study of castles
  • KS2 History: The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain; a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils' chronological knowledge beyond 1066 
  • KS3 History: The Norman Conquest; The development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509
  • KS3-4 Geography: Understand the strategic significance of the castle’s position
  • KS4 History: AQA Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment, Norman England; Edexcel Paper 2B1; Anglo Saxon and Norman England 1060-1088; OCR History A; Study of the historic environment; OCR History B; History around us, British depth study, The Norman Conquest 1060-1087   
  • KS5 History: OCR Unit Y102/Y132: Anglo Saxon England and the Norman Conquest 1035-1107; AQA Unit HIS2A: Conqueror and Conquest c1060-1087; Edexcel Paper 2, Option 2A.1: Anglo Saxon England and the Anglo-Norman Kingdom c1053-1106

Free Self-Led Visits

Discover the place where the Norman Conquest of England began, on a free visit with your class. Retrace the steps of William the Conqueror after he landed at Pevensey on 28th September 1066, as he prepared to march his army into the now famous Battle of Hastings, and explore how the original Roman fort developed into a medieval fortress. Download our Teachers’ Kit, including site details, historical information and activity suggestions to support learning before, during and after your visit.

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Itinerary

Use our downloadable itinerary to combine a visit to 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield and Pevensey Castle and take the stress out of planning your day.

Full of activity ideas and timings, it's a useful tool to make sure you get the most from your visit. 

Download our Itinerary

Plan your trip

We have a wide range of materials to support your visit and make school trip planning easy. You can find all our site-specific information and tools below, and further information on our what to expect page.

Download our free resources to help you make the most out of your visit and create unique learning experiences before, during and after your trip. We also offer free planning visits once you have made a booking, plus a 20% discount on the official English Heritage guidebook for your place of choice.

Once you book your visit you’ll be sent a visit permit, which you’ll need to bring with you on the day.

Visit our bookings page to start planning your trip!

  • Facilities
    • PARKING: Parking is available at a charge for 50 cars approximately 300 meters from the entrance and there are three coach parking spaces.
    • TOILETS: Locally managed toilets are located in Pevensey car park close to the East Gate entrance.
    • LUNCH: Students are welcome to bring packed lunches and picnic in the grounds.
    • SHOP: A small shop sells a range of English Heritage souvenirs, as well as a selection of guidebooks, postcards and drinks
    • EDUCATION ROOM: Bookable for bag storage, group learning activities and as a wet weather lunch space.
    • BAG STORAGE: Bag storage in Education Room (if available).
    • ACCESSIBILITY: The paths to and around the castle are uneven and made of compacted gravel and rough grass. The inner bailey and outer bailey are accessible to wheelchair users, but there are steps to the towers and dungeons. There is level access to the lower exhibition in the North Tower.
    • WET WEATHER: Limited cover. If the weather is bad, the site staff will do their best to find a suitable place for your group to shelter.
  • Hazard Information

    A useful tool to help with your risk assessments.

    You must meet the following ratios for leaders to students on the day of your visit when booking, and if your group is forming smaller groups while at the site:

    • Ages 4-5 (UK Reception) 1 leader for every 4 students (1:4)
    • Ages 5-7 (UK Key Stage 1) 1 leader for every 6 students (1:6)
    • Ages 7-11 (UK Key Stage 2) 1 leader for every 10 students (1:10) and
    • Ages 11-18 (UK Key Stages 3, 4, and 5) 1 leader for every 15 students (1:15)
    • For an adult learning group, consisting of individuals all over the age of 18, there are no ratios but there must be an appointed group leader
    • All ratios outlined above apply to home education groups
    • If your group consists of children aged 3 and/or 4, you must also refer to the Early Years and Foundation Stage Statutory Framework which sets out specific legal requirements for minimum ratios for this age group, to include requirements about the qualifications of the leaders
    • SEND groups must meet the minimum ratios above but may bring any additional leaders as required to adequately support their group
  • Education Site Opening Times

    We offer free self-led education visits during school term time*.

    *Free education visits are not offered on UK public holidays or during the operation of additional fee paying public events at English Heritage sites.

    • April-October: Monday-Sunday 10-5pm
    • November-March: Saturday-Sunday 10-4pm

Learning Resources

  • Pevensey Castle Teachers' Kit (KS1-KS4+)

    Our Teachers’ Kits feature historical information and activity suggestions for group leaders of various subjects and key stages.

  • Curators' Collections: Pevensey Castle

    Explore objects from our collections at Pevensey Castle to learn more about life in a medieval castle. 

  • Teaching Anglo-Saxons and Normans

    Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your teaching of the Anglo-Saxons and Normans.

  • A Brief History of the Normans

    Learn more about the origins of the Normans, the dispute between Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror and how the Normans took control of England in this short animation.

  • Meet William the Conqueror and King Harold

    Meet William the Conqueror and King Harold to find out why they went to war in 1066. 

  • Why William Won at the Battle of Hastings

    Use our short animation to discover the main reasons why William the Conqueror won at the Battle of Hastings. 

  • Teaching Medieval History

    Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your teaching of medieval history.

  • A Mini Guide to Castles

    ​Discover how castles developed over time with this short introduction.

  • How to Take a Medieval Castle

    Watch our short animation to learn more about how to take a medieval castle.