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: The car park is free of charge and is just 50 metres from the front entrance. It has 42 spaces, including two disabled bays. There is one coach space. It is essential to book the coach space in advance; please contact our Education Bookings Team for further information. If parking is unavailable, coaches will have to drop-off and return later for collection. Due to narrow lanes and the small size of the car park and coach bay, the maximum recommended coach size Down House can accommodate is a 38-seater coach. Larger coaches will only be accepted at the site’s discretion.
  • EDUCATION ROOM: This room can be made available for school groups if it's not in use for Discovery Visits.
  • TOILETS: Male, female and accessible toilets are available on site.
  • LUNCH: Grassed picnic area with picnic benches. The tearoom serves a selection of sandwiches, cold platters, soups, ice-creams and hot food in the winter. Groups may use the Education Room if available in wet weather
  • SHOP: The shop sells a selection of English Heritage gifts and souvenirs. Please bring your class in small groups at a time. 
  • ACCESSIBILITY: The newly-opened meadow and some pathways including the sandwalk can be difficult for wheelchair users. You can use the lift to gain access to the 1st floor.
  • WET WEATHER: Visits to the inside of the house will not be disrupted by wet weather. The garden will be slippery in wet weather so extra care should be taken.

• Hazard Information

  A useful tool to help with your risk assessments.

  • Home of Charles Darwin - Down House Hazard Information.pdf (59.5 KB)

   

  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

• Risk Assessments

  Our ready-made Discovery Visit Risk Assessment takes the hassle out of planning.

  • Darwin's Daring Discoveries Risk Assessment.pdf (63.3 KB)

• Education Site Opening Times

  We offer free self-led education visits during school term time^*. From November until February we open exclusively for education groups at selected sites when booking an expert-led Discovery Visit. See our education opening times below for individual site information.

  ^*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-5 November: Monday-Friday 10-5pm. Discovery Visits available Monday-Friday
  • 6 November-11 February: Monday-Friday 10-4pm. Discovery Visits available Monday-Friday 
  • 19 February-31 March: Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm. Discovery Visits available Monday-Friday