THE TOP SITES TO VISIT TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY’S EDUCATION
Many of our properties offer fascinating days out for children that also provide the chance to complement their school lessons. Below are six top sites around the country with educational opportunities. You can either visit the properties with your children outside of school hours, or ask your school if they would organise a self-led visit or book one of our expert-led Discovery Visits.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
SCHOOL VISITS
Trips here can be linked with key stages 1–5, exploring everything from history to technology to heritage management. Either with an expert Discovery guide or a teacher at the helm, the incredible ancient stones provide a range of questions on their construction and life at the time for children to think about. There is also an education room for short lessons. Find out more
PLAN YOUR OWN VISIT
As well as being able to experience Britain’s most famous prehistoric monument, there’s a fantastic museum with interactive exhibits and Neolithic houses to explore. Find out more
York Cold War Bunker, Yorkshire
SCHOOL VISITS
A visit to York Bunker offers curriculum insight across various key stages, from KS2 up to A level. School groups can participate in teacher-led visits or an expert-led Discovery Visit, which includes object handling and the chance to see original audio-visual footage. Find out more
PLAN YOUR OWN VISIT
Our most modern property, the semi-subterranean York Cold War Bunker was built to monitor fallout in Yorkshire in the event of a nuclear attack. Inside its blast-proof doors is a fascinating time capsule filled with monitoring and communications equipment. Admission is by guided tour only and tours take place every hour. Find out more
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk
SCHOOL VISITS
With nearly 1,000 years of history, visits to Framlingham Castle are suitable for KS1–4 and can cover anything from Britain’s settlements by the Anglo-Saxons to geographical skills and fieldwork. School visits are free and a number of downloadable teaching resources are available. Find out more
PLAN YOUR OWN VISIT
Turrets and battlements fire the imagination, and Framlingham – where Mary Tudor was proclaimed queen of England – is a superb example of a late 12th-century castle. As part of a visit, you can look inside Framlingham’s workhouse, while an exhibition explains more about the history of the castle. Find out more
Eltham Palace and Gardens, London
SCHOOL VISITS
Free school visits can cover key stages 1–3 and, as well as medieval and modern history, there is the opportunity for trips to incorporate art and design, language and literacy, science and more. Find out more
PLAN YOUR OWN VISIT
Originally the site of a medieval palace, by the 14th century Eltham Palace was one of the most frequented royal residencies in the country. It was later redesigned in the 1930s as an art deco mansion by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld. As such, a visit here enables learning about both 20th-century design and the medieval period – the magnificent oak roof of the great hall dates from the 1470s. Find out more
Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland
SCHOOL VISITS
Both free self-led visits and tours led by our experts are available at Housesteads, and provide a great opportunity for students to learn about the significance of Hadrian’s Wall, and the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain. School goody bags are also available. Find out more
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The ruins and fascinating museum present a wealth of activities and learning opportunities surrounding Roman Britain. Explore the remains of the fort, uncover a wealth of artefacts in the museum and even meet Felix the Roman solider as he gives you tips on how to dress, fight and march like a legionary. Find out more
Osborne, Isle of Wight
SCHOOL VISITS
Curriculum links cover KS1–3 and range from local history studies to making use of the house and grounds as inspiration for pupils’ artwork. Teachers can organise their own free self-led visits to Osborne and design their own days to suit their curriculum needs, or our Discovery Visits are specifically designed to meet the needs of different groups across the key stages. Find out more
PLAN YOUR OWN VISIT
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne in 1845 and created a sumptuous seaside holiday home. Many of the state and family rooms are still filled with original furniture and works of art, giving visitors a real insight into the private lives of the royal couple, while the Swiss Cottage contains a museum full of fascinating objects. Find out more
More sites to visit
These are just a handful of the sites where educational visits are possible. To discover many more educational opportunities at our properties, go to our school visits pages.
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