1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield

School Visits

What better way to learn about 1066 and the Battle of Hastings than by walking in the footsteps of William the Conqueror and King Harold at Battle Abbey? Standing where history was made, your students will better understand the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and beyond.

"A fantastic educational experience for the whole class; the Battle of Hastings was brought to life with battle cries, sword swinging and fantastic scenery that inspired all the pupils."

Hannah Vaughan
KS2 teacher

 

Curriculum Links

Support your teaching in the classroom by stepping out of it. A visit to Battle of Hastings Abbey and Battlefield will help you bring learning to life, covering multiple topics across the curriculum and key stages.

  • KS1 History: Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally. Significant historical events, people and places in the locality
  • KS2 History: A local history study. Edward the Confessor and his death in 1066. A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
  • KS2 Geography: Human geography: types of settlement and land use, why did the battle take place here?
  • KS2 Drama: Become Saxon and Norman soldiers, charging up the hill
  • KS2 Religious Studies: Religion in daily life, why was an abbey built on the site and who lived there?
  • KS3 History: A local history study. The Norman Conquest. Development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509 
  • KS3 Geography: Human geography: understand how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, why did the battle take place here?
  • KS4 History: OCR History A: Study of the historic environment; OCR History B: History around us, British depth study, The Norman Conquest 1060 - 1087; AQA Section B: British depth study including the historic environment, Norman England; Edexcel Paper2B1: Anglo Saxon and Norman England 1060 - 1088
  • KS5 History: OCR Unit Y102/Y132: Anglo Saxon England and the Norman Conquest 1035 - 1107; AQA Unit HIS2A: Conqueror and Conquest c 1060 - 1087; Edexcel Paper 2, Option 2A.1: Anglo Saxon England and the Anglo-Norman Kingdom c1053 - 1106

Free Self-Led Visits

Enjoy a free self-led visit to Battle Abbey and design your day to suit your curriculum needs. The activities in our Teachers' Kit will help your students imagine what it was like to be a Norman charging across the battlefield, how it felt to be part of the Anglo-Saxon shield wall, or how the Norman cavalry helped them to victory. Find out more about the daily life of the Benedictine Monks who lived at the Abbey with our free bookable Discovery Chest. Inside are activity bags containing challenges and replica objects representing different monastic buildings, such as the abbey church, which pupils can then explore. 

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Expert-led Discovery Visits

Sandford Award winner 2021!

Our immersive, award-winning, expert-led sessions at Battle Abbey are a great way to bring the Battle of Hastings to life. Pupils re-enact the battle on the battlefield, view replica weapons and delver deeper into this important subject and date in history.

Just £100 per session (for approximately 30 pupils).

FIND OUT MORE

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: There is a large car park near the entrance for cars and minibuses; there is a daily parking charge. Town centre coach park in Market Road, a 10 minute walk.
    • TOILETS: Toilets (including accessible toilets) are available at the visitor centre.
    • EDUCATION ROOM: The Education Room is used for Discovery Visits, but can be reserved by schools for use as a bag drop and learning space if not already in use. It is not available as a lunch space.
    • SHOP: There is a shop selling a range of books and gifts. We recommend bringing your students in small groups at a time.
    • LUNCH: You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds. There is a picnic area with tables and benches for packed lunches. 
    • ACTIVITIES: The free Discovery Chest handling collection can be booked in advance of your visit. Aimed at KS2 and KS3, this activity focuses on the monastic history of Battle Abbey, with eight activity bags each containing various activities and associated objects.
    • ACCESSIBILITY: There are steps to some areas and a gravel pathway to help you avoid some of these. There are steep slopes. A suggested route for visitors with limited mobility is available upon request.
    • WET WEATHER: There is limited cover. If the weather is bad, the site staff will do their best to find a suitable place for your group to shelter.

    Site Map

    Battle Abbey Site Map

  • 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*. From November until March 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.

    • 1 April-5 November: Monday-Sunday 10-5pm. Discovery Visits available Monday-Friday
    • 6 November-11 February: Monday and Friday-Sunday 10-4pm. Discovery Visits available Mondays and Fridays
    • 19 February-31 March: Wednesday-Sunday 10-4pm. Discovery Visits available Wednesday-Friday

Learning Resources

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