Marble Hill

School Visits

Set against the River Thames in Richmond, Marble Hill is a beautiful example of an arcadian retreat  from crowded 18th-century London. It was built for Henrietta Howard, a remarkable Georgian woman who against all odds built herself an independent life.

Curriculum links

Bring learning to life outside of the classroom at Marble Hill House, with links to different subjects across the curriculum  

  • KS1 History: Local history study: significant historical events, people and places in their own locality
  • KS1 Art: Use drawing to share ideas, experiences and imagination (use the landscape as inspiration)
  • KS1 Science: Understand living things and their habitats through exploration of the grounds
  • KS2 History: Local history study: significant historical events, people and places in their own locality. A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends students’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
  • KS2 Art: Create sketch books to record observations and use them to review and revisit ideas (use the landscape as inspiration)
  • KS2 Science: Understand living things and their habitats through exploration of the grounds

Free self-led visits

Use our free teaching resources and activity sheets and lead your visit, your way.

Available Wednesday – Friday, 10am - 4.30pm from 1st April to 31st October, you and your group can discover fascinating stories about Henrietta Howard's time at Marble Hill House, for free! 

Whether its exploring the beautiful grounds and gardens, being inspired by the artwork on display, or delving deeper into the history of this local landmark, there's something for every key stage.

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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 are 75 car parking spaces, including three disabled spaces. Minibuses can be accommodated at site. Coaches can drop off and pick up; please drive through White Lodge Gate and use the turning circle in front of the house. There is no coach parking at site. Coach parking is available nearby at the Old Deer Park in Richmond (parking charges apply).
    • HOUSE: House – now open!
    • TOILETS: There are public toilets in the Coach House. Please ensure children are supervised.
    • LUNCH: You are welcome to picnic in the grounds. If the weather is bad, the site staff will do their best to find a suitable place for your group to eat their lunch. There is a café on site offering light lunches and refreshments.
    • STORAGE: If you have booked a Discovery Visit, storage for lunch bags can be provided while students are exploring the landscape, after which they can collect from the Coach House. If you are visiting self-led please keep your belongings with you at all times.
    • WET WEATHER: Marble Hill House is an outside location, please come dressed for the weather. If you have booked a DV, our site staff will do their best to find a suitable place for your group to eat their lunch.
    • ACCESSIBILITY: Please let the bookings team know if you have any access needs. For information about access, please visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/marble-hill-house/access/
  • 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.

    House Opening Times

    • April-October: Wednesday-Friday 10-5pm. Discovery Visits available Wednesday-Friday
    • November-March: No bookings can be taken at the current time

     

    Grounds Opening Times

    • April-October: Monday-Sunday 6:30-6pm
    • November-March: Wednesday-Sunday 7am-dusk

Learning Resources

  • Marble Hill Teachers' Kit (KS1-4+)

    Use the information and activities in this Teachers' Kit to explore the story of Henrietta Howard. Meet Henrietta's notable neighbours, learn outdoors in her pleasure gardens and reflect on the house's connections with international trade including transatlantic slavery. 

  • Marble Hill Top Things to See (KS1-3)

    Use this self-led activity sheet to explore Marble Hill House, learning more about Henrietta Howard and the house that she built on the River Thames in the 1720s.

  • English Heritage Podcast: Making Marble Hill

    Listen to the story of Marble Hill, an eye-catching early Georgian villa set in 66 acres of parkland near the River Thames in Twickenham, south-west London. Explore the history of this riverside Palladian home, its builder Henrietta Howard, its collections and its garden.