Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre

School Visits

Richborough Roman Fort is the perfect site to bring your lessons on Roman Britain to life outside of the classroom. Explore the place where the first Roman soldiers landed in Britain in AD43!

Curriculum links

Bring the history of Roman Britain and the curriculum to life at Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre:

  • KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality
  • KS2 History: A local history study. The Roman Empire and its impact on technology, culture and beliefs in Britain. Julius Caesar’s attempted invasion in 55 - 54 BC, the Roman Empire by AD 42, the successful invasion by Claudius
  • KS2 Geography: Human geography: types of settlement and land use
  • KS3 History: A local history study. The study of an aspect or theme in British history from before 1066

Free self-led visits

Book a free self-led visit, and plan your day to suit your curriculum needs. Get a bird’s eye view form the platforms of the of the recently reconstructed Claudian Gateway and explore the huge stone walls and earthworks that form this Saxon Shore Fortress. Discover our new museum full of remarkable artefacts excavated at Richborough during the last 100 years and book our handling collection containing replica items that would have been found in the Roman Empire.

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Can you identify our mystery Roman object?

Come and play history detectives with your pupils to commemorate 1900 years since construction started on Hadrian’s Wall.  Examine a special, 3D printed Roman object from our English Heritage collection and, using your historical enquiry skills, see if you can correctly guess what it is.  Visit us for free at Richborough Roman Fort and all will be revealed!  You’ll also see the real item for yourselves.

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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 is a free car park with space for 30-40 cars, as well as space for coaches.  The entrance to the site is down a narrow path and across grass.
    • TOILETS: Two toilets are available on site, both with disabled access.
    • LUNCH: Students are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds, and an under-cover porch area with benches is available to use for packed lunches in bad weather.
    • SHOP: Gift shop in the visitor centre sells a wide range of English Heritage souvenirs and gifts, snacks, ice-creams, hot and cold drinks.
    • ACCESSIBILITY: There are no specified disabled spaces in the car park. The car park is approximately 100m from the Visitor Centre, down a narrow path and across a grass field. Disabled visitors can be set down close to the Visitor Centre. This needs to be arranged in advance so we can unlock the relevant gate at the right time and provide specific instructions. Access is via uneven ground, steps and banks. Manual wheelchair users are advised to bring an assistant due to the uneven, rough grass.
    • AUDIO GUIDE: An audio guide is available as a QR code download to a smartphone.
  • 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-November: Monday-Friday 10-5pm
    • November-March: No bookings can be taken at the current time

Learning Resources