Free Educational Visits
Discover England's history for free
English Heritage welcomes educational groups free of charge to over 400 of the country's most significant historical properties. Visits to about 150 properties must be made in advance; bookings should be made at least 14 days before you wish to visit, but for busier sites you will need to book much further in advance to avoid disappointment.
There are now three ways to make an application for a free educational visit:- Complete the Online Booking Form
- Download and print a copy of the booking form, and return the completed form to the appropriate regional office by post or fax. Download the form (including regional office contact details).
- Telephone the appropriate regional office to make a booking over the phone (please be ready with the details listed on the booking form when you call).
Please note that a booking has not been confirmed until you receive an Educational Visit Permit and written confirmation from the regional office.
Take your pupils and students on a free educational group visit and you'll make their learning more enjoyable, deepen their understanding, - and bring fresh inspiration to your own teaching of history as well as right across the curriculum. Often in spectacular locations, our properties span human history from great prehistoric sites to Roman towns and forts, and from powerful medieval castles and abbeys to industrial mills and impressive Victorian houses. Some are famous landmarks like Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall, Dover Castle, Kenilworth Castle and Osborne House, whilst others are unspoilt gems set in tranquil locations. Whether large or small, each offers unique and rich learning environments.
Making the most of your visit
We have a huge range of support materials to help you plan successful site visits. With your confirmation of booking you will receive either a free illustrated teacher's booklet (available for most of our larger sites) or a free A4 information sheet. Many of these are now available as downloads. For the library of information currently available, click on the Free Downloadable Resources button on the left.
For our most visited sites there may be a priced teacher's handbook, which we recommend you to purchase in advance either by mail order or from the site itself.
Free familiarisation visits
We are pleased to offer a new prebookable service. If you would like to make a visit to reconnoitre one of our sites with a view to returning at a future date with an educational group, we can issue you with a permit for free entry. By prebooking, our site staff will be able to show you any facilities and resources for educational groups available on the site. Simply contact the relevant booking office with a choice of dates, then complete a Free Educational Booking Form giving your work contact details and return it to the booking office.
On-site resources
At some sites we have developed special facilities and resources for visiting educational groups. The regional office will advise whether any are available at the property you wish to visit and if so you may book their use as part of your main visit.
These may include:
- activity boxes and storyboxes
- handling collections
- construction resources
- sets of laminated artists' impressions
- Education Centres with models or child-size costumes
- Discovery Centres with interactive displays
- Group bases that can be used as simple briefing rooms or wet weather shelters.
If you book the use of a facility, further information will be sent to you to help you plan your activities ahead.
Helping pupils understand visual and mobility impairment
The 'Making historic sites accessible' document includes case studies based on actual projects, which show how primary schools can carry out valuable projects using a wide variety of sites and buildings. Each combines development of pupils' skills and understanding for National Curriculum study with their personal and social education. The ideas are all highly practical and can be used by schools anywhere.
Email this to a friend