Kids

The Tudors

Welcome to our guide to the Tudors, where you can learn about England’s history, discover more about our sites and find loads of fun things to watch, read and do! Here's what we've got in store for you: 

Image: an illustration of Henry VIII and his queen enjoying a feast

What's for dinner at the Tudor court?

Feasts were very popular during the medieval period, but Henry VIII took them to a whole new level, with up to 20 dishes served to the diners during a single feast!

Find out what was on the menu and download a poster to colour in your own feasting scene. Plus, meet a Tudor cook and have a go at making a recipe inspired by the past!

Join the feast!

Terrific Tudor Videos

  • Learn to draw Henry VIII

    Learn to draw Henry VIII with Kids Rule! magazine illustrator Wesley Robins!  Have a piece of paper and a pen or pencil ready, and draw along, as he shows you step-by-step how to portray this famous Tudor king. 

  • Learn to draw Elizabeth I

    In this video, Wesley will explain step-by-step how to draw Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I – so grab some paper and a pencil or pen and get ready to draw along with him!

  • MEET THE PORTER AT ST MAWES CASTLE

    Discover what life was like for a Porter at St Mawes Castle in Cornwall during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Find out why the castle was an important part of England’s defences and how it was protected.

  • A day in the life of a girl in Tudor England

    What was life like in Tudor England?  Watch this video to discover a day in the life of Frances Anne, daughter of a Tudor earl, who was living at Ashby de la Zouch Castle in Leicestershire in 1544.

  • Meet a Tudor Cook

    Meet Tudor cook Thomas Griffin and find out how to prepare a feast fit for the lord of the manor. Discover what working in the kitchen is like, how to make delicious Tudor biscuits, and what marchpane is!

  • Meet King Henry VIII

    Step back in time to meet Henry VIII, King of England, at Eltham Palace. Discover what it was like to work for the king in a Tudor castle, learn the story behind his six wives and find out about medieval archery.

The Kids Rule! Guide to Tudor England (Issue 19)

Read Kids Rule! magazine online to learn about life in Tudor England. Discover Henry VIII's castle at Deal, why a fabulous garden was created at Kenilworth Castle, and the story of the queen imprisoned at Carlisle. 

This is issue 19 in the Kids Rule! magazine series following the history of England, designed to help you discover more about the past, through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions.

Read the magazine online

Things to make and do: get creative with our Tudor themed activities

Colour your own Tudor town

Colour your own version of our Tudor town poster.  Download the sheet, read through the introduction to this period of history, then bring the scene to life with pencils, pens or paints!

Download your colouring

  • BUILD A MODEL TUDOR HOUSE

    In Tudor England, people lived in timber-framed houses with whitewashed walls.  Find out more about Tudor houses and what it was like to live in them, and follow our instructions to turn some old cardboard boxes into your very own model Tudor house!

  • Tudor battleships

    Can you defeat the Spanish Armada? Do battle at home with our downloadable game! Decide who will be England and who will be Spain, secretly position your ships on your board and be the first to sink the other player’s fleet by guessing their location.

  • MAKE TUDOR SMARTARD FRITTERS

    Try this recipe for a traditional Tudor dessert! It combines cottage cheese, eggs and double cream, which is then fried and topped with a sprinkling of sugar… sort of like a centuries-old pancake! Download our recipe, and don’t forget to ask an adult to help you.

  • More things to make and do

    Browse our best ideas and get hands-on and crafty with history. From model historical homes to costumes and coats of arms, there’s plenty to be inspired by. Simply download our easy-to-use templates and instructions, and get making!

A spotter's guide to... Henry VIII's castles

After separating from the Catholic church in the 16th century, Henry VIII prepared to defend his kingdom by building lots of castles, also known as ‘device forts’, along the English and Welsh coasts – many of which can still be visited today.

Read our guide to learn more about these fascinating forts, discover what you need to look out for during a visit and how to tell them apart from other castles across the country.

Download the guide

Quiz time!

How well do you know the Tudors? Test your knowledge, and your Tudor table manners, with our fun quizzes.

The Kids Rule! guide to Tudor England (Issue 7)

Read Kids Rule! magazine online to learn about life in Tudor England, including the kings and queens who ruled the country, Henry VIII’s castles, the food that was served at royal feasts and what life was like for people who lived at that time.

This is issue 7 in the Kids Rule! magazine series following the history of England, designed to help you discover more about the past, through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions.

READ KIDS RULE! ONLINE

TUDOR POSTER: MAKE YOUR MEGA TIMELINE

We've created a series of posters showing how people lived in England through the ages, like this one showing life in Tudor England.

Each of the posters follows on from each other, so that when you download them all from the Kids Rule! pages, you can create your own mega timeline of English history!

DOWNLOAD YOUR POSTER
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