Saxons and Vikings

Welcome to our guide to Early Medieval England. Learn about England’s history, discover more about English Heritage sites and find loads of fun things to watch, read and do! Here's what we've got in store for you:

A DAY IN THE LIFE EPISODE 3: ANGLO-SAXONS

Follow novice monk Benedict through a day in his life at St Paul's Monastery, Jarrow in Northumberland, in AD 730.

Watch the video

Tintagel - Land of Legends

Tintagel Castle in Cornwall is associated with the legend of King Arthur. But what was life really like in the past?

Read this page to look beyond the myths, and find out what archaeological discoveries can tell us about life after the Romans left...

Dig deeper into the past

The Kids Rule! Guide to Saxons & Vikings (Issue 15)

Read the Kids Rule! Guide to Saxons and Vikings online to discover a day in the life at St Paul's monastery, real Viking raids and Saxon saints. Plus, how to make a Viking rune necklace!

This is issue 15 of 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

Things to make and do: get creative with our Anglo-Saxon themed activities

Make YOUR OWN VIKING CHESS

Play a Viking board game! We’ve got everything you need to make and play Hnefatafl (pronounced ‘neva tapl’).
MAKE A MODEL SAXON HOUSE

The Saxons used Portchester to defend against Viking attacks - find out more and make a model Saxon lord’s house.
Write an Anglo-Saxon poem

Discover Anglo-Saxon poetry and the first English poet. Then take inspiration from the past and write your own!
COLOUR an Anglo-Saxon Poster

Download this colouring sheet to create your own version of our Anglo-Saxon history timeline poster!
Runes Rule!

Learn the Viking runic alphabet and create your warrior name, then write it on your very own Viking necklace!
BAKE HONEY, OAT AND SPICE CAKES

Saxons liked a delicious snack as much as we do! Download our recipe and get baking some delicious cakes!
More things to make and do

Get hands-on and crafty with history. Download our easy-to-use templates and instructions, and get making!

Could you survive a Viking raid?

It’s 1,200 years ago and your Saxon village is about to be invaded by fierce warriors from Scandinavia known as the Vikings. Take our quiz to see if you can make it!

Take the quiz!

Interview with an Anglo-Saxon warrior

We sent young Members Tom and Hana Ellingham to Offa's Dyke to meet Osmund the Anglo-Saxon warrior, as he patrols the border of this great frontier earthwork built by Offa, King of Mercia from AD757 to AD796. Watch the video to discover how Saxons made their weapons, who they worshipped, what clothes they wore and why they probably had terrible breath!

Watch the video

The kids rule! Guide to Anglo-Saxon England (Issue 3)

Download and read the Kids Rule! Guide to Anglo-Saxon England to discover the secrets of our Saxon sites, make your own Viking runes and take our quiz to find out if you could survive a vicious Viking raid!

This is issue 3 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.

Download your copy

Saxon 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 an Anglo-Saxon settlement.

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