Audley End House and Gardens

Schools

There’s so much to see and do during a school visit to Audley End. Let your pupils discover what life was like for the people who lived and worked in this noble 17th century mansion, complete with Victorian Service Wing, Nursery and Stables. Explore the extensive grounds and enjoy the award-winning gardens that were remodelled by Capability Brown.

Information about your visit

A visit to one of our sites will inspire your students and bring your teaching to life. We'd like to reassure you that we're following Government guidance to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible. 

Important information to consider before you book:

  • To keep everyone safe we’ve introduced limits on visitor numbers and school groups, so please bear this in mind when booking your trip.
  • Find out more about what to expect on your school visit, which also includes our Covid 19 Risk Assessment.
  • To make the planning process as easy as possible, make sure you check our Plan Your School Trip section at the bottom of this page, for updated information on the facilities at the site as well as our free resources.
  • As usual, you’ll need to book your visit at least 14 days in advance. Please check our Terms and Conditions for full details.
  • Although is it not a requirement, any teachers, parents, or students aged 16 years can check in via the NHS Test and Trace app, using the NHS QR code posters displayed at the site entrance. Please factor this into your travel/arrival time. For more information about how we are handling your personal data for NHS Test and Trace please visit this page.

We’re continually updating our education offer in line with government guidance.  Most of our English Heritage sites are now open, including indoor spaces and cafes.  At some sites you might not be able to use our handling collections or costumes as part of a free self-led visit, but where we can provide hands-on items in a safe way we will. We’ve adapted our Discovery Visit workshops to follow government guidelines, but for certain sessions this hasn’t been possible – please check our schools webpages for further information.

There may be areas of our sites which are closed, so please check what’s available for your school group on our property webpages and with our booking team.  They can put you in touch with our Education Visits Officers who can offer help and guidance, so you can make the most of your school trip.

Curriculum Links

This imposing 17th century mansion provides fabulous education opportunities for pupils. Key curriculum links include:

  • KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality
  • KS1-3 History: A local history study
  • KS1-2 Science: Audley End House has a large expanse of formal gardens and parkland to explore. There is also a walled kitchen garden and with greenhouses, which grows a variety of plants, fruit and vegetables
  • KS1-4 History: There is a strong collection Royal portraiture on display, with many monarchs being represented, such as Henry VIII and George III
  • KS1-4 Art & Design: There is an impressive collection of Old Master paintings and portrait miniatures in the House
  • KS2 History: Study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
  • KS3 History: The development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509 - 1745

Free Self-Led Visits

Enjoy a free self-led visit and experience parts of the beautiful 17th century mansion, service wing, kitchen garden and grounds. Say hello to our resident horses in the stable block and visit the Coal Gallery, once a hive of activity, as we recreate the hustle and bustle of servants' daily routines. Use our new  outdoor learning kit for KS1-4 to explore the different species of trees around the estate and understand how and why the gardens were created. We also offer free planning visits for group leaders once you have made a booking.  

Enquire now

Expert-Led Discovery Visits

Learn about the life of a Victorian servant: explore the service wing of Audley End and meet Mrs Warwick, housekeeper to the Braybrooke family. To enhance your learning experience, students (and teachers!) are encouraged to come dressed in Victorian costumes.

We aren’t running Discovery Visits at this site at the moment – we’re unable to adapt our session in a way that would still provide a quality, immersive education experience. We can get in touch with you once it’s running again – just sign up below to be notified when bookings are open.

Register your interest

Plan Your Trip

We have a wide range of materials to support your visit and make school trip planning easy. 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 for group leaders once you have made a booking. Our Education Booking Team is on hand to advise and help you create the best possible school trip to suit your needs and area of study.

  • Facilities
    • HOUSE & SERVICE WING: The house and service wing are not currently open to education groups. 
    • GARDENS: Our formal Victorian gardens and walled organic kitchen garden are open for you to enjoy while keeping to social distancing rules.
    • PLAYGROUND: The playground is open.
    • PARKING: Free coach and car parking is available.
    • FOOD AND DRINK: There is an outdoor picnic area. The Cartyard Cafe is open for takeaway service of light refreshments, including hot and cold drinks, wrapped cakes, sandwiches, sausage rolls and ice-creams.
    • TOILETS: Toilets will be open across the site at the Cartyard Cafe, laundry room and portaloos by the entrance. Additional hand sanitising stations will be available across the site.
    • SHOP: Our shops in the Servant's Yard are both open with a new one-way system. Please bring students in small groups at a time. 
    • EDUCATION ROOM: Our education space is currently available, to a maximum of 15 people at any time. Please ask the bookings team to check availability and add this to your itinerary.
    • FACE COVERINGS: Face coverings must be worn in Audley End's indoor shop, café and all other indoor spaces. We won’t be able to give you a face covering, so please come prepared so you don’t miss out.

  • Enquire now

  • School visits

    We’re pleased to confirm we’re now taking bookings online until 30 September. All bookings must be made at least 14 days in advance.

    Our site staff and education team are still working hard to keep everyone safe and we continue to follow government guidance.

    Due to the current situation we can’t answer calls as quickly as we’d like to. If you’d like more information about a site, email us and we’ll put you in touch with an Education Visits Officer.

'step into englands story