Carisbrooke Castle

Schools

Carisbrooke Castle has experienced sieges, imprisoned kings and seen off the Spanish Armada. Explore a history that spans over 1000 years and learn about how its role has changed from fortified defence to home of the Lord Lieutenant of the Island. Bring the curriculum to life and stand at the spot where history happened.

"A day at Carisbrooke Castle is better than weeks in the classroom! Children love that it looks like a 'real' castle."

Sue Pryor
Year 6 teacher

Curriculum Links

Support your teaching in the classroom by stepping out of it. A visit to Carisbrooke Castle will help you bring learning to life, covering multiple topics across the curriculum and key stages. 

  • KS1 History: Similarities and differences between ways of life in different time periods. Significant historical events, people and places in the locality
  • KS1 English and Drama: Take on the roles of Carisbrooke's most famous residents and their servants to find out what life was really like
  • KS2 History: A local history study. A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils' chronological knowledge beyond 1066
  • KS3 History: A local history study. Development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509 and in Britain 1509-1745
  • KS3 Geography: Understand the strategic importance of the castle

Free self-led visits

Enjoy a free self-led visit to Carisbrooke Castle and organise your day to suit your curriculum needs. Carisbrooke has been an important focus of settlement since Roman times and illustrates the domestic side of castle life as well as attack and defence. Climb the steep steps to the top of the Norman keep and imagine how you would defend the castle from invaders, explore the castle and Edwardian garden, thinking about who lived there and what it might have been like. Our free handling box, full of replica items and even smell boxes can be used with our teaching resources to help you make the most of your visit.

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Expert-led Discovery Visits

Let our costumed experts bring the history of Carisbrooke Castle to life in a Discovery Visit workshop. For just £100 per session, your class will delve deeper into the story of the castle and the people who lived there, through hands-on learning activities including role-play, object handling and trying on costumes.  Our sessions are designed to support your teaching of the curriculum and learning back in the classroom.

Our Discovery Visits have been adapted to follow health and safety guidelines and will still offer your students a quality and fun learning experience.

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Itineraries

With so much to see and do during a visit to Carisbrooke Castle, our useful itineraries will help you plan your day. Whether it be a half or full day of activities that you're looking for, or would like to combine a visit to Carisbrooke Castle with Osborne or Yarmouth Castle, they're a useful tool to help you get the most out of your trip.

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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 for Covid-19 risk assessments and measures we’ve got in place please visit 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 for group leaders once you have made a booking. Visit our bookings page to start planning your trip!

  • Facilities
    • CASTLE GROUNDS: The castle grounds are open.
    • EXHIBITIONS: The castle's Guardhouse, offering an introduction to the site and its history is open.
    • MUSEUM: The Museum is open to visitors. Please check the main Carisbrooke webpage for further information on opening times.
    • PARKING: Free car park 100m from main entrance and space for 8 coaches. 
    • TOILETS: Toilets are located in a separate block inside the courtyard. An accessible toilet is located in the central courtyard. Toilets can be used by bubbles on a one in, one out policy. Additonal hand sanitising stations are available in various locations.
    • LUNCH: You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds, and there is a large picnic area with benches and tables.
    • SHOP: There is a shop selling a wide range of books, gifts and Charles I themed souvenirs. We require you to bring your students in small groups at a time.
    • EDUCATION ROOM: Currently unavailable.
    • ACCESSIBILITY: There are four parking bays for Blue Badge holders near the castle entrance. Disabled drivers may park within castle courtyard, and disabled passengers may be set down there. The well house and ground floor of museum are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. Due to the steep stairs, the wall walk and the upper floor of museum are inaccessible to wheelchair users.
  • Learning Resources

    A Teachers' Kit is a free educational tool packed with everything you need to give your group a deep insight into the place you are visiting. Featuring historical information, suggestions for activities, and high-quality images, this resource is a comprehensive toolkit for group leaders of various subjects and key stages. Teachers' Kits also include key site information, facilities and plans.

  • Education Site Opening Times

    We offer free self-led education visits during school term time*. From November until March we open exclusively for education groups at selected sites when booking an expert-led Discovery Visit. See our education opening times below for individual site information.

    *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-October: Monday-Friday 10-5pm. Discovery Visits available Monday-Friday
    • November-March: Monday-Friday 10-4pm. Discovery Visits available Monday-Friday 
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