Castle Acre: Castle Acre Priory

Schools

A stunning and inspiring location for a cross-curricular school trip. Make the most of your day at Castle Acre Priory by visiting the on-site exhibition, recreated herb garden, and new stonework display in the Prior's lodgings. Download the free resources for schools below. 

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.
  • English Heritage are legally required to request and record the contact details of customers and visitors aged 16 years and over. The information that you provide will only be shared with NHS Test and Trace, if requested. For more information and for details of our safety measures, please see our what to expect page.

We’re continually updating our education offer in line with government guidance.  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

Once the beautiful home of a working community of Cluniac monks with a great love for art and decoration, Castle Acre Priory is a fascinating site to explore for its historical signifcance and visual decadence.

  • KS1-3 History: A local history study
  • KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality
  • 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 1066-1509 and 1509-1745
  • KS3 Geography: Local knowledge, geographical skills and fieldwork, human and physical geography
  • KS3 Art & Design: The history of art, craft, design and architecture

Free Self-Led Visits

The Priory has a huge amount to see and explore. From the extremely well preserved west front of the great 12th-century church to the remains of the cloister and monks' living quarters, which includes a two-storey, 24-seater toilet block. See below to download our Learning Resources to support your teaching before, during and after your visit. Use our Tour and Explore teachers' guide and student booklet for students to take part in a self-led tour around Castle Acre Priory. Make a full day of your visit by walking through the village to the nearby Castle and Bailey Gate using our illustrated map.

Enquire now

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
    • EDUCATION ROOM: The education room is currently unavailable.
    • PARKING: Space for up to four coaches, please specify when booking.
    • TOILETS: Male and female toilets available 50 metres from entrance (not accessible for wheelchairs).
    • SHOP: The shop is open with a one-way system in place.
    • ACCESS: Parts of the site are limited to those who cannot climb the spiral staircase.
    • FACE MASKS: Face coverings must be worn in all indoor public spaces, including in our exhibitions, shops, cafés and tea rooms. We won’t be able to give you a face covering, so please come prepared so you don’t miss out. U11s are exempt.

  • Enquire now

  • School visits academic year 2020-21

    In line with government guidance, we’re pleased to confirm that over 60 of our English Heritage sites are open for education visits from 12 April, and we’re now taking bookings online up to 16 May.

    Our COVID-secure measures will remain in place until all restrictions are lifted. Visitor numbers are limited, and all bookings must be made at least 14 days in advance.

    English Heritage are legally required to request and record the contact details of customers and visitors aged 16 years and over. The information that you provide will only be shared with NHS Test and Trace, if requested. For more information and for details of our safety measures, please see our what to expect page.

    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.

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