School Visits
Bring the curriculum to life and inspire your students. Stand at the spot where Operation Dynamo was planned, or experience what life was like for a medieval king or servant.
"We've spent a lot of time doing pre-work about castles in the classroom, but it makes such a difference for them to see for themselves what they've been learning about."
Jo Cross, KS1 Teacher
Curriculum Links
Support your teaching in the classroom by stepping out of it. A visit to Dover Castle will help you bring learning to life, covering multiple topics across the curriculum and key stages.
- KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places in the locality
- KS2 History: A local history study. A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066. The changing power of monarchs using case studies
- KS2 Maths: Enriching mathematical understanding - breaking codes in WW2
- KS3 History: The development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509. Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day
- KS3 Maths: Enriching mathematical understanding - breaking codes in WW2
- KS4 History: OCR History A: Study of the Historic Environment, OCR History B: History Around Us; AQA Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment, Norman and Medieval England
- KS5 History: OCR Unit Y103/Y133: England 1199 - 1272, OCR Unit Y113/Y143: Churchill 1930 - 1951; Edexcel Paper 2, Option 2A.2: England and the Angevin Empire in the reign of Henry II, 1154 - 1189
Bring learning to life
Create connections with the past and bring the curriculum to life on a free school visit to Dover Castle. Enjoy an engaging and memorable school trip and let your pupils get hands-on with history. Or you can delve deeper into the history of Dover Castle during a great value, interactive, expert-led Discovery Visit.
New for your learners!
Discover how Dover Castle resisted the sieges of 1216-17 and stopped the English throne from falling into French hands. New hands-on experiences, exciting displays and free teaching resources for KS1-4+ will bring Dover Castle’s dramatic past to life.
Find out moreFree Self-Led Visits
Enjoy a free self-led visit to Dover Castle and experience 2000 years of history. Start at the Roman lighthouse, then explore The Great Tower to learn more about Henry II. Descend into the Medieval tunnels on the way to the atmospheric Secret Wartime Tunnels. Find out more about WWI by using our handling box, full of artefacts and activities and book the education room to dress up and imagine what life would have been like as a medieval lady or knight.
Enquire nowExpert-Led Discovery Visits
Sandford Award winner 2022!
Let us lead an award-winning Discovery Visit for you! Experience what life was like for the lords and ladies who lived at Dover Castle during our interactive Knights, Feasts and Garderobes session, or step inside the Secret Wartime Tunnels and find out more about the work carried out there during WWII. Our hands-on sessions have been specifically designed to meet the needs of different groups across the key stages.
Find out more
School Visit Itineraries
Take the stress out of planning your visit to Dover Castle and use our downloadable recommended itineraries that include our award-winning Discovery Visits. Choose to focus on learning about medieval life, or wartime Dover, with a planned day of interactive activities, tours, and self-led exploration of Dover Castle.
Find out morePlan 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 further information on 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 once you have made a booking, plus a 20% discount on the official English Heritage guidebook for your place of choice.
Once you book your visit you’ll be sent a visit permit, which you’ll need to bring with you on the day.
Visit our bookings page to start planning your trip!
-
Facilities
- PARKING: Free parking for cars and minibuses under 3m in height. Coach parking if available off site at the council-run Pay and Display car park on Castle Hill.
- TOILETS: Toilets, including accessible toilets, located at all main areas of the property.
- LUNCH: You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds. There are also two cafés, offering a takeaway service. There is a secondary education room located above Aruthur’s Hall that can also be booked and used as a lunch space; this space includes tables and chairs (please note, this room is only accessible via a staircase).
- SECRET WARTIME TUNNELS: Our tunnels are open and accessible for education groups. Tours of Operation Dynamo can be booked Monday-Friday at 10:00, 10:20, and 10:40. Tours of the Underground Hospital can be booked Monday-Friday at 10:00 and 10:30.
- SHOP: The Great Tower Shop sells a range of gifts and books. We recommend bringing your students in small groups at a time.
- EDUCATION ROOM: The new education room is available to pre-book and is located in the Casemate next to the Spur tunnels.
- ACCESSIBILITY: Extensive grounds mainly accessible on tarmac paths, but some steep slopes. Wheelchair accessible route available on request. Land train stops at various parts of the site and can be used by students with limited mobility. Mobility scooters also available (to visitors over 18) if requested in advance. Unfortunately the Underground Hospital is not accessible for wheelchair users.
Site Map
Learning Resources
-
Dover Castle Medieval and Early Modern Teachers' Kit (KS1-KS4)
Our Teachers’ Kits feature historical information and activity suggestions for group leaders of various subjects and key stages. Use this kit to support students' exploration of the Medieval and Early Modern periods.
-
Dover Castle in the 20th Century Teachers' Kit (KS1-4)
Use the historical information, glossary, key dates, suggested activities and sources in this kit to help students discover Dover Castle in the 20th century.
-
Learn: Dover Through Time
Use our online guide to explore some of the top stories from Dover Castle's history. From the Romans to the Norman Conquest, the Barons' Wars to the Napoleonic Wars and the 20th century, there's a lot to discover.
-
Attack and Defence Handling Collection
Book our attack and defence handling collection for your visit to compare and contrast soldiers' experiences at Dover Castle during the medieval and Georgian periods.
-
First World War Handling Box
Book our First World War handling collection for your visit to Dover Castle and explore what life was like at the site during the conflict.
-
Dover Castle OCR Spec B: History Around Us (GCSE)
We’ve created a site proposal form to help with your planning in conjunction with OCR.
-
Dover Castle Teachers' Kit (French)
A French translation of our Dover Castle Teachers' Kit.
-
Dover Castle Teachers' Kit (German)
A German translation of our Dover Castle Teachers' Kit.
-
Dover Castle Team Training Assignment (KS3-KS4)
Immerse students in the world of wartime codes and symbols with this resource focused on the First World War at Dover Castle.
-
Learn Along With Us: Operation Dynamo
Use our online resources to find out more about Dover Castle's role in the Evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) in 1940.
-
Teaching Medieval History
Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your teaching of medieval history.
-
A Mini Guide to Castles
Discover how castles developed over time with this short introduction.
-
How to Take a Medieval Castle
Watch our short animation to learn more about how to take a medieval castle.
-
Homes Through History: Medieval Dover Castle
Meet King Henry II's Lord Steward at Dover Castle to find out more about what living in a medieval royal household was like.
-
Dover Castle - The Key to England
Join our Senior Properties Historian Paul Pattison to find out more about the great medieval sieges in Dover Castle's history and uncover what made the castle such a difficult place to attack.
-
Teaching the 20th Century
Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your teaching of 20th century history.
-
1940s World War II Make Up Tutorial
Find out more about the importance of makeup to members of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) stationed at Dover during the Second World War with Makeup Artist Rebecca Butterworth and Fashion Historian Amber Butchart.
-
Meet Admiral Ramsay
Join Admiral Ramsay at Dover Castle as he prepares for Operation Dynamo during the Second World War.
-
Dover Castle: Rescue from Dunkirk
Learn more about Dover Castle's role in Operation Dynamo with this short introductory video.
-
Postcard from Dover Castle
Take to the skies above Dover Castle to discover the site and its surroundings.
-
Enquire now
0370 333 1181
-
Visit our bookings page to start your enquiry. All bookings must be made at least 14 days in advance. Please make sure you check our terms and conditions ahead of your visit.
If you’d like more information about a site or one of our workshops, get in touch using the online form on our bookings page to speak to your local Education Visits Officer. We look forward to seeing you soon.