Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine

School Visits

Experience Neolithic life as never before with your class! Bring history to life, cover multiple subjects, and discover the changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age in a totally unique location.

"The children loved walking around the site to see where other mine shafts were and how people worked down the mines. There has been so much follow up work based from the trip which has excited the children from written work to art, geography and of course history!"

Amy Dunning, Teacher, North Denes Primary School

Curriculum links

As one of the oldest industrial sites in Britain, education at Grimes Graves offers a fantastic insight into pre-history mining technology and the development in historic eras over the centuries.

  • KS2 History: Changes in Britain from Stone Age to Iron Age
  • KS3 History: An aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils' chronological knowledge from before 1066
  • KS1-3 History: A local history study

Free self-led visits

Bring your class to Grime's Graves, the only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain, for free! Enhance your teaching at this spectacular site, where your class will be immersed in our brand-new, spectacular audio-visual displays and can explore our new exhibition. As a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a habitat for rare plants and fauna, there are also lots of opportunities to explore the unusual ecosystems at Grime's.

Please note: visitors over the age of 7 can descend 9 metres (30ft) by ladder into one excavated shaft to see the jet-black flint.

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PLAN YOUR VISIT

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 car and coach parking, containing 50 spaces, approximately 500 metres from site entrance.
    • SHOP: Shop selling a range of English Heritage gifts.
    • EXHIBITION: Introductory exhibition at the visitor centre, which displays information about Neolithic mining.
    • TOILETS: Two port-a-loos on site.
    • LUNCH: Groups can use the picnic area.
    • BAG STORAGE: No bag storage at site.
    • ACCESSIBILITY: Visitors are advised to wear sensible shoes as there are some areas of rough ground. Ramp into visitor centre and shop. The mine shaft is not accessible for wheelchair users. There are established grass paths all over the site but no hard-gravelled surfaces. Under 7s are not permitted in the public pit.
    • WET WEATHER: Limited cover. If the weather is bad, the site staff will do their best to find a suitable place for your group to shelter.
  • Hazard Information

    A useful tool to help you with your risk assessments.

     

    You must meet the following ratios for leaders to students on the day of your visit when booking, and if your group is forming smaller groups while at the site:

    • Ages 4-5 (UK Reception) 1 leader for every 4 students (1:4)
    • Ages 5-7 (UK Key Stage 1) 1 leader for every 6 students (1:6)
    • Ages 7-11 (UK Key Stage 2) 1 leader for every 10 students (1:10) and
    • Ages 11-18 (UK Key Stages 3, 4, and 5) 1 leader for every 15 students (1:15)
    • For an adult learning group, consisting of individuals all over the age of 18, there are no ratios but there must be an appointed group leader
    • All ratios outlined above apply to home education groups
    • If your group consists of children aged 3 and/or 4, you must also refer to the Early Years and Foundation Stage Statutory Framework which sets out specific legal requirements for minimum ratios for this age group, to include requirements about the qualifications of the leaders
    • SEND groups must meet the minimum ratios above but may bring any additional leaders as required to adequately support their group
  • Education Site Opening Times

    We offer free self-led education visits during school term time*. 

    *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-November: Monday-Sunday, 10-5pm
    • December-March: No bookings can be taken at the current time

Learning Resources

  • Grime's Graves Teacher's Kit

    Use this Teachers' Kit to support a free self-led visit to Grime's Graves. Explore the lunar landscape spotting butterflies and flowers, descend deep underground into the Neolithic mine and discover more with our schools' handling collection. 

  • Phil Harding's Audio Guide

    Listen to this audio tour hosted by archaeologist Phil Harding and English Heritage historian Dr Jennifer Wexler. Recommended for teachers and older students. 

  • Midnight Flint

    Read or listen to this story written by Sophie Kirtley about children living and working at Grime's Graves in the Neolithic period. 

  • Greenwell's Pit Virtual Tour

    Greenwell's Pit is not usually open to the public, so this virtual tour is a great way to peek into the past, and explore one of the deepest mines at Grime's Graves. 

  • Meet a Prehistoric Flint Miner

    Join Will Lord, a prehistoric survival expert, at Grime's Graves to discover more about what life was like for prehistoric flint miners.

  • What Happened in the Neolithic?

    Find out more about life and developments during the Neolithic period with this animation.

  • How England Was Made: Neolithic Flint Mines

    Discover evidence of early industry at Grime's Graves in this introductory video about the Neolithic Flint Mine.

  • Teaching Prehistory

    Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your prehistory teaching.