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
  • PARKING: Free car park, 200m from entrance with 100 parking spaces. Disabled parking is available in the car park. There is space for 3 coaches. The car park is managed by Fareham Borough Council.
  • TOILETS: Unfortunately there are no toilets inside Portchester Castle. Public toilets, including accessible toilets, are available in the car park. These are managed by Fareham Borough Council.
  • BAG STORAGE: Schools are welcome to leave bags in the Education Room if pre-booked. Room is lockable but all items are left entirely at your own risk.
  • LUNCH: You are welcome to bring a picnic and eat in the Outer Bailey, or there is a dedicated picnic area in the Inner Bailey, with picnic benches. In bad weather you may use the education room, if booked. A selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks can be bought from the shop.
  • EDUCATION ROOM: Based in one of the castle towers, this is a multipurpose room that can be used as a classroom, as well as an interactive space with a number of models of weapons that would have been used to attack the castle.

• Hazard Information

  A useful tool to help with your risk assessments.

  • Portchester Castle Hazard Information.pdf (148.6 KB)

• Risk Assessments

  Our ready-made Discovery Visit Risk Assessments take the hassle out of planning.

  • In the Footsteps of Kings Risk Assessment.pdf (75.7 KB)
  • Big History: From Dominant Castle to Hidden Fort Risk Assessment.pdf (73.9 KB)

• Learning Resources

  These resources are free educational tools packed with everything you need to give your group a deep insight into the place you are visiting. Featuring historical information, site plans, suggestions for activities, and high-quality images, these resources are a comprehensive toolkit for group leaders of various subjects and key stages.

  • Portchester Castle Teachers' Resource Pack (KS2-KS4).pdf (3.6 MB)
  • Portchester Castle Timeline (KS2-KS3).pdf (2.95 MB)
  • Portchester Castle Teachers' Activity Ideas (KS1-KS4).pdf (1.91 MB)
  • Portchester Castle Student Activity Sheets (KS2-KS3).pdf (1.77 MB)

  
  With all history GCSEs now requiring a study of the historic environment, we’ve also created a site proposal form to help you with your planning in conjunction with OCR.

  • Portchester Castle OCR Spec B: History Around Us (GCSE).pdf (234 KB)