Warkworth Castle and Hermitage

Schools

A school visit to Warkworth Castle is a unique experience. Once home to the powerful Percy family who now reside in Alnwick Castle, Warkworth was, and remains, one of the largest and most impressive fortresses in North East England. But what was life like for those living in a castle 600 years ago? With its rich and colourful history and magnificent cross shaped keep, your class can become a King or Queen for the day and explore the development of the castle from Medieval times to the present day.

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

Key links to the curriculum at Warkworth Castle include:

  • KS1-3 History: 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

Free Self-Led Visits

We offer free entry to qualifying learning groups. Discover the history of Warkworth Castle on a free education visit, and lead it in your own way to fulfil your curriculum objectives. Explore the keep, almost intact after over 600 years, and look out for the lion badge of the Percy family. To make the most of your visit, download our free resources to help you plan lessons and your day at Warkworth Castle. 

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
    • PARKING: Car park 30 metres from the castle entrance via gravel path, bridge slats and a step. Free coach parking is available for groups.
    • KEEP: The castle will be open as usual for you to enjoy. Areas in the Keep will be closed off to aid social distancing. Please keep to one social bubble at a time while accessing the Keep. The Dukes Rooms are currently closed.
    • TOILETS: Our toilets available as usual. Additional hand sanitising stations are available across the site.
    • LUNCH: There are grassed areas available for picnics.
    • SHOP: Shop on site selling souvenirs that can help with learning back in the classroom. Space is limited, so please liaise with staff on arrival and bring your students in supervised small groups.
    • FACE COVERINGS: 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.

  • Enquire now

  • School visits academic year 2020-21

    In line with government guidance, over 60 of our English Heritage sites are open for education visits, and we’re taking bookings online up to 30 June.

    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.

'step into englands story