Alnwick Castle

What We Offer Visiting Schools:

Visiting school groups will receive free resources for use in the medieval grounds and the lavish, palatial State Rooms. The fascinating Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland and the colourful Artisans Courtyard are also available to explore, and our staff are always happy to share their favourite parts of the castle’s story with groups of all ages.

Additionally, more in-depth tours, and specialised workshop sessions tailored for different key stages, can be booked in advance of your visit. Students can take on the roles of English and Scottish armies, launching an attack on the castle as they learn about its defences; find out more about what life was like in a castle during the medieval period; or expand their historical knowledge with one of our fantastic expert guides.

Why Choose Us for an Educational Visit:

Alnwick Castle is one of the north east’s largest heritage attractions, with something to offer a wide variety of school groups. It is a medieval fortress, and has a world-class collection of paintings and decorative arts; it showcases the lives of knights, dukes and duchesses, and explores the lives of workers below stairs in the Great Kitchen; it is a fascinating historic site, and a magical film location. Groups can explore at their leisure, book a guided tour or talk, or take part in specialized workshop sessions and activities, all with our excellent and knowledgeable Education team.

Subjects and Topics Covered:

History – medieval life, castles, England and Scotland, knights, kings and queens, Wars of the Roses, Tudors, Gunpowder Plot, Civil War, Georgians, Victorian, 20^th century

Art and Design – portraiture, Renaissance, landscapes, porcelain, medieval tiles

English – links to Shakespeare

Leisure & Tourism – heritage tourist attractions

Accreditation and Awards:

Alnwick Castle is a Sandford Award winning attraction (2021-2026).

Group Sizes Catered For:

We can accommodate any size group, but for larger groups (60+) special accommodations and timetabling will need to be organised ahead of the visit.

Itineraries, Resources, and Workshops:

General visits allow groups the opportunity to explore the grounds, Artisans Courtyard, museums, Great Kitchen and State Rooms.

Groups can receive pre-visit and post-visit activities as well as teachers’ resources.

Guided tours usually focus on castle history, filming locations or a combination of both, but can be tailored to any subject or specific topic you are studying.

Workshops include:

KS1 – ‘Storytelling’ – the life of famous knight Harry Hotspur

KS1/2 – ‘Castle Life’ – explore life in a medieval castle

KS1/2 – ‘Storming the Barbican’ – reenact an attack by the Scots on the English castle

KS2 – ‘The Wizard Earl’ – magic and science in Tudor England

KS2/3 – ‘A Victorian Banquet’ – learn about the work for an event in the Great Kitchen

KS3 – ‘Fantasy Fortress’ – create your own castle based on Alnwick’s features

KS4 – ‘Travel and Tourism’ – a talk and tour focused on the castle as an attraction

There is also ‘Broomstick Training’, our very popular activity where two magical teachers show you the basics of flying a broomstick – complete with photo ops!

Risk Assessment:

Risk Assessments are reviewed regularly and will be sent to each school upon booking.

Education Department Information:

Contact education@alnwickcastle.com for more information on booking, what we offer, and if you have any questions.

Pricing Information:

£7.30 per student admission. Accompanying adults receive free entry on a 1:5 ratio (primary) or 1:10 (secondary).

Workshops and tours are £37 per session (for up to 30 students) with the exception of Broomstick Training, which is £80 with a maximum capacity of 40.

Schools in the NE65 and NE66 postcode areas receive free entry – contact us for more information.

Facilities:

Artisans Courtyard is the ‘hub’ for Education visits – it is an undercover outdoor area with medieval costumes and games, benches for lunch and space to leave bags. General visitors may also use this area during opening hours.

Accessibility and Disabled Facilities:

Disabled toilet access is available.

Opening Hours:

Alnwick Castle is open 10am-5pm daily from late March until late October. Contact us to check availability for visits.