Cloth of Gold
Bring a Tudor painting to life! Working with a drama specialist, use costume, props and drama techniques to explore characters and re-create key moments from the history painting The Field of the Cloth of Gold.
Wednesdays - September through to May
Tuesdays - June and July
10.45, 12.30
1.5 hours
How to book this session >
Court life
Join a costumed presenter to learn about the lives of rich and poor at the court of Henry VIII. Explore the surviving Tudor palace and investigate what it reveals about the lifestyle of the men, women and children who lived and worked here.
Monday to Friday – September through to May
10.30, 12.00, 13.30
45 minutes
How to book this session >
Coming to court
Meet one of Henry VIII’s courtiers and learn how to seek royal favour. Look for evidence of Henry’s personality and pastimes and use this to impress the King, creating a written petition fit to win over the most reluctant of monarchs.
Monday to Friday – September through to May
10.30, 12.00, 13.30
45 minutes
How to book this session >
Court sport
Court sport looks at some of the different sports and pastimes of the Tudors. Using replica objects, discussion, demonstration and participation your group can explore a different Tudor world and look at how the rich and poor had fun.
Thursdays – September through to May
Wednesdays and Thursdays – June and July
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
How to book this session >
I spy – The Tudors
Using court gossip, a creative writing specialist will help pupils to investigate what life was like for the rich and the poor. Learning new vocabulary, pupils will then write a letter to the French King, reporting about Henry VIII and his court.
Wednesdays – October through to May
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
How to book this session >
Drawing Henry
Become a renaissance master and create your own masterpiece using traditional pouncing techniques used to copy images in the sixteenth century.
Pupils will learn about the sports and games Henry would like to play, before creating a portrait of the King to take back to the classroom.
Tuesdays – September through to July
10.45, 11.45, 13.15
45 minutes
How to book this session >
Dressed for Court
When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays – September through to July
Session times: 10.30, 11.45, 13.15
Duration: 60 minutes
Curriculum links: Art and Design Unit 6B: What a performance; Art and Design Unit 5C: Talking textiles; Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?; En1 Speaking and Listening
Investigate the clothing worn by members of the Tudor court using replica costume.
Some pupils will have the opportunity to dress up in replica court dress.
How to book this session >
Entertaining Henry
When: Mondays – October through to July
Session times: 10.30, 12.30
Duration: 1.5 hours
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; Design and Technology Unit 2B: Puppets; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
Join a professional puppeteer and create shadow puppets to portray the fare and festivities of a Tudor banquet.
Pupils will then write dialogue and perform a short play that would entertain Henry VIII himself.
How to book this session >
Explore the Tudor Kitchens
When: Monday to Wednesday – September through to May
Session times: 10.30, 11.30, 12.45, 13.30
Duration: 45 minutes
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
Discover the 16th-century technology that was used to feed the court of Henry VIII at Hampton Court’s Tudor Kitchens. With two costumed presenters.
How to book this session >
Hall tales
When: Tuesdays – September through to May
Session times: 10.30, 12.00, 13.30
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
Explore the Tudor palace and discover the stories the building has to tell. Henry VIII used Hampton Court to make a powerful political statement.
The countless generations who have lived and died here before and after the Tudors have also left their mark. Learn how to find the clues they’ve all left behind, and decode their hidden meanings. There’s a lot of evidence built into the palace – but how much of it can be trusted?
How to book this session >
Marrying Henry
When: Fridays – September through to February
Session times: 10.45, 12.45
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 7: Why did Henry VIII marry six times?
Is there such a thing as 'happy ever after'? Was Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne of Cleves doomed from the start?
Join a drama specialist to delve into the story of Henry and Anne. This fun and practical drama session will use portraits and primary sources including descriptions of the royal couple to explore different interpretations of their characters.
Using drama techniques, pupils will bring the past to life and consider whether Anne of Cleves was a good choice for Henry’s next wife.
How to book this session >
Investigating Henry
When:
- Monday to Friday – September through to May
- Tuesdays and Thursdays – June and July
Session times: 10.30, 12.00, 13.30
Length: 45 minutes
Curriculum links: Art and Design Unit 5C: Talking textiles; Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
Hampton Court Palace’s most famous owner was England’s most famous king. However, how do we know if the legends about Henry VIII are true?
Behind the image, what was he really like? Using artefacts, documents and replica objects pupils will investigate the truth about Henry and the Tudor court in this object-handling session.
How to book this session >
Painting history
When:
- Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – September through to May
- Mondays and Thursdays – June and July
Session times: 10.30, 12.00, 13.30
Duration: 45 minutes
Curriculum links: Art and Design Unit 5C: Talking textiles; Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 7: Why did Henry VIII marry six times?; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
The pictures on display at Hampton Court Palace are full of fascinating stories and symbolism.
Join a costumed presenter to discover how much evidence these paintings can reveal about life in the Tudor court. Pupils will use role-play and the close study of portraits to learn how they can express powerful messages and their limitations as primary source material.
How to book this session >
Tudor explorers
When:
- Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – September through to May, and
- Mondays and Thursdays - June and July
Session times: 10.30, 12.00, 13.30
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?; History Unit 19: What were the effects of Tudor exploration?
Tudor monarchs filled Hampton Court with the world’s treasures, from silk tapestries to costly spices. Adventurers won fame bringing such wares to England, but they could equally lose fortunes or even their lives. In an interactive session involving maps, artefacts and role play, your costumed presenter will explore the motives, morals, perils and rewards of Tudor exploration.
How to book this session >
Rags to Riches
When:
- Wednesdays – September through to May
- Tuesdays – June and July
Session times: 10.45, 12.30
Duration: 1.5 hours
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 7: Why did Henry VIII marry six times?; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
Work with a drama specialist to explore life in the Tudor palace for the rich and not so rich.
Pupils will analyse replica artefacts relating to a number of characters at court. The artefacts will then be used as props to create short dramatic pieces from life at court.
How to book this session >
The science of paint
When: Wednesdays – October through to May
Session times: 10.30, 11.45, 13.15
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?; Science Unit 3C: Characteristics of materials
Have you ever wondered how paint is prepared or what it is made from?
Learn all about the materials, historic methods and mess involved as you make your own paint, before using it to create your own miniature masterpiece!
How to book this session >
Tudor music
When: Mondays – September through to July
Session times: 10.30, 11.45, 13.15
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?; Music Unit 16: Cyclic patterns – Exploring rhythm and pulse
What was Henry VIII's favourite music? How did Henry enjoy music at Hampton Court?
Join an expert music historian to investigate how music featured at the Tudor court. Pupils will investigate how the different areas of the palace called for different types of music to be played.
All pupils are encouraged to participate in this practical music-making session and there are further opportunities for some to handle and play replica instruments.
How to book this session >
Tudor tales
When: Wednesdays and Fridays – September though to May
Session times: 10.30, 12.00, 13.30
Duration: 45 minutes
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 7: Why did Henry VIII marry six times?; History Unit 8: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?
Join a costumed storyteller in the depths of the Tudor palace to investigate what life was like at the court of Henry VIII. Are the terrible tales about him true? What was it like to work for him?
Find out as your storyteller guides you through the byways of the palace, from the cellars where Henry gambled with his servants to the Hall where he danced with his wives.
How to book this session >
Young Henry
When: Tuesday to Thursday – September through to May
Session times: 10.30, 12.00, 13.30
Curriculum links: Citizenship Unit 1: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; En1 Speaking and Listening; History Unit 7: Why did Henry VIII marry six times?
As part of the new exhibition at Hampton Court Palace, join a costumed interpreter to investigate the Henry who loved to hunt, joust and compose music for his wife Katharine of Aragon.
All changed in 1522, when Anne Boleyn arrived at court and caught the King’s eye – things would never be the same. Explore the politics and intrigue of the Tudor court using drama to examine the world of Young Henry.
How to book this session >
