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Schools

Discover 1,000 years of history in some of the country's most iconic historic palaces. 

Plan an educational visit, search for learning resources, and take advantage of our CPD and training opportunities for teachers. 

We are now open for bookings for the 2023-2024 academic year. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.  

Gunpowder plot resources

Ready-to-use classroom activities about the Gunpowder Plot including a high quality dramatised video, image banks and discussion questions.

Gunpowder Plot Resources

Visit one of the palaces

Plan and book a school visit

Everything you need to know when planning a school visit to one of the palaces.

Tower of London Hampton Court Palace Kensington Palace Hillsborough Castle & Gardens
KS1 schoolchildren on a visit to the Tower of London.
The Great Hall showing Live Interpreter (in costume) running 
a session for secondary school students.

Access Fund for schools

Applications for 2023/24 are now closed.

CPD session at the Tower of London.

International schools

Enrich your visit with activities designed for international students. 

Tower of London
Hampton Court Palace

School children visiting Hampton Court Palace.

Home educators

Tailor a visit to suit your children's needs with our activity trails. 

Tower of London
Hampton Court Palace
Kensington Palace

Picture zoom challenge! What's the story?

Interactive historic sources to explore with your class. Use observation, interpretation and analytical skills to work out the story behind these mysterious artefacts.

Picture Zoom Challenge: Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane is known as the Nine Days Queen. She inherited the crown from her cousin Edward VI. She arrived at the Tower of London to prepare for her coronation, but within a fortnight she was back as a prisoner of her Catholic cousin, Mary I.

Subject: History, English, Science, Art & Design
Key Stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5, Home Educators and SEND
Topic: Tudors
For the classroom

Picture Zoom Challenge: Young Queen Victoria

Victoria was born in 1819 in the dining room at Kensington Palace. When Victoria was 18, at 06:00 on 20th June 1837, she was woken at Kensington Palace to be told visitors had arrived with important news.

Subject: History, English, Science, Art & Design
Key Stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5, Home Educators and SEND
Topic: Victorians
For the classroom

Picture zoom challenge: Tower at war

The Tower of London came under attack repeatedly during the Blitz. This plan records the locations of bomb strikes between September and December 1940.

Subject: History, English, Science, Art & Design
Key Stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5, Home Educators and SEND
Topic: Wars
For the classroom

Online and Outreach School Sessions

Students take part in a school session at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.

Online school sessions

Led by experienced presenters on Zoom, take a journey through time to meet historical figures and uncover history from your classroom. Our sessions support the study of History, English and Citizenship.

Coronation Benches at the Tower of London for the Tower of London Schools Coronation Competition

The Tower of London Schools Coronation Competition

In January 2023, we invited schools across the UK to take part in an exciting competition to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

Tracey Tooley investigating Hampton Court Palace with Tudor figures from history.

Search learning resources

Browse curriculum-based resources for use in school and at the palaces. 

Children doing Digital Missions at Hampton Court Palace

Games

Ready, set, play! Check out our interactive game resources for students to play in school or at home.

Opportunities for teachers

Join our Teacher Network

We collaborate with teachers to design our schools programme. Sign up and take part in our many opportunities. 

find out more
Group of guests on a costumed guide tour by Henry VIII in Base Court.

CPD and Training

Build your knowledge, skills and confidence with our tailored professional development sessions for educators.

Terms and conditions

Please read our terms and conditions before booking a school visit.

Read our Terms and conditions

Safeguarding

We want children, young people and vulnerable adults to have meaningful, enjoyable and safe experiences when they visit our palaces.

Safeguarding

Safety and security

Historic Royal Palaces uses a range of security measures and procedures to minimise the possibility of terrorist, or other criminal activity taking place. 

Security Statement
Sandford Award logo

Winner - The Sandford Award for Heritage Education 2018

BROWSE MORE HISTORY AND STORIES

Anne of Cleves

‘I like her not.’ The wife rejected by Henry VIII

Catherine Howard

A young woman whose marriage to Henry VIII would end in tragedy

The Field of Cloth of Gold

Henry VIII's historic meeting with his great rival François I in 1520 was a defining point in his reign

Shop online

Shop Christmas collection

Make the festive season one to cherish and remember with our selection of wonderful history-inspired gifts, tree decorations and delicious food and drink.

From £2.50

Shop Coronation gifts

Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III with beautiful commemorative souvenirs and gifts.

From £4.00

Crown Pride Pin Badge

This pride pin badge is exclusively available from Historic Royal Palaces and shows our logo in the vibrant colours of the rainbow.

£3.00