Enabling free school visits
Applications for the Access Fund for Schools 2025/26 are now open
The Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) Access Fund for Schools offers your school the opportunity to have a funded high quality, immersive learning experience at the iconic sites of the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace, as well as a travel subsidy payment.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Fund your school must be a state funded primary, secondary or special school or unit.
Eligibility criteria applies. Schools must demonstrate that they are a state funded primary, secondary or special school, and have both of the following:
- 30% or more students eligible for Pupil Premium*;
- 15% or more students with special educational needs*.
*Special schools do not need to adhere to this criteria.
Travel Subsidies
Continuing with the success of our travel subsidy scheme we will again be offering travel subsidies to assist with transport to our sites. Schools will be offered up to £2,100 depending on their location to help with costs. To find out which travel funding band your school falls within please see the travel bands map below or check our counties reference list.
Schools will be eligible for the following amounts:
Ban 1: £0
Band 2: £450 / £600
Band 3: £800 / £1,100
Band 4: £1,300 / £1,800
Band 5: £1,600 / £2,100
- The smaller amount will be allocated to group sizes of 35 pupils and below and the higher amount to group sizes of 36-105 pupils.
- SEND groups are also entitled to the higher end of the band, even if their group size is below 36.
- Visits from KS 1 - 5 students and special school students can be supported and the Fund covers the cost of general admission for up to 105 pupils as well as a facilitated session for all children at mainstream schools and up to 10 pupils from Special schools. Adults accompanying children at HRP-stated ratios will also be included.
- Visit Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace for a list of facilitated sessions available.
- If you have any questions about the Access Fund for Schools please email [email protected]
Access Fund FAQs
The Access Fund for Schools offers your school the opportunity to have a high quality, immersive facilitated learning experience at an iconic historical site free of charge.
Visits from Key Stage 1 - 5 students and special school students can be supported and the Fund covers the cost of general admission for up to 105 pupils as well as a facilitated session for all children at mainstream schools and up to 10 pupils from Special schools. Adults accompanying students at HRP-stated ratios will also be included. Included in the access fund is the travel subsidy for schools located outside of London boroughs.
Our travel subsidy offers assistance with travel costs to our sites. Funds are allocated based on size of group and distance from our sites. You can find out how much you may be entitled to claim by using our travel banding map here.
In order to be eligible to apply Schools must demonstrate that they are a state funded primary, secondary or special school, and have both of the following:
- 30% or more students eligible for Pupil Premium*;
- 15% or more students with special educational needs*.
*these characteristics do not need to be evidenced by special schools.
Applications are now open. The electronic application form is available on our website here. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
The Access Fund can cover places for up to 105 pupils per school. If you wish to bring along a larger amount of pupils they will be charged at our normal subsidised learning rate. Prices can be found on our website here- Schools | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)
The Access Fund can support visits at Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London and Kensington Palace. We recommend selecting a first and second choice site in your application form site to allow for more availability. If you live in Northern Ireland visit the Hillsborough Castle and Gardens web page for more information on their travel bursary scheme
If you have already made a booking for the 25/26 academic year and think you might be eligible for funding please get in touch with us at [email protected] quoting your booking reference number and we may be able to assist with some funding.
Access Fund visits can take place at any time during 2025/26 term time, excluding June 2026.
You will be contacted to let you know whether or not your application has been successful within 10 days of sending your request form in.
Included in your visit will be admission of up to 105 pupils and the necessary amount of accompanying adults, a learning session for all your pupils, a travel subsidy (if located in band 2-5), 2 teacher planning passes and a place at one of our teacher familiarisation days. More information can be found about our learning sessions here.
Yes, absolutely we would welcome an application from as many schools as you wish. Unfortunately however we can only accept one application per school.
Yes, absolutely, we would welcome a repeat application from yourselves.
Upon a successful application, your funding amount will be confirmed. Further details and terms and conditions will be confirmed upon a successful application.
Please contact us at [email protected].
Tower of London School Sessions
Explore available facilitated sessions at the Tower.
Hampton Court Palace School Sessions
Explore available facilitated sessions at Hampton Court Palace.
Kensington Palace School Sessions
Explore available facilitated sessions at Kensington Palace.
Teacher Network
We design our schools programmes in collaboration with teachers. Find out how you can join the Teacher Network.