Quick Overview - Looking to go Medieval, get closer to the Tudors or marvel at the Monarchs? Newcastle Castle offers an exciting school trip that really brings history to life for your pupils. Schools can explore the medieval fortress, climb the ancient towers, and walk through the Great Hall to imagine life in the Middle Ages. You get to participate in interactive workshops and try on authentic armor. Learn about castle defenses, or even take part in a mini mock battle to understand medieval warfare. Newcastle Castle provides full or half day guided visits for schools that dive into the castle’s fascinating history, making it a perfect setting for your students to connect with the past in a memorable way. It is an adventure packed day with plenty of learning.A visit to Newcastle Castle will help pupils develop a deeper understanding of history and will put what you teach about in the classroom into context.
We provide a range of hands on activities, talks, and the opportunity for bespoke workshops to bring history to life.
Whatever their age, your group will find an amazing learning experience at Newcastle Castle.
What activities are available during educational visits?
We cater for Primary, Secondary, and Colleges and Universities.
For Primary and Secondary schools we offer a whole host of workshops that cover topics from the Black Death to Fairy Tales, which can all be tailored to suit your curriculum and teaching. All these workshops include hands on learning activities, and the opportunity for a tour around the Castle Keep.
Typically, schools book a full day or a half day. A full day visit would usually consist of a guided tour of the Castle site and the Keep for half a day, and then one of our range of workshops for the other half a day. Workshops usually take place indoors in the Harbottle Suite in the Black Gate. On a full day visit you would normally have a half hour lunch break in between each session, also in the Harbottle Suite.
A half day visit can either be a guided tour or a workshop, but if you're only visiting for half a day we would usually deliver the workshop in the Castle Keep so that you don't miss out!
For Colleges and Universities we offer more focused sessions for particular courses and topics. We can also include an introductory tour or self led tour.
For Primary and Secondary schools we offer a whole host of workshops that cover topics from the Black Death to Fairy Tales, which can all be tailored to suit your curriculum and teaching. All these workshops include hands on learning activities, and the opportunity for a tour around the Castle Keep.
Typically, schools book a full day or a half day. A full day visit would usually consist of a guided tour of the Castle site and the Keep for half a day, and then one of our range of workshops for the other half a day. Workshops usually take place indoors in the Harbottle Suite in the Black Gate. On a full day visit you would normally have a half hour lunch break in between each session, also in the Harbottle Suite.
A half day visit can either be a guided tour or a workshop, but if you're only visiting for half a day we would usually deliver the workshop in the Castle Keep so that you don't miss out!
For Colleges and Universities we offer more focused sessions for particular courses and topics. We can also include an introductory tour or self led tour.
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Medieval School Trip
Norman Conquest Medieval Society and Feudalism Religion and Crusades Magna Carta and Parliament Black Death and Medicine Peasants Revolt Castles Battle of Hastings
Newcastle Castle has one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval Castle Keep in the country. Enjoy a complete tour of the walls, moat, turrets and arrow slits of the outer walls before exploring the Great Hall and Dungeon of the Keep itself. We also offer a range of medieval workshops including hands-on activities like medieval dance, sword fighting and armour handling, designed for Key Stage 1 classes studying Castles, Key Stage 2 groups studying the Norman Invasion and Key Stage 3 groups studying Medieval Realms.
Local History
>Monarchs
>Tudors
>Outdoor Learning
What size groups do we cater for?
Our maximum capacity in a day is 2 classes, approx. 60 pupils.
On-site classroom facilities?
We have a learning room which can be hired out by schools for lunches or other activities. This is also where our workshops take place.
Is there first aid on site?
Most of our staff are first aid trained.
Groups with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
At Newcastle Castle we are committed to supporting all learners. Because we understand there is no one size fits all solution when providing support, we would ask you to let us know about any special needs for anyone in your group, and we can discuss with you how best to support them.
The Castle Keep is a difficult building from an access point of view, as it has a large number of steep stairs. We can still accommodate children with mobility difficulties and can arrange for an extra volunteer to deliver a range of activities on the ground floor of the Keep (which is accessible from ground level) if a child is unable to manage the stairs at all.
The workshops are delivered in the Harbottle Suite in the Black Gate, which is accessible by lift. This is also the indoor lunch space, and has an accessible toilet.
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Who are Newcastle Castle?
Steeped in history, this imposing Norman fortress is a rugged reminder of northern England's turbulent past. Newcastle Castle is where the story of Newcastle began and the reason the city got its name.
Every enquiry gives you a chance to win trips and workshops for your school - We are giving away a free trip for every week of the Autumn term!
Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear NE1 1RQ
