Alnwick Castle

School Trips

Why book Alnwick Castle for School Trips and Educational Visits?

With nearly a thousand years of history, and links to famous figures and events from the North East and beyond, a School trip or Educational Visit to Alnwick Castle will fascinate and inspire students of all ages.

A visit to Alnwick Castle might include exploration of its grounds, towers and State Rooms. You might like to book a special guided tour or talk that focuses on the topic you have been studying. Whether that's medieval castles, the Tudor period, North East history, Georgian Britain or Harry Potter, we can accommodate your interests.

We also offer specialised workshops focusing on different elements of the castle's history, exclusively for School trips and Educational Visits.

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits
Resource Packs

What activities are available during group visits?

- Access to a member of our dedicated Education team throughout your visit
- Exploration of the castle grounds, towers and State Rooms, with trails and activities you can use along the way
- Access to the Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland
- Access to Artisans Courtyard and Dragon Quest
- An exclusive guided tour or talk of your choice available to book
- Workshop sessions on Castle Life, Harry Hotspur, Castle Defences or the Wizard Earl of Northumberland available to book

Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?

Local History

For the North East, Alnwick Castle has been a key part of the region's story for nearly a thousand years. From its earliest form as a Norman castle, to its position at the forefront of border wars between England and Scotland, to Georgian and Victorian restorations, it has always held importance.

English

Shakespeare Storytelling Heroes and villains

A visit to Alnwick Castle can inspire imagination in creative writing and story telling. whether following Shakespeare and writing about history, like the rebellion of Harry Hotspur, knight of Alnwick Castle or the ascension of Macbeth, or learning the literary techniques that form a guided tour.

Business

Operations Management

Alnwick Castle is one of the North East's largest heritage attractions, with Customer Service at its forefront, and strong Marketing that promotes it across the world. Business students can hear how innovation is possible even in a medieval fortress, or how interviews for aspiring wizards work!

Art

History of Art Painting Sculpture

Alnwick Castle's Painting and Sculpture collections form one of Britain's best art galleries outside of London. Paintings by Old Masters like Titian, Turner, Canaletto and Van Dyck mean History of Art students can see a range of disciplines and styles, with the ability to inspire their own work.

Medieval

Black Death and Medicine Magna Carta and Parliament Medieval Society and Feudalism Norman Conquest Castles

Medieval history is key to Alnwick Castle's story. Warfare was part of everyday life for the Castle and its Knights. The buildings made by the Normans were restored; royalty became involved in Castle life; valour, chivalry and handling weapons became essential to the Percy family's survival.

Tudors

Civil War Restoration Period Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot Oliver Cromwell William Shakespeare

The Tudors did not have the easiest relationship with Alnwick Castle. Henry VIII punished the Percy family for religious rebellions; so did Elizabeth I during her reign. But Shakespeare wrote about the family in his history plays, and Macbeth has a real historical connection to the castle too.

Elizabethans

Queen Elizabeth I beheaded the lord of Alnwick Castle, Thomas Percy, and imprisoned his successor. The Elizabethan reign was a difficult time for the Castle, even as Shakespeare immortalised former residents. Religion divided the Percy family, with Catholic rebellions on more than one occasion.

Monarchs

From William I to Charles III, almost every monarch in British history made an impact on Alnwick Castle's history. Each reign brought favour or rebellion - from Richard II's deposition by the Percy family to Henry IV's defeat of Harry Hotspur four years later, to Elizabeth II's royal visit in 2011.

Georgian

The 1st Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, who restored Alnwick Castle in the Georgian period, were two of the most important figures of the era. Great collectors, artistic patrons, politicians, social reformers, cultural figures, diary keepers and much more, they are vital to Alnwick's history.

Victorian

Inventions Queen Victoria

Charlotte Percy, 3rd Duchess of Northumberland, was a governess to Princess Victoria before she became Queen. Algernon Percy, 4th Duke, used new Victorian technology and inventions to restore Alnwick Castle and commission lifeboat designs. The Crimean War saw members of his family win medals too.

World War

Evacuation

Over 100 members of Alnwick Castle's staff and resident family served in the First World War, and in 1940, the 9th Duke of Northumberland was killed at Dunkirk. In the same year, evacuees from Newcastle came to Alnwick Castle, where they lived for nearly four years during the Second World War.

Significant Individuals from History

Harry Hotspur was one of the most famous knights in England. Thomas Percy was a key figure in the Gunpowder Plot. Henry the Magnificent served King Henry VIII. Elizabeth Seymour Percy was a major part of Georgian society. Charlotte Percy served Queen Victoria. They all lived at Alnwick Castle.

What size groups do you cater for?

Workshop sessions are normally no more than 30 students per group. For a visit, we are happy to welcome any number, but groups may be split into smaller groups of 30 for any activities.

Is there first aid on site?

Yes

Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?

We will make reasonable adjustments wherever we can to accommodate all visiting students.

Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?