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Saxon and Viking School Trips

Settlers and Invaders - Life in the Dark Ages



What Saxon and Viking history trips in the UK offer interactive battles and settlements?

Saxon and Viking experiences include long ships, raids, and villages - highlighting migration and conflict.

During the early medieval period, following the departure of the Romans and before the arrival of the Normans, Invaders and Settlers visited our island from North Western Europe. School children will likely know the Anglo Saxons as being our long ago ancestors and the Vikings as being their pesky neighbours, but the reality is rather more complicated.

Enjoying Saxons workshop or a Vikings school trip will enhance your school topic. There are some of the truly enlightening museums and living history exhibits that specialise in information and resources from this fascinating period of our history. Scroll down for a quick overview of the Anglo Saxon and Viking periods and to find our school trip recommendations for places to visit to bring the subject to life.


Anglo Saxon School Trips - Saxon Settlements, Saxon Laws and Justice, museums, monuments and churches, arts and culture, lost treasures, experience the Anglo Saxons. in-school Saxon workshops

Viking School Trips - study Viking Raids, viking trade routes, recreate a viking longboat, visit viking strongholds, learn about viking mythology, and handle artefacts. in-school Viking workshops

Find a school trip or workshop for the following Saxons topics: Alfred the Great, Arts and Culture, Edward the Confessor, Invaders and Settlers, King Arthur, Saxon Laws and Justice, Saxon Settlements, and more.

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Discover Saxons and Vikings school trips for your class.




Popular school workshop August 2026 !

History Workshops

location icon All UK Regions
apple iconHistory, Prehistory, Greeks, Ancient Civilisations, Egyptians, Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Tudors, Industrial, Victorian, World War, Twentieth Century, Significant Individuals, Beyond Living Memory, Black History, Performing Arts, SEN


During our Viking workshop we will meet 'Astrid' The Viking and travel back in time to Anglo Saxon Britain. Through role play, song and interactive drama games we will learn lots of key themes from this time period....

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actor dressed as an anglo saxon in a school hall
Anglo Saxons
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Topics could include: Who were the Anglo Saxons? Where were they from? Why did they come to Britain? What evidence do we have? Time line Immigration and settlement Daily life Food Clothing...
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Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle
map pin North East

A school visit to Warkworth Castle is a unique experience. Once home to the powerful Percy family who now reside in Alnwick Castle, Warkworth was, and remains, one of the largest and most impressive fortresses in North East England.
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Four actors dressed as Ancient Greek citizens
Portals To The Past
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Portals to the Past provide high quality history workshops in schools for KS2, led by experienced historical re-enactors and historians. Available across most of England. From the Stone Age through to WW2 our workshops come to your school.
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Peveril Castle
Peveril Castle
map pin East Midlands

Founded soon after 1066 by William Peveril and overlooking Hope Valley and Cave Dale, Peveril Castle is a fantastic and historically important site to explore on a free self-led school visit....
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actor dressed as an egyptian
Dan Tastic History
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Anglo Saxon Workshop, Wow Day & School Visit Bring the Saxons to life in the classroom! An exciting display of historical artefacts, armour, weapons, shields, 1300 year old coins along with lots...
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accommodation at cumulus outdoors
Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre - Swanage
map pin South West

Explore Saxon sites across the Isle of Purbeck though educational walks, historical talks and site visits. Visit Corfe Castle and learn about the Saxon history on this famous site, a perfect location for castle construction in defence of the area and protection of the surrounding inhabitants.
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Framlingham Castles
Framlingham Castles
map pin East of England

A magnificent example of late 12th-century castle. Schools have the freedom to explore the inside of the castle walls through the main gatehouse, the 'wall walk' along the top of the castle, as well as learn about the history from the illustrated dis
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school planetarium show
Immersive Experiences
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Session 1 - Stone to Steel: Cultural Invasion An action-packed session introducing the identity of tribe and clan and exploring first contact with a new culture. Students will barter, trade and...
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Image for an Anglo Saxon School workshop KS2
Anglo Saxons!
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Our Anglo Saxon workshops cover an entire period in History from when the Saxons first raided Britain, the Romans leaving and the gradual settling of the Saxon tribes. We cover the Christianisation...
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three school children and a teacher at the museum of Liverpool
Museum of Liverpool
map pin North West

Invaders - Anglo-Saxons and Vikings KS2 - Students will learn about Britain's settlement by Anglo-Saxons, and Viking raids and invasion. The workshop covers four main topics including everyday life of...
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actor dressed as a Tudor lady
History Workshops
map pin online/in-school workshop

During our Viking workshop we will meet 'Astrid' The Viking and travel back in time to Anglo Saxon Britain. Through role play, song and interactive drama games we will learn lots of key themes from this time period.
> read

viking school history workshop
Viking Workshops
map pin online/in-school workshop

In this workshop we will meet 'Astrid' The Viking and travel back in time to Anglo Saxon Britain. Through role play, song and interactive drama games we will learn lots of key themes from this time period.
> read

anglo saxon battle axes logo
Anglo Saxons
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During the course of the workshop, our drama facilitator will guide your class through exploration of the people in Anglo Saxon society, their gods and burial rituals.
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School children in medieval costumes at Conisbrough Castle
Conisbrough Castle
map pin Yorkshire

Inspire your students with a visit to Conisbrough Castle, a symbol of power and wealth built by the Warenne family after the Norman Conquest, with 850 years of history to discover.
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Image for a residential school trip in Dorset KS2 KS3 KS4
Cumulus Outdoors Tented Village - Corfe Castle
map pin South West

Explore Saxon sites across the Isle of Purbeck though educational walks, historical talks and site visits.Visit Corfe Castle and learn about the Saxon history on this famous site, a perfect location...
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school group on a maths escape room
Maths School Escape Rooms
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Our Saxons escape provides a fun and challenging learning aspect to the topic. Students need to solve 12 Saxons based challenges to crack the codes and find the key to stop time. Who can stop time the fastest.
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children being shown artefacts at a history workshop
Outreach
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Have a visit from a Saxon monk or thane, and learn all about life in Anglo-Saxon England by reliving it! We can offer a huge range of activities including storytelling with period musical instruments...
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Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons
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Discover and deepen your knowledge of the Saxons using our workshop that incorporates drama, oracy, art, problem-solving and a big quiz to round off the day! Our costumed characters will transform...
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Saxon sword, helmet and horn on a table
Saxon Sovereignty - A kingdom for a Nation
map pin in-school workshop

Within our workshop selection we will take your pupils on a journey that explores the 800 year history of our Saxon heritage. From their arrival on these shores as settlers or invaders. We will...
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learning at Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey
map pin Yorkshire

The first Anglican monastery founded at Whitby during the Anglo-Saxon period was a key site in early Christianity in North East England. Learn about Christian conversion, Abbess St Hild and...
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Saxons & Vikings School Trips - Frequently Asked Questions

3 March 2026

What are the benefits of Saxon/Viking learning trips for school groups?
Kids love the stories of battles, ships, and daring invaders! It is a fun way to bring history to life, and the curriculum on migration makes it even more relevant. Plus, the drama and adventure always get kids excited.

Saxon/Viking workshop or day visit?
We offer a good number of engaging workshops focused on Saxon and Viking daily life, and these generally cost between £150 and £400. If you prefer, you can visit archaeological sites like settlements. These are a great way to see history in context, in its original setting. The Saxons inhabited most of our country, and the Vikings lived in much of the north and east, so finding venues dedicated to this period of history is reasonably easy.

Are there any free Saxon/Viking options?
Absolutely! Many local museums offer free entry, and there are exciting Viking festivals you can attend without spending a penny. It’s a fantastic way to explore history without a big cost.

Our top 10 Saxons & Vikings school trips?

1. Jorvik Viking Centre, York
2. In-school Viking workshops
3. Sutton Hoo in Suffolk (Saxon history)
4. British Museum (great artifacts, and free!)
5. Lindisfarne (famous Viking raids)
6. Scottish Viking sites
7. Welsh Saxon forts
8. Manchester Museum
9. Local re-enactments
10. History festivals
They’re all really engaging and bring the past to life!

Saxon/Viking trips for SEND?
Museums can be very sensory-friendly with touch exhibits, and workshops often include costumes and storytelling. We’ve found that using stories helps plan activities that suit different energy levels and needs.

Budget for Saxon/Viking?
Many options are budget-friendly. Free museums plus bus travel can cost around £3-£10 per child. Entry to centres is typically £5-£15, workshops range from £150 to £400, and residential trips are about £120-£250 per child. It’s a great low-cost way to explore this period of history!

Saxon School Trips and Viking School Workshops

We have a lot of ideas for day trips and workshops on the themes of the Saxons and Vikings. So if you are looking for ideas about how you can bring history to life for your class, prepare to experience Viking Britain through characters like Sweyn Forkbeard or the Saxon legacy of Alfred the Great! Explore the resources above or let us know what you need and we will find you the perfect learning experience.

Living history reenactment workshops allow students to participate in role play of daily life, battles, and social structures. For example, children might dress up as Vikings or Saxons, handle replica artefacts, learn ancient craftsmanship techniques such as spinning wool, making runes, or engage in activities like weaving, jewellery making, participating in mock battles or even working as a team to construct a Viking long house! These interactive sessions will give your class a deeper understanding of Viking customs and warfare, or Saxon societal hierarchy, through active involvement and storytelling. Handling artefacts and creating items like Saxon pottery, Viking weapons, or jewellery provide tactile connections to the past, helping pupils appreciate the skills and daily lives of both societies.

Just as it was for the people who lived in Viking and Saxon times, storytelling, mythology, and cultural exploration are a fantastic way to learn about the past. We have lots of school workshops where pupils can listen to myths of gods like Thor or Odin, or legends like Beowulf, which reveal the spiritual beliefs and values of these ancient people. Creative activities, such as myth-writing of epic tales, link to literacy and creative learning, making complex mythologies and religious practices more engaging and understandable. These stories offer insight into the worldview and cultural identity of Saxon and Viking people.

Another way to enhance your educational experience is by taking advantage of modern technology through virtual reality and multimedia tools. Virtual tours of Viking ships, settlements, and battle scenes allow students to explore these societies in a new immersive way. For Saxons, virtual reconstructions of settlements and hillforts help students understand their architecture and defensive strategies. Making use of digital tools ensures that different learning styles are catered to, and that your historical topic is more memorable for your students.

Finally, a day trip or field trip to historic sites or museums bring your children fact to face with the Vikings and Saxons. Visits to places like York's Jorvik Viking Centre, historic sites like Peveril Castle, Corfe Castle, or any of the excellent local Saxon sites managed by English Heritage give your students the opportunity to observe reconstructed settlements, artefacts, and even live demonstrations. Guided tours led by costumed actors or experts help pupils understand how these societies lived, traded, and fought. Linking classroom learning with real-world Viking archaeology and Saxon history.


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