UK schools
With a rich tradition of Christian worship and over a thousand years of history, pupils will be inspired by a visit to Westminster Abbey. The Education Department offers a varied programme of events throughout the year designed to enhance the learning of pupils of all ages.
Based in the brand-new Education Centre, opened in May 2010, schools have access to an inspiring building at the heart of our nation. With so many possibilities for learning, the education team can help teachers get the best out of the visit.
During term time, the Education Department puts on a programme of themed events each week. Schools who wish to have a more general guided tour are welcome to visit on Mondays and Fridays when our team of guides will be on hand.
Schools are warmly welcomed to visit the Abbey Museum, located in the Cloisters.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7654 4965 (We are often with school groups during the day so it is better to contact us by email)
Email: Education department
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Spring Term Special Events
Preparation and follow-up material for Spring Term 2012 (PDF, 733KB)
10 - 12 January
Journey of Life
This guided tour of the Abbey highlights some of the key celebrations in a Christian’s life: their baptism, marriage and funeral. The symbols associated with each ceremony (the font, the ring, the cross) will be discussed in an imaginative and fun way. Students can think about significant dates in their lives and then create a St. Christopher badge to take through of their own life journey.Max 30 children per 2hr session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 1-3
£4.00 per pupil17 - 19 January
Famous Victorians
The most famous ‘Victorian’ of all was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1838. Come and discover how this magnificent ceremony nearly went wrong! Pupils will find out about some of the other famous Victorians commemorated here and make a beautiful Victorian decoration to take home.Max 30 children per 2hr session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 1 & 2
£4.00 per pupil24 - 26 January - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
Patterns
This visit explores the many mathematical and repeating patterns in the Abbey. From the stunning Rose windows, to the beautiful medieval floor tiles of the Chapter House, pupils will visit key areas of the Abbey to see how geometric shapes are everywhere. They will spend time drawing shapes in the Abbey and Cloisters and will work on a piece of art to take back to school.Max 30 per 2hr session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 1 & 2
£4.00 per pupil31 January - 2 February - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
Remembering WWI
The Grave of the Unknown Warrior is one of the most famous and poignant reminders of the Great War. Students are invited to visit to pay their respects and to learn about the warrior. A ‘WWI soldier’ will help them understand what life was like in the Trenches and pupils will have the opportunity to ask him questions about his experiences. There will be an opportunity to visit Poets’ Corner to see the memorial to the Poets of the First World War, and to study, and perhaps write, a poem.Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 2 - 4
£4.00 per pupil6 - 10 February - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
A Very Peculiar Abbey
A general introduction to Westminster Abbey which can be tailored to fit your school. Learn about the monastic foundation of the medieval abbey, its significance as the Coronation church at the heart of the nation, and its important role today. Find out what it means to be a ‘Royal Peculiar’ and just why The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose this remarkable place for their special day.Max 30 pupils per session 10.30-12.00 or 13.00-14.30
KS 2 £3.50
KS 3-4 £6.50 (Westminster discount £3.50)21 - 23 February - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
What the Dickens!
Charles Dickens is often considered the greatest of Victorian novelists. 2012 marks the bicentenary of his birth. Come and help us to celebrate his unique style of writing and find out from the man himself, about the inspiration for his work and the times in which he lived. Pupils will be visit the tomb where Dickens was buried in a small, private ceremony in Poets’ Corner. You can combine this session with a self-guided walking tour of the areas around the Abbey associated with Dickens and the Victorian era.
Westminster in the time of Dickens downloadable trail (PDF, 6MB)Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 2-3
£4.00 per pupil28 February - 1 March - One session remaining
Tudor Reformations
In January 1540, Westminster Abbey was dissolved and the Benedictine monks left. Pupils will find out what it was like in the Abbey at this time, and why Henry VIII dissolved the religious houses of England. They consider the impact that closing the Abbey would have had on Westminster and beyond and meet Brother William, one of monks, to find out how he felt about the Reformation. They will also tour the Abbey to consider the impact that it had on the building and its worship.Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 2 & 3
£4.00 per pupil6 - 8 March - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
Henry’s Wives
What was Henry VIII really like to live with? Pupils meet Catherine Parr who recalls her life with the King and looks back over his previous marriages. Together they will consider the reasons why Henry married each of his wives and the impact that the marriages had on the nation. Pupils visit the Tudor parts of the Abbey and see the tombs of Anne of Cleves, Henry’s parents and children.Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS2
£4.00 per pupil13 & 14 March
Securing the Dynasty: Henry VII at Westminster Abbey
Designed to support AS History this session focuses on the consolidation of Henry VII's dynastic position. Examining documents from the Abbey and National Archives, students learn the story behind the reconstruction of the Lady Chapel and its role as a propaganda tool. They discover why Henry planned to canonise the ousted Lancastrian king, Henry VI and discuss Lady Margaret Beaufort's influence on her son.Max 20 pupils per session (Students need not be accompanied by a teacher)
10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 5
£4.00 per pupil15 & 16 March
Women at Westminster - to coincide with Women’s History Month
Westminster Abbey is the resting place of some of the most significant women in the history of the nation. Students will learn about the lives of medieval queens, and how they had far more power and influence than most people assume. They will visit some of the key sites of the Abbey to see how the tombs of these women reflect their position and consider the role of women in Westminster today.Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS2 £3.50
KS3&4 £6.50*
* Westminster Secondary Schools £3.5020 - 22 March - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
Super Scientists
Darwin, Newton, Kelvin, Faraday, – just some of the great scientists are buried or remembered at Westminster Abbey. This session looks at the contributions of some of these great thinkers. Pupils will meet Charles Darwin and join him on a nature trail in the Abbey gardens.Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 2
£4.00 per pupil27 - 29 March - FULLY BOOKED, WAITING LIST ONLY
Easter
Come and join us for the most important of all Christian festivals! Students will learn about the death and resurrection of Jesus and in their visit to the Abbey they will explore important symbols used on tombs and memorials, finding out why so many people today celebrate Easter with a chocolate egg! They will use their time in the Abbey as inspiration for making a 3-dimensional model in card and paper.Max 30 pupils per session 10.00-12.00 or 12.45-14.45
KS 2-3
£4.00 per pupil -
Summer Term Special Events
Preparation and follow up material for Summer Term 2012 (PDF, 244KB)
17th, 18th and 19th April 2012
A Very Peculiar Abbey
A general introduction to Westminster Abbey which can be tailored to fit your school. Learn about the monastic foundation of the medieval abbey, its significance as the Coronation church at the heart of the nation, and its important role today. Find out what it means to be a ‘Royal Peculiar’ and just why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose this remarkable place for their special day.Max 30 pupils per session
10.30-12.00 or 13.00-14.30
KS 2 £3.50 KS 3-5 £6.50 (Westminster Schools £3.50)24th, 26th and 27th April 2012
Kings, Queens and Coronations
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years as Queen this year. Come and take a tour of Westminster Abbey and stand on the very spot where kings and queens have been crowned since 1066. Find out what went wrong at the coronations of William the Conqueror and Queen Victoria and discover the meaning behind the Crown Jewels, used at every coronation. See the tombs of medieval kings and queens and the beautiful Tudor Lady Chapel, burial place of a brother and two sisters: Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.Max 30 pupils per session
10:30-12:00 or 13:00-14:30
KS2 £3.50 KS 3 £6.50 (Westminster Schools £3.50)1st, 2nd and 3rd May 2012
Make Like a Monk
Meet Brother William, the Abbey gardener, at the height of its time as a Benedictine monastery. Learn about what life was like in the medieval Westminster, how monks spent their time and try your hand at some illuminated writing. If time allows, pupils will visit the herb garden to find out about the medicinal plants that the monks would have used.Max 30 pupils per session
10:00-12:00 or 12:45-14:45
£4.00 per pupil Suitable for KS 2 or 38th, 9th and 10th May 2012
Wartime Westminster
What happened at Westminster Abbey during World War II? What was it like to live around here during the Blitz? A member of the Westminster Abbey Fire Watch will take you through the events of the worst night of the Blitz, May 10th 1941 and pupils will find out what precautions were taken to preserve the Abbey’s treasures so that they can still be enjoyed today.Max 30 pupils per session
10:00-12:00 or 12:45-14:45
£4.00 per pupil Suitable for KS2 or KS315th, 16th, 17th May 2012
Symbols of Worship
Westminster Abbey is first and foremost a place of worship which uses the rich tradition of Christian symbolism developed over many centuries. Students will explore the Abbey considering some of the key symbolic objects, actions, words and images used here. The sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion will be considered in depth, and pupils will have the opportunity to visit the Shrine of Edward the Confessor, not normally open to the public.Max. 30 pupils per session
10:30-12:00 or 13:00-14:30
KS 1-2 £3.50 KS 3-4 £6.50 (Westminster Schools £3.50)29th, 30th, 31st May 2012
Making a Noise about Science
Join a team of storytellers and musicians to learn about scientists who made a contribution to the theory of Evolution and explore the Abbey to find out about other great scientists remembered here. Biology, Geology, Gravity, Music and Drama: an exciting combination in this cross-curricular day aimed at G&T pupils.Max. 30 pupils per session
10:00-12:00 or 12:45-14:45
£4.00 per pupil Suitable for KS2 Gifted and Talented12th, 13th, 14th June 2012
Light and Colour
Westminster Abbey has some amazingly colourful decorations, from the newly restored Cosmati Pavement, to the two stunning rose windows. Pupils will learn about the history and symbolism in the stained glass windows and how they are made. They will also make their own beautiful window decoration to take home.Max. 30 pupils per session
10:00-12:00 or 12:45-14:45
£4.00 per pupil Suitable for KS219th, 20th, 21st June 2012
Elizabethan Explorers
The great Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh is buried in nearby St. Margaret’s Church. Pupils will visit the site of his tomb and learn about his discoveries in the New World. With the help of Boatswain Bill, they will learn what life was like on board ship in the 16th Century and how sailors navigated with maps and the stars. Pupils will use spices discovered in distant lands to make a delicious gingerbread to take back to school.Max. 40 pupils per session
10:30-14:30
£5.50 per pupil Suitable for KS226th, 27th, 28th June 2012
Knight School
Come and meet a medieval knight and find out how he won his spurs! Pupils will learn how to become a knight, about paying homage and about codes of chivalry. The guided tour focuses on heraldry and pupils will see the famous ‘Bath Chapel’, associated with the Order of the Bath an honour still awarded by the Queen today. Pupils will make and decorate their own piece of armour to take home.Max. 30 pupils per session
10:00-12:00 or 12:45-14:45
£4.00 per pupil Suitable for KS2 or KS3 -
Autumn Term Special Events
Details regarding the 2012 Autumn term will be published later in the year.
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Guided Tours
General guided tours are available on Mondays and Fridays from September to June. This will be a visit looking at the main sights of the building and covering the most important elements of its history and importance. Classes will be divided into groups no larger than 15 pupils. Booking is essential and we regret that no guided tours are available during July and August as the Abbey is too crowded to accommodate school groups.
Download Information for teachers wishing to book a guided tour (PDF, 682 KB)
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Self-Guided visits
Self-Guided visits are available all year round, except during July and August when the Abbey is very crowded and not suitable for school groups. Please book these through the Education Department by emailing us with the details of your visit.
Teachers are advised to download one of the themed trails from the website (see Downloadable Resources section below), or to pre-order the Children’s Trail by indicating this on their booking form.
There must always be at least one teacher or helper to every 10 pupils. Large groups of students will need to be split with the entry times staggered to avoid over-crowding. Maximum group sizes: October- April: 30 - including adults; May - September: 26 - including adults.
Please note that audio guides are not available for school groups.
School groups may only visit during the months of July and August when accompanied by a Blue Badge Guide. Schools are responsible for booking their own Guide: Blue Badge Guides website
Download Information for teachers wishing to book a self-guided visit (PDF, 766 KB)
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Downloadable resources
Information for teachers booking a Guided Visit (PDF, 682 KB)
Information for teachers booking a Self-Guided Visit (PDF, 766 KB)
We are constantly adding new resources to this site. Check back just before your visit to make sure you have the latest version and to see what’s new!
SPRING TERM 2012
Preparation and follow-up material for Spring Term 2012 (PDF, 733KB)SUMMER TERM 2012
Preparation and follow-up material for Summer Term 2012 (PDF, 733KB)MATHS TRAIL
This is suited to advanced Key Stage 2 pupils and includes topics such as Estimation, Units of Measurement, Shapes, Symmetry and Roman Numerals. It is best used by small groups. Some areas of the Abbey may not be accessible and teachers are advised to check with a member of staff on arrival.
Maths Trail (PDF, 576KB)TUDOR TRAIL
Westminster Abbey is the resting place for nearly all the Tudor monarchs. This trail takes you through the building to learn about the fascinating lives and times of this great family. It includes sections in St. Margaret’s and the Abbey museum which can be visited free of charge by arrangement with the Education Department.
Key stage 2 & 3
Tudor Trail (PDF, 2 MB)
Tudor Trail teachers' notes (PDF, 1.9MB)SYMBOLS AND WORSHIP
As a Christian Church, Westminster Abbey has many interesting symbols. This trail challenges pupils to find the most significant and explains why they are important to Christians.
Key Stage 3
Symbols and Worship Trail (PDF, 2MB)LIGHT AND COLOUR TRAIL
This trail explores the Abbey’s collection of stained glass and considers its importance to Christians. It also looks at the beautiful and intricate patterns of the Cosmati Pavement upon which coronations take place, and visits the stunning Lady Chapel. Finishing with a chance to view the Chapter House wall paintings and the collections of the Abbey Museum, this trail is suitable for children who are interested in the visual splendour of the building.
Key Stage 2
Light and Colour Trail (PDF, 1 MB)
Light and Colour Trail teachers' notes (PDF, 1 MB)UNDER OUR FEET TRAIL
The trail is designed to encourage students to look at the fascinating history that often gets ignored; the history found beneath our feet! Students will find out about the monumental brasses and tombstones in the Abbey including the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. Westminster Abbey also has some of the finest examples of medieval tiles in the country as well as the beautiful medieval Cosmati pavement made from coloured stones and glass in the reign of Henry III.
Key Stage 2/3
Under Our Feet Trail (PDF, 2 MB)
Under Our Feet Trail teachers' notes (PDF, 2 MB)ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENTISTS TRAIL
The Royal Society celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2010 with a year-long programme of events and activities. As part of this celebration, the Society collaborated with Westminster Abbey to produce this exciting science trail, highlighting the discoveries made by past Fellows of the Royal Society, now buried or remembered within the Abbey.
Scientists Trail Student Booklet (PDF, 4 MB)
Scientists Trail Teachers' Notes (PDF, 1 MB)WHAT THE DICKENS TRAIL
Charles Dickens is often considered the greatest of Victorian novelists. 2012 marks the bicentenary of his birth. Come and help us to celebrate his unique style of writing and find out from the man himself, about the inspiration for his work and the times in which he lived. Pupils will be visit the tomb where Dickens was buried in a small, private ceremony in Poets’ Corner. You can combine this session with a self-guided walking tour of the areas around the Abbey associated with Dickens and the Victorian era.
Westminster in the time of Dickens downloadable trail (PDF, 6MB) -
Charges
Access to the Cloisters, Museum, College Garden (Tues-Thurs only), and Chapter House is free, although a booking and tickets are required so that we can prevent over-crowding. Please contact the Education Department to arrange your visit.
PRE-BOOKED SCHOOLS SELF-GUIDED
Price per pupil:
Primary £2.00
Secondary £5.00
Westminster Secondary School £3.50PRE-BOOKED SCHOOLS GUIDED
Includes entry, guide and use of the Education Centre to store bags and coats. Mondays and Fridays from September-June
Price per pupil:
Primary £3.50
Secondary £6.50
Westminster Secondary £3.50SPECIAL EVENTS (VARIOUS THEMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR)
Half Day Activities (includes a tour of the Abbey and a workshop) £4.00
Full Day Activities (includes a tour of the Abbey and other activities) £5.50ADULT PRICES
(Reception - Year 2) 1 Adult per 5 pupils free, additional adults £3:50
(Year 3 - Year 6) 1 Adult per 10 pupils free, additional adults £3:50
(Year 7 - 13) 1 Adult per 10 students free, additional adults £8:00 -
Competitions
From time to time the Education Department organises competitions. Check back regularly to see the latest one.
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You said it!
Would you like to share your memories of your visit to Westminster Abbey? Email the Education Department your thoughts and you may see your words here!
This is an account by Ludo Heathcoat Amory, aged 10 who came in February 2011.
My Trip to Westminster Abbey
"Do I have to go round an old decrepit church?" I said when Mummy told me to put on a tie. Did I really want to look at a whole lot of dead people's tombs? It was sleeting outside, the pavement was slushy and I thought I would rather stay at home and pamper Pushkin my leopard gecko, than go round Westminster Abbey. Granny had suggested we went to see my great great grandfather's grave. J.J. Thomson was the scientist who discovered the electron which changed everyone's lives. Without it we might still be in the Victorian era. He came from a very poor background. His father died when he was little but he managed to get a scholarship to Cambridge because he actually loved maths!Granny's friend was going to take us to look at J.J. Thomson's memorial stone. Underneath was his ash. I don't know why people like being burnt, I wouldn't like my body to end up in thousands of bits of flaky grey dust packed into a cramped pot. I would prefer to be buried.
But it turned out to be the most exciting day of the holidays. Granny picked me up, we went past Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. We arrived at the vast doors which looked like the entrance to a cave. Granny said “Look out for Nigel". I couldn't see anyone who looked like a Nigel. Then a tall man came up with a round face andglasses. He peered down at me, and said "Are you Ludo?" He took us into the Abbey and explained that the church was the first English church to be built in the shape of a cross but with hundreds of secret staircases and walls like Hogwarts in Harry Potter.
Lots of Kings and Queens were buried inside the cross. On top of each of the Royal tombs was a sleeping statue of the monarch, some made of stone. Some were handsome, others looked gnarled and terrifying. One King, Edward 111, had his four sons and two daughters carved on his grave. Queen Elizabeth 1 stowed lots of treasures around her tomb.Her jewelled ring is now in the museum but her silver crown was stolen. Henry V has a secret spiral staircase going up toa chapel above his tomb.. That is where his wife is buried. We saw Mary Queen of Scots and I was very surprised she was allowed to be in there as Elizabeth 1 had executed her. The biggest grave was for Henry V11 and his wife. Their son,Henry V111, was about to do a bigger one for himself when he died andwas buried at Windsor. James 1 was squeezed in with his great great grandparents. Henry V's wife was buried at first in an open coffin under her husband. Everyone used to shake her withered hand, they had to re-bury her above him. So instead of treasure he had the wife upstairs glaring down at him.
The Abbey was packed with Japanese and European tourists peering down at Shakespeare's statue and up at the roof that looked like honeycomb at breakfast. A million visitors come each year. The floor as you come in is incredible, it is nearly 1,000 years old and is made up of 30,000 tiny bits of coloured mosaic. Nigel let me walk round the edge of it, the crowd gasped as no one else was allowed to touch it. The organs were covered in gold leaf. The coronation chair made 800 years ago was rather ordinary except for a few golden lions. I think Prince Charles needs to add a few diamonds and sapphires and definitely a cushion. Instead he gets to sit on the Stone of Scone which will be very uncomfortable.
Then we arrived at J.J.s grave in the nave. The only problem was it was under the altar, so Nigel passed me a torch and told me to crawl under the most important altar in the most important church in England with two hundred people watching. The Canon arrivedcalled Jane, as I was slithering under the table, wriggling on my stomach. Canons don't get down on their hands and knees but she pointed where the grave was. I finally saw the stone but I couldn't read the lettering. I put down the bunch of flowers near his grave and Jane put the card that I had written earlier beside it. Right next to his grave was the grave of Isaac Newton. Everywhere we trod there was another famous name. All the scientists were together and all the musicians and poets just in case they could still whisper to each other. There are stone bodies thinking and dozing everywhere. Even Jane Austen has a stone, though Westminster Abbey is mostly full of men.
Great great grandfather is very lucky because he was one of the very few people in Westminster Abbey who was allowed to be buried with his wife, Rose.But maybe most wanted to be buried away from their wives. In the war the Abbey was bombed by the Germans, two bombs hit, one got the House of Commons but blew in the windows, the other one hit the centre of the Abbey, set light to the lantern and blew up the tower. I didn't say anything to the German tourists. There is a memorial to the lost soldiers who died in the war and weren't identified, one lucky man was chosen.to representthem as the Unknown Warrior.
We saw where Kate Middleton was going to be married to Prince William. But I think I would prefer to be buried in Westminster Abbey in a big tomb with a sculpture of me on top.
Click on the images to enlarge
