Home educators day
Spark curiosity this September as we welcome home educators to explore over 1,000 years of faith and history at Westminster Abbey. What will you discover?
Choose how you explore Westminster Abbey in this exciting event designed for home educating families. Prepare to visit the place of coronation by making a crown fit for a monarch, discover monuments to famous faces on a special guided tour, and be creative with a range of Abbey-inspired activities.
Suitable for: KS1 and KS2 (5–11 year-olds)
Date: Thursday 3rd September, between 1:00pm and 3:00pm
Duration: You are welcome to stay for two hours or drop-in during this event.
Format: This event will take place at Westminster Abbey, with a mixture of drop-in activities and the opportunity to explore the Abbey on a self-led basis.
Cost: 1 adult and 1 child (5+) £10. Additional child (5+) £10, additional adult £14, child (4 and under) free
Learning objectives
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To learn that Westminster Abbey is a Christian church.
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To discover that it has been the place of coronation since 1066.
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To understand that it is a place of national burial and memorialisation.
Curriculum links
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History and Religious Education
- Topics include: Christianity; memorialisation; coronations and monarchy; significant individuals; art and architecture
Frequently asked questions
This event will meet by the Cloister Entrance to Westminster Abbey in Dean's Yard.
Explore the Abbey at your own pace with this flexible and fun home educators offer. Create your own itinerary from a range of different activities, repeated throughout the afternoon or available as drop-in, including:
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A 30-minute guided tour exploring Westminster Abbey
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An arts and crafts session making your own crown
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Free-flow activities including videos, dressing up and colouring in
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The chance to look around the Abbey on a self-led basis using our range of age-appropriate trails
This event includes guided and independent access into Westminster Abbey. If you would like to visit The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, this can be booked on the day at an additional cost.
Please note that a self-led visit does not include use of our multimedia guides.
You are welcome to continue exploring the Abbey after the event has finished, until its closure at 4:30pm.
Advance booking is required. In order to confirm your place, follow the booking link via Eventbrite.
Please note that bookings will close the day before the event (or when tickets have sold out) and you will not be able to book on the day. If additional people attend on the day, they will not be able to participate in these activities but are welcome to visit the Abbey using standard entrance tickets which they can purchase at the visitor entrance.
Tickets can be refunded via Eventbrite up until the day before the event. Please note that if you do not attend on the day, bookings are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another date.
Capacity is limited and we would like to accommodate as many children as possible, so prefer not to exceed a 1:1 ratio for adults to children. We require at least one adult for every five children.
You are welcome to bring older or younger siblings but please be aware that activities have been designed for 5–11 year-olds.
On very rare occasions, Westminster Abbey alters its opening hours or closes for special events. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible if this happens. In this instance payment is refundable.
Please have your ticket ready to show our staff (either printed or on your mobile phone).
On your arrival, your bag will be searched and we ask you not to bring any large items with you (for example suitcases, large backpacks or folding bicycles) as these will not be allowed inside and we are unable to store them for you. There are no cloakroom facilities available.
All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout their time at the Abbey.
Please be aware that the Abbey can be very busy year-round and that members of the public will still be visiting on this day. To manage capacity, we have not taken any school bookings during this event.
No eating or drinking is allowed inside the Abbey. You are welcome to have lunch or snacks in the cloisters, which is outside but undercover, and is open to the general public. College Garden may also be available on the day. Find out more about food and drink available at the Abbey.
The Abbey is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events for all. If you have any access requirements or questions about your visit, please contact us when booking: [email protected]
Please note that filming and sound recording are not permitted at the Abbey. See our photography policy for more information.
A selection of self-led trails will be available on the day, but you are welcome to download any of our trails in advance depending on your interests and bring them with you.
Based on the needs of your group, you might find it helpful to prepare for your visit by using our supporting resources, including a walk through video of the Abbey, visual story for self-led visits, and sensory map.
You might also like to prepare for your visit by ensuring your group are comfortable with the idea of visiting a place of burial.
You might like to continue the learning back at home with our post-visit resources or our range of free, downloadable teaching resources, covering a variety of topics across different ages.
You can also explore the Abbey at home with a range of activities and videos aimed at a family audience.
If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact [email protected]
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