Learn about the story of the oldest, inhabited castle in the world in this fun, factual and immersive session. Why was the Castle built here in Windsor? A model castle and replica weapons, mail and armour are used to explore a castle under seige.

Session Learning Objectives:

• To encourage the children to discover how we can identify if the Monarch is in residence.
• To develop children’s reasoning skills to determine why the castle was built on this site, and why it changed over time from a wooden fortress to a stone palace.
• To help the children discover how the Castle was successfully defended against the varied means of attack used by determined enemies, and how it might have felt to be involved in a siege.

In this session children will:

• Role play, using speaking and listening skills, attacking and defending a castle.
• Handle objects, including replica mail armour and shields.

Please note: some of the activities involve a selection of pupils demonstrating concepts to the rest of the group. The session can be differentiated upwards for older groups. 

Available on Weekdays.

Duration: 45 minutes

What an amazing day we all had thanks to everyone at the Castle. You made the trip so interesting and I know that the children really enjoyed their time with you, especially playing on the model castle!  It was like meeting an old friend. Thank you for being so welcoming.

Teacher

Our learning programmes are designed to be accessible to all pupils.  Most of our sessions can be adapted to meet any educational or access needs your group may have.  Please ask for details when booking.

You may find the information for visitors on the Autism spectrum helpful when planning your visit to Windsor Castle.

Our presentation Introducung the Castle and Learning Centre for worried teacher and pupils, is a useful starting point for familiarising yourself and your special needs pupils with these spaces.

If you book a learning session or a lunch space, you will have use of The Learning Centre, which is fully accessible and has suitable toilets. 

Should your group book a fully self-guided visit, without any learning input, or use of the lunch space, you will not have access to the Learning Centre. 

Note that within The Castle precints is a Changing Places facility which all groups can use, if required. 

Subject to availability, school groups can book use of the facilities at the lunch spaces within the Learning Centre.   Facilities include a space to eat packed lunches, plenty of designated school's toilets and a safe place to leave coats and bags.

Note: schools who book a fully self-guided visit, without any Learning team input. or without pre-booking a lunch space, will not have use of the Learning Centre. 

To find out more or to make a booking contact the Learning Bookings team.

Please have to hand:

• Preferred date and possible alternatives, plus time of arrival
• Numbers of children and supervising adults
• The taught session, if you would like one
• Details of any special educational or access needs

Please use the downloadable Bookings Forms to send your details to the Learning Bookings Team.

You will then be sent a reservation letter, together with your teachers’ resource pack, giving a date by which full payment must be received to secure the booking.

Please note: you may be asked to cover the cost of the session if you cancel within short notice of your visit.  Non-booked schools will be charged at standard group admission rates.  Please see our Terms of Application for Learning Group Admissions.

Also, please be aware that audio guides are not available to school groups at Windsor Castle. 

School Access Scheme and School Travel Support Scheme

One of Royal Collection Trust's charitable aims is to broaden and increase access to the Collection for the nation. Our school access scheme and school travel support scheme are designed to ensure that visits to our sites are possible for state schools working with economically disadvantaged pupils. See here for more information about these schemes and information on how to apply.

Contact us

Learning Bookings Team
Ticket Sales and Information Office
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

T. (+44) (0)303 123 7323

F. (+44) (0)20 7930 9625

[email protected]

Sharing Learning Objectives

Please contact us in advance if you have any specific learning objectives in mind.

Planning Visits

Once you have made your booking, we offer two complimentary tickets for you and a colleague to conduct a planning visit.  If you would like to meet a member of the Learning team during this visit, please let us know at the time of booking.

Our presentation Introducing you to the Learning Centre and Castle Precincts is a useful starting point for familiarising yourself and your pupils with these spaces.

All teachers and supporting adults must read the Teachers Pack before their visit. Teachers' Packs for each site can be downloaded here.

Reduced-rate admission for school groups

Pre-booked school groups: £6.00 per pupil
Children in Reception or below: FREE
Discounted rate for schools in the Royal borough 

Accompanying adults

One teacher or adult helper is admitted free of charge at the following ratios:

Under 5s - 1 adult: 3 pupils
Years 1 to 3 - 1 adult: 6 pupils
Year 4 and above - 1 adult: 10 pupils

Please ask for details of rates for additional adults when booking.

All online workshops: £70 per class attending a booked session. 

Windsor Lite workshops: £150 per session, £50 per additional session plus travel costs incurred by RCT staff.

Royal Collection Trust sites have airport-style security measures at all public entry points, through which all visitors, including school groups, are required to enter.  All adults and children will be asked to:

• Allow any bags to be searched by hand
• Walk through a metal detector arch, one at a time
• Switch off mobile phones

The Royal Collection Trust Learning section asks that teachers undertake the following guidelines to make entry to Royal Collection Trust sites as smooth and quick as possible:

• Please arrive at the Royal Collection Trust site at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time for the booked workshop
• Teachers and children should not bring the following: scissors, compasses, metal cutlery, sharp metallic implements
• Only bring what you need! The Royal Collection Trust Learning section can provide all necessary equipment such as clipboards, pencils and drawing materials (groups can bring their own sketchbooks if they prefer to use these)

Those groups who book a Learning session and/or a lunch space will enter through Pug Yard Learning Centre gate. 

Schools who book a fully self-guided visit, without including Learning Sessions or lunch space, should enter through the main Admissions Centre gates upon arrival.