Education Visits
To truly understand history, young people need to stand in the places where it was made. Hurst Castle from its beginnings as one of King Henry VIII’s chain of artillery fortresses in 1544, unusually for a Tudor castle, remained in military use until 1956, playing an active role through both world wars.
Free education trips
Admission to Hurst Castle is free to pre-booked education groups with discounts available for ferry travel if it is required. To pre-book please CONTACT US
Educational visits and learning sessions at Hurst Castle
Come and visit the castle for free on a school trip and enjoy a self-led visit using our downloadable teacher resources below or book our popular guide-led visit. Please note ferry charges apply.
A visit to Hurst Castle will
- Develop young people’s skills in historical study
- Boost their understanding of historical events, places, people and chronology
- Explore British history beyond 1066
Curriculum links include
History
Key Stage 1
- Significant historical events, people and places in their locality
Key Stage 2
- A local history study
- A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
Key points of interest:
- Why was the castle built here
- How has the use and design of the castle changed and why
- Has the site been used for any other purpose
Geography
Key Stage 2
- Identify key topographical features
Key points of interest:
- How the spit protects the coast
- How the shingle spit was created and how it remains intact
Hurst Castle educational teaching resources
To ensure you feel confident to step straight into the history of Hurst Castle and to take the hassle out of planning, we’ve developed a range of relevant and interesting resources to support school, scout or girl guiding groups before, during and after your visit.
The Teachers’ Kit is a free educational tool packed with everything you need to give your group an insight into the castle. It features a comprehensive planning toolkit for group leaders with historical information and suggestions for activities.
We also include a free advance visit for you and your team to familiarise yourself with the castle before your trip and 20% off the guidebook.
TEACHER KITS
