School & Group Visits

Bring history to life and engage students’ curiosity with the help of our award-winning Learning Team.  We aim to cater to all ages and abilities and are very happy to adapt our sessions to make them accessible and relevant to your school or group. 

If you would like to make a group booking, or to discuss visiting us please contact our Learning Team at museums.education@southampton.gov.uk or on 023 8083 2810.

Getting here

National Express has launched a new initiative for schools, giving the chance to access discounted coach transport for daytrips. For more information, to get a quote or to make an official coach booking, please see their webpage.

Download our Teachers’ Guide

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Download our Sample Itinerary

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What we Offer

Discovery Sessions – Hour-long guided tours of one of our exhibitions led by an inspiring tour guide.

Workshops – One-hour interactive sessions incorporating object handling, and other activities. Maximum group size 33. 

Self-guided Time – An opportunity to spend some time exploring the museum. Price varies depending on other activities booked. 

Lunch Space – Rooms are available for use for lunch. 

Hot drinks for adults Trip helpers and teachers can enjoy a 10% discount on hot drinks in our café- just tell the member of staff which school you’re with!

Trails Sheets – Why not add education trails to your visit? These are offered at a special school price of 40p per trail.

Workshops

Our workshops have something to offer every class. All our sessions are different but are packed full of immersive activities and games and include object-handling.

Prices: Weekdays – £85

For weekend and out-of-hours costs please contact us.

Available workshops:

Great Fire of London

Join us for an incredible hands-on session discovering the story of the Great Fire of London.

Key Stage 1

Off With Their Head: The Tudors!

An action-packed session looking at all-things Tudor!

Key Stages 1 and 2

Castles & Cannons

Discover more about castles in the past in this session exploring fortifications.
Key Stages 1 and 2

Southampton Through Time

Southampton’s rich history goes back more than 2000 years. This session explores the people that have called the town home and charts the history of the town through a range of hands-on activities and tasks.

Key Stages 1 and 2

The Victorians

Travel back to the time of Queen Victoria in this hands-on session.
Key Stages 1 and 2

Pirates & Buccaneers

Hark back to the Golden Age of Piracy with this fun and interactive session exploring the the rogues who made their lives and sea and the stories they’ve left behind.

Key Stages 1 and 2

Playtime in the Past

A whistle-stop tour through the toys children played with in the past. Key Stage 1

Southampton Blitz

An immersive session looking at the Second World War.

Key Stages 2, 3 and 4

Medicine Women

Get interactive with the sights and smells of medicine through time and answer questions like: how do you keep infection at bay in a muddy field and what was so bad about health and hygiene before?

Key Stage 1

Mary Anning

Enter the world of dinosaur discovery in this interactive workshop looking at the life of Mary Anning, and the incredible discoveries she made along the way. This sessions includes real fossil object-handling!

Key Stage 1

The Great Queens

Compare the lives and eras of three of Britain’s greatest queens: Elizabeth I, Victoria and Elizabeth II in this fun-filled session of objects, costumes and stories.

Key Stage 1