Exhibitions

Exhibitions

What is it? 

An exhibition can be reasonably defined as a selection of items displayed for the enjoyment of the public. The specific subject of an exhibition can be almost anything, but the most popular themes tend to be art and history.

What does it involve?

Attending an exhibition mainly just involves paying attention and engaging with the show that has been put on for you! 

Why do it and what are the benefits?

The purpose of an exhibition is to display points of interest in the most effective manner, and it can be a great alternative way of learning than reading out of books in the classroom. Having a visual and tangible example of something in front of you makes it so much more interesting to learn about, especially if it's something you've only ever seen in pictures before e.g. you'll remember seeing preserved artefacts in real life much easier than when you saw it in a book. 

What equipment do we need?

Exhibitions often have guides to take you around and explain the display further, and specialist school group guides may have activities for the students to engage in during the visit - check beforehand to see if such a feature is available, and if you need to bring any equipment for it! Other than that, you shouldn't need to provide anything to enjoy an exhibition. 

Who is it suitable for?

While not all exhibitions are suitable for all ages, there is enough variety that there will be one perfectly suited to the age and interests of your student group - make sure to do your research!

Costs?

Entry to exhibitions can vary between costing nothing and a £30+ fee depending on the content and the venue!

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

Exhibition venues can often be large and confusing to navigate, so make sure younger groups of students are sufficiently supervised!

How do we include?

The variety of venues, subjects and sizes available when considering attending an exhibition means you should be able to include everyone regardless of interests or disabilities. 

Doing it abroad?

Foreign countries all have their own fascinating histories and culture which will all undoubtedly be displayed in a great exhibition somewhere! The main cities of a country are the most likely places to find an engaging exhibition, so check out whats on before you set off from the UK!

Main website: 

Consult individual venue websites to see exactly what they have on at the current time!

 

See the list below for venues and providers who deliver this activity:

Bourne Mill

Picturesque watermill with working waterwheel
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
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A delightful piece of late Elizabethan playfulness. Built for banquets and converted into a mill in the 19th century.

Just a mile south of Colchester sits Bourne Mill, a grade 1 listed building steeped in history. It was built as a fishing lodge in 1591, converted to a fulling mill around 1640 and then converted to a corn mill in about 1840, which continued working until the 1930s. It is well worth a visit.

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Royal London Hospital Museum and Archives

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

The Royal London has a museum which is located in the crypt of a 19th-century church. It reopened in 2002 after extensive refurbishment and is open to the public free of charge.

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Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum

Venue Type: 
Battlefield / Military
Overall Rating: 
0

The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum is housed in two towers of Caernarfon Castle. In it you will discover the history of over 300 years of service by Wales’s oldest infantry.

At the museum, you will learn how the Regiment won 14 Victoria Crosses and hear the words of the famous writers who served with the Royal Welch during the First World War: Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, “Hedd Wyn”, David Jones and Frank Richards.  

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The House on Crutches Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

A museum set in a remarkable building that holds an extensive collection that covers the many aspects of life and social history in Bishop’s Castle and the surrounding area. Free to visit. Restricted opening times as run by volunteers.

The House on Crutches Museum tells the story of the unique town of Bishop’s Castle, using a variety of displays and temporary exhibition in a series of themed rooms.

The kitchen is the first room that you enter, and will give kids a chance to learn about domestic life, including washday! There are also some costumes for them to try on.

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Down House

Where Charles Darwin Lived and Worked
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

With its unique place in the history of science, Down House, the home of Victorian scientist Charles Darwin (1809–82), is one of the major visitor attractions in the South East. Down House was Darwin's home from 1842 until his death 40 years later. Situated in the rural Kent village of Downe, the house offered the peace and privacy that Darwin needed to work on his revolutionary scientific theories.

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Hardcastle Crags

Beautiful wooded valley with 19th-century Gibson Mill at its heart
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

A beauty spot of the South Pennines with more than 160 hectares (400 acres) of unspoilt woodland.

As well as being the home of the northern hairy wood ant, there are tumbling streams, glorious waterfalls and stacks of millstone grit, all crisscrossed by more than 15 miles (24km) of footpaths.

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The Burrell Collection

Creative fun in the countryside
Venue Type: 
Art Gallery
Overall Rating: 
0

​​​​​​In the heart of Pollok Country Park, this award-winning building houses a unique collection in a beautiful woodland setting. The Burrell Collection is one of the greatest ever created by one person, comprising over 8,000 objects.

Our displays range from work by major artists including Rodin, Degas and Cézanne, to important examples of late medieval art, Chinese and Islamic art, Ancient Civilizations and much more.

The Burrell regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, and runs an extensive programme of events and activities for both adults and families with children.​​

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Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Venue Type: 
Castles
Overall Rating: 
0

With so much to see and do, a trip to Belsay is one of the best value family days out in north-east England. Explore the medieval castle, the Grecian inspired Hall and acres of impressive gardens.

You can spend hours exploring both inside and out on fair and wet weather days. The Hall is an unfurnished architectural masterpiece inspired by the temples of ancient Greece, with its fabulous pillars. Explore the great room of the ruined medieval castle and don't miss the stunning views from the top of the tower.

Guided Tour of Gardens with Head Gardener

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The Straw Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

This remarkable small museum is home to many diverse collections of items made from straw including marquetry, embroidery, straw stars, Swiss straw lace and dyed straw marquetry. 

There are also examples of other crafts such as quilling, tatting and beadwork. Owner, Ella Carstairs, will be happy to give you demonstrations of straw marquetry and quilling.

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Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

St Mary's Hospital is home to the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum. The laboratory where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin has been restored to its cramped condition of 1928 and incorporated into a museum about the discovery and his life and work. It is open to the public from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm and can be visited by appointment outside of these times.

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