What is it?
Archives and Libraries are generally physical locations in which there are expansive collections of certain objects, most commonly books and historical records. There can be more specific types of archives and libraries with more specialist content, but the most largest and most popular types encompass a wide selection of topics.
What does it involve?
Visiting an archive or a library generally comes from a desire to further research a specific subject, but it can also be to use the resources available, such as computers, scanners or a newspaper microfiche machine.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Libraries are incredibly important places for learning, as they can provide a safe space for studying and the freedom for the students to educate themselves in pretty much whatever topic they have interest in. A lot of libraries and archives also put on activities and groups to encourage independent reading and learning.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn’t need to provide any equipment for a visit to a library or an archive! The venue should have everything you need, but if you have a specific study activity in mind you should always check beforehand to see what they are set up for.
Who is it suitable for?
Archives and libraries are generally reasonably quiet places, so noisier groups of young children may not be as welcome – however, it will depend on the venue, as some will have dedicated children’s corners!
Costs?
Libraries are generally free to access! Some more specialist archives may have an entry fee, but if you research beforehand you shouldn’t come across any surprise costs.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Make sure to tailor any trips to an archive or a library to the needs and interests of the group of students!
How do we include?
Most venues will have great disabled access! Everybody should be able to join in with a visit, but always check beforehand if you have concerns about your group of students.
Doing it abroad?
There are libraries and archives all around the world, and visiting one whilst abroad can be fantastic for getting some more detailed information on local history and culture!
Main website:
Consult individual venue websites to see their specifics.
Welcome to the website of the National Archives of Scotland (NAS).
From 1 April 2011, the General Register Office for Scotland merged with the NAS to become the National Records of Scotland (NRS). This website will remain active until it is replaced in due course by a new website for NRS.
The Museum of Eton Life tells the story of the foundation of the College in 1440 and provides a glimpse into the world of the Eton schoolboy past and present.
Curious to find out more about your family history? Your house? Your town or village? Your industrial history?
The West Glamorgan Archive Service is a joint service for the Councils of the City and County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot County Borough.
We collect documents, maps, photographs, film and sound recordings relating to all aspects of the history of West Glamorgan.
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which supports artists and promotes engagement with the visual arts through a range of inclusive activities: exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations.
The National Archives looks after the UK government’s documents. It holds records dating back nearly 1,000 years from the time of William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book to the present day.
Leighton House Museum is the former home of the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The only purpose-built studio-house open to the public in the United Kingdom, it is one of the most remarkable buildings of the nineteenth century, containing a fascinatingcollection of paintings and sculpture by Leighton and his contemporaries.
A fine, late 15th-century stone town house, with an early Tudor façade and panelled interiors.
This fine late 15th century town house, once thought to have been the courtroom of Glastonbury Abbey, now houses both the Tourist Information Centre and the Glastonbury Lake Village Museum, which contains dramatic finds from one of Europe’s most famous archaeological sites.
The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre at the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland was founded from a donation by A Charles King but has since embraced numerous contributions. The collection encompasses the entire history of anaesthesia, from Morton's demonstration of ether inhalation in 1846 to modern anaesthetic machines and appliances still in use today.
Welcome to Woburn Abbey which has been the Russell’s family home since the early 17th Century. We hope you will enjoy exploring the beauty and history of The Abbey and its treasures, collected by our ancestors, who were as passionate as we are to share this experience with you.
The South Wales Miners’ Library has an extensive collection of books, journals and audio-visual materials, specifically selected for DACE courses. The South Wales Miners’ Library is designed to meet your study needs.
Great Torrington Heritage Museum and Archive now has a new home, 14, South Street and also the Grade 2* listed property, The Market House, which is just above the Pannier Market.
The British Red Cross runs a museum containing a variety of materials from its beginnings in 1870 to its modern activities. The collections include posters, photographs, badges worn by Society members, medals awarded to Society members, medical equipment and fundraising materials and contain a fascinating portrait of our humanitarian work.
Bethlem Royal Hospital was founded in 1247 and was the first institution in the UK to specialise in the care of the mentally ill. The hospital continues to provide in-patient care as part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and has been based since 1930 in the outer London suburbs.
Located in Port Sunlight, the historic home of Unilever in the UK, the Unilever archives are amongst the most important collections of business records in the world.
Scotland Street School is a must-see for fans of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and tells the story of education in Scotland from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
Visitors can trace the story of the Cotswolds from Prehistory to the late 19th Century, with hands-on exhibits, interactive displays and a wealth of precious artefacts. There are animated and practical games, and audio-visual screens to bring the past to life for everyone from schoolchildren to grandparents.
Remains of Roman civilian town, an archaeologist’s paradise!
Tribal capital of the Silures (Venta Silurum) - impressive fourth-century walls standing up to 17 feet (5.2m) high. Excavated houses, forum-basilica and a Romano-British temple also remain.
The West Gate barns area provides car parking, level access to toilet facilities and interpretation panels.
Inside one of Wrexham's landmark buildings, Wrexham County Borough Museum is the starting point for discovering the eventful history of this region on the English-Welsh border.
The museum's displays and collections tell the stories of Wrexham County Borough and its people from prehistory up to the present day.
Face to face with history. We are home to the UK’s national collection of arms and armour.
At our museum in Leeds there are over 8,500 objects on display in five galleries: War, Tournament, Oriental, Self-defence, and Hunting.
General Collection
A good display of Luton history and a history of the development of Luton industries.
We have an Education and Pilgrimage centre, Ty'r Pererin, which was officially opened on 4 March 2013. Click here for more information about the new centre.
Visit one of England’s loveliest cathedrals with medieval cloisters, royal tombs, and an ancient crypt to explore. Guided tours available, including one to the top of the tower. Free to visit, but there is a charge for the tours.
North Down Museum tells the story of the North Down area from the Bronze Age to the present day, each exhibition is dedicated to a particular era of local history. Key artefacts on display include the Bronze Age Ballycroghan Swords, the Bangor Bell from the important Bangor Abbey settlement and the Raven Maps, the only complete folio of Plantation era maps in Ireland.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.