Guided Tour
Guided Tour
What is it?
A guided tour is the practice of an individual leading a group of people around a point of interest and giving them information about it, which can cover topics such as religious significance, cultural history and how it relates to other locations and events in history.
What does it involve?
Attending a guided tour basically just involves paying attention! All the work is done for you in finding out the facts and presenting them in an interesting manner; the role of the participant just calls for a level of interest in your surroundings and an eagerness to learn!
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Tour guides can be extremely educational - physically interacting with the place while learning about its history will provide a different kind of academic experience to the classroom by giving the students something more tangible to focus on.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn't need any equipment for a guided tour, but check beforehand to make sure; some tours involve their participants even further by getting them to write down their own thoughts, or make drawings - so you may need to ensure students have something to write on!
Who is it suitable for?
Guided Tours are suitable for pretty much anybody if you pick the right one - smaller children will find it harder to focus on more complex subjects and will need more visual aids, but if they are engaged correctly they will have a great time! Likewise, teenage students will get bored if the subject isn't engaging enough, so make sure to choose the tour appropriate for the age and interests of the group.
Costs?
Around £20 or less per person, but it can vary greatly depending on the location of the tour - for example, a minibus tour around a park will cost more than a short walk around a country manor! Make sure to shop around to get an idea of the prices in your area.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
A guided tour should be suitable for all ages, but students with condtions such has ADHD may have trouble focusing for an extended period of time - make sure to be aware of the specific needs of your group.
How do we include?
Many guided tours have disabled access for those with limited physical movement, but it would be wise to doublecheck beforehand. Those who are deaf and blind can also be included in guided tours but may need more specialist staff - again, you will need to check with the specific establishments.
Doing it abroad?
There are points of public interest all around the world, so wherever you can find something well known chances are there will be a guided tour available! Foreign tours may be conducted in another language though, so make sure to confirm the specifications of the tour before booking it.
Main website:
This website gives a good overview of places where you can go for a tour guide, but you're best looking at the specific areas around you to find out details!
Venues with this Activity
This splendid 17th century baroque building housed a courtroom for assizes, raised on arches over a market space. It now houses the Abingdon Museum. On sunny days take in the lovely rooftop views overlooking the market square.
Boscobel House and its Royal Oak tree became famous as hiding places of King Charles II after defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Visitors can also see the dairy, farmyard, smithy and gardens.
The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. The keep was built by Henry II in 1176.
A moated enclosure, probably the site of a manor owned by the Bishops of Llandaff during the 13th and 14th centuries. The site is composed of a large level area, roughly 39 metres by 45 metres, wurrounded by a wide moat, making the total size of the site an impressive 72 metres by 76 metres.
With a station motto of ‘The Strongest Link’, Biggin Hill was an important sector or 'controlling airfield' during and after the Battle of Britain. First established during the First World War as a radio and instrument research station and a fighter airfield, the second conflict saw it upgraded to accommodate modern fighter aircraft.
Over the past 40 years, this famous Airport has steadily changed from being a busy RAF base into a commercial regional airport. The historic ties are remembered annually at the RAF Chapel which is open to the public.
RAF Chapel
A world-famous stone circle and on-site museum at the heart of a prehistoric landscape.
With its huge circular bank and ditch and inner circle of great standing stones, covering an area of over 28 acres, Avebury forms one of the most impressive prehistoric sites in Britain.
One of the most important prehistoric archaeological collections in Britain, housed in the Stables Gallery, and including many artefacts from the World Heritage Site (WHS) monuments. The admission fee includes access to both the Stables and Barn Galleries. The Barn Gallery (belonging to the National Trust) tells the story of the WHS, its monuments, and the people associated with it.
The museum collection on display reveals an island community changing over the years to both external and internal pressures. Alderney has a fascinating history starting with extensive Stone, Bronze and Iron Age activity, with object evidence of historically important Roman activity at Longy.
The story of Aldershot Military Town and the civil towns of Aldershot, Farnborough and Cove.
Housed in the only surviving brick-built barrack blocks left in Aldershot, the museum tells the story of daily life for both soldier and civilian since 1854.
Activities for Schools
Airborne Assault is the Regimental Museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces and tells the stories of the soldiers who go to war from the air.
Although the Museum touches on other aspects of the National Curriculum the main core subject covered is History. Details are set out below as to how a visit to the Museum may benefit students in the various key stages of History.
Has long provided the opportunity to become familiar with the country life of yesteryear. Its Historic Working Farm is a wonderful visitor attraction with daily activities and special events. You will see traditional 19th century farm life unfold daily, while the land around is worked by heavy horses.
The Roman Baths is a favourite for children and their teachers to find out about the Romans and Roman Britain, and children can work with original Roman material..
Washford Radio Museum is situated within the Tropiquaria wildlife park in Washford, Somerset. It is based in a 1930’s art deco BBC Radio transmitting station, which is now a Grade II listed building.
Abergavenny Museum and Castle is an ideal venue for an educational visit. We welcome schools who wish to bring pupils for a general visit to look at the castle and/or the museum displays. Entry is free. We do ask that you let us know when you are intending to visit, so we can let you know of any events that may affect your visit.
Pembrokeshire's County Museum is located in a traditional Victorian country house near Haverfordwest, surrounded by 60 acres of park and woodland and is completed by an award-winning eco-centre.
Period rooms, railway displays, farming exhibition, costume, stable/rural crafts, art exhibitions, World War II homefront exhibition. Picnic and play areas, shop and tearoom.
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is a unique eighteenth century industrial works. Catch a glimpse of life at home and at work at a rural scythe and steelworks dating back to the 18th century.
Abbey Pumping Station is Leicester's Museum of Science and Technology, displaying the city's industrial, technological and scientific heritage.
Situated adjacent to the National Space Centre, the two attractions tell the story of over 200 years of science and technology from the early days of steam and industry, to space exploration of today.
Step back in time and wander through the enchanting streets, shops and houses and experience life as a Victorian. On the ground floor visit Stephen Harding Gate, the 19th century equivalent of a modern high street for some old fashioned retail therapy. In the back streets, see the home of the window washer woman or pop into the Sunday-School.
Cannon Hall Museum houses a grand collection of artworks including paintings, English furniture, Arts and Crafts ceramics and modern glassware.
The Hall opened as a museum in 1957 and continues to display the exhibits to the public to this day. Recent funding from the Heritage Lottery fund helped refurbish the displays and update them for the modern age.
The Light Dragoons has one Regimental Museum. 'A Soldier's Life', The Light Dragoons (The 15th/19th King's Royal Hussars) Museum, is at Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Newport Docks si the UK's second largest steel port and in 2014 handled over 70,000 tonnes of timber out of a total of 12 million tonnes of cargo each year. It is also a recycling hub.
The Foxton Canal Museum is located in the former boiler house for the plane's steam engine. The museum covers the history of the locks and the plane, the lives of the canal workers, and other aspects of the local canal. There is also a collection of Measham pottery.
Foxton Canal Museum is fun, children of all ages love it.
Pages
Featured Provider
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.
Login/Sign Up
Latest News
Schoolboy Falls From 60ft Cliff on School Trip
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.