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!
Set in the attractive Moors-edge market town of Pickering; discover how this splendid 13th century castle was used throughout the centuries.
This tourist attraction in the heart of the North York Moors National Park has been a royal hunting lodge, holiday home and a stud farm by a succession of medieval kings.
A perfect educational visit in Yorkshire.
The Robey Trust , based at the New Perseverance Ironworks, is a charity dedicated to continuing the traditions of the Robey Engineering Company of Lincoln. This involves not only the maintenance in working order of many Robey engines, the vast majority of them steam engines, but also continuing and transmitting to coming generations the expertise required to preserve and run these machines.
Explore the museum’s large, outstanding collections and trace the fascinating history of Mid Devon. The displays include the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ GWR steam engine, local industries (particularly lace making), farm waggons and the history of agriculture, and the every day home life of Mid Devon folk.
Rockbourne is near Fordingbridge in a picturesque and peaceful part of Hampshire close to the New Forest. The Roman villa once stood in the centre of a large farming estate, and is the largest known villa in the area. Its history spans the period from the Iron Age to the 5th century AD. The villa includes bath houses, living quarters, farm buildings and workshops.
Take a ride on this fun narrow gauge railway that trundles through the heart of Sherwood Forest which runs for one mile through the area's farm land with two crossings a tunnel and a couple of stations cute 5/8ths scale locomotives the kids will love pulling open carriages behind them.
Hezlett House may be small but it is bursting with history, stories and tales. Dressed for the late Victorian period typical for this Irish farmstead visitors can immerse themselves in that time and get hands on with many of the items experiencing life on the farm. The beautiful grounds have been lovingly restored including a small working fruit orchard and kitchen garden.
The South Devon Railway is one of Devon’s and the West Country’s best loved tourist attractions and is the longest established steam railway in the south west.
The mansion, at the heart of this estate, is evidence of Elsie Bambridge's success in creating a home. Elsie was the daughter of acclaimed author Rudyard Kipling.
A spectacular 14th century monastic stone barn, 51 metres (168 feet) long, with an amazing timber cruck roof.
This is one of the country’s finest examples of medieval monastic barns – rightly called ‘the cathedrals of the land’.
Built in the early years of the 14th century, it originally formed part of a range of farm buildings grouped around an open rectangular yard.
Ash End House Children's Farm offer lots of friendly animals to feed and stroke. Three Play areas, Indoor Toddlers Barn, Family Games Yard, Crazy golf and lots of fun activities for the children. Plus Jumping Pillow, Tractor and Trailer Rides and visit our new Falconry Centre!
Here at Manor Country Park you can:
Education
Boasts a wide variety of animals on the farm including pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals. Free to all.
A working cattle farm on the urban fringe of Huddersfield. We promote healthy food growing in the community and wildlife conservation, with indoor and outdoor learning facilities.
Belmont Children's Farm provides fun and education and easily accommodates school visits and parties.
Come and see the animals and at specific times participate in their daily care: you won’t even have to get your feet muddy! Kids can interact with the animals either in petting sessions or helping with their care, plus tractor rides available through the hidden valley.
This City Farm has lots of animals to cuddle, stroke and feed, horses to ride and they are a venue for birthdays too.
We are in the heart of London with all the sights, smells, sounds and experiences of rural life.
The collection of animals includes rare breed sheep, goats, alpacas and pigs, plus ferrets, rabbits and guinea pigs all ready and waiting for cuddles.
Mudchute Park and Farm isone of the largest inner City Farms anywhere in Europe. 32 acres of countryside in the middle of the Isle of Dogs to share with friendly furry and feathered creatures. There is also an outdoor play area in Milwall Park which is adjacent.
They have a collection of British rare breeds and over 200 animals and fowl on their farm!
Amerton Farm and Craft Centre and Playbarn is a farmyard with indoor adventure play area. It has a tractor track, rope bridge and barns on stilts connected with raised walkways. There is also a soft play area for children under 3 years of age, plus fun days and farm activities.
An all weather fun farm experience for the whole family. Indoor play areas, adventure playground, lots of animals to see and cuddle, tractor and trailer rides and demonstrations daily. Plus great for residential and day school visits.
Rand Farm Park offers a high quality “hands on” fun and learning experience both for day and residential visitors of all ages and abilities.
See cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, goats, lots of rabbit, geese and ducks.
Education Activities
Young visitors have the opportunity to get close to a wide range of farm animals from the tiniest chickens to the statuesque Shire horses, with hands-on activities and play zones.
Plus indoor Egg Splat cannons and ride on tractors as well as two adventure play areas for different age groups and the tractor trailer ride.
City Farm with lots of hands-on farming activities to get stuck in to plus events and activities held regularly to encourage volunteers and help fund this charity project.
Following a £530,000 redevelopment, the Brooks Farm Outdoor Learning Centre re-opened to the public on the 12 August 2014.
A working 2.2 acre city farm in the heart of London with open animal yard, bee room, cafe, working blacksmith's forge and classrooms.
We hold special activities in school holidays such as baking and crafts as well as encouraging families to help out on the farm with some hands-on work experience!
School Visits to the Farm
The ruins of the medieval castle and Tudor manor house of the Corbets are dominated by the theatrical shell of an ambitious Elizabethan mansion wing in Italianate style, which was devastated during the Civil War. Fine Corbet monuments fill the adjacent church.
Information panels illustrate the 500-year history of the castle.
Set beside the church of the picturesque ironstone village of Lyddington, Lyddington Bede House originated as the medieval wing of a palace belonging to the Bishops of Lincoln.
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.