Nene Valley Railway is a heritage railway that offers a family day out but is no mere manufactured visitor attraction as the preserved railway uses part of the original London and North Western line from Northamptonshire into the Cathederal city of Peterborough, encompassing the stations of Yarwell, Wansford, Ferry Meadows (Nene Park) and Orton Mere.
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
A fearsome fortress
Muster your courage and explore Framlingham Castle's towering walls behind which Mary Tudor took refuge.
Discover Framlingham Castle's vast and colourful past as it became home to some of the most powerful people in Tudor England, an Elizabethan prison for the troubled, and a sanctuary for the poor in the 17th century.
Get up close to Ireland's largest collection of native and exotic waterbirds, bats and migrant birds whilst taking in stunning estuary views. Our spring duckery tour is an unforgettable experience.
St George's Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Southwark, which covers the Diocese of Southwark (South London, North Surrey, and Kent), and also the Dioceses of Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth, and Plymouth.
Late medieval hall-house in a picturesque village
This medieval hall-house was built in 1308 for the parish priest of the church opposite, and has been little altered since the early 17th century.
Interesting features include the Gothic doorway, magnificent double-height tracery windows and a massive 15th-century stone fireplace.
A medieval Elizabethan manor house, with it’s own moat, plus priest holes and walled gardens to explore. There is also a Visitor Centre in the old Malt House. Audiovisual and interactive displays help bring the history to life.
Medieval castle rising dramatically above the celebrated garden
The world-famous garden, overhung with clipped yews, shelters rare and tender plants. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, it retains its original lead statues and an orangery on the terraces. High on a rock above the terraces, the castle, originally built circa 1200, began life as a medieval fortress.
The Coleraine Collection stems from the town's remarkable history. Coleraine is a town of several firsts - the first known settlement in Ireland at Mountsandel and the first 'planted' town in Ulster.
A large and imposing Scillonian Bronze Age entrance grave, with kerb, inner passage and burial chamber all clearly visible.
This is one of the largest and best preserved of the distinctive burial chambers known as entrance graves.
Dating from about 2000 BC, Porth Hellick is the largest entrance grave in a scattered cemetery that includes six others, and two low cairns.
The perfect setting for an Edwardian country retreat
'This is a delicious house...' remarked Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother on her honeymoon at Polesden Lacey. This country retreat, only four miles from Dorking and junction 9 of the M25, has glorious views across the rolling Surrey Hills and acres of countryside. It was home to famous Edwardian hostess Mrs Greville, who entertained royalty and the celebrities of her time.
Housing a variety of exhibitions including about the city of Liverpool, Mondrian and his art studio and a range of temporary exhibits, there is plenty to see at Tate Liverpool.
Tate St Ives is an art gallery in St Ives, Cornwall, England, exhibiting work by modern British artists in the beautiful surroundings of the rugged Cornish coast.
Tate Modern exhibits the best of modern art in an ever-rotating series of exhibitions on the south bank of the Thames.
Visit our website for full details of what's on right now at Tate Modern.
The National Football Museum houses the greatest collection of football memorabilia, artefacts and archives in the UK.
The Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability at Normansfield Teddington, was the home and institution developed by the Victorian physician Dr John Langdon Down and his family where a revolutionary and enlightened approach was developed for the care of people with learning disabilities.
The UK's only crocodile zoo
We're home to more than 100 crocodiles, alligators and caimans from 14 different species of crocodilian. Crocodiles of the World is now open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm all year round including Bank Holidays; we are closed on Christmas Day.
Now the UK’s largest collection of parrots with nearly 2,000 birds covering over 100 species, but there’s not just parrots here, you will also see Marmosets, Meerkats, Lemurs, Giant Tortoises, Snakes, Kookaburras and many more.
Centres around a Tropical House in a spectacular jungle-like setting which includes a large water feature containing Red-Eared and other Terrapins. The outside exhibits include capuchin monkeys, meerkats, ring tailed lemur and more plus plenty of bird exhibits.
Blackpool Zoo is the perfect destination for your school or group. Outdoor, healthy exercise combined with a unique learning experience and over 1000 animals. Education programmes are curriculum-led from Nursery to post-graduate and extra experiences are available for non-uniform groups. We also offer discounts on admission for school groups.
One of England's most elegant and eccentric Gothic houses
Visiting Strawberry Hill is a truly theatrical experience. Magically lit by a unique collection of renaissance glass, its gloomy castle-like hall and grey gothic staircase lead dramatically to the magnificence of the gallery.
Learning through discovery is just one of the reasons to book your group visit to Willows Farm Village.
The world’s oldest and original model village.
The Village depicts rural England in the 1930s and is a miniature wonderland which delights children of all ages. Buy a quiz (over 5s and under 5s) from our shop and enjoy answering the questions as you wander around.
Use your imagination in this unique world of make-believe that has delighted generations of visitors.
A Tudor farm, steeped in history, surrounded by a lovely park that is full of informal walks with plenty of wildlife to enjoy.
The animals are always around to meet in the enclosures and include Norfolk Black Turkeys, pigs, Shropshire sheep, Hereford cattle, plus a number of chickens, guinea fowl, ducks and geese!
A free museum about the history of Oxford and its people. Families can explore the interactive galleries and come along to monthly family craft workshops in the learning centre to handle real objects.
Museum of Oxford offers fun and interactive galleries for families to explore local history of Oxford and its people; including an interactive touch screen.
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