Learning with Knole

Please note: We are currently taking bookings for the academic year 2021-2022, subject to government guidance and restrictions.

Knole is unique: an enormous medieval, Tudor and Jacobean mansion with a treasure trove of rare and precious items collected over hundreds of years. Set within the only remaining medieval deer park in Kent, there are plenty of opportunities to learn inside and out, engaging students of all ages whilst providing a fun day out too.

We offer educational visits throughout the academic year, 5 days a week. You can choose from a full day (10am-2.30pm) or some workshops can be delivered on a half day visit (10am-12pm or 12.30pm-2.30pm). 

A summary of all the workshops on offer is below. Please do get in touch with our Children and Young People team at Knole to discuss your requirements further and enquire about dates.

Workshops for younger students

The following workshops are suitable for KS1 and KS2 students and can be run as a full day or half day session. A full day workshop costs £6 per student and a half day workshop costs £4.50 per student. Admission charges also apply.

Special needs visits

The Great Hall, Orangery and parts of the deer park are all wheelchair-accessible. Our learning team will be delighted to organise specific activities, such as music, costume or handling sessions to suit the needs of your pupils. 

School outreach visits

Knole’s learning team also offer an outreach programme to primary and secondary schools around Kent. These engaging sessions create an immersive learning experience with multi-sensory handling collections that span a range of topics, from the Stone Age to World War Two.

The sessions last approximately half a day with a break in the middle. If there are two classes in the same year, you may wish to book one session in the morning and one in the afternoon to allow for interaction. 

An outreach visit will cost £4.50 per pupil. Choose from any of the following themed boxes:

Stone Age to Bronze Age
This prehistory session will focus primarily on school national curriculum on the KS2 topic, changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. This session will bring objects from the past into the classroom and encourage inspiration and enquiry skills.

Changing Power of Monarchy
This session addresses the importance of understanding the effects of monarchical change on people and places in Britain, particularly focusing on Knole in the locality. This session covers the Tudor period and Victorian period through a focus on Power of Clothing, Power and Influence at Knole and The Power of Portraiture.

Second World War
This session takes a look at Knole during the Second World War. Discover our mystery soldier and learn moe about those who stayed behind on the home front.

Second World War

This session takes a look at Knole during the Second World War. Discover our mystery soldier and learn more about those who stayed behind on the home front.

Workshops for older students

The following workshops delve a bit deeper with more thought and analysis required from students. They are still interactive, engaging and fun. A full day workshop costs £6 per student and a half day workshop costs £4.50 per student. Admission charges also apply.

Knole in a Box
This project will allow pupils to get practical experience with Knole’s handling collections, to introduce artefacts and historical enquiry in order to create a mini-museum exhibition. The multi-sensory objects and activities allow for cross-curricular skills to be developed and can be linked to other topic work within the classroom.

Topics for exhibition include:
•    Stone Age to Iron Age
•    WW1/2 Remembrance
•    Tudors
•    Victorians
•    Power and Monarchy

Frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit

When can we visit?

School visits take place throughout the academic year on Mondays to Fridays. A full day visit runs from 10am to 2.30pm, or some workshops can be delivered on a half day basis, either 10am-12pm or 12.30-2.30pm. All visits start with an introductory talk and we recommend everyone brings a packed lunch.

How many students can we bring?

We currently have enough education spaces for groups of up to 60 children per day. Enough adults need to accompany the children according to the following ratios: 1:4 for Reception, 1:6 for KS1, 1:8 for KS2, 1:10 for KS3. These ratios do not provide for one to one support.

All activities will be led by members of our experienced learning team who will be delighted to share their extensive knowledge of Knole with you. Please note however, that the behaviour of the students remains your responsibility at all times.

What are the admission prices?

The National Trust is recognised as being Britain’s biggest classroom and is one of the largest educational resources in the world.  By taking out Education Group Membership, the whole school or other not-for-profit education groups can enjoy free entry to National Trust properties for a year.

Please see below for the cost of becoming an Education Group Member. This can be taken out at Knole on the day of your visit or arranged in advance.

Number of pupils on school roll         Subscription
Home-educating family                              £50
Under 50                                                    £50
51 – 100                                                     £80
101 – 200                                                   £95
201 – 500                                                   £100
Over 500                                                    £120
Tertiary/Field Study                                    £150

Please note: Education Group Membership prices have been frozen for 2021. They are reviewed at the beginning of March each year.

Once you are a National Trust Education Group Member, you only need pay for the workshop element of your visit. This is currently charged at £6 per child for a full day visit and £4.50 per child for a half day visit. There are no additional charges for adults.

Non National Trust Education Group Members will be charged the following:

Full day visit
Admission charge - Adults £12.75, Children £6.38
Activities £6 per child (no charge for adults)

Half day visit
Admission charge - Adults £12.75, Children £6.38
Activities £4.50 per child (no charge for adults)

How do I find out more or book an educational visit?

If you would like to know more about the learning team at Knole or our award-winning and diverse programme that supports learning across the history, science, art, music and geography curriculum for all ages, please get in touch. We offer primary and secondary school visits as well as bespoke post-16 educational visits to Knole.

For further information or booking please email us at KnoleLearningTeam@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01732 467155.