Schools
The best day out of the classroom you'll have in ages!
A visit to The Alnwick Garden is an exciting journey of exploration; the landscape is bursting with learning potential. Make The Garden your outdoor classroom, whether for an informal, fun day or for a lesson or project linked to the curriculum. The Garden is an inspiring resource for subjects as diverse as science and horticulture to technology and art.
A school visit to The Alnwick Garden can be an independent visit led by the teacher, or a workshop or tour led by The Garden’s own education team.
School visits should be planned in advance, click here for all the details you need. If leading an independent visit, take a look at our resources as they may help you get the most from your time here. To find out more about workshops and tours, click here.
We are keen to involve teachers and educators in our growing community. Sign up to receive details of forthcoming events, learning programmes, resources and teacher days.
Planning your school visit
All school visits must be booked in advance. To book your visit, buy tickets online, download a group booking form or call 01665 511350. To book tours and workshops for your group, please call us.
Schools pricing
Valid until 30th March
Pupil* - £2.50 BUY NOW
Teacher/carer – 1 free per 10 pupils BOOK NOW
Additional adult - £6.25 BUY NOW
*must be 18 or under and in full time education
Valid from 31st March
Garden only
Pupil* - £2.75
Teacher/carer – 1 free per 10 pupils
Additional adult - £6.90
*must be 18 or under and in full time education
Garden and Castle combined
Pupil* - £6.50
Teacher/carer – 1 free per 10 pupils
Additional adult - £14.70
*must be 18 or under and in full time education
Your group will be met by our welcome team at the group drop off point and then directed to free coach parking.
Come to The Garden to help you plan your visit, to make sure you are familiar with everything The Garden has to offer. To arrange a teacher’s pass for a planning visit, please call Laura Brydon on 01665 511184 or email laura.brydon@alnwickcastle.com.
Health and safety and other important things
- The Alnwick Garden is an all-weather, outdoor attraction, and there are steps and slopes. Come dressed for the season with sensible footwear, and bring waterproofs in case they are required.
- The layout of The Garden doesn’t lend itself to group activities, so it is important that you divide your party into groups with a designated adult supervisor with responsibility for each group. These adult leaders are responsible for the management of the children in their care.
- Extra care must be taken around The Garden’s many water features. There are several deep pools. The Grand Cascade and the pools are very dangerous and must not be entered. Children should not be allowed to climb on the water features.
- Water jets and sprays are lots of fun and children are bound to get wet; please come prepared with a change of clothes. We do not have designated changing areas.
- We are a working garden. Please be aware of garden machinery and obey health and safety signs.
- The Ornamental Garden is a quiet garden. Please walk, don’t run, and stay on the paths.
- Ball games are not allowed in The Garden.
- The mini tractors are for the under-sevens.
- You may picnic on the grass. We recommend that packed lunches are brought and carried in backpacks, as we don’t have storage facilities.
Risk assessments
Download the risk assessment forms here.
Resources for independent visits
The Alnwick Garden is the unique celebration of the Duchess of Northumberland, Jane Percy. She wanted to develop a garden that was a place of learning and excitement for young people and future generations. The Alnwick Garden has therefore been created with children in mind, and they’ll find fascinating and fun experiences throughout the landscape.
When planning your visit, try to think of all the unique features found in The Garden and how they may add to your visit. Listen to our podcasts to find out more.
Many of The Alnwick Garden’s design features can be used as inspiration for a school visit, as can themes or projects which you may be working on in the classroom. For each Key Stage, we have shared some of our ideas which we hope will help you.
Early years
Younger visitors can run across the Grand Cascades terrace to be splashed by the jets, paddles in the rills and drive the mini tractors to collect water in their buckets. They can look for secret places in the Bamboo Labyrinth to play hide and seek, and run along The Treehouse’s rope bridges to see how much they wobble. They will also enjoy visiting the Woodland Walk to look for signs of red squirrels.
Lots of our Roots and Shoots activities would be great fun for groups of early years children, like gardening and organic art. Take a look at our what’s on pages and if you see something you’d like to do, call us to arrange a session especially for your group.
Key Stage 1
The Treehouse
Take your group into the Roost; an education room built high in a lime tree which sways gently in the wind. Climb the stairs over The Treehouse’s roof, and look out over The Garden.
The Bamboo Labyrinth
Find your way through the Labyrinth, using the map at its centre to plan your route. It’s a place to explore, and be lost and found.
The Serpent Garden
Help children to begin to understand physics in action, by watching the movement of water in eight water features that both fascinate and delight.
The seasons
Watch the landscape change with the seasons, using the garden guide (LINK) to plan seasonal visits.
The senses
Use all of the senses during your visit. Pay attention to sounds like the splashing water, bird song and the humming of bees, to the plants’ fragrances and to textures like bark.
Key Stage 2
Drug awareness and citizenship
Visit the locked Poison Garden as a group, and listen to stories of plants that can kill. During the summer months, you will see cannabis, heroin and cocaine growing in their plant forms. As part of our drugs awareness programme, we recommend that you visit www.talktofrank.com to prepare for your visit.
Science, design and technology
Consider the design of The Pavilion and Visitor Centre, The Treehouse and the Bamboo Labyrinth, thinking about the use of materials and environmental issues.
Physics in action
Explore the fascinating water sculptures in the Serpent Garden, reading the sign near each sculpture. Download an Institute of Physics postcard for more information, and question the scientific principles of the movement of water.
Key Stages 3 and 4
Many subjects can be supported, explored, illustrated or animated during a visit to The Garden, including science, art, horticulture, design, technology, literacy, tourism, geography, engineering, architecture and business studies. If we can help you develop your ideas, call the education team on 01665 511350.
Workshops and tours for schools
A school visit to The Alnwick Garden can include a workshop or tour led by The Garden’s own education team. At certain times of the year, like Science Month in March and Play Week in June, there are pre-programmed activities that schools can sign up for. Visit the what’s on pages for more details.
Lots of our Roots and Shoots activities can be adapted and programmed especially for your group. Take a look at our what’s on pages, and if you see something you’d like to do, call us to arrange a session.
Workshops for schools
Planning your school garden workshop
If you have plans for a school garden or are keen to start a school gardening club, our planning workshop will help you get started with the expert advice of our garden team.
Practical gardening workshop
In 2 hands-on workshops of 45 minutes each, groups learn to plan a garden, test and prepare the soil, sow seeds, transplant seedlings and take and plant cuttings.
£3.50 per pupil, including admission
Teacher/carer – 1 free per 10 pupils
Additional adult - £6.25, including admission
*must be 18 or under and in full time education
The workshops are suitable for all ages and abilities, and for 20 pupils in 2 groups of 10. They are subject to availability and must be booked in advance. Please call 01665 511350 to make your booking.
Tours for schools
Be guided around The Alnwick Garden by an enthusiastic guide. The tour includes the history of the site, the making of The Alnwick Garden and our future plans for development.
£3.50 per pupil, including admission
Teacher/carer – 1 free per 10 pupils
Additional adult - £6.25, including admission
*must be 18 or under and in full time education
The tour is suitable for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3, and for a group of 20 pupils. Larger groups will be divided into 2 groups. It is subject to availability and must be booked in advance. Please call 01665 511350 to make your booking.
