In-School History Visits

Primary Workshops for KS1 & KS2

Save yourself the expense and logistical nightmare of going on a trip: bring one of our costumed experts into your school for a fraction of the cost of a day out. The children will get to handle authentic replica artefacts, hold real (blunt!) weapons and try on armour. We aim to inspire children with physical and mental games – they can find out about daily life, culture, society and status. We can give you a great starting point, a boost in the middle of the topic or a fantastic end and round up of the period.

It’s simpler, cheaper and more interactive than a museum trip, and the best part is that you won’t lose any children in the gift shop!

Wow impact days

With one of our in-school workshops, authentic living history is brought right to your school, making it a cost effective alternative to the logistics and expense of out of school trips.

Whether you’re looking for an Ancient Egyptian or a Tudor Alchemist, we can supply knowledgeable expert historians covering topics from the Stone Age to World War Two.

tailored to your group

Whether or not you have taught a particular historical period before, a school workshop is not only a great way to introduce the subject to the children but also gives teachers crash course, bringing a wealth of knowledge and future ideas for lesson planning.

Our visit will give your pupils a lively and inspiring introduction, can reinvigorate the class half way through or provide consolidation at the end of the topic. We can take any number of pupils up to 90 for the same cost, and can deal with a variety of numbers and ages of children. Larger groups can be accommodated over multiple days, or we can organise whole school special events on request.

A picture of a marvellous history visitor dressed as an alchemist holding a bottle containing some amber coloured liquid up to look at

Part of a Roman workshop display from Marvellous History

What we do:

Bring a wide range of accurate replica artefacts
Dress up as a historically accurate character for the day
Provide a bespoke timetable that fits with your timetable and particular learning objectives
Supply the equipment and specialist materials for our activities
Take groups of up to 90 together

A picture of a marvellous history visitor dressed as a Viking with a great axe and helmet, with two children also dressed up

What it costs:

Our workshops normally start at £400 + VAT for a group of 30 children.

We provide a fully inclusive quote based on your location, number of children and any driving or parking charges that apply.

Get in touch for more info!

What we need:

A hall
At least two staff members and a minimum of one for every 30 children (more if SEN)
A couple of tables to display
A place to get changed
Suitable parking close to the hall
We do not ask for parent helpers

Children learning about Victorian toys at a Victorian workshop by Marvellous History

What a workshop looks like:

We try to avoid too much “standing at the front and talking” and make the day fun and interactive. Activities could include drama and role play, creative “makes”, games, stories and quizzes. There will also be artifact handling and plenty of time to ask questions.

A pirate looking into the camera with a pistol, leaning on a cannon

what a workshop covers:

Before the visit we will consult you on the format and content of the day. We are also always glad to tailor our visits to your needs if you would like to cover a particular subject in more depth, or give a wider overview of the whole topic.

Chilldren dressed in roman and viking clothing for a history workshop from Marvellous History

Make it a Dressing up day!

We always recommend that schools make the day of the visit a Dressing Up Day, with the children (and teachers!) adopting home-made costume and props in advance of the day (instructions available here). Not only is this a great creative activity, it’s good fun and encourages the children to start researching the subject. Props can also then be used for some activities during the workshop.

Kitty and John Davidson in WW2 clothing as part of a WW2 workshop for Marvellous History

discounts on your workshop

We are well aware how tight budgets are these days, so we do offer some discounts where possible!

10% discount for 3 or more bookings: Book 3 or more workshops with us during the academic year and get 10% off all your workshops! This also applies to workshops for large groups over multiple days. T&Cs apply

Small and Local: where a workshop is for a small group (up to 20) and the school is local to one of our visitors, we offer a special discounted rate.

Additional discounts: Keep up to date with our offers by following us on Facebook.

Please also see our FAQ’s for more info

Make an impact with our WOW days
Book a visit from a historical character today!