To celebrate Museum Week (23rd to 29th April) we take a look at five free museums that offer school visits.
1. V&A, London
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is a great choice for school groups. Not only does it offer free admission but there are a variety of school workshops available, not to mention guided tours. Self-guided visits can be arranged for teachers who’d prefer to be free to roam at their own pace. Workshops can tie in to subjects such as History, Literacy, Art & Design and Drama.
2. Museum of Science & Industry
The museum in Manchester is free to enter however activities may cost more. Nevertheless, if you’re after a self-led visit to allow your pupils to explore the museum by themselves, a visit is free. Children will be able to view Tim Peake’s Spacecraft among a variety of other interesting scientific artefacts on display. Workshops that are available are suitable for Key Stage 1 to 3 and explore a number of Science topics.
3. Bradford Museums & Galleries
The Bradford Museums & Galleries’ learning programme offers a variety of sessions and visits across its sites, which include Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Cliffe Castle Museum, Bradford Industrial Museum, and Bolling Hill. Sessions can cover a variety of topics such as natural history, evolution and Victorians, tying into Science, History and more. Admission is free to all museums.
Pictured: Imperial War Museum.
4. Imperial War Museum London
The Imperial War Museum London is part of a series of museums in various locations, and not all are free. However, the London museum does offer free entry, and being in an ideal location to be combined with a number of other attractions, it is worth visiting for a History linked trip. Private tours can be booked for a price and discounts are available for some of the paid for exhibitions. The museum looks at wartime history, which ties in for students studying both World Wars.
5. Natural History Museum at Tring
Like its sister museum in London, the Natural History Museum at Tring offers free admission. With a host of exhibitions looking at the world’s natural history, a school visit can tie in with both History and Science. Plus, there a programme of curricular-linked workshops. Activities do cost extra, so those on a budget might like to just visit and make use of the free downloadable teaching resources, so a visit can be taken back into the classroom.
Need some advice about taking a school group to a museum? Read our latest tips for a successful museum trip.
Lead image: V&A Museum in London (photo credit: V&A Press Office.)
