Schools & Groups

Schools

A visit to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall offers a fun, informal and authentic learning experience for any school group, bringing history to life for your students.

We offer a unique experience that cannot be recreated in the classroom. All visits are designed to make the best use of your time and provide an authentic and unforgettable learning experience.

The Experience

Step into Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall and immerse yourself in sixteenth century Stratford. Sit in the very room that William Shakespeare sat as a pupil in the 1570s, visit the Council Chamber where his father served as Bailiff (Mayor) and experience the space where young Shakespeare first witnessed performances by the country’s greatest actors of the day. Participate in a Tudor Schoolroom lesson and brush up on your Latin!

Stratford's newest heritage site and visitor attraction provides the missing chapter of the story of Shakespeare's life in Stratford - his education and the inspiration that led him to become the world’s greatest playwright. Meticulous conservation work at the Guildhall, home to a series of rare medieval wall paintings, provides an extraordinary history of the building and of over 400 years of civic history of Stratford.

This interactive and engaging visitor experience will bring to life the many stories the magical Guildhall has to tell.

School Trip Benefits:

• Free teacher place for every 10 pupils under the age of 16

• Free Planning Visit for teachers and group leaders

• Teachers’ Toolkit and Timeline available on confirmation of booking

Our Teacher's Toolkit covers the following Curriculum Links:

• Mathematics

• English

• History

• Science

• Geography

• Art

• Design & Technology

School booking practical FAQs

• Group discount available for groups of over 15 visitors
• We are happy to accomodate groups of up to 45 people at any one time. School groups larger than this can be accomodated in multiple sessions
• You should allow 45mins to 1hr for your visit.
• Coach drop off and pick up outside the Indigo Hotel opposite Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall
• We have only a single toilet so we recommend groups visit the nearby town facilities in Bell Court before or after their visit. Our toilet is accesable for those who require it.
• There is an accessible lift to the upper floor and plenty of seating throughout the building
• Due to the size of the museum, regretably we are unable to provide a space for lunch

Groups

Your group will love Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall, a fascinating experience for all ages.

Step into Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall and immediately find yourself in sixteenth century Stratford-upon-Avon. Sit in the very room where William Shakespeare sat as a pupil in the 1570s, visit the Council Chamber where his father served as Bailiff (Mayor) and experience the space where he first witnessed performances by the country’s greatest actors of the day.  We offer your group a fun and engaging Tudor style school lesson with Shakespeare’s last schoolmaster and they may even leave having learnt a little Latin!

This interactive visitor experience will bring to life the many stories the magical Guildhall has to tell.

Admission voucher scheme and account facilities for coach and tour operators upon application.

Practical information for groups:

• Group discount available for groups of over 15 visitors

• We are happy to accomodate groups of up to 45 people

• Coach drop off and pick up outside the Indigo Hotel opposite Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall

• We have one accessible toilet so we recommend groups visit the nearby town facilities in Bell Court before or after their visit

• There is an accessible lift to the upper floor and plenty of seating throughout the building

• Allow 45 mins to one hour for your visit

• Coach drivers and registered Blue Badge Guides are admitted free of charge

• If you're bringing a large group, advance booking is essential

Combination Tickets

Why not enhance the value for your group during your visit to Stratford-upon-Avon by visiting multiple sites,

We have teamed up with our friends at Shakespeare's Birthplace, MAD Museum and Stratford Butterfly Farm to offer all groups the opportunity to add extra activities with our money saving education joint tickets.

Shakespeare's Birthplace

For the first time visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon will be able to explore the place of William Shakespeare’s birth and where he went to school by purchasing one joint ticket to the two historical landmarks.  A partnership between a Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Shakespeare’s Schoolroom Trust has brought about the initiative which will connect the fascinating story of Shakespeare’s formative years.

Just a short walk lies between Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall; a journey that, like visitors today, young William himself would often have taken as he walked between his family home and his school.

MAD Museum

The MAD Museum is a quirky attraction displaying interactive pieces of mechanical art, in particular: kinetic art & automata. It is where clever design meets outrageous inventions. Visitors are encouraged to interact with weird and wonderful mechanical contraptions made by artists from all around the world. As well as a lot of fun, The MAD Museum demonstrates inspirational creativity and clever, often witty design. It supports the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and Art and Design. Overall, The MAD Museum is a fantastic playground for adults and a perfect treasure-trove for inquisitive kids.

Situated a 6-minute walk from Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall.

Stratford Butterfly Farm

A visit to Stratford Butterfly Farm offers an excellent opportunity for children of all ages and abilities to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly, tropical rainforest environments and the plants and animals that live within these habitats. The Butterfly Farm also covers the topic of the Maya, an ancient civilisation that lived within the tropical rainforests of Central America. With plenty of hands on, close observation and activity in an authentic rainforest environment, the Butterfly Farm is the perfect place for a magical and educational day out with your class.