Half Day
Full Day
All subjects
All topics
KS1
KS2
KS3
KS4
Post 16
Explore Burghley's Gardens - Self-guided visit
Plan a flexible, self-guided visit exploring Burghley's gardens through nature, sculpture and play, with opportunities to support learning across the curriculum.
Package details
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Duration
Half Day
Full Day
-
Group size
Up to 150
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Price*
From £6.50 per learner
Free adult entry (within supervision ratios)
About this package
Step beyond the classroom and use Burghley’s gardens as an inspiring setting for your own teaching. This flexible, self-guided visit allows teachers to choose where to go, how long to spend in each area and which curriculum themes or learning objectives to explore.
Pupils can encounter contemporary outdoor art and diverse planting within the Sculpture Garden, discover playful Elizabethan-inspired features animated by water in the Garden of Surprises, and enjoy active, imaginative play at Hide & Secrets Adventure Play. Whether used to introduce a new topic, support subject-specific work or encourage creativity, wellbeing and discovery, the day can be shaped around the interests and needs of your class.
The gardens at Burghley offer a living landscape filled with art, nature, hidden trails and imaginative spaces, giving pupils the freedom to observe, question, create, move and explore at their own pace.
How your visit works
Once we receive your enquiry, our Education Team will work with you to create a visit timetable that reflects your plans and helps your visit run smoothly.
On arrival, a member of the team will meet and welcome your group, provide an orientation, show you the available lunch space and bag storage, and answer any questions before you begin your teacher-led exploration.
Learning session options
All topics
KS1
KS2
Sculpture Garden Exploration - Self-guided
Explore learning session
All topics
KS1
KS2
Garden of Surprises - Self-guided
Explore learning session
All topics
KS1
KS2
Hide & Secrets Adventure Play
Explore learning session
Learning opportunities
Planning your visit
How is the day structured?
Your visit will begin with arrival and orientation from our Education Team. After that, the structure of the day is largely up to you and can be shaped around your learning objectives, chosen areas and the pace that works best for your group.
We can recommend how to divide your time and any optional areas you plan to include, and suggest a structure that helps the day run smoothly. Full practical information will be shared before your visit.
Where will we have lunch?
A range of indoor and outdoor spaces are available for picnic lunches. The location will depend on your visit arrangements and the weather.
What adult-to-pupil supervision ratios are required?
Our required adult-to-pupil ratios vary for each key stage. Please see below the supervision requirements:
KS1 - 1 adult to 5 pupils.
KS2/KS3 - 1 adult to 10 pupils.
KS4 - 1 adult to 14 pupils.
Adults providing dedicated support for SEND pupils are additional to these ratios.
Visiting school staff and accompanying adults remain responsible for pupil supervision throughout the visit.
Do you provide risk assessments?
Yes. Risk assessments are available for our learning spaces and activities, and we can share the relevant documents with you on request to help with your planning.
These are intended to support your school’s own risk assessment rather than replace it, so visiting schools remain responsible for completing their own assessment and supervising pupils throughout the visit.
Can teachers make a familiarisation visit?
Yes. Once a booking is confirmed, free pre-visits are available for up to four teachers, giving you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the site and complete your risk assessment. Pre-visits must be booked at least two working days in advance with the Education Team.
What should pupils bring?
Pupils should bring:
- A packed lunch and drink
- Suitable clothing for the weather
- Comfortable footwear
- Any medication or personal support items they require
Bag storage is available for school groups, and your arrival information will explain where it is located.
How do I book a visit?
If you'd like to book this Self-guided visit, click the Enquire Now button. You’ll be asked to select a preferred date and complete a short enquiry form with details about your group. Please add some details around your learning objectives in the notes section. Our Education Team will then get in touch to confirm availability and explain the next steps. If you'd like to choose an alternative package, return to the package listings, select your package and click the Enquire Now button on that package page.
What happens after we submit an enquiry?
Submitting an enquiry does not immediately confirm the booking. Our Education Team will check availability for your preferred date(s) and package and aim to respond within three working days. After discussing the details of your visit, we’ll send you a booking confirmation form to approve and return, which will secure your booking.
Trusted learning experiences
Why schools choose Burghley
Historic setting
Learning within one of England’s great historic houses and landscapes.
Expert-led learning
Engaging sessions delivered by experienced educators.
Curriculum-linked visits
Learning experiences tailored to Key Stage and classroom topics.
Accessibility support
Supporting a wide range of access and learning needs.
Practical visit facilities
Coach parking, lunch spaces, toilets and bag storage included.
Risk assessments provided
Supporting documentation available to assist with visit planning.
Interested in this package?
Select your preferred date and complete our enquiry form to tell us about your group. Our Education Team will be in touch to confirm availability for this package and guide you through the next steps.
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Contact us
If you have any questions about schools visits, please don't hesitate to get in touch:
Accessibility
Find practical information about accessibility at Burghley to help you plan your visit.