Plan your school visit to Boston Manor House here! All School sessions last 90 minutes (except EYFS History and Geography, which are 60 minutes) and are National Curriculum linked. Sessions run on:
- Tuesday 10:00-11:30am and 12:30-2:00pm
- Wednesday 10:00-11:30am and 12:30-2:00pm
- Thursday 10:00-11:30am and 12:30-2:00pm
- Friday 10:00-11:30am and 12:30-2:00pm
Each workshop costs £135 for up to 30 children (£4.50 per pupil). Supporting adults are free and we recommend at least 4 adults attend with each group. We can accommodate year groups of up to 90 children in one day, though they will be split into groups of up to 30 for each element of their day with us.
Find travel information on our Visit Us page. If you have any other questions or would like to book a visit, please get in touch with us at bostonmanorhouse@hounslow.gov.uk
Booking for all of our workshops is now open. Take a look below to find out what we have on offer for your group and get in touch via the below contact form.
School workshops
Art and Design
EYFS
Please select from the following options:
- Family and belongings: Children create their own ‘suitcase’, considering what may be important for future historians to know about them.
KS1 & 2
- Identity: Children will produce creative work which explores the identity of historical figures from the house’s history through drawing, storytelling and collage. They will create their own inventory of things which are important to them, considering what future historians will be able to discover about them through their choices.
- Design: Children will explore the Jacobean plaster ceiling in our State Drawing Room, recording their experiences and observations through printmaking.
- Architecture: Children will use observational drawing, collage and printing techniques to get to know the architecture of Boston Manor House.
- Interiors: Children will produce creative work which explores a selection of restored and historical wallpapers, recording their experiences and observations through storytelling, printmaking, imaginative drawing and collage.
All of our sessions are for Primary aged pupils, but can be tailored to suit Secondary, HE or FE groups or those with SEND and/or additional access needs with some notice.
Geography
EYFS
- Nature Explorers: A range of hands-on activities exploring the grounds of Boston Manor House to find out why green space is important. Children will use their senses to explore trees, enjoy a scavenger hunt, learn about local animals and how they camouflage with a “wiggly worms” game, as well as creating their nature art.
KS1
- Manor Maps: Children will explore an area of Boston Manor Park with activities using simple map skills. Starting with games to assess and build their knowledge of compass directions and symbol keys, students will be challenged in teams to find their way using the recognition of landmarks and a simplified map. Their final challenge is a team treasure hunt.
KS2
- Orienteering Challenge: Children will use simplified maps to practice their skills using grid references and keys. After some focus on compass skills, they will set off in groups with an adult to do real orienteering – a route around Boston Manor Park to find real orienteering markers and historical features. The fastest and most accurate team wins.
All of our sessions are for Primary aged pupils, but can be tailored to suit Secondary, HE or FE groups or those with SEND and/or additional access needs with some notice.
History
EYFS
- History Explorers: A range of activities exploring how life was different in the past. Students will dress up in historic replica clothing and try out historic toys. They will explore a section of the house to spot “clues” from people of the past and make a traditional craft to take home.
KS1
- Then and Now: Students will explore the lives of the residents of Boston Manor House from different periods in history. Using clues they spot in the house, trying on replica clothing and creating their own historic toys to take home, they will compare lives in the past with their life today.
KS2
- Local History Detectives: Children will explore how life at Boston Manor House has changed across the centuries. Using evidence they spot in the house, historical replica clothing and activities, they will experience life in each century. From the house being built in the 1600s, to becoming a school after WW2 – we’ll finish with their own memories of the local area.
- Battle of Brentford Case Study: Children will take on historical characters’ roles and their perception of the events that unfolded in 1642. This session contextualizes the early years of the new Boston Manor House and the surrounding area with interactive maps, encouraging students to work together to separate fact from fiction and introduce source analysis whilst promoting problem-solving and questions.
All of our sessions are for Primary aged pupils, but can be tailored to suit Secondary, HE or FE groups or those with SEND and/or additional access needs with some notice.
English
KS1
- Story Makers: Children are introduced to Boston Manor House’s historic library – but it’s missing its books! Exploring the House together to find inspiration and new vocabulary, they will create collaborative stories for their own book to take home.
KS2
- Murder Mystery Makers: Students are introduced to the atmospheric Boston Manor House and stories from its history, to make their own Murder Mystery Story. Exploring the House for inspiration, they use all their senses to choose and describe a setting and crime, work in groups to become characters with motives and alibis – and decide ‘whodunnit!’
All of our sessions are for Primary aged pupils, but can be tailored to suit Secondary, HE or FE groups or those with SEND and/or additional access needs with some notice.
New offer: A School Day in Boston Manor House and Park
“Incredible value for money, unbelievably engaging and wonderfully educational – every pupil (and teacher) loves coming to your BMP park workshops. Best school trip ever is all I hear!”
With a new A School Day in the House and Park offer, and a frozen Autumn term 2025 workshop price, please get your bookings in ASAP. By placing your bookings before the end of this academic year you are helping to secure Hounslow’s ‘East education hub’ so please don’t delay – do get in touch.
Self-led visits
We also welcome self-led visits to the House. These visits are free but must be booked. Classes are required to split into groups of six to enter the House with at least one adult present in each group. We suggest groups allow at least 1 hour to explore the House and lawns, but with additional activities or discussions, 1.5 – 2 hours may be more appropriate.
Book your self-guided visit by emailing bostonmanorhouse@hounslow.gov.uk.
Teachers
We also offer CPD opportunities for school staff.
Inset sessions can be arranged to take place at the House. We welcome groups of up to 15 staff and these sessions are tailored to meet the needs of the group.
Please select from the below:
- A 45-minute session offered on 1 subject of choice across the curriculum – English, History, Geography or Art & Design (£75)
- A half-day session (2.5 hours) covering 2 subjects in more depth – English, History, Geography or Art & Design (£200)
- A full day session that includes the content of our half day session and school’s bespoke content (£350)
As part of these sessions, one of our Learning team will share easy-to-replicate ideas for imaginative lessons that integrate cultural learning into the curriculum. Sessions can be booked by emailing bostonmanorhouse@hounslow.gov.uk.