The Jorvik Group JORVIK Viking Centre York
Coppergate Shopping Centre, 19 Coppergate, York, YO1 9WT
MONTHS OPEN
DAYS OPEN
AGE GROUPS SERVED
Listed under: Day Trip Destinations | Self-Led Workshops | History | Science | Historical Heritage | Museums | Themed Attraction | School Virtual Tours
What we offer on a school trip
School Trips
We are open for visiting! With an updated ride experience and state-of-the art galleries showcasing our unique collection of 1,000-year-old artefacts, JORVIK Viking Centre enables visitors to discover York’s fascinating Viking legacy. Visitors travel around 10th-century York and experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Viking age.
If you’re home-schooling, or simply trying to encourage a positive learning environment at home for your child, a visit to JORVIK, DIG or Barley Hall is a great way of supporting their development in history, literacy, and science. There are also a huge range of helpful resources available for free online.
If you would like to find out more about visiting JORVIK safely, please contact our Reservations department directly on by phone (01904 615505) or email (groups@yorkat.co.uk).
Virtual Outreach
Why not invite a Viking, medieval medic, or friendly archaeologist into your classroom this year? With our new live, immersive and interactive sessions, you won’t miss out on any of the fun of visiting our attractions, as we have adapted our award-winning school workshops for exclusive access online.
The virtual outreach encounters are available via Skype, Zoom and Google Meet, and we can even include children studying from home, meaning everyone in your class can stay connected as we explore the past together.
We have introduced a number of social distancing and safety procedures, and you can read more about them in our Covid-19 Advice for Visiting schools document: https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Covid-19-Advice-for-Visiting-Schools.pdf
What makes us a great choice for education?
School Trips
Built on the very site where archaeologists discovered over 40,000 Viking-age objects, a visit to the JORVIK Viking Centre gives students the opportunity to learn about the real Viking settlement of Jorvik. A school visit to JORVIK is hosted by our friendly Viking guides, who will deliver interactive talks and activities on a variety of Viking topics - where else can you meet a real Viking? Our ride experience transports visitors back to 10th-century York to meet interesting characters including blacksmiths, traders, weavers, fishermen and their families, before digging deeper and seeing our incredible artefacts up close!
Virtual Outreach
Our award-winning school workshops have been adapted for access online. There’s a wide range of sessions available: meet with a Viking who will be your guide to your chosen topic; chat with an archaeologist and see finds from York’s most important Viking and Roman excavations; or spend some time with a medieval barber-surgeon, who will introduce you to the tools of the trade for medics in medieval York.
Accreditation and Awards
We are an accredited museum and have been awarded the Sandford Award for excellence in education provision.
What is typically included on our school trips?
School Trips
The JORVIK Viking Centre tour is hosted by a number of our Viking Team, who will guide you through a series of educational talks and activities on a variety of Viking topics. As well as learning more about how the Viking City of JORVIK was discovered, you can experience life in the 10th century for yourself on our famous ride. The talks given by our interactive team will be tailored to your group’s level.
Virtual Outreach
Students can meet a historical character who will tell stories, show you prized possessions and maybe even guide you through doing some Viking activities yourselves! Or experience a Viking encounter like no other with a bespoke Q&A session - pupils can enhance their history studies or develop ideas for literacy work by interviewing one of our Vikings! Find out more about our range of options here: https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/education/outreach/
Group Sizes Catered For
School Trips
We can accommodate groups between 15-35 people, including teachers/leaders. Larger groups can be split down into multiple timeslots.
Virtual Outreach
We recommend our virtual outreach sessions for class sizes of up to 40 children, so that all pupils have the opportunity to interact with the virtual host, but you can discuss your exact requirements when placing your booking.
Materials, Resources & Information Provided
We have a selection of free-to-access resources available online to complement your visit, including videos, factsheets and activity sheets:
https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/education/classroom-resources/
Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions
Visitors can take photos and record, but not use this content for commercial purposes. The use of flash is strictly prohibited.
Risk Assessment Details
Risk Assessments for all of our attractions and workshops are available via our website here: https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/education/risk-assessments/
A free familiarisation visit for up to 2 members of staff can be arranged at time of booking via our Reservations Team.
Education Officer Information
For any educational enquires please contact our Reservations Team via schools@yorkat.co.uk or by calling +44(0)1904 615505.
Pricing Information
School Trips
Our school visit prices are:
JORVIK Viking Centre |
Any 2 of our attractions |
Any 3 of our attractions |
|
School Child |
£4.00 |
£7.00 |
£9.00 |
Teacher* |
£4.30 |
£8.00 |
£9.50 |
*One teacher free with every 6 child places booked.
**Schools do not have to visit all three attractions on the same day.
Prices may be subject to change. Please contact our Reservations team to confirm prices at the time of booking.
To complement your visit to JORVIK Viking Centre, choose to add a fun, Viking-themed workshop to your schedule, designed to spark your pupils’ interest and develop their knowledge. Our current workshop offer for JORVIK can be seen here and all workshops cost £2 per child*, with teachers attending free.
*JORVIK workshops are held at our sister attraction DIG, 5-minutes walk from JORVIK Viking Centre. The workshop price grants admission to the DIG classrooms only.
Virtual Outreach
Our virtual outreach prices are:
We now offer discounts on multiple bookings so it’s easier than ever before to book several sessions to support your class’ learning across the term or for other classes studying this topic to share in the experience.
Single Session Package |
Two-Session Package |
Three-Session Package |
Four-Session Package |
£85.00 |
£160.00 |
£225.00 |
£290.00 |
Clothing Requirements
No, specific clothing is required for your visit. Apart from travel between the city’s coach parks and our other attractions, your visit is all indoors.
First Aid Information
We have qualified first aiders at all of our sites; however, we do recommend you have a first aider as part of your group.
Available Facilities
Male, female and accessible toilets are available at JORVIK. These are located before the ride and are limited to one facility of each type. It is highly recommended that you make alternative arrangements to use public facilities ahead of your entry to JORVIK so as not to impact on your visitor experience. If you have a booking at DIG more comprehensive facilities are available there.
Unfortunately, there are no storage facilities at this site and personal belongings should be kept with their owners at all times.
School groups visiting JORVIK Viking Centre are welcome to use our lunch space or garden at DIG for no additional cost. The inside lunch space at DIG has space for 35 people.
Please note that pre-booking is essential.
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities
JORVIK Viking Centre is completely accessible for people who are wheelchair users although fire regulations require that we permit no more than one person who uses a wheelchair into the building. It is essential for you to inform us of any pupils or staff who are wheelchair users in your group when you are making your booking so that we can guarantee access and support on your arrival. Please let our Reservations team know of any additional access needs your group may have as we have a range of resources, we can supply should you require them. You can learn more about our access provision at JORVIK Viking Centre here.
Opening Hours & Information
Our opening times are subject to change at present and the latest times can be viewed here: https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/visit/opening-hours-prices/
When making your booking with our Reservations team, you will be offered a schedule with a time of entry to JORVIK Viking Centre. School visits schedules are currently being offered between the times of 10am and 3pm.
We ask that you arrive 10 minutes early to allow time to complete paperwork and for our friendly Viking guides to introduce your visit.
Testimonials
“We thought the visit was great. The children loved the ride and were really engaged with the demonstrations/talks afterwards. All the staff were fantastic.” - Year 3 Teacher from York
Other Information
School visits are booked through our Reservations Team. Who can be contacted via our email address: schools@yorkat.co.uk or telephone number: 01904 615505
We have introduced a number of social distancing and safety procedures, and you can read more about them in our Covid-19 Advice for Visiting schools document: https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Covid-19-Advice-for-Visiting-Schools.pdf