Book a school visit to Secrets of the Thames

The exhibition links to the national curriculum in England.

Key Stage 2 History:

• a local history study
• a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066

Key Stage 2 Geography:

• human and physical geography
• physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle
• human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water

Key Stage 3 History:

• a local history study
• the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066

We’re fully accessible and you can borrow a wheelchair or powered scooter – make sure to request this at the point of booking.

You can also use our visual story and sensory map to prepare your visit.

We regularly run activities tailored for SEND students, which you can find on our school sessions page.

Accompanying staff are responsible for their group’s behaviour and we ask groups to split into smaller units when exploring the museum and shop.

Your group should meet our required staff/pupil ratio:

Early Years Foundation Stage – 1:3
Key stage 1 – 1:6
Key stage 2 – 1:6
Key stage 3 – 1:10
Key stage 4 – 1:15
Key stage 5 – 1:15
SEND – 1:5

We’re excited to welcome you and your students to the exhibition and want to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable visit. Here are some aspects of the exhibition that you may wish to include in your risk assessment.

We ask visitors to be particularly careful around some artworks which are on open display and should be enjoyed without touch. The foreshore recreation features real materials like stones, rocks and timber, so please explore it with care. Throughout the exhibition lighting levels vary and you’ll encounter ambient sounds, films and a low-lit section. We appreciate your support in helping students engage with the space thoughtfully and look forward to your visit.

See here for more information about our risk assessment advice for schools.

Please book a 30-minute slot in our dedicated lunch space. This is a space where you can eat packed lunches. No food is allowed in the galleries.

Feel free to take as many photos as you like for educational use – just make sure they're without flash or a tripod.

We’re easily accessible by public transport, coach and even river. Find out more about getting here.

When you arrive at the museum, one of our friendly team members will greet you and show you to cloakrooms, toilets, galleries and activity spaces. They’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have.