Learning & Communities

What will excite and inspire you today?

A talk from an expert or a look behind-the-scenes, holding a rare object or learning a skill, being immersed in the past or exploring a new space, or an incredible human story that blows you away?

Choose Your Audience

Children & Families

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Schools & Teachers

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Students & Young People

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Adult & Community

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Children & Families

Fun, safe and inspiring for all your family members

Family fun
Surrey museums are fun, safe spaces for families to share time together. Children can learn new skills, connect with others and explore a different environment. As well as great programmes, museums aim to make visiting easy and enjoyable for all your family. There are wheelchair and pushchair accessible spaces, cafes, picnic areas, baby changing rooms and toilets galore. Some museums also open at quiet times.

Variety all year round

Children looking at art
You’ll never be short of new things to see and do in Surrey museums and galleries. Each one has its own busy programme all year round meaning you can enjoy arts & craft activities each weekend and holiday, along with family events, exhibitions, talks, tours, trails, re-enactments and plenty of hands-on creative workshops. If you Home Educate, please see our page under useful links.

Variety for all ages

Students at Watts gallery
From under 5s to over 16s, keep all your little ones (and bigger ones) busy. There is storytelling, treasure hunts, make and do activities and museum clubs. There are regular meetings of budding archaeologists, arts & craft workshops and young curators, artists and exhibition groups. You’ll find supporters of national programmes too such as Kids in Museums and Arts Award.

Useful Links

Arts Award Scheme Exploring Surrey’s Past Home Education information Kids in Museums Surrey Community Archaeology Young Archaeology Club

Useful Links

Arts Award Culture Links page Duke of Edinburgh Exploring Surrey’s Past Learning On My Doorstep page Activate Learning

Schools & Teachers

Quality Cultural Education

Classroom of students
Surrey museums and galleries offer high-quality learning for all, from pre-school to primary and secondary, Higher and Further Education, work experience and alternative learning support. You will find immersive workshops at museum sites and workshops tailored to your school. You can borrow themed loan boxes with
artefacts, complete with teaching guides. Or tap into our countywide Learning On My Doorstep service and let us signpost you to the best local cultural links for your curriculum.

There are:

Unique out-of-school learning opportunities that your pupils can only experience in Surrey
Workshops in school delivered by experienced museum professionals with local expertise
‘Discovery’ loan boxes with real and replica materials to borrow and enhance classroom learning
Cultural materials and activities to extend and develop critical thinking skills
Resources to explore Surrey’s diversity and links to the significant people, places and events that have shaped the local and county identity
School memberships with excellent benefits
Museum educators with expertise in EYFS through to KS5 and FE
Always options…Surrey museums can enrich the whole school curriculum, with workshops and resources to support many subjects and skills across your school’s individual curriculum.Very young pupils can explore senses with objects, or discover a landscape, museum or gallery space that opens a whole new world of experiences in a safe environment.For older students, our museums support research and research skills in addition to subject resources. Many can offer work placements, attend careers events and provide cultural sector careers advice. A range of Surrey specific and subject specialist talks enrich Higher Education modules.Our individual museum pages provide a taste of what is on offer or use our A-Z list of links to each museum or gallery’s own learning page

Learning On My Doorstep

Learning On My Doorstep is a countywide cultural learning programme between Surrey schools and Surrey museums, galleries and arts organisations. It is run by two of Surrey County Council’s cultural services: Surrey Museums Partnership and Surrey Heritage. We work with individual teachers and whole school staff to identify local cultural links across your specific curriculum.

Essentially, we do the hard work so you don’t have to. It is our job to signpost you to your local expertise and highlight unique, quality cultural learning experiences on your doorstep.

Which Learning On My Doorstep option would help you most?

An example of what we do:

Planning Review We are your local experts. We find the local cultural links across your curriculum or choice of subjects.
Market Place Event 2 hours speed-dating under your roof with our museum professionals. We bring the learning resources; you bring the planning.
Meet Your Locals Staff meeting 2-3 cultural organisations of your choice matching your planning to local cultural resources

For full details, see our Learning On My Doorstep page

Culture Links

This is the careers strand of our Learning On My Doorstep programme. Together with our museum, gallery, heritage and arts partners, we aim to raise awareness and aspirations for young people from KS3 upwards about careers in the cultural sector. We help to explain where subject and course choices can lead, and the useful skills, routes and pathways required. Our Culture Links programme is an opportunity for meaningful engagement with cultural employers in the county.

As a Career Advisor or Student, go to the Culture Links page on the Useful Links list to find out more.

American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
Bourne Hall Museum
Brooklands Museum
Chertsey Museum
Elmbridge Museum
Museum of Farnham
Godalming Museum
Guildford Museum
Haslemere Educational Museum
The Lightbox
Painshill
Rural Life Living Museum
Spelthorne Museum
The Spike

CWGC: Brookwood Military Cemetery

Dawney Hill, Pirbright, Brookwood, Woking GU24 0JB, UK

CWGC: Air Forces Memorial

Cooper's Hill Lane, Englefield Green, Egham, TW20 0LB

Guildford Museum

Castle Arch Guildford GU1 3SX

Crafts Study Centre

Falkner Road Farnham Surrey GU9 7DS

Holmesdale Natural History Club Museum

14 Croydon Rd, Reigate RH2 0PG, UK

The Guildford Spike

Warren Rd, Guildford GU1 3JH, UK

The Hockey Museum

13 High St, Woking GU21 6BL, UK

Spelthorne Museum

1 Elmsleigh Rd, Staines TW18 4PG, UK

Sime Gallery

Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Perry Hill, Worplesdon, Guildford GU3 3RF, UK

Brooklands Museum

Brooklands Rd, Weybridge KT13 0SL, UK

Leatherhead Museum

64 Church St, Leatherhead KT22 8DP, UK

London Bus Museum

Brooklands Rd, Weybridge KT13 0QS, UK

The Museum of Military Medicine

Keogh Barracks, Ash Vale, Aldershot GU12 5RQ, UK

Reigate Priory Museum

Bell St, Reigate RH2 7RL, UK

Royal Holloway Picture Gallery

Royal Holloway University of L, Egham Hill, Egham TW20 0EQ, UK

Royal Logistic Corps Museum

RLC Shop The RLC Museum, The Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut GU16 6RW, UK

Shere Museum

Gomshall Ln, Shere, Guildford GU5 9HE, UK

Surrey Heath Museum

33 Obelisk Way, Camberley GU15 3SG, UK

Surrey Infantry Museum

130 Goldsworth Rd, Woking GU21 6ND, UK

Elmbridge Museum

1 High St, Esher KT10 9SD, UK

Egham Museum

Literary Institute, 51 High St, Egham TW20 9EW, UK

Chobham Museum

Chobham, Woking GU24 8BZ, UK

Chertsey Museum

The Cedars, 33 Windsor St, Chertsey KT16 8AT, UK

Watts Gallery - Artists' Village

Down Ln, Guildford GU3 1DQ, UK

The Lightbox

Chobham Rd, Woking GU21 4AA, UK

Surrey History Centre

130 Goldsworth Rd, Woking GU21 6ND, UK

Send and Ripley Museum

Ripley, Woking GU23 6AF, UK

Rural Life Living Museum

The Reeds Rd, Tilford, Farnham GU10 2DL, UK

Painshill

Portsmouth Rd, Cobham KT11 1JE, UK

Museum of the National Rifle Association

Bisley Camp, Brookwood, Woking GU24 0PB, UK

Museum of Farnham

38 West St, Farnham GU9 7DX, UK

Haslemere Educational Museum

78 High St, Haslemere GU27 2LA, UK

Dorking Museum and Heritage Centre

62 West St, Dorking RH4 1BS, UK

Godalming Museum

109a High St, Godalming GU7 1AQ, UK

Brookwood American Military Cemetery

Dawney Hill, Pirbright, Brookwood, Woking GU24 0JB, UK

Ash Museum

Ash Church Rd, Ash, Surrey GU12 6LX, UK

Bourne Hall Museum

Bourne Hall, Spring St, Ewell, Epsom KT17 1UF, UK

Byfleet Heritage Centre

High Rd, Byfleet, West Byfleet KT14 7QN, UK

East Surrey Museum

Stafford Rd, Caterham CR3 6JG, UK

Students & Young People

A place to relax, try new things, study or build your CV

Surrey museums, galleries and heritage settings are great to get involved with if you’re looking for experiences to enhance your CV, study help or simply for your own enjoyment. You’ll also find support for national programmes such as Duke of Edinburgh and Arts Award. Or check out our opportunities link for volunteering and careers ideas.

Regular groups and skills-based workshops

Skills based workshops
You can enjoy trying something new or developing your interests in a relaxed environment. There are young curator, artist and exhibition groups and plenty of skills-based workshops. There are often community projects, archaeology digs and volunteering opportunities too. And if you’re keen to express your views, you could help shape young people’s experiences of culture as part of a youth panel.

Excellent research materials and support

Research materials
As a student, Surrey museums are excellent sources of primary and secondary material to support your interests or study. If you need help with research in a particular subject or skill, museums have plenty of material and will be happy to guide you. Many have research rooms or spaces for studying.

Useful Links

Arts Award Scheme Culture Links about careers in culture Culture Links Careers Guidebook pdf Duke of Edinburgh Scheme Exploring Surrey’s Past Prospects careers guidance

Useful Links

Exploring Surrey’s Past Mind Mental Health Charity Outline Surrey Sexuality and Gender Support Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum Surrey History Centre Surrey University of the Third Age (U3A) Surrey Women's Institute (W.I.) Visit Surrey official tourism site

Adult and Community

Stimulating places and programmes to explore at your leisure

Stimulating places
Surrey museums offer a rich variety of programmes throughout the year for all ages, communities and interests. There are changing exhibitions, talks by curators and guest speakers, guided tours, events and workshops. Whether you’re visiting as an individual, with friends or family, or as part of a community group you’ll find plenty to enjoy, and in beautiful surroundings.

Excellent research sources and expertise

If you are exploring local or personal history, or have a particular interest that you are researching, Surrey museums are excellent sources of primary and secondary material.

You’ll find the staff are also excellent sources of knowledge, able to advise and guide you.

Many museums have dedicated rooms and Surrey History Centre, the county archive, is an outstanding research facility.

In partnership with local community groups

Surrey museums, galleries and heritage organisations welcome opportunities to work with local community groups.

This can be formal or informal, for pleasure, education, raising awareness or a specific aim.

We have experience of using our spaces and collections to support members of community groups such as MIND, Gypsy Roma Traveller Forum, Outline and special interest groups such as the WI and U3A.

Try out new skills or explore interests

All year round, there are skills and crafts workshops exploring themes such as photography, embroidery, painting, drawing and creative writing.

You can enjoy trying something new or develop your interests in a relaxed environment with like-minded people.

Tailored sessions can be arranged for special interest groups and there are volunteering opportunities countywide.

Learning & Communities

What will excite and inspire you today?

Choose Your Audience

Children & Families

Schools & Teachers

Students & Young People

Adult & Community

Children & Families

Fun, safe and inspiring for all your family members

Variety all year round

Variety for all ages

Useful Links

Useful Links

Schools & Teachers

Quality Cultural Education

Learning On My Doorstep

Culture Links

Prehistory

Egyptian

Roman

Saxon

Medieval

1500s

1600s

1700s

1800s

1900s & First World War

1900s & Britain since 1930

1900s & Britain in the 50s and 60s

In School workshops

In Museum workshops

Loan boxes

Small groups 15 max

One class

Two Classes

Up to Whole Year group

School Membership

Online activities

Virtual Resources

Resource Packs

Animals

Archaeology

Changes in the Home

Costume and Textiles

Light

Military

Newspapers and magazines

Packaging

Printing

Religion

School

Seasons

Textiles

Then and Now

Toys

Transport

Writing

Students & Young People

A place to relax, try new things, study or build your CV

Regular groups and skills-based workshops

Excellent research materials and support

Useful Links

Useful Links

Adult and Community

Stimulating places and programmes to explore at your leisure

Excellent research sources and expertise

In partnership with local community groups

Try out new skills or explore interests