A Victorian Christmas at Harewood

Your pupils will be offered an exciting glimpse into the Victorian origins of Christmas as they discover how some of our best-known traditions came about. Queen Victoria and her husband Albert popularised the Christmas tree and it was the Queen herself who sent the first ever Christmas card!

Harewood has always been at the cutting edge of fashion and this year is no different. Your pupils will be given the opportunity to explore Harewood in all its festive glory, from the traditionally dressed ‘Below Stairs’ to the very non-traditional ‘State Floor’ which hosts our brand-new Christmas exhibition.

Pupils will take part in an interactive tour of the House, where they will have the opportunity to see the bed that Princess Victoria slept in when she visited Harewood in 1835. They will explore both the traditional and non-traditional as they learn more about the Victorians at Harewood and how they would have celebrated with style. Pupils will understand how many Christmas traditions were introduced in the 19th century and how this became a cultural turning point. They will then be given the opportunity to compare how we celebrate today with Victorian Christmas traditions by exploring our contemporary Christmas exhibition. 

Below Stairs, the House will be dressed more traditionally and pupils will take part in Festive Victorian activities including carolling, parlour games and by making a Christmas cracker that they can take home with them.

Timings + Prices

Timings for all sessions are flexible and can be tailored to suit KS1 and KS2 pupils.

The session runs as two parallel activities by dividing your group in half, switching over activities at approximately 11.00am. Both sessions are guided by a Learning Facilitator, giving your pupils all that they need whilst enabling them to explore for themselves.

Example Itinerary

10am Arrival

10:15am – 12:00pm

Activity One – Christmas Tree Tour

Based on the State Floor, pupils will be guided through the rooms as they explore the origins of many of our Christmas traditions whilst viewing or very non-traditional Christmas trees. They will compare and contrast modern and Victorian time periods and how traditions are started.

Activity Two – Victorian Harewood

Based Below Stairs, pupils will take part in Festive Victorian activities, carolling, parlour games and by making a Christmas cracker that they can take home with them. Students will get a better understanding of Victorian society, and in particular the class system.

Price

£7 per pupil for a half-day experience.

To submit a school booking request, please fill out our enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch to confirm your booking.