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School Visits to Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life
Let students learn about the story of Cumbria’s County infantry regiments and its soldiers, past and present.
Here at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, we are passionate about making history accessible for all and actively encourage school visits to share our heritage and help keep the memories alive for future generations.
Our dedicated Learning team has experience teaching topics to pupils of all ages with a wide range of abilities and needs, with a number of learning opportunities available for schools and staff.
Primary and secondary school trips
Our Learning team can host school trips for both primary schools and secondary schools in Carlisle and across Cumbria.
Workshops are designed to explore the Museum’s diverse collection with direct links to the National Curriculum and our experienced facilitators will adapt workshops to suit different learning abilities and needs.
These interactive workshops aim to develop pupils’ cultural capital and chronological understanding through engaging, hands-on experiences, supported by discussion-based activities.
School trips to our Museum provide an immersive, multisensory way for students to engage with history, and the memories will stick with them long after the visit!
Self-guided school visits
Students can engage with our historic collection of exhibits, photographs, and interactive displays including a Morse code machine as part of their school trip to Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life.
Schools are also welcome to wander around our Galleries for free of charge as part of a self-guided visit.
If you decide to arrange a self-guided visit, please let us know when you are coming and the size of the group so we can help accommodate your visit to the Museum and offer additional resources to support where appropriate.
Outreach at schools
If your school is unable to visit the Museum but you would still like students to learn about the military history in Cumbria, our Learning team can bring the museum experience to you instead. Our workshops can be adapted to suit a classroom environment.
Beyond cost and convenience factors, onsite our school outreach often provides impactful shared experiences that strengthen classroom connections. Students enjoy the novelty of a specialist visit from Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life and the ability to actively participate with unique historical objects and discussions that link to their current studies.
Prices and booking
£65 per workshop
Please note that travel costs are charged on top of these prices. We currently charge £0.45 per mile. These costs will be discussed with you during your enquiry. For details on booking an outreach visit for your school, email learning@cmoml.org. We look forward to bringing Cumbria’s military history to you!
CPD sessions for school staff
We also host free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions at the Museum, specially curated for school staff seeking to expand their historical teaching expertise and enhance teaching methodologies.
These sessions offer the opportunity to tour our facilities and visit the galleries, see our handling collection, find out more information about our workshops and discuss your curriculum requirements with our Learning team.
If you would like to receive information about our next CPD session, subscribe to our Schools Newsletter.
Workshops at the Museum
All of our workshops are approximately 90 minutes and include group discussions, handling objects, historic photographics, and local area links to Cumbria.
These workshops have been designed to take place within the Museum with a bespoke gallery trail provided for each workshop. There are also opportunities to extend workshops for cross-curricular learning, depending on the needs of your class.
Take a look at our selection of school workshops below…
The First World War
Suitable for: KS1, KS2 & KS3
Learn all about the soldier’s experience of the First World War using real artefacts. Try on uniforms, examine documents and handle weapons used in ‘The Great War’.
Key themes:
- Recruitment
- Kit, equipment & weaponry
- Trench life
- Women’s wartime roles
The Second World War: The Life of a Soldier
Suitable for: KS1, KS2 & KS3
Learn all about the Border Regiment soldier’s experience of the Second World War and the impact it had on them and their families back home in Cumbria. Try on uniforms, examine documents and handle weapons used.
Key themes:
- Kit, equipment & weaponry
- Propaganda
- Women’s wartime roles
- The Home Front
The Second World War: The Home Front
Suitable for: KS1, KS2 & KS3
Learn all about what was happening on the Home Front in Cumbria during the Second World War. Take part in a carousel of object-handling activities that cover four key aspects of civilian life.
Key themes:
- Rationing and food
- Women’s wartime roles
- Children and evacuation
- Security & Air Raid Precautions
Seasonal workshops:
Poppies and Remembrance
Suitable for: KS1 & KS2
Learn all about Remembrance and what it is. Discover how the poppy is used as a symbol through storytelling and object handling.
Key themes:
- Storytelling
- The history of Remembrance
- The evolution of the poppy
- Commemoration
Coming soon: Christmas in Wartime Britain
Think we may be able to support your teaching but can’t find what you’re looking for? Please email learning@cmoml.org to discuss your requirements.
Frequently asked questions about school visits
School visits to the museum should be booked at least 14 days in advance.
To make your booking, please use our School Visit Enquiry Form.
Please include what you’re interested in, your preferred visit date(s), the year group and the number of pupils attending. Don’t forget to mention if they have any additional needs or access requirements and if you would like to eat your lunch on-site at the Museum.
Alternatively, you can call the Museum during opening hours on 01228 532774 or email learning@cmoml.org.
Our school workshops at the Museum cost as little as £2.50 per student. We also offer outreach to provide workshops in schools. View the prices below:
- Onsite (at the Museum): £2.50 per pupil per workshop
- Outreach (in School): £65 per session (plus travel costs @ £0.45 per mile)
Teachers are welcome to a free familiarisation visit prior to making a school booking – just make the member of staff at the front desk aware of this when you arrive.
If you would like to see the Learning Room or speak with a member of the Learning team, please email learning@cmoml.org to arrange a suitable time.
School workshops at the Museum are usually provided in our Learning Room on the first floor with a visit to the Galleries on the ground floor. Please contact us in advance to discuss any accessibility requirements.
Our Museum’s Learning Room can comfortably accommodate up to 50 pupils at one time.
We have a lunch space that can be reserved as part of your booking, included in the cost of your visit. This facility is also available if you are visiting for a self-guided visit, dependent on availability. Please make a note in your school visit booking enquiry should you wish to eat lunch on-site at the Museum.
Our school workshops have been designed to take place in the Museum, but our Learning team also offers outreach in schools and other locations. For details on booking an outreach visit for your school, email learning@cmoml.org.
There is no onsite parking but coach and minibus parking is available close by at Castle Car Park on the west side of Carlisle Castle. There is a coach drop-off point at Tullie House (opposite the Castle) and access to the Castle is via the underpass/crossing at the same location. Disabled parking is available in Carlisle Castle for cars and small minibuses only.
Our main collections are housed on the ground floor with step-free access into the Museum. We have a stairlift to access the Learning room upstairs. We ask that information regarding mobility issues is included within your booking enquiry so that we know whether we are to accommodate your visit.
Once we have confirmed your booking, you will receive a copy of our risk assessment. Please read this carefully and share information with the other adults coming with you. Should you have any other queries relating to health and safety for your school visit, please email learning@cmoml.org.
The Museum hosts free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions at the Museum, specially curated for school staff seeking to expand their historical teaching expertise and enhance teaching methodologies.
These sessions offer the opportunity to tour our facilities and visit the galleries, see our handling collection, find out more information about our workshops and discuss your curriculum requirements with our Learning team.
If you would like to receive information about our next CPD session, subscribe to our Schools Newsletter.
