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Schools

Whether you’re planning a Self-Guided Activity or a Guided Tour, you can book your school’s visit easily using our online form. Please submit your request through our booking form. Once submitted, our team will follow up with all the details you need.

Bookings are now open for school visits at the Brunel Museum

To help you prepare, here’s what you can expect when booking:

  • Quick response: We aim to get back to you within 7 working days after you submit your form.

  • Plan ahead: We strongly recommend submitting your booking request at least six weeks in advance to help us accommodate your group smoothly.

  • Final confirmation: Your booking is only confirmed once you receive a confirmation email from us. Please check your spam/junk folder, too!

  • What you’ll need to tell us: The form asks for your contact details (name, email, telephone), school name and address, and which activity you’re interested in choose between our How to Build a Tunnel Under the Thames & Discovery Walk, or our Guided Tour (available for KS3+).

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Discover our new learning offer for schools

How to Build a Tunnel Under the Thames: A Guide for Young Engineers

A Hands-On History Experience for Schools

Bring the fascinating story of the Thames Tunnel to life with the How to Build a Tunnel Under the Thames: A Guide for Young Engineers, an engaging, interactive experience designed for school groups.

Set within the Brunel Museum, this on-gallery activity invites students to explore the history of the world’s first tunnel beneath a navigable river. Through a series of tasks and clues, pupils will uncover the real-life challenges faced by workers, learn about the groundbreaking achievements of Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and engage with hands-on activities that bring the tunnel’s story to life
The activity sparks curiosity and teamwork while allowing students to connect with the real-world legacy of the Thames Tunnel.

What to expect:

● 1-hour self-guided experience suitable for KS1–4.
● Engaging, illustrated booklet with historical facts which students can take back to the classroom.
● Fun, hands-on activities to help pupils discover the history of the tunnel and the challenges faced by its workers.

Whether you’re teaching Victorian history, the Industrial Revolution, inventions, or transport, the Thames Tunnel Adventure provides a hands-on opportunity for students to connect with the past. It’s a unique way for them to explore the places and stories that shaped this groundbreaking engineering achievement.

Curriculum Links

The Thames Tunnel Adventure supports a range of curriculum areas across Key Stages 1–4, including:

History: Explore Victorian life, engineering innovation, local history in Rotherhithe, and significant individuals like Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Design & Technology: Discover how Brunel used innovative solutions like the tunnelling shield, and encourage problem-solving and design thinking through activities.

Science: Learn about biomimicry, exploring how natural creatures inspired engineering solutions.

Art & Design: Develop drawing and observation skills, study how artists and engineers recorded large-scale works, and explore creative responses to engineering challenges.

English & Literacy: Engage with historical texts, discuss ideas, and expand vocabulary related to tunnels and Victorian history.

Discovery Walk: An Interactive Local History Trail for Schools

Bring Rotherhithe’s rich history to life with our brand new Discovery Walk – a self-guided, interactive walking tour designed especially for school groups.

Starting at the Brunel Museum, this 1-hour route takes your class through the heart of Rotherhithe, using a beautifully illustrated map to explore local landmarks, uncover hidden stories, and engage with the area’s past.

Created with teachers and learners in mind, the map is easy to follow and packed with fun facts, prompts for discussion, and key information to support classroom learning.
What to expect:

● Start and finish at the Brunel Museum
● Approx 1-hour walking route, suitable for KS1 - 4
● Illustrated, child-friendly map for pupils to follow
● Historical facts and questions to support teacher-led discussion
● Links to local geography, engineering, and social history


Whether you’re teaching Victorian history, the Industrial Revolution, inventions, or transport, the Thames Tunnel Adventure provides a hands-on opportunity for students to connect with the past. It’s a unique way for them to explore the places and stories that shaped this groundbreaking engineering achievement.

Curriculum Links

The Discovery Walk supports a range of curriculum areas across Key Stages 1–4, including:

History: Explore how Rotherhithe has changed over time, learn about local figures like Marc Brunel and Dr. Alfred Salter, and use real-world clues – from buildings to blue plaques – to investigate the past.

Design & Technology: Practise map reading and navigation skills, and discover how the River Thames shaped the local area through trade, industry, and transport.

Citizenship & PSHE: Encourage discussion around community, social change, and how industries of the past—such as the transatlantic slave trade—have shaped society and continue to impact the world today.

Physical Education: Promote outdoor learning and movement through a relaxed and active walking route.
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