Our school visits are immensely popular and we love having schools here. Education is a really important part of our work at Riverhill and we enjoy getting the children excited about nature and the great outdoors, so important for young minds.
We have a range of possibilities for school visits, you can either come and just enjoy the gardens, build dens in the woods, solve the maze and let off steam in our adventure playground or we offer a range of hugely creative workshops or tours, all designed to be educational and great fun!
Teachers love Riverhill as it makes for a relaxed, safe and fun trip. Rest assured we only have one school booking per day and we pride ourselves on the personal and friendly welcome and support we give you. We do our best to accommodate the specific requirements of your group so please do talk to us about anything that you need when you book.
We are only able to accept coaches on a Monday or Tuesday (excl Bank Holidays) when your group will have the gardens to themselves. Groups of between 10 and 20 can come Wednesday - Friday. Please contact us directly to discuss your needs and to book.
Jump to: Included Activities | Optional Workshops & Tours | Logistics | FAQs
At a glance
12 acres of gardens to explore
Den building
Viewpoint overlooking the Weald of Kent
Hedge maze
Woodland adventure play area
Option to include a creative workshop or tour
“The children said it was their best school trip and we will certainly be back another year with another group. Thanks too for the tea and coffee – always essential to a good school trip!”
Included in the Entrance Price
The following experiences are available for all school groups to enjoy at no additional cost.
Den Building Woods
Our chestnut woods are the perfect den building location. Children love the freedom to explore and create, working together to build fantastical dens. We find it sparks their imagination and perfectly combines creativity, problem solving, team work, imaginative play, fresh air and exercise.
Hedge Maze
Our fiendishly tricky hedge maze was designed by Adrian Fisher, the world’s leading maze designer. It is based on Tibetan carvings and it is possible to solve it in either a clockwise or anti clockwise direction. It’s a wonderfully fun challenge for all ages.
Little Everest View Point
With vast views over the Weald of Kent, children love being able to pick out landmarks using our horizon map. The steep climb will make them feel on top of the world and our fun hand sculptures are always a talking point.
Adventure Playground
We have plenty to climb and explore in our woodland adventure playground, with a treehouse and twisty slide, it is great for letting off steam.
Historic Garden Grounds
We have over 12 acres of historic gardens to explore with lots of space for them to run free and just be children. Please click here for our Garden Guide.
Plants & Wildlife
From insects and birds, springtime bluebells, summer veg or pumpkins in the autumn, our gardens offer the perfect space for children to experience nature & the seasons. See what’s in season here.
“We had an amazing trip and the children came back buzzing! Thank you so much for helping to make the end of term very special. They truly loved it!”
Optional Workshops & Tours
These are just some examples of the workshops that can be added to your school trip for an additional cost.
Scavenger Hunts
(non-guided)
Ages: 3-6 year olds
Price: £2 per child
Choose from one of our range of ‘egg-box’ scavenger hunts for the children to complete as they explore the gardens and woodland. We offer two options: Shapes & Textures or Fairytale Imaginings.
Enchanted Forest Scavenger Hunt (guided)
Ages: 5-10 year olds
Price: £3 per child
This imaginative and theatrical guided walk will enable pupils to discover our magical grotto in the Rock Garden and the nearby ‘Enchanted Forest’, where twisted vines hang from ancient trees and vibrant ferns hang from lichen covered rocks.
Growing Tour
Ages: 3-10 year olds
Price: £3 per child
This tour of the gardens will introduce the children to some of our plants and trees as well as our veg beds in our potager area.
Wild Woodland Art
Ages: 7-10 year olds
Price: £3 per child
This creative workshop takes place in the Woodland, inspired by Andy Goldsworthy’s work, artwork will be created in the landscape using natural materials. Schools will need to bring photography devices with them to record the work.
Wizard Wand Workshop
Ages: 5-10 year olds
Price: £3.50 per child
The children’s chance to get creative and to visit the Garden Room Studio to design and make their very own wand using a variety of materials.
We start with a mini tour of some of our trees and to see where their wands came from.
Hobby Horse Making
Ages: 3-8 year olds
Price: £4 per child
Use natural resources (straw and sticks) and socks to create your own imaginative horses, monsters or ‘Wild Things’ to ride around the grounds. This wonderful workshop can be easily adapted to link with the stories/topics you are studying.
Marble Mazes
Ages: 6-10 year olds
Price: £4 per child
Inspired by our hedge maze, design and create your own marble labyrinth to take home. Accessible to all, this design and technology activity is fantastic at stretching the minds of budding engineers and designers with masses of problem solving... and fun!
“We thoroughly enjoyed the day. What beautiful gardens and I thought the wand making was really good. And having the gardens all to ourselves was ideal. Thank you for having us!”
School Group Logistics
We only have one School party here per day, so early booking is advised as we do get booked up quickly.
School Group Prices 2024
£6.75 per child Entrance Fee (Group Child Discount)
Children aged 4 years +
Minimum group size 10
1 free adult per 6 paying children (additional adults £12.00)
No charge for children under 4 years
Itineraries
When you book we work with you to create your own bespoke itinerary.
Booking & Availability
Please contact us to discuss availability and make a booking. You may also find answers to common questions in our FAQ section below.
“Thank you so much for such a great day! All of our children thoroughly enjoyed their time and are really keen to visit again!!!”
School Groups FAQs
Where do we have lunch?
Hopefully, outside on the Old Tennis Lawn. Where possible we make our Garden Room available for school groups, it is great for storage and for a wet weather lunch contingency too.
Do you provide any refreshments?
We provide water for the children. Our cafe will also be open Wednesday - Friday if anyone needs anything (Please note if you come on a Monday or Tuesday when we are closed to the public then our Cafe will also be closed).
How do I pay?
An invoice will be emailed to you the day after your visit and payment can be made by bacs. Please email us on the day with the final number of children and adults who actually attended.
What do we do if the weather is bad?
We make our garden Room available for a wet weather lunch contingency and for storing of bags and wet weather clothes. Our workshops take place inside. Please make sure all your children have wet weather gear, including waterproofs and wellies so you can enjoy your day no matter what!
How many children can I bring?
We say a maximum of 100 here.
When can we come?
We only accept coaches and groups of 20 and above on a Monday and Tuesday. We are closed to the general public on these days so you will have the Gardens to yourselves. For groups of between 10 and 20 you can visit Wednesday to Friday during open season. Please contact us to discuss.
We only take one school booking per day so please do book well in advance as we do tend to book up fast.
Can I bring a coach?
Of course, Monday or Tuesday only though please. Standard size coaches, including double deckers are fine. We have space to park two here. If you require more they will need to drop off and come back again. All drop offs MUST take place down by the main house and never on the road. Please click here for info for coach drivers. We offer free entrance and refreshments to your driver.
What do we need to bring with us?
Please make sure that all your children and staff have sturdy, sensible shoes or boots. We are on a hillside and many of our paths are steep and uneven in places. Everyone also needs: wet weather gear, a warm layer, water, food, a hat, sun screen.
Can we bring children with additional needs?
Of course; please contact us to discuss your needs and we will do our very best to help.
Do you have a Cafe?
We do, it is open Wednesday - Friday so if you come on a Monday or Tuesday you will need to make sure you bring everything you need (we provide water).
Where can I see your Risk Assessment information?
You can [download a summary of our general risk assessment here]. We recommend that teachers visit the gardens prior to their school trip to create their own risk assessments based on their knowledge of the children involved. Please email info@riverhillgardens.co.uk to arrange free entry.
We recommend a ratio of 1 adult to 6 children. Children must be supervised at all times in the gardens, woodland and in The Garden Room.
Enquire Now
Early booking is advised, as we only have one group per day.
