The Winding House Museum is a bold, glass-fronted structure that has been constructed around the former Elliot Colliery winding house
Guided Tour
Guided Tour
What is it?
A guided tour is the practice of an individual leading a group of people around a point of interest and giving them information about it, which can cover topics such as religious significance, cultural history and how it relates to other locations and events in history.
What does it involve?
Attending a guided tour basically just involves paying attention! All the work is done for you in finding out the facts and presenting them in an interesting manner; the role of the participant just calls for a level of interest in your surroundings and an eagerness to learn!
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Tour guides can be extremely educational - physically interacting with the place while learning about its history will provide a different kind of academic experience to the classroom by giving the students something more tangible to focus on.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn't need any equipment for a guided tour, but check beforehand to make sure; some tours involve their participants even further by getting them to write down their own thoughts, or make drawings - so you may need to ensure students have something to write on!
Who is it suitable for?
Guided Tours are suitable for pretty much anybody if you pick the right one - smaller children will find it harder to focus on more complex subjects and will need more visual aids, but if they are engaged correctly they will have a great time! Likewise, teenage students will get bored if the subject isn't engaging enough, so make sure to choose the tour appropriate for the age and interests of the group.
Costs?
Around £20 or less per person, but it can vary greatly depending on the location of the tour - for example, a minibus tour around a park will cost more than a short walk around a country manor! Make sure to shop around to get an idea of the prices in your area.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
A guided tour should be suitable for all ages, but students with condtions such has ADHD may have trouble focusing for an extended period of time - make sure to be aware of the specific needs of your group.
How do we include?
Many guided tours have disabled access for those with limited physical movement, but it would be wise to doublecheck beforehand. Those who are deaf and blind can also be included in guided tours but may need more specialist staff - again, you will need to check with the specific establishments.
Doing it abroad?
There are points of public interest all around the world, so wherever you can find something well known chances are there will be a guided tour available! Foreign tours may be conducted in another language though, so make sure to confirm the specifications of the tour before booking it.
Main website:
This website gives a good overview of places where you can go for a tour guide, but you're best looking at the specific areas around you to find out details!
Venues with this Activity
Penlee House has been converted to create a first class gallery and museum set within an attractive park. It specialises in showing the area's unique, rich cultural heritage incorporating the historic collections of Penzance Town Council, Penwith District Council (now incorporated into Cornwall Council) and Newlyn Art Gallery.
NWT Cley Marshes, only 6km from Holt, provides groups with great opportunities to explore both coastal and wetland habitats. Include a visit to our award winning eco-friendly visitor centre. Your group can find out about its green sedum roof and innovative green technologies including wind turbine and rain water harvesting systems. The panoramic view across the Marshes is stunning.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge, spanning the picturesque Avon Gorge, is the symbol of the city of Bristol. For almost 150 years this Grade I listed structure has attracted visitors from all over the world.
Impressive Cornish beam engines and industrial heritage discovery centre
At the very heart of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site sit these two great beam engines, originally powered by high-pressure steam boilers introduced by local hero Richard Trevithick.
Preserved in their towering engine houses, they are a reminder of Cornwall's days as a world-famous centre of industry, engineering and innovation.
Sarehole Mill is one of only two surviving working watermills in Birmingham. The existing building was constructed around 1750, although there was known to be a mill here as early as the Tudor period.
A Neo-Grecian house restored to its setting of rolling parkland
This early 19th-century house nestling between a wooded ridge and parkland is possibly one of Wiltshire’s best kept secrets. An ideal place to have a quiet picnic and to get away from it all.
Magnificent 18th-century mansion and landscape park
Experience the stately grandeur of this stunning 18th-century mansion set in a beautiful wooded landscape park ideal for family walks.
Castle Coole is one of Ireland's finest Neo-classical houses, allowing visitors to glimpse what life was like in the home of the Earls of Belmore.
Stunning 18th-century landscape garden and haven for nature
A taste of the country on the edge of the city.
Discover fine Derwent Valley views, winding paths and refreshing open spaces while exploring our elegant buildings and ruins.
Grace Dieu Priory was an Augustinian priory near Thringstone in Leicestershire. It was founded around 1235-1241 by Roesia de Verdon and dissolved in October in 1538. Guided walks take place throughout the year.
Ghosts at Grace Dieu Priory
A historic centre of government, power and law
The Guildhall was the centre of city government from the early 15th century until its replacement by City Hall in 1938. The elaborate design and size of the Guildhall reflect Norwich's status as one of the wealthiest provincial cities in England in medieval times.
Stratford Armouries is a truly unique museum set in 75 acres of rolling Warwickshire countryside.
The galleries house a range of world-class exhibits that will amaze the whole family.
We gather, keep and share historic archive collections relating to Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire - and local and family history resources relating to Gloucestershire.
The archives are kept at our main Alvin Street site in Gloucester and you can use them in our public research room.
School Music Tours for amateur performance groups, including orchestras, choirs and bands
The first Gower music tour was to Valkenburg in southern Holland, which is a resort that we still operate in today. Very quickly the music tour clients expanded and soon Gower was organising choir, band and orchestra tours in Northern France, Paris and down the German Rhine Valley.
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