Learning Beyond the Classroom

Take learning beyond the classroom and give pupils the opportunity to experience history first-hand. At the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, students can explore real artefacts, handle replicas and discover the personal stories behind more than 300 years of military history.

Our interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities encourage curiosity, discussion and historical enquiry, while supporting classroom learning and curriculum topics. With experiences suitable for different ages and abilities, a visit offers an engaging and memorable way to explore both local and national history.

Hands-on learning
Get up close to real artefacts and replicas and discover what they can tell us about the past.

Curriculum-linked experiences
Bring classroom topics to life through immersive exhibitions, objects and real-life stories.

Interactive exploration
Encourage pupils to ask questions, investigate and engage with history for themselves.

Something for everyone
Activities and experiences can be adapted for different ages, abilities and learning needs.

Local stories, national history
Discover the experiences of Gloucestershire soldiers and their role in some of the defining events of the last 300 years.

Learning they'll remember
Create a memorable experience that takes history out of the textbook and puts it into pupils' hands.

Why Visit Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum?

What can pupils discover?

  • The First World War

    Explore trench life, soldiers' experiences and the realities of warfare.

  • The Second World War

    Discover the stories of Gloucestershire soldiers and their experiences during WWII.

  • The Korean War

    Learn about the Gloucestershire Regiment's role in the Korean War, including the Battle of Imjin River.

  • Medals & Heroes

    Discover why soldiers were awarded medals and the remarkable stories behind them.

  • Life as a Soldier

    Explore uniforms, equipment and everyday life in the British Army.

  • 300 Years of History

    Discover how Gloucestershire's military story has evolved over three centuries.

What We Offer

School Group Visits

Explore, discover and learn from our unique collection of over 20,000 objects. Our school visits offer fun, engaging activities that support the National Curriculum and can be tailored to suit the needs of your group.

A visit can include:

Explore the Galleries
Discover fascinating objects, uniforms, medals and personal stories across our exhibitions.

Get Hands-On
Give pupils the opportunity to get closer to history through interactive displays and hands-on experiences.

Learn Through Stories
Discover the real experiences of Gloucestershire soldiers and the people behind the objects in our collection.

Can’t visit us? Our hands-on boxes bring the museum into your classroom, with artefacts, replicas, activities and books covering a range of curriculum topics.

Planning a school trip?
Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements, available dates and how we can help you make the most of your visit.

Handling Boxes

Can’t make it to the museum? Bring a little piece of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum into your classroom with our hands-on boxes.

Each box contains a fascinating selection of artefacts, replicas, activities and books, giving pupils the opportunity to explore history through objects they can see, touch and investigate. Designed to support a range of Key Stages, ages and abilities, the boxes are a flexible way to complement your classroom teaching and bring curriculum topics to life.

Choose from two topics:

  • World War One
    Explore the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the First World War.

  • World War Two
    Discover life during the Second World War and the experiences of those who lived through it.

Two-week loan | £25

Our hands-on boxes are available to borrow for two weeks for just £25. Boxes must be collected from the museum.

Interested in bringing history to life in your classroom?
For more information or to book a box, please contact enquiries@sogm.co.uk.

This opportunity has been made possible through a generous grant from the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire.

Regimental Board Room Hire

Give your students a change of scenery and a different way to learn. Our Board Room offers a flexible space for schools to use for teaching, workshops, group activities and classroom sessions, all within the unique setting of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum.

The room provides a dedicated space to bring lessons to life, while being just steps away from our galleries and collections. Why not combine a teaching session with time to explore the museum and discover over 300 years of Gloucestershire's military history?

Whether you're looking for a space for a full day of learning or somewhere to complement a museum visit, the Board Room offers a flexible and engaging environment for pupils of all ages.

Teach. Explore. Discover. A classroom with a difference.

Find out more →

Accessibility & SEND

Everyone is welcome at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. We want every pupil to have the opportunity to enjoy, explore and learn from our collections, and we aim to make school visits as accessible and comfortable as possible.

The museum offers accessible entry, accessible toilets and lift access to the main galleries. We also provide SEND bags for children, designed to help make their visit more enjoyable and accessible.

Our educational activities can be adapted to suit the specific needs of visiting groups, and we're happy to work with teachers in advance to understand any additional requirements.

Planning a visit?

If your group has specific accessibility, SEND or sensory requirements, please get in touch with our team before your visit. We can discuss your needs, answer any questions and help you plan a visit that works for your pupils.

Contact us about accessibility →

  • Our school activities can be adapted to suit different ages and abilities, from primary through to secondary education. Activities can also be tailored to support specific topics or learning objectives.

  • Our general school visits cost £2 per person, with gallery trail resources provided free of charge.

  • We welcome school groups and can work with teachers to plan a visit that suits the size and needs of your group. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

  • The length of your visit can be tailored to your group and the activities you choose. Please contact us when booking to discuss how much time you'd like to spend at the museum.

  • Our general school visits allow teachers to guide their own groups using our gallery trails. Trails can be tailored to specific subjects, including Remembrance, the Home Front and World War One.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our hands-on boxes bring a little piece of the museum into your classroom. They contain a selection of artefacts, replicas, activities and books covering a range of topics and ages. We currently offer boxes covering Roman Britain, fossils and dinosaurs, World War One and World War Two.

  • Our handling boxes are currently available for collection from the museum and are offered on a two-week loan.

  • We aim to make visits accessible and welcoming for all pupils. Activities can be adapted to suit the specific needs of visiting groups. If your group has particular accessibility or learning requirements, please contact us before your visit so we can discuss how best to support you.

  • If you'd like to familiarise yourself with the museum before bringing your pupils, please contact our team to discuss a possible pre-visit.

  • We offer a range of facilities to support school visits, including gallery trails and educational resources. Our Board Room can also provide a dedicated space for teaching, workshops and group activities, giving pupils a change of scenery while remaining within the museum.

Let’s Plan Your Visit

Have a question about bringing your school to the museum? Whether you're planning a group visit, interested in our hands-on boxes or want to find out more about our facilities, we're here to help.

Complete the form and a member of our team will get back to you with the information you need.

We look forward to welcoming you and your pupils to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum.