You are at the top of the page

Skip to content or footer

Start of main content

Six Lives

The real queens of Henry VIII

About this session

Upper key stage 2 | Subject: History | Topics: Tudors | Session type: Route-based – Henry VIII’s Apartments 

Step beyond the famous rhyme and explore the real lives of Henry VIII’s queens. This route-based session uses the historical evidence of Hampton Court Palace to reveal the real stories of Henry VIII’s wives.

Students will explore the spaces at Hampton Court where the queens roamed and find out what made each queen unique. In this interactive session, they’ll explore the challenges that each queen faced and consider how they should be remembered today.  

Learning objectives:

Students will:  

  • Consider what made each Queen unique and how she should be remembered today.
  • Use Hampton Court Palace as a primary source to find out about key events and experiences in the queens’ lives.
  • Understand how the Queens navigated life at the Tudor court   
  • Imagine what life was like through the Queens’ eyes 

What to expect

  • The session will be led by an historical character in costume who will interact with students in a lively and responsive way.
  • Your group will be led to different outdoor and indoor locations around the palace.
  • Your students will be encouraged to take an active part in the session through activities and questioning.
  • Teachers will be required to actively support the facilitator and engage with the session. 

National Curriculum links  

This session supports: 

  • A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 
  • a study of an aspect of history or a site dating from a period beyond 1066 that is significant in the locality 
  • Understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources 
  • Understand the methods of historical enquiry and how evidence is used to make historical claims. 

Booking information

Availability
Wednesday - Friday (available from 15 April 2026 - 17 July 2026)
10:30 and 13:00 

This session is also available on our Schools only Tuesdays 

Duration
75 minutes

Capacity
Up to 35 students 

Price
£110 plus admission

This session is available to Years 5 and 6 only

Book your visit Back to KS2 sessions