Self-directed School Visits

Planning your self-directed visit

Please first complete the self-directed section of our booking form to inform us of your group numbers and arrival times.
Once completed one of our learning team will respond within five workings days to confirm your booking. Please note you may be given a different arrival time to ensure safety within the galleries and to enable your students get the best experience during their visit.
We recommend teachers undertake a pre-visit to The Box to familiarise themselves with the galleries, facilities and current exhibitions. To support your visit we have the following resources to help facilitate your group and inspire your students.

• Plan Your Visit
• Free Online Resources
• Teachers’ Hazard Assessment (Risk Assessment)
• Accessibility

Before visiting, if anyone in your group including staff or students has COVID-19 symptoms, we ask that you please postpone your visit to the museum.

On the day

The Box is located near Plymouth’s city centre and is within easy reach of public transport links. Guidance on public transport is available on our getting here page. Discounted city wide bus travel is available for schools and colleges from Plymouth Citybus. Coach drop-off points are located next to the museum entrances on North Hill (maximum waiting time 15 minutes). Coach parking in the city is available at Plymouth Pavilions and Stagecoach South West.

On arrival

Please enter the museum via our step-free entrance on Tavistock Place, which is wheelchair accessible. Please report to the welcome desk where our staff can provide information and guidance on the following:

• Maps and trails
• Toilets (we ask school groups to use the first floor toilets)
• Lifts and disabled access
• Lockers
• Drinking water

On the day of your visit please ask our staff about additional visiting schools and/or facilitated workshops taking place. If other visits or workshops are taking place, we recommend school groups are split into smaller groups and ask teachers to be mindful of noise levels.

During your visit

Whilst visiting the galleries, teachers and accompanying adults are responsible for supervision and safety and must remain with their groups at all times. Please ensure you follow the recommended adult/student ratios below:
Foundation stage – 1:3
Key stage 1/2 – 1:6
Key stage 3/4 – 1:15
Post-16 – 1:15
SEND – 1:5

During your visit school groups are welcome to spend time drawing in the galleries using dry materials such as coloured or graphite pencils. Photography is allowed however we ask that you do not use flash and always enquire with staff about any restrictions in place.

Food and drink

For lunch space self-directed groups are welcome to use picnic tables outside the museum on Tavistock Place. Please note food and drink is not allowed in the galleries and designated lunch space is only available to schools taking part in a facilitated workshop.