This session enables pupils studying Art & Design to examine some of the techniques and skills used to look at an historical image and analyse the clues and narratives portrayed.

Students will work with freelance artists to examine the variety of styles and techniques for creating Portraits on display in The Edwardians: Age of Elegance that can be applied to the students' own drawings.

The session will enhance their understanding of the works of art and develop their own skills
through the artist led class.

Session Learning Objectives:

• Examine some of the techniques, materials and skills used by some of the most famous artists from the Edwardian period to produce these amazing paintings and works of art
• Discover the purpose of sketchbooks, and the use of observational studies
• Explore the visual and tactile qualities used by artists such as John Singer Sargent and Franz Xaver Winterhalter 

In this session children will:

• Work with a professional artist
• Use new skills to analyse historically and artistically significant works within the exhibition
• Take part in discussion activities in front of original works of art
• Sketch in the galleries from the paintings and works of art
   

Session times: 10:15 and 12:30

Duration: 90 minutes

Exclusive access opportunity!! Book your visit on a Tuesday between April and November 2025 and your group will be provided with access to the exhibition and gallery spaces outside of normal visiting opening times.

Available for booking: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays - 22 April to 21 November 2025

Our learning programmes are designed to be accessible to all pupils.  Most of our sessions can be adapted to meet any educational or access needs your group may have.  Please ask for details when booking.

You may find the information for visitors on the Autism spectrum helpful when planning your visit to The King's Gallery. 

Free access companion tickets are available for adults accompanying any pupils with a disability in your group.

There are no lunch spaces available for groups visiting The King's Gallery. Green Park and St James’s Park are located nearby. Lunch room facilities are available at the nearby Girl Guiding UK ICANDO Centre on Buckingham Palace Road. For bookings please telephone 020 7592 1818.

To find out more or to make a booking contact the Learning Bookings team.

Please have to hand:

• Preferred date and possible alternatives, plus time of arrival
• Numbers of children and supervising adults
• The taught programme you would like
• Details of any special educational or access needs

Please use the downloadable Bookings Forms to send your details to the Learning Bookings Team.

You will then be sent a reservation letter, together with your teachers’ resource pack, giving a date by which full payment must be received to secure the booking.

Please note: you may be asked to cover the cost of the session if you cancel within short notice of your visit.  Non-booked schools will be charged at standard group admission rates.  Please see our Terms of Application for Learning Group Admissions.

Contact us

Learning Bookings Team
Ticket Sales and Information Office
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

T. (+44) (0)303 123 7323
F. (+44) (0)20 7930 9625
[email protected]

Sharing Learning Objectives

You will find our learning objectives for each taught session on the relevant programme information page.  Sending us your learning objectives prior to your visit will help us tailor the session to your group’s requirements.

Planning Visits

Once you have made your booking, we offer two complimentary tickets for you and a colleague to conduct a planning visit.  If you would like to meet a member of the Learning team during this visit, please let us know at the time of booking.

Teachers' Packs for each site can be downloaded here.

Reduced-rate admission for school groups

Pre-booked school groups: £1 per pupil
Children in Reception or below: FREE

Please note the minimum school group sizes for booking taught workshops are:

• 15 Pupils
• 10 Pupils for SEN groups

Accompanying adults
One teacher or adult helper is admitted free of charge at the following ratios:

• Under 5s - 1 adult: 3 pupils
• Years 1 to 3 - 1 adult: 6 pupils
• Year 4 and above - 1 adult: 10 pupils

Please ask for details of rates for additional adults when booking.

Arrival

Following your booking a confirmation letter, with an agreed arrival time, will be sent to you; your letter serves as a ticket for your group. The group leader must have a copy of the confirmation letter to present on arrival.

Security Measures

Royal Collection Trust sites have airport-style security measures at all public entry points, through which all visitors, including school groups, are required to enter.  All adults and children will be asked to:

• Allow any bags to be searched by hand
• Walk through a metal detector arch, one at a time
• Switch off mobile phones

The Royal Collection Trust Learning section asks that teachers undertake the following guidelines to make entry to Royal Collection Trust sites as smooth and quick as possible:

• Please arrive at the Royal Collection Trust site at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time for the booked workshop
• Teachers and children should not bring the following: scissors, compasses, metal cutlery, sharp metallic implements
• Only bring what you need! The Royal Collection Trust Learning section will provide all necessary equipment such as clipboards, pencils and drawing materials (groups can bring their own sketchbooks if they prefer to use these)