About St. Osyth Priory Education Centre
The Education Centre welcomes hundreds of children to St Osyth Priory through its school trips education programme. Staffed by trained teachers the Education Centre offers curriculum linked school trips. Students explore the Estate’s atmospheric ancient buildings, enjoy its stunning natural setting and discover a wealth of wildlife within its walls.
Make memories that your class will hold on to for a lifetime…
…by visiting St. Osyth Priory this year. Bespoke trips to meet your class’s individual needs, we’ll work with you to create an engaging and inspiration day outside the classroom. A history that spans the Stone Age to the present day as well as vast Parkland to survey, ponds to dip and formal gardens to explore.
Why choose us?
- Tractor Trailer ride to see the rare breed livestock and deer
- Access to medieval buildings and historic spaces
- Exceptional value for money
- Led by qualified teachers
- Site not open to the public
- Free adults places
- Free coach parking
- Ability to host large groups
- Indoor and outdoor lunch spaces
- Purpose built classroom space
- Free teacher pre-visit
- Toilets just for your school use
- No extra spending on the day
Plan your day
Sessions take place Tuesdays and Thursdays in term time between 10am and 2pm. Various locations and buildings around the Estate are incorporated into the day giving students the opportunity to explore the beautiful environment with plenty of fresh air and exercise.
What's new
Walking Tours
Our walking tours run end of May until end of September.
Watch this space for info on 2025s tours.
Guided walking tour of St Osyth Priory's historic buildings with expert commentary. Built in 1121 as a Priory and later upgraded to an Abbey, the building has been a feature on the landscape of St. Osyth for 900 years. With one of the finest gatehouses in Europe, at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, Henry VIIIs courtiers fought to gain possession of it and create a stately home. Continuing with a varied and interesting history throughout the centuries you will be able to see the buildings that shaped the story and find out about the fascinating characters who owned them.
Meet at the little gate, behind the shrubs, on The Bury (what.3.words.ashes.verve.panther)
There is free parking on the green at The Bury.
There are no toilets on site for visitors but Public conveniences are located in Church Square just across the road for The Bury.
Please note that the paths are gravel and may be uneven in places, therefore tours may not be suitable for those with mobility issues. If you are unsure, please discuss your needs before purchasing a ticket.
The walks may be subject to cancellation if there are an insufficient number of tickets sold. We may be able to transfer your booking to another date if this is the case, or will provide a refund if we are unable to do so.
Tractor Trailer Tours
Our tractor trailer tours run end of May until end of September.
Watch this space for info on 2025s tours.
Tractor/trailer tour of St Osyth Priory's ancient Parkland. See the two herds of deer in the 12th Century deer park. Drive up to Nuns wood; the site of the Anglo-Saxon Nunnery established by Osyth and see the Estuary which the Danes sailed up when they martyred her. Much restoration work has taken place to re-wild the Parkland under the new owners and there is a large variety of wildlife as well as rare breed livestock.
Meet at the Car Parks in the Priory itself, CO16 8GW. Arriving from the Colchester direction, turn right on to Mill Street at the crossroads in the centre of St Osyth. Go past The Bury and the Gatehouse, then approximately a further 200 metres on, turn right into Westfield Lane and follow the signs to the Car Parks.
All the money raised by both the Tractor / Trailor Tours and the Guided Walks will support the work of the Education Centre, providing children of all ages with memorable educational experiences in a breathtaking setting.
There are no toilets on site for visitors but Public conveniences are located in Church Square just across the road for The Bury.
The Tractor Trailer has a wheelchair ramp and can accommodate one wheelchair per tour. If you will need to use the ramp please discuss your needs before purchasing a ticket.
The Tractor Trailer Tours may be subject to cancellation if there are an insufficient number of tickets sold. We may be able to transfer your booking to another date if this is the case, or will provide a refund if we are unable to do so.
