Free guided talks Tues, Thurs & Sat at 11am
School Visits
Welcome to the Bridging the Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre
We can tailor the workshop for your key stage and area of interest. We offer on site workshops, outreach visits to your school, and online sessions.
School workshops at Bridging the Tamar
We offer a variety of curriculum linked workshops from Early Years to Key Stage 4.
We have a dedicated workshop space in the Centre for pupils to do hands on learning, bridge building and explore STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, art, and maths) and make links to the National Curriculum.
All workshops include a trip out onto the Tamar Bridge to marvel at the views of the river and Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, look at the components of the Tamar Bridge up close, and feel the vibrations as lorries whizz past!
Maximum class size is 30. Please refer to our schools brochure for more information.
We strongly recommend teachers conduct a familiarisation pre-visit.
We have ‘explorer backpacks‘ available for SEN children.
Due to the small size of the Learning Centre we're unable to book in self-led groups, and pre-booked school groups doing a workshop will take priority.
STEM learning
Good value- knowledgeable enthusiastic tutor who enhanced learning…opportunity to apply learning in real life context…cross curricular… quality resources.
Hands-on
It was an excellent blend of input that focused on local History and Britain's evolution from agriculture to industry, as well as some hands-on activities where pupils could immerse themselves in the role of an engineer.
Learning outside the classroom
This was a new, original learning experience for our school and all of my class were able to share something they had learned from the trip. It also gave them a personal connection to the learning that helped to strengthen their understanding.
Workshop topics
Workshops include:
Bridges
An interactive workshop which includes a guided walk over the Tamar Bridge, a look at the River Tamar, and some experiments and hands-on bridge building activities in the Learning Centre. Learn about Brunel’s unique Royal Albert Bridge and the award-winning Tamar Suspension Bridge first-hand. EYFS – KS4
Meeting Brunel
Meet Mr Brunel, designer of the incredible Royal Albert Bridge, find out what life and work was like in the Victorian era, and test out your own bridge building skills. Includes a costumed educator. KS1-2
Brunel and Bridges
Find out about the life of IK Brunel, his famous Royal Albert Bridge, and some of his other engineering achievements. KS1-4
The Industrial Revolution
Find out about technological advances from the 1800s to the present day. Learn about the history of transport, from canals to railways and roads. Find out how Brunel’s internationally renowned Royal Albert Bridge was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution. KS1-4
The River Tamar – transport and the natural environment
Find out about the natural environment of the River Tamar, and how humans have navigated transport on it through time by learning about the Royal Albert and Tamar Bridges. KS1-4
Levers and pulleys
Find out about how levers and pulleys are simple machines that make life and work easier. The session includes hands on experiments and looks at the levers and pulleys used on the Tamar and Royal Albert Bridge. KS2
Smart bridges of the future
Explore the skills engineers of the future will need to build bridges and what the future might look like. KS3-4
Minibeasts and their homes (on site only)
Discover minibeasts, search for their natural habitats. Children will become bug hunters and identify them Then we create butterfly feeders for children to take home to care for butterflies in their own gardens. EYFS
Engineering: Bridging the Tamar in association with The Box
We also offer a day long workshop in partnership with The Box in Plymouth. Join us in the morning for a guided tour and bridge building workshop and then head to The Box for your lunch followed by a STEAM inspired workshop exploring the iconic engineering of Plymouth.
Learning options
- Outreach workshops and assemblies
- Home education sessions where a group or network come for their own workshop
- Virtual learning
- CPD sessions for teachers
- Higher and Further Education – we offer tours of the Tamar Bridge which include a visit into the anchorage chamber led by one of the Bridge’s engineers and a walk under the bridge to the first tower. We can adapt tours to specific College or University topics.
- If you don’t see your topic listed under workshops we may still be able to create one for you – just get in touch!
Fill out the contact form below to start your booking enquiry. You can also click the book now button. Alternatively please call 01752 361577.
- Available
- Morning / afternoon available
- Fully booked
- Not available
Help with travel costs
We are a Hyundai ‘Hero Partner’. If you are a school with more than 30% of your students receiving free school meals, you can enjoy 50% of any workshop booked at the Bridging the Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre.
We have a bursary scheme in place with Hyundai for help with travel costs as part of the Great British School Trip programme.
If you’re a teacher interested in this you can do the following:
1. Apply for a bursary on the GBST website.
2. If your application is accepted, they will ask for travel or venue receipts/quotes.
3. If your receipts are accepted, they will ask for the school’s payment details and the funds will be paid directly to the school.
Finding us
Pemros Road, St Budeaux, Plymouth, PL5 1LP
Arriving by coach
Coaches can drop off at the Pemros Road roundabout. There is no access from the A38/Tamar Bridge Offices exit (bus lane only) so coaches travel first to St Budeaux (next stop on A38) to access Pemros Road.
If not you will need to travel through St Budeaux to access Pemros Road from the other direction to access the Pemros Road roundabout.
