DigClub at Ampthill Castle 2026 (ages 12-16)

  • 07, 14 June 2026
  • Bedfordshire, England
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Archaeology for teenagers? You got it! Bring your teens to Ampthill Castle for a day out uncovering the ruins of a royal castle with the DigVentures team. Your teens will get to search for archaeological clues, all while hanging out with kids their own age. It’s more grown up than DigCamp, but still just as much fun.

Dates: Sun 07, Sun 14 June 2026
Duration: 5 hours (11:30am-4:30pm)
Family size: Maximum of one adult and two teens per booking (you can make more than one booking)
Meals, travel, and accommodation: Not included (see FAQ for your options)
Experience level: All levels welcome

Overview

Fascinated by history? Got a bit of an adventurous streak? Join the DigVentures team on a real, live excavation, and help us unearth the royal home of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. You’ll learn how to dig, make your own discoveries, and experience what it’s really like to be an archaeologist.

Our team will guide your search for evidence, and help you piece together the evidence as you try to solve a real archaeological mystery… It’s the perfect day out for any teen who wants to get outdoors and discover history for themselves!

Ampthill

Ampthill Great Park, Woburn St, Ampthill MK45 2HX

Ampthill

Ampthill Great Park, Woburn St, Ampthill MK45 2HX

Our dig site

Beneath Ampthill Park lie the ruins of a royal castle – the first home Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon shared.

By 1649, the palace was demolished, and in the 18th century the site was transformed into a landscaped park spanning over 150 acres.

Previous excavations have uncovered the remains of an Early Medieval settlement, Late Medieval stone foundations, and evidence suggesting the palace ruins lie near Katherine’s Cross, a monument built in the 1770s.

What can we learn about life in this Tudor palace? And can we help reveal a clear picture of Henry and Catherine’s first home for the first time in nearly 500 years?

Our mission now is to collect as many archaeological clues as possible to learn more about this royal castle and share our discoveries with all the children, families, and other visitors who come here every year.

And you can help!

What we'll do

Each DigClub session is 5 hours. Your family will learn all the basic skills field archaeologists use on a dig. Starting with a lively introduction, we’ll grab our trowels and jump straight into the trenches to begin your hands-on archaeological training!

You’ll learn how to excavate, how to recognise new archaeological layers, and how to identify ancient artefacts. We’ll work together to unearth our site, and our friendly team of professional archaeologists will guide your search for evidence every step of the way.

By the end, you’ll head home having experienced what it’s really like to be an archaeologist. It’s good, muddy, fun!

Additional information

Who is DigClub suitable for?

DigClub is suitable for any family with teenagers aged 12-16.

Teens are the archaeologists of the future, and we want to do everything we can to give young people an experience that will inspire their interest in learning about the past.

We also do our best to make our experiences as inclusive as possible for children with different learning and physical needs. If you’ve got any questions about access, and what we can do to help you take part, email us at bookings@digventures.com

Where is the dig?

This dig is taking place at Ampthill Great Park, in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

Address: Ampthill Great Park Woburn Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2HX

Meeting point: Our meeting point will be next to the Ampthill Great Park Car Park. This is the main car park, situated on Woburn Street off the B530.

See the car park on Google maps.

Start and finish times

Please arrive at site 10 minutes before your experience is due to start at 11:30am.

One of our archaeologists will meet you at the meeting point and we will begin promptly – please don’t be late!

We’ll finish digging at 4:00pm, at which point you’re welcome to join the main dig for the end of day debrief which will finish at 4:30pm.

Is food, transport and accommodation included?

Food
Meals are not included. You’ll need to bring your own packed lunch, snacks, and drinks.

Accommodation
Accommodation is not included. People have different budgets and preferences, so we think its better for individuals to be able to book whichever options suit them best.

Whether you’re a happy camper, or prefer a little bit more luxury, you’ll make your own arrangements according to what suits you, and your budget, best.

Hotels and B&Bs: There are plenty of hotels, B&Bs, and AirBnBs in the surrounding area.

Transport
We do not include transport. With people traveling from so many different places, and on such different schedules, it’s not feasible for our team to organise. You will need to make your own arrangements.

For more details on getting to Ampthill, see the Crowdfunding FAQs

What to bring

Please remember that although archaeology is fun, it is OUTDOORS fun!

This means you need to be prepared for the changeable British weather, and dressed appropriately.

If the weather is looking a little grey, we recommend lots of layers of warm clothing, waterproofs, and boots or wellies to keep warm and dry. If the weather is looking sunny, we recommend lots of suncream and a hat!

You need to bring:

  • Sturdy boots (very important!)
  • For wet weather: warm clothing, raincoat, and wellies or waterproof boots
  • For warm weather: suncream, sunhat
  • Plastic bag to carry muddy gear home
  • Drinks and snacks (very important!)
  • Anything else you might need for a mini outdoor adventure!

You do NOT need to bring:

  • Archaeological tools (we will provide all the archaeological tools you need!)

What if I've got two children, but they're not in the same age bracket?

DigCamp is designed for children aged 6-11, while DigClub provides a more in-depth experience for children aged 12-16.

If you’ve got a child in each age group, we can be flexible. If you think your older child will be happy keeping their younger sibling company in DigCamp, then you’re welcome to book your family on to DigCamp.

Likewise, if you think your younger child (aged 10-11) would be interested in a full day of DigClub, give that a go. Please note, we cannot allow children under age 10 to join DigClub as we use heavy tools that are not safe for young children.

Please get in touch at bookings@digventures.com if you’re not sure. Some families are better off booking two separate experiences!