DigCamp at Ampthill Castle 2026 (ages 6-11)

  • 06, 13 June 2026
  • Bedfordshire, England
Sold Out

Archaeology isn’t just for adults! Bring the family to enjoy some hands-on archaeology with the DigVentures team. You’ll have plenty of fun as we uncover the ruins of a royal castle.

Dates: Sat 06, Sat 13 June 2026
Duration: 2 hours (10:00am-12:00pm, or 2:00pm-4:00pm)
Suitable for: Families with children aged 6-11
Family size: Maximum of one adult and two children 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 ruins of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s first home in Bedfordshire. You’ll learn how to dig, make 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 mini-family adventure for kids and adults who want to get outdoors and discover history for themselves this summer!

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 DigCamp session is 2 hours. Your family will learn all the basic skills field archaeologists use on a dig. Starting with a lively introduction to the site, 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 DigCamp suitable for?

DigCamp is suitable for any family with children aged 6-11

Children are the archaeologists of the future, and we do everything we can to give young people an experience that will inspire their interest in history, archaeology, and 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 the meeting point 10 minutes before your experience is due to start (this will either be 10:00am or 2:00pm depending on which session you choose).

One of our archaeologists will meet you there and we will begin promptly – please don’t be late!

Your session will last two hours.

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 dress 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!

Will the adults be digging, too?

Yes! We aim for adults and children to dig together wherever possible.

However, DigCamp is designed to get young people involved in real archaeology and experience what it’s really like to be an archaeologist.

Space in the trenches can be limited, so very occasionally we may ask adults to take turns or watch from the trench edge to ensure every child has room to dig.

Can two adults attend DigCamp?

To maximise space for young people in the trenches, our booking options are:

  • One adult with one child, or
  • One adult with two children

Our experiences work best with one adult per booking, as this ensures we can accommodate as many children as possible.

However, if two adults are required to attend, we ask that you take turns digging in the trenches.

Please contact us at bookings@digventures.com before your visit so we can plan accordingly.