Gifts for a young history fan

[carlottacandle]

Hello all,

I have a history obsessed soon-to-be 11 year old. She is autistic and her special interest is history, with particular knowledge and interest in the Tudors, Ancient Egyptians & WW2. I'm just wondering if anyone could recommend any gifts or places to visit that she might enjoy (we are South West based). I've looked at books for her age group, but as gorgeously illustrated as some of them are, she can already recite every last fact in them, so they wouldn't get read much. However, I have to be mindful of her age as whilst she's academically very advanced, emotionally not so much. Any ideas? Appreciate this is quite a niche question! Many thanks

My DD is also autistic and has a special interest in WW2 (and previously had a hyper fixation on the tudors). Some places/things she has enjoyed are:

Hatfield House
Beamish
Eden Camp
Box set of horrible stories episodes (she knows the facts inside and out but likes the fact that there are songs based on things she is interested in)
The Hetty Feather book series

Ancient Egyptian Gifts, Souvenirs and Accessories | The British Museum Shop

Learn Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Tracing Book: Learn how to writing and read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: Amazon.co.uk: press, Pharaoh: 9798837697890: Books

The Adventures in Time books by Dominic Sandbrook. They are not like other kids’ history books!

Honestly, I would hugely recommend them. Dominic Sandbrook is a proper historian, he is part of The Rest is History podcast duo and these books are serious history but written in an accessible “tell the story” style. My DD is 12, very bright, into history and loved them about a year or so ago.

However, I have to be mindful of her age as whilst she's academically very advanced, emotionally not so much. I'm not sure what you mean in this context. Might she be interested in non-fiction books aimed at adults? I don't think you need to be emotionally very advanced to read them.

Perhaps a trip to Ludlow Castle? Clear Tudors connection there.

Buckland Abbey in Devon- home of Sir Francis Drake.
The Mary Rose in Portsmouth.

Tower of London?

Thank you for the recommendations, I will look them all up! Horrible Histories is my DDs total comfort show. She's watched them over and over again! :)

Thank you, I've just purchased the Six Wives!

I mean that the children's books don't tend to include enough facts for her, but I need to be mindful that certain adult contents still aren't suitable for her so defaulting to books meant for Adults isn't always appropriate!

Definitely on our list! We have been to London but had to do it in chunks so prioritised some sights & the museums last time :)

I will look them all up, thank you so much!

Chepstow and Raglan Castles in Wales are both great, just inside the border so hopefully not too far from you in the south west. IIRC Henry VII spent some time in Raglan when young.

Hever Castle in Kent is a great place to visit - home of Anne Boleyn - though a long way for you!

My DS loved the Imperial War Museum. If you’re making a trip to Beamish they often have themed WW2 weekends.

Explosions and Submarine museum in Gosport, Spitfire museum Southampton, Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop. Fonfa museum in the New Forest when its back open is really interesting, all about the airfields set up in the forest during ww2 with then and now overlays. Hurst Castle for Tudor and WW2 history at Keyhaven.

I went as a parent volunteer to Hampton Court Palace and it was amazing ! They had a man dressed as Henry VIII wandering around. The tour guide spoke of her death and showed the kids where the ghost of Anne Boleyn is most seen which I assume is the sort of thing that your dd doesn’t want to hear. Did you know that Jane Seymour’s heart is buried beneath the altar?

It’s obviously not in your area but if you do travel, it’s a stunning place to visit and I enjoyed it much more than I expected

Bournemouths Natural Science Society have a mummy if that's easier to get to than London. BNSS.org.uk

Get her into genealogy and researching her own family. She might not get back to tudor times, but fascinating. Also the "time travellers' guide to" series by Ian Mortimer.

To add on suitability - totally get where you're coming from as had hte same with DS who sounds very similar to your daughter. What I liked about the "time travellers" series was that it's written like a guide book - if you're going to visit this period here's what you need to lnow about transport, accommodation, local customs, food... it's very readable and not inappropriate.

If you're near Bovington there is a big tank museum which DS absolutely loved.