If you ever thought school uniforms were boring, Christ’s Hospital in Horsham, England, would like a word. Tucked away in the English countryside sits one of the most visually striking schools in the world, where students don’t just wear a uniform, they wear history. At first glance, it feels like you’ve stepped onto the set of a historical drama. The uniform consists of a long blue coat, belted at the waist, worn with matching knee breeches, yellow socks and white neck bands. The girls wear the same coat, but with a matching skirt. The uniform remains virtually unchanged for over 470 years, making it one of the oldest school uniforms in the world. The school opened in 1552 to fatherless and poor children in the city of London. From the beginning, students were provided with clothing through public charity, and the blue and yellow color scheme was likely chosen because the dyes were relatively affordable at the time. Today, Christ’s Hospital is home to around 830 boarding students and 70 day students, with boys and girls in equal numbers. The cost is roughly £36,000-£40,000 ($48,701-$54,113) per year, but families rarely pay full price. It’s actually one of the UK’s most famous charity schools.
