The Menin Gate

Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium's freedom. Every evening at 8pm buglers from the local fire brigade close the road which passes under the Memorial for the Last Post.

In Flanders Fields Museum

The Flanders' Fields Museum is devoted to the study of World War I and occupies the second floor of the Cloth Hall, Ypres. The building was virtually destroyed by artillery fire during the Battles of Ypres and has been reconstructed. The museum is named after the famous poem 'In Flanders Fields' by Canadian medic John McCrae.

Langemarck German Cemetery

The German cemetery at Langemarck provides a striking contrast with Tyne Cot. There are no crosses or head stones, just a mass grave containing 24,917 servicemen, including 3,000 school students who were killed during the First Battle of Ypres. At the rear of the cemetery is a sculpture of four mourning figures by Professor Emil Krieger.

Essex Farm Cemetery

This cemetery is built on the site of the Field Dressing station where John McRae composed the poem 'In Flander's Fields'. It is also the last resting place of one of the youngest soldiers to die in the area. Rifleman Valentine Joe Strudwick, number 5750, 8th Battalion The Rifle Brigade, was aged 15 when he died in 1916.

Tyne Cot Cemetery

Tyne Cot is the largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world. The cemetery and its surrounding memorial are located outside of Passendale. The name "Tyne Cot" is said to come from the Fusiliers seeing a resemblance between the German pill boxes and Tyneside workers' cottages - Tyne Cots.

Sanctuary Wood and Hill 62 Museum

This museum is privately owned by the grandson of the farmer who founded the museum and has a unique collection of World War I artifacts including a rare collection of  weapons, uniforms, and shells. A reconstructed section of the British trench lines is located behind the museum - wellies essential in wet weather!

Passchendaele Museum

Passchendale was one of the bloodiest battles of WW1. The museum has 2 floors of exhibits and guided tours explain the development of weaponry during WW1. In the basement is an excellent reconstruction of an underground British HQ.

www.passchendaele.be

Talbot House

Poperinge was situated a few miles behind the Ypres Salient. The British army commandeered the quiet little town. In the centre of this lively metropolis, Chaplain 'Tubby' Clayton opened a "soldiers' house".  Talbot House gave hundreds of thousands of soldiers home from home', with a little bit of humanity, rest and peace.

www.talbothouse.be

Vimy Ridge

The Vimy Memorial is a memorial for the Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. The monument is the centrepiece of a 250-acre preserved battlefield field, part of the Battle of Arras. There is a visitor centre and preserved trench. Free guided tours of the underground tunnels used in WW1 can be booked  (subject to availabilty).

www.vac-acc.gc.ca

The Thiepval Memorial

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. The memorial, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was built between 1928 and 1932.

Somme Trench Museum, Albert

The town of Albert was home to a British garrison during WWI.The Somme saw one of that war's bloodiest battles on 1 July 1916: 58,000 men were killed or disabled that day. The medieval tunnels under Albert now house the Somme Trench Museum which will give students a glimpse of what the soldiers endured.

Newfoundland Park Memorial

The Newfoundland Memorial Park in Beaumont-Hamel is dedicated to the Canadian Newfoundland regiment. The park has preserved the battlefield over which the Newfoundland Regiment made an unsuccessful attack on 1 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. There is an excellent Visitor Centre which explains the background.

Delville Wood Memorial Museum

Delville Wood was sometimes known as Devil's Wood, and the fighting there during the battle of the Somme was particularly ferocious. The majority of the wood was eventually taken by South African soldiers on the 15th of July 1916, and they held on grimly during numerous German counter attacks for six days, until they were relieved.

Lochnagar Crater

The largest British mine crater on the Western Front, this was one of several mines exploded under the German front line positions on the Somme on 1st July 1916. A charge of 60,000 lbs (26.8 tons) of Ammonal explosive was blown at 7.28am resulting in a crater 90 feet deep and 300 feet across.

Wellington Quarry Museum, Arras

The Wellington Quarry Museum (Carrière Wellington) is a museum in Arras, northern France. It is named after a former underground quarry which was part of a network of tunnels used by the British Army during the First World War. The museum commemorates the soldiers who built the tunnels and fought in the Battle of Arras.

2 Day School Trip to Ypres from £119

Day 1

Travel early morning via Calais direct to Ypres in Belgium. Visit Sanctuary Wood* and the Hill 62 Museum* and the excellent Flanders Field Museum*. Later we will check into our hotel near Ypres for dinner before attending the Menin Gate last post ceremony.

Day 2

We first visit the Essex Farm Field Dressing station and its concrete dug outs. It was here that John McRae, a Canadian Medical Officer wrote the now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. We can spend the morning at the cemetery at Langemarck and Vancouver Corner. Then we can visit the Tyne Cot Cemetery (the largest British War Cemetery in the world) at Passendale. After a picnic lunch return home via Calais.

3 Day School Trip to Ypres and the Somme Battlefields from £159

Day 1

Travel early morning via Calais direct to Ypres in Belgium. Visit Sanctuary Wood* and the Hill 62 Museum* and the excellent Flanders Field Museum*. Later we will check into our hotel near Ypres for dinner before attending the Menin Gate last post ceremony.

Day 2

We first visit the Essex Farm Field Dressing station and its concrete dug outs. It was here that John McRae, a Canadian Medical Officer wrote the now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. We can spend the morning at the cemetery at Langemarck and Vancouver Corner. Then we can visit the Tyne Cot Cemetery (the largest British War Cemetery in the world) at Passendale. After a picnic lunch we then travel to Albert in the Somme. We stop en route at the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge before continuing to Albert. Vimy Ridge was the strongest defensive position in north-west France and the memorial is a stunning sight with its twin stone towers. Free guided visits of the underground tunnel complex can be prebooked (subject to availability).

Day 3

Visit to the underground Somme 1916 Museum* in Albert followed by the Thiepval Memorial – the largest British War Memorial in the World. Other visits include Delville Wood, the Newfoundland Park memorial at Beaumont-Hamel and the Lochnagar Crater, created by the detonation of mines under the German lines. Visit to Arras to see the underground tunnels and hospital. Return to Calais.

*extra

Carriere Wellington, Arras

Tunnels under Arras were converted to shelter up to 24,000 soldiers during WW1

Delville Wood Museum, Somme

Thousands of soldiers died defending the wood against a German attack.

Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres

Last Post played at 8pm every evening

Langemarck German Cemetery, near Ypres

There is a haunting sculpture of 4 human figures.

Ypres town square

The town was destroyed by shells in WW1

In Flanders Field Museum, Ypres

The museum explains the pain and futility of war

Delville Wood Museum - the Somme

A memorial to the South African regiment who died defending the wood

The Somme Trench Museum near Albert

This fascinating museum is located under the town in medieval tunnels.

Somme Albert mural in town centre

The mural shows the leaning Madonna statue.

Somme Trench Museum, Albert

The museum is in medieval tunnels under the town.

Sanctuary Wood, Ypres

Students can explore the WW1 trenches.

Hill 62 Museum, Ypres

A wonderful assortment of weapons and photographs from WW1

The Vimy Memorial

In memory of the Canadian soldiers who defended the Vimy Ridge.

Lochnagar Crater, Albert

One of the largest mines exploded under the German trenches.

Thiepval Visitor Centre, Somme

Excellent modern visitor centre with a cinema showing original footage of WW1.

Essex Farm memorial, Ypres

The place where the poem 'In Flanders Fields' was written by John McRae.

Serre Cemetery, Somme

One of the most impressive Allied cemetries.

The Tank Memorial, Somme

Celebrates the first use of the tanks - the memorial has models of the early tanks.

Thiepval Memorial, Somme

Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens - visible from many miles.

Cemetery at Sanctuary Wood, Ypres

A poignant reminder to students that many young men died fightiing near to this place.

The Passchendaele Museum, Ypres

Museum covers two floors and the basement is a reconstruction of a British HQ bunker.

The Yorkshire Trench, Ypres

Part of a former British command bunker

Talbot House, Poperinge

Visit the house which provided a haven for all ranks in WW1

Ypres is shown with Albert to the south near Arras