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History trips to Ypres & Somme

Who's it for?

  • Secondary School

Curriculum Included

Key Highlights

  • Newfoundland Memorial/ Beaumont Hamel
  • 1916 Somme Museum
  • Menin Gate Ceremony
  • Bayernwald Trenches
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About this trip

Ypres & The Somme are easily accessible from the UK, making them ideal destinations that fire your students’ imagination and to inspire them to learn more about key events and personal stories of WWI. 

During your GCSE or A level history school trip to Ypres & Somme, these WWI and International Relations excursions are a surefire way to inspire students when it comes to their examinations.

Why choose WST for school trips?

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Rickmansworth School – Ypres November 23

Sample Itinerary

Use our sample itinerary to help picture what your trip could look like. Our itineraries are flexible, visits and timings will be planned based on your needs.

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Sample itinerary for a day trip

Day 1
Morning

Early morning departure from school to visit Essex Farm Dressing Station, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Langemark Cemetery.

Afternoon

Travel to Ypres centre to visit In Flanders Fields Museum and free time to view the Menin Gate and St George's Church

Evening

Rejoin your coach for your journey home. Late arrival back at school.

Day 1
Morning

Depart school to arrive in Ypres early afternoon

Afternoon

Visit to In Flanders Fields Exhibition, Menin Gate and St Georges Church. Check in at your accommodation followed by an evening meal

Evening

Free time in the evening for local orientation.

Day 2
Morning

Lochnagar Crater and Delville Wood

Afternoon

Thiepval Memorial and Visitor Centre, Ulster Tower and Newfoundland Park

Evening

Return to Ypres for an evening meal in a central restaurant before the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate

Day 3
Morning

Hooge Crater Museum and Sanctuary Wood

Afternoon

Tyne Cot Cemetery and Langemark Cemetery before departing for your journey back to school

Day 1
Morning

Depart school to arrive in Ypres early afternoon. En-route visit to Vimy Ridge

Afternoon

Check in at your accommodation followed by an evening meal

Evening

Free time in the evening for local orientation.

Day 2
Morning

In Flanders Fields Exhibition, Menin Gate and St Georges Church

Afternoon

Hooge Crater Museum, Sanctuary Wood & Hill 62, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Langemark German Cemetery

Evening

Return to Ypres for an evening meal in a central restaurant before the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate

Day 3
Morning

Musée Somme Albert, Lochnagar Crater and Delville Wood

Afternoon

Thiepval Memorial and Visitor Centre, Ulster Tower and Newfoundland Park.

Evening

Return to hotel for evening meal

Day 4
Morning

Depart for your return journey to school

Trip Details

Educational Visits In Ypres

Other Educational Visits

  • Hill 60 & the Caterpillar Crater
    Hill 60 suffered an extremely turbulent history throughout the war, changing hands several times. Today you can see the preserved battlefield and the remains of two of the mines blown at the beginning of the Battle of Messines. This is also the final resting place for countless soldiers buried somewhere beneath its grassy foundations.
  • Langemark Cemetery
    The final resting place of over 40,000 German soldiers.
  • Lettenberg Bunkers
    These restored British dugouts near Kemmel give a fascinating insight into the scale of the war underground.
  • Essex Farm Cemetery & Dressing Station
    The area that was once used as an advanced dressing station is now the final resting place for 1200 men who lost their lives in the First World War. Whist stationed at Essex Farm in May 1915 John McCrae wrote the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields.'
  • Poperinge Death Cells and Execution Pole
    Some British soldiers were mentally unstable because of harsh life in the trenches and refused to go back or simply deserted. Once caught and trialled before court martial they spent their last night in the jail of the town hall before being shot at dawn. You can still visit the restored cell block with audiotape and the execution pole as a symbol of the insanity of war.
  • Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater
    The Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater, also known as Lone Tree Crater, is the site of the largest of 19 mines blown by the British Army in the early hours of the morning of 7th June 1917. This signalled the launch of the Battle of Messines.
  • St Georges Church
    This memorial church houses commemorations to many fallen soldiers in the form of plaques adorning the furnishings and commemorative stained glass windows.
  • Tyne Cot Cemetery
    The largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world with 11,956 soldiers buried here, many unnamed. There also panels naming 34,888 missing soldiers.
  • Yorkshire Trench
    This recently renovated series of trenches and dug-outs is located near the village of Boezinghe.

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We can include specific visits in your itinerary, additional visits can be added based on the trip length and needs of the curriculum or teacher.

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Other Educational Visits

  • Lochnagar Crater
    Created after a mine explosion on 1st July 1916, his is the largest surviving crater on the Western Front.
  • Ulster Tower
    The Ulster Tower is a memorial to the men of the 36th Ulster Division and is close to the site they attached on 1st July 1916.
  • Wellington Quarry - Arras
    After descending 20 metres in a glass elevator, you enter this strategic network of tunnels that were key in the Battle of Arras. This site was recently renovated and offers a superb audio guided tour.
  • Historial de la Grande Guerre, Peronne
    Located within the Château de Péronne, a medieval castle dating from the thirteenth century, the museum contains 5 main exhibition rooms which contain 70,000 civilian and military artefacts, works of art, original documents and archive films.
  • Sir John Monash Centre
    It combines hands-on activities and an app-based visit of the Centre, allowing students to follow the footsteps of Australians who served during the War. The immersive gallery at the heart of the Centre tells the story of two key battles in 1918 creating a deeply emotional and educational experience.

Ready to start planning your trip?

We can include specific visits in your itinerary, additional visits can be added based on the trip length and needs of the curriculum or teacher.

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