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Ypres day trip
A cross-curricular day trip to Belgium and the Ypres Salient, covering History and English Literature, which partner perfectly on the Battlefields. This tour focuses on War Poets and Medicine in the British Sector on the Western Front.
Ypres day trip
- 1 days
- +1 GMT
- Belgium
- Coach
Tour Highlights
- Lijssenthoek CWGC Cemetery
- Ploegsteert Woods
- Messines
- Vancouver Corner
- German Cemetery Langemark
- Essex Farm
- Ypres & The Menin Gate
FCDO Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice, including passport and visa information, visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website
Sample itinerary
We can develop an itinerary to support various stages of the curriculum, just tell us which activities are best for you
- Day
Day 1 - Ypres
Start early, collecting your Battlefield guide before crossing to Calais and heading to Ypres. On the way, your guide will provide an introduction to WWI, explaining the significance of the battles, their impact on the British military, and public attitudes towards the war.
First stop is Lijssenthoek CWGC Cemetery, a former clearing station that became a cemetery. It holds 9,901 Commonwealth burials, including Nurse Nellie Spindler, the only woman buried here.
Next, visit Hooge Crater Museum, featuring life-size WWI battle reconstructions, trenches, and medical displays. Walk to Railway Wood to follow in the footsteps of soldiers.
At Essex Farm, explore preserved medical stations and learn about the origins of the poem In Flanders Fields. Students can also learn about injuries, treatments, and the fate of underage soldiers like Private Strudwick.
Visit Langemark German Cemetery, contrasting with Allied cemeteries, and discover its history, including Hitler’s WWII visit. The cemetery is also known as "Studentenfriedhof" due to the many young soldiers buried there.
Continue to Vancouver Corner, the site of the first large-scale gas attack, watched over by The Brooding Soldier memorial. This is a fitting place to discuss Wilfred Owen’s poem Dulce et Decorum Est and the horrors of gas warfare.
End the day at Tyne Cot CWGC Cemetery, learning about the Third Battle of Ypres at the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery. After some free time in Ypres, head back to Calais and arrive at school late in the evening.
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It’s always been important to us that our business is having a positive impact on the planet. As such, we are committed to helping reduce the emissions that we generate to mitigate the impact on the global climate crisis, and to give back to young people and communities.
What’s included
Tour support
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Total tour customisation
Itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
Coach transportation
Reliable coach and driver for duration of tour
Emergency contact details
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Expert Battlefield guide
Knowledgeable guide to bring the Battlefield experience to life
Full sightseeing programme
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Included on this tour
✅ Coach transportation
Return coach transportation for duration of trip including one or two drivers as needed
✅ Battlefield guide
Experienced, knowledgeable guide to bring the Battlefield history to life
✅ Channel crossing
Choose either the ferry or Eurotunnel, whichever you prefer, the price is the same
✅ Accommodation
3 nights accommodation in a well located hostel, multis for students
✅ Meals
Breakfasts, packed lunches and dinners daily at hostel or local restaurant
✅ Full sightseeing programme
Customised itinerary planned well in advance, with flexibility whilst on tour to rearrange things if needed
✅ Museums & Attractions
As shown on this itinerary. Please note that these may change based on your final itinerary.
✅ Transparency
There will be no hidden costs on tour, everything will be clearly explained before departure
✅ Emergency contact numbers
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your guide's mobile number
✅ Free staff places
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
Not included on this tour
Travel insurance
Please check at school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
Battlefield guides
We can provide one of our trusted Battlefield guides to accompany you on your trip. Passionate and knowledgeable about the sites and conflicts that took place, they will only enhance your experience with their skilful story-telling and ability to bring the past back to life. For more information on our guides and their qualifications, please click here.
Accommodation
The accommodation we use in Belgium & France are used to working with school groups and meet our high standards
Poppies 1 & 2 Ypres
Personally audited by TCBC staff
Located in the historic centre of Ypres, you are within a couple of minutes’ walk of the incredible town square, Menin Gate and chocolate shops. Steeped in history, the city of Ypres was reduced to ruins during the First World War. This building was rebuilt in 1925 and housed British soldiers during the Second World War.
Today you will find accommodation that is perfect for school groups. All rooms are equipped with an en-suite bathroom, there are separate areas for staff to relax in the evenings, with large areas for students that are equipped with computers, vending machines, cable television, and a ping pong and pool table – free Wi-Fi is available throughout.
Breakfasts are buffet style, with packed lunches available to take out with you for the day, dinner can either be taken at a local restaurant or in the hostel.
The Salient
Personally audited by TCBC staff
In the heart of Ypres down a quiet road, you will find The Salient. Totally re-built after having been destroyed in the First World War, it’s the largest private property in the centre of Ypres. The ground floor has been recently renovated and features a large terrace and garden, so there is plenty of space for everyone.
Comfortable accommodation is available for up to 102 people, with all rooms offering en-suite bathrooms. The huge communal area features a vending machine with drinks and snacks, computers with internet access, a large games room and free Wi-Fi. Staff can relax in the separate lounge equipped with fridge and cable tv.
Breakfasts are buffet style, with packed lunches available to take out with you for the day, dinner can either be taken at a local restaurant or in the hostel.
The Poppies Albert
Personally audited by TCBC staff
Purpose built accommodation for schools is on offer at this hostel located in the historic centre of Albert, in the heart of the Somme.
Offering a total capacity of 186 beds and situated over three floors, you can take sole occupancy of an entire floor if your group size is at least 45 people.
Each floor offers bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a games room, computers with internet access, free Wi-Fi and a teachers lounge. Across the road is a football and basketball pitch which can be used by groups and the Somme 1916 Museum is just a short walk away.
Breakfasts are buffet style, with packed lunches available to take out with you for the day, dinner can either be taken at a local restaurant or in the hostel.
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We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
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Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
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Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
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We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
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I have traveled with other tour companies before, but none of them compare to the level of organisation that I experienced while on this trip. I would not use another tour company now after experiencing the "slickness" of TCBC.
