Find out how soldiers were treated in the field during WW1 on a trip to Ypres.
School trips to Ypres are ideal for students studying the WW1 in any capacity, from the warfare itself to the literature borne from the soldiers’ experiences, and even the history of medicine and its development during WW1.
All of this makes Ypres the perfect base for history school trips and English literature school trips to the WW1 battlefields in Belgium. And you can also choose to include a visit to the Somme, to further explore the lasting impact of the war.
We’ll work closely with you to tailor-make your school trip to Ypres to ensure that it suits the specific requirements of your group and leaves them with a greater appreciation of the scale of the destruction that the First World War left in its wake.
Read more about school trips to Ypres
Why visit Ypres?
Explore the WW1 battlefields in Belgium
Ypres is a small town in Belgium that occupied an important strategic position during WW1. It stood in the path of the German’s Schlieffen Plan, as they intended to sweep into France from the north.
The Allies captured the town from the Germans in 1914 and it remained a focus for some of the most intense fighting throughout the war.
There are many fascinating sites of interest in and around Ypres that will bring this period to life for your students. Visits to war graves such as those at the Tyne Cot British Cemetery and memorials such as Menin Gate will bring home to your students the incredible number of lives that were lost during WW1. They’ll also be able to visit museums and recreated trenches, to learn more about the experiences of those soldiers.
Discover the experiences of WW1 soldiers
A school trip to Ypres offers plenty of opportunities for your students to discover what life was like for the soldiers who fought in WW1.
At the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, your students can see what the network of trenches and dugouts looked like and how they were used.
And at Talbot House, they can find out more about how soldiers managed to find some respite from the violence of the Western Front. The house is very much as it was during WW1. Your students will discover how rank was left at the door of this ‘every man’s club’ and they’ll see how important it was for soldiers to have the time to rest and enjoy some entertainment away from the fighting.
Understand the importance of remembrance
Many of the visits in and around Ypres are focused on keeping the memory of WW1 alive. There are many cemeteries, museums and memorials here to ensure that the world doesn’t forget the sacrifice of that generation of men who fought in the First World War.
This gives your students the opportunity to reflect on the importance of remembrance. Why do we still mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday? Why do we wear poppies? Why do we still make an effort to remember a war that ended over 100 years ago? All of these questions can be answered for them with a school trip to Ypres.
And, of course, not to be missed on a school trip to Ypres is the opportunity to take part in the moving Last Post Ceremony, which takes place every evening at the town’s famous Menin Gate. Some of your students will be able to lay a wreath as part of the ceremony, and this will be an honour that they’ll never forget.
Browse our trips
WW1 Medical Aid School Trip to Ypres
School English Literature Trip to Ypres
Your students will deepen their understanding of the conditions that inspired WW1 poetry on your school trip to Ypres!
£199PP
School History Trip to Ypres
Explore the WW1 battlefields and memorials in Ypres to bring history to life.
£176PP
History of Warfare School Trip to Ypres, Waterloo & Dunkirk
Explore the changing nature of warfare with your students on a history school trip to Waterloo, Ypres and Dunkirk!
£375PP
Battlefield Tour to Ypres and the Somme
Explore the realities and horrors of life in the trenches of the Western Front during WW1.
£266PP
Why Halsbury Education trips?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Tom Moorhouse
Tour Consultant
Gaynor Mayor
Education Sales & Product Manager
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Lou Della Rocca
Tour Consultant
Gail Biggins
Tour Consultant
Judit Eleod
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Michelle Hallam
Tour Consultant
Caroline Hill
Tour Consultant
Gayle Flude
Tour Consultant
Jodi Swift
Tour Consultant
Will Jehu
Tour Consultant
Vanessa Barbosa
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
Learn more about Ypres school trips
Read some of our latest blogs covering school trips to Ypres.
31 Mar 2022
Getting Back to the WW1 Battlefields
Find out what happened when Halsbury staff recently visited the WW1 battlefields.
03 Feb 2020
Our Visit to the WW1 Battlefields
A few of us recently visited the WW1 battlefields. Find out what we thought of the area, the visits available and the accommodation!
FAQs
How long should we spend in Ypres on a school trip?
In order to make the most of Ypres and the WW1 battlefields, we would recommend spending at least 2 days there on your school trip. And if you want to include visits to Dunkirk and Waterloo, we would recommend increasing this to at least 4 days.
What's the best way to get around Ypres?
Coach is definitely the best way to get around Ypres and the WW1 battlefields area. We'll arrange a comfortable coach for you to use during your stay, so you don't need to worry about negotiating public transport.
Which visits are a must on a school trip to Ypres?
Of course, as most people visit Ypres on WW1 history trips, many of the must-visits are WW1 themed. These include excellent museums, such as In Flanders Fields Museum and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. Talbot House is a great visit as it shows students what soldiers did for some respite from the fighting, and Tyne Cot is one of the many cemeteries and memorials in the area where students can pay their respects to the fallen soldiers while also deepening their understanding of the scale of the devastation caused by WW1. Our groups also love the opportunity to participate in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Are there any free things to do in Ypres?
As one of the most popular experiences on our school trips to Ypres, you'll be pleased to discover that it's completely free to participate in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. And as a bit of light relief, you can also visit the Leonidas Chocolate Shop to learn more about Belgian chocolates (while the visit is free, we can't guarantee your group won't want to splash out on a few chocolatey treats!).
Can I arrange a cross-curricular school trip to Ypres?
Yes, Ypres is a fantastic destination for a variety of subjects including history, English literature and music. And within history, you can cover WW1, history of warfare and medicine through time.
