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A history school trip to Ypres and the Somme will give your students the opportunity to experience the living conditions in the trenches for themselves!

By putting themselves in the soldiers’ shoes in the battlefields of the Ypres Salient and the Somme, they’ll better understand the destructive power, waste and futility of war.

The events of the 1916 Battle of the Somme will be brought to life for them as you follow the Circuit of Remembrance, taking part in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Other highlights include the interactive In Flanders Fields museum, and the British Dugout Experience and German trench system at the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917.

Suggested Itinerary (3 days, 2 nights)

Day 1/3

Morning

Morning

Travel from UK

Afternoon

Afternoon

Passchendaele Museum - Trench Experience and Tyne Cot Cemetery

Evening

Evening

Evening meal and ten pin bowling

Day 2/3

Morning

Morning

1916 Somme Museum in Albert

Afternoon

Afternoon

Lochnagar Crater, Newfoundland Park, Thiepval Memorial, Vimy Ridge

Evening

Evening

Evening meal and Last Post Ceremony

Day 3/3

Morning

Morning

In Flanders Fields Museum and Essex Farm

Evening

Evening

Travel back to England

What's included?

  • tick icon2 nights' half-board accommodation
  • tick iconAccess to the Vamoos app to download all tour-related travel documents
  • tick iconComprehensive travel and medical insurance including I.P.T.
  • tick iconDetailed information pack
  • tick iconFree itinerary planning service
  • tick iconFree staff place ratio 1:8
  • tick iconMotorway tolls and taxes
  • tick iconReturn executive coach travel
  • tick iconReturn ferry or Eurotunnel crossings
  • tick iconVAT at current rates to tour operators

Educational activities and visits

Essex Farm

Essex Farm

John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' remains, to this day, one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is… Read More

In Flanders Fields Museum

Museum

This interactive museum mixes artefacts with documentary film, audio-visual presentations and contemporary artwork to vividly portray the horror and brutality… Read More

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

The museum commemorates the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, in which there were 500,000 casualties in 100 days in which… Read More

Newfoundland Memorial Park, Beaumont-Hamel

Newfoundland Memorial Park, Beaumont-Hamel

On the first day of the battle of the Somme, eight hundred men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment went over… Read More

Somme 1916 Museum

Somme 1916 Museum

From the ninth to the sixteenth centuries, the people of Albert, like many in the region, got used to hiding… Read More

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

The slaughter on the Somme wiped out a generation, and continues to cast a shadow on Britain’s popular consciousness. This… Read More

Tyne Cot British Cemetery

Tyne Cot British Cemetery

Within a kilometre of the farthest point in Belgium reached by the Allied forces lies the largest cemetery for Commonwealth… Read More

Vimy Ridge

Vimy Ridge

In April 1917, Canadian soldiers wrested control of the escarpment here in a brief but bloody battle. A striking monument… Read More

Hooge Crater Museum

Hooge Crater Museum

On the site where some of the fiercest battles were fought is the 'Hooge Crater' Museum 1914-1918, one of the… Read More

Cultural activities and visits

Bellewaerde Park

Bellewaerde Park

Bellewaerde Park is Belgium’s oldest theme park. Built around an ancient castle, this theme park is located only 75 minutes… Read More

Leonidas Chocolate Shop

Leonidas Chocolate Shop

Hans and Stephanie are always happy to welcome you to their chocolate shop! Situated in the Grote Markt main square… Read More

Accommodation

Hotel Menin Gate
Munchenhof Hotel
Poppies d'Albert
Hotel Menin Gate

This former textile factory provides a brilliant base for groups visiting the battlefields and is located 100m away from the Market Square in Ypres town centre. Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms, and staff in twins or singles (supplement may apply). All rooms are en-suite, and with a group size of 35 or more, you will have sole occupancy of the premises. Breakfast is served on site, and evening meals are taken at a nice restaurant in the town centre just two minutes' walk away. Packed lunches are available on request. Facilities include a PA intercom system, recreational room with TV, pool table, pinball machines, table football, free WiFi throughout, a large garden, and a staff room with minibar and digital TV.

Munchenhof Hotel

This school group hotel consists of 2 purpose-built annexes. Facilities include free WiFi in the reception area, pool tables, table tennis, TV lounge, football pitch, table football and a basketball court. All bedrooms are en-suite. The hotel has a self-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and evening meals. There is a swipe card system to gain entry to floors, rooms and lifts for extra security.

Poppies d'Albert

Poppies d'Albert is a purpose built hotel, catering exclusively for school groups. It is located in the historic town of Albert, in the very heart of the battlefields of the Somme. Students are accommodated in multi-bedded rooms all of which have an en-suite shower, toilet and washbasin. Breakfast is served at the hotel, and the evening meal in a local restaurant.Each floor has a games room with a pool table and a drinks machine. There is also a staff lounge on each floor with computers, free internet access and a minibar. A room is available for group activities. Next to the hotel are a football pitch and a swimming pool, both of which can be used by the hotel's guests.

Supporting you every step of the way

1 Creating Your Perfect Trip

We'll tailor make your school trip to meet your specific requirements

2 Launching your trip to parents and students

Head to our resources section for FREE promotional materials

3 After you've booked

Your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will work with you on the finer details of your trip

4 While you're away

You'll be able to reach us 24/7 during your trip if you need our help

5 After your trip

Head back to our resources section to continue the learning

Need help?

Laura Martin — Tour Adviser

Don’t hesitate to contact me for any advice or further information on how your school trip can be tailored to your requirements.

Laura Martin
The tour company and our coach driver were A*! We are looking forward to booking with you again next year! — Surbiton High School

Your School Trip is Fully Protected

As a fully-accredited school travel company, booking with Halsbury Travel offers you complete peace of mind. Our accreditations are your guarantee that:

  • Your school trip will be fully financially protected
  • Your group’s safety will be prioritised
  • Your trip will be a quality educational experience

Safety prioritised

As an Assured Member of the School Travel Forum (STF) we have an effective Safety Management System in place.

As well as reassuring you that your group's safety will be prioritised at all times, this will also help you to meet your due diligence and reduces the amount of External Provider paperwork required.

Financial protection

Our Accreditations

Our ABTA bond means all our school trips are financially protected. Plus, all air tours and flights arranged by us are also ATOL protected.

Quality educational experiences

The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge is your reassurance that Halsbury Travel is committed to offering LOtC activities that are safe and beneficial to learning.

The Halsbury Difference

School trips designed by teachers for teachers

Originally founded by teachers in 1986 and with several former teachers in our team, we understand the pressures on you as Group Leader and work hard to relieve them.

Trips tailored to your curriculum and learning objectives

We’ll design your trip around your specific learning objectives and curriculum, to ensure it meets your particular requirements.

Rewarding loyalty scheme

Work together with other teachers in your school to save thousands of pounds on future school trips with our multi-trip loyalty scheme!