WW1 Battlefields School Trip

Visit the French Battlefields

One million men were wounded or killed in the Battle of the Somme, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history. On a trip to France, your students can follow the events of the 1916 Battle of the Somme by following the Circuit of Remembrance.

They’ll be able to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers at Thiepval Memorial and see how soldiers from all around the world fought here, with visits to the Newfoundland Memorial and Delville Wood. At the Somme 1916 Museum, they’ll explore interactive exhibits that will deepen their understanding of the events of the battle and the experience of the soldiers who fought in it.

At the Lochnager Crater, the largest man-made crater in the world, your students can reflect on the impact of WW1, as the crater is now a memorial dedicated to peace, fellowship and reconciliation between all the nations who fought on the Western Front.

Visit the Belgian Battlefields

Most groups who visit the Belgian battlefields stay in and around Ypres. It’s a beautiful city and is very safe for students to walk around independently. The main sites of the WW1 battlefields in the Ypres Salient are all located within 20-30 minutes from each other and there are plenty of opportunities for groups to stop and visit memorials or cemeteries along the main routes.

The In Flanders Fields Museum is one of the most popular visits on our tours to the battlefields. The museum gives students a great overview of the period from 1914-18, and school groups have the option to explore the museum with an audio guide tailored to their age. It uses fantastic interactive exhibits to bring to life the horror and brutality of the Great War and the lives of those on the Western Front.

Meanwhile, at Talbot House, your students will see another side to the experience of the soldiers who fought here. This visit is always a good way to end a tour as the house was the location for much-needed R&R for soldiers during the war. It was a home from home, where rank was abandoned and became known as the ‘Every Man’s Club’.

A truly unforgettable moment of your battlefield tour will be the opportunity to participate in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. This is an incredibly moving ceremony, which takes place every evening at 8pm to remember the lives lost during warfare. Standing underneath the huge memorial, inscribed with the names of the missing soldiers of WW1, groups can arrange to lay a wreath during the service, which is bound to be a moment they remember for many years to come. 

The Museum Passchendaele 1917 has a fantastic exhibition, reconstructed trenches and an underground bunker for school groups to explore. Another museum that’s well worth a visit is the Hooge Crater Museum. This privately run museum offers great packages for school groups and has a separate exhibition focused on the Medical Aid GCSE unit.

You can also explore the preserved trenches at the Hill 62 Museum and pay your respects to fallen soldiers at Tyne Cot British Cemetery.

And when they’re not exploring the battlefields, your students will love visiting the local chocolate shops for a true taste of Belgian chocolate.

Why arrange a school trip to the WW1 battlefields?

Keep the memory of WW1 alive

A visit to the WW1 battlefields is one of the most important trips pupils can make. You cannot understand the enormity of the lives lost and the reality of war until you’ve been to one of the many cemeteries in and around the area.  

The First World War was fought over a century ago and as time passes, there is a real risk that the world will forget the horrifying scale of destruction and the absolute futility of war. By taking your students to the battlefields, you’ll help to keep the memory alive for future generations.

Your students will explore the personal stories of soldiers who fought in the war. They’ll even be able to explore some of the trenches to get a better idea of the terrible conditions in which soldiers were living, fighting and dying.

We can tailor our tour to give you the chance to visit the graves of people significant to your group, like former pupils of your school or even relatives of teachers or pupils (as long as you give us enough information and notice, of course). These special touches always make the trip more memorable. 

Help them understand trench warfare

Visiting the battlefields on a school trip allows students to gain a deeper understanding of trench warfare, including how the trenches were set up and the conditions experienced by the soldiers.

They’ll be able to visit reconstructed trenches, where the personal stories of soldiers will be brought to life. And they’ll have a better understanding of the fear that they would have felt when being ordered to go over the top.

Your students will also be able to learn more about the infrastructure on the Western Front. They’ll learn more about what happened to injured soldiers, and those suffering from trench foot and trench fever. And they’ll find out where they could go for a little respite before returning to the fighting.

Enjoy the trip as much as your students

Your trip to the WW1 battlefields will be completely tailor-made, to ensure that it meets your specific requirements and learning objectives. And we’ll be on hand throughout the process to answer any questions you have.

In fact, we’ll be with you every step of the way, from now until you return home at the end of your trip. While abroad, you’ll be able to reach us with just one phone call, at any time of the day or night. And, with this comprehensive level of support, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in history as much as your students.