School English Literature Trip to Ypres

For groups studying First World War poetry, an English literature school trip will be an unforgettable experience!

John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It’s a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres Salient in the spring of 1915. Essex Farm, where he wrote the poem, was originally the site of an Advanced Dressing Station and the surgeons’ dugouts can still be visited.

You can also visit Vancouver Corner, the site of the first recorded use of poison gas on the Western Front, bringing to mind Owen’s poem Dulce et Decorum Est. And you mustn't miss the opportunity to take part in the evocative Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Plus, of course, this destination is ideal for a cross-curricular school trip in partnership with your school's history department.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Depart school

Afternoon

Visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum

Evening

Last Post Ceremony

Day 2

Afternoon

Guided literature tour, including Essex Farm, Vancouver Corner, Tyne Cot and Hill 62

1 night's half-board accommodation
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
Detailed information pack
Free staff place ratio 1:8
Itinerary planning service
Motorway tolls and taxes
Return Channel crossings
Return executive coach travel
Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
VAT at current rates to tour operators

Curriculum

GCSE

Power and conflict in poetry
Identifying literary themes
Understanding historical contexts
Comparing and contrasting texts
Wilfred Owen
John McCrae
Lord Tennyson
Ted Hughes

Key Stage 3

Understanding our literary heritage
Understanding historical contexts
Exploring literary themes
Wilfred Owen
John McCrae
Lord Tennyson
Ted Hughes

Accommodation

Flanders Lodge

The Flanders Lodge is a modern log cabin-style hotel located in the heart of the historic World War I Ypres Salient, 1 mile from the Menin Gate memorial, and one hour away from the Somme battlefields. French cuisine is served in the Wintergarden restaurant, with a continental buffet-style breakfast served each morning. There is a coffee shop for refreshments or snacks and three meeting rooms, in addition to an auditorium equipped for video conferences at the Flanders Language Valley estate across the road. All guestrooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.

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.

The Poppies 1 (Menin Gate)

Once an inter-war pension for British soldiers, the Poppies School Hotel is now a popular choice amongst school groups visiting the battlefields of the Western Front. Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms, staff in twins or singles (single supplement applies). All rooms are en-suite and the hotel operates on a sole occupancy basis.The hotel serves breakfast every day, but the evening meal is taken at a local restaurant in the town centre. Packed lunches are available on request.Facilities include a PA intercom system, lounge and recreational room with TV, pinball machine, table football, pool table, 5 internet computers and an extensive courtyard.

Educational Activities

Essex Farm

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

Hill 62 Museum/Sanctuary Wood

Sanctuary Wood and its trench museum show an authentic and vivid portrayal of what is was like to live in

In Flanders Fields Museum

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

Menin Gate

Situated on Menin Road where men used to march from Ypres to the front lines, the Menin Gate is a

Tyne Cot British Cemetery

Take your students to the largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world, and let them reflect on the sheer number of lives lost.

Cultural Activities

Bellewaerde Park

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

Leonidas Chocolate Shop

Situated in the main square in Ypres, Leonidas Chocolate Shop is a popular choice for some light relief and delicious Belgian chocolates.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.