School History Trip to Ypres

A history school trip to Ypres offers your students the opportunity to explore the WW1 battlefields, to really develop their understanding of the scale of the war, as well as the experiences of soldiers and civilians here!

One of the most popular visits among our school groups is the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. Here, your group will experience the living conditions of soldiers on both sides, with the British Dugout Experience and the German Trench Experience.

You’ll also be able to visit other war museums, as well as cemeteries and memorials. And we can arrange for an experienced tour guide to join your coach. On your school trip to the WW1 battlefields, we’ll make sure you have the pleasure of watching your group relate to history and reflect on past events.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Travel to Ypres

Afternoon

Passchendaele Museum, followed by Tyne Cot and Langemark Cemeteries

Evening

Attend Last Post Ceremony

Day 2

Morning

In Flanders Fields Museum

Afternoon

Essex Farm Dressing Station, Yorkshire Trench

Evening

Return to school

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

A Level

The changing nature of warfare
Life in the trenches
Developments in British warfare
Life in wartime Britain
Challenges of German nationalism
Germany: Democracy and Dictatorship
Germany and West Germany

GCSE

Developments in British warfare
Conflict and tension: WW1
The Western Front
Life in wartime Britain

Key Stage 3

Challenges for Europe and the wider world, 1901

Primary

British history beyond 1066

Accommodation

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.

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.

Ypres Lodge

Ypres Lodge is one of the top choice hotels for school groups travelling to the battlefields. It consists of 3 wings; all rooms are en-suite and have televisions. Students are in multi-bedded rooms while staff are provided with twins.Breakfast is served every day, and both packed lunches and the evening meal are available on request from the hotel's on-site restaurant.Hotel facilities free WiFi, pool tables, football pitch, table football, vending machines, karaoke facilities (on request) and a meeting room for group activities. There is also a bar for group leaders to relax in during the evening.

Educational Activities

Essex Farm

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

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 of the events of 1914-1918.

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

Commemorating the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, this museum contains fascinating exhibitions and interactive experiences of life in the trenches.

Menin Gate

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

Talbot House

Away from the turmoil of battle in Ypres, Poperinge developed into the nerve centre for the British army.

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.

Yorkshire Trench

In 1992 a group of amateur archeologists named “The Diggers” first discovered the remains of an original British trench.

Hooge Crater Museum

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

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.