Tonbridge School’s Concert Tour to Belgium

What did the itinerary include?

• Visit to the Castle of the Counts – Gravensteen
• Visit to the Tyne Cot Cemetery
• Concert at St. George’s Memorial Church
• Attend the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate
• River Leie Boat Trip in Ghent
• Concert at Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula
• Visit to Choco-Story

What was the highlight of the trip?

With a thoughtfully planned itinerary that combined inspiring performances, cultural discovery, and moments of reflection, the tour offered something meaningful for every member of the choir. From exploring historic landmarks to performing in remarkable venues, each experience helped create lasting memories both on and off the stage.

When asked what stood out most, Julian found it impossible to choose just one moment. Instead, it was the combination of exceptional musical opportunities, and the unlikely friendships formed along the way that made this Belgium tour so memorable!

“I would highlight three things on this trip: singing in the beautiful acoustic of Brussels Cathedral; being part of the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate (which is one of those experiences you just can’t put into words why it is so special); but also seeing the social interactions of the boys developing during the trip (e.g. on the ferry home a group of boys from four different year-groups all just sitting around playing cards together and enjoying each other’s company).”

Why would you recommend Belgium to other schools?

From stunning cathedrals with exceptional acoustics to poignant moments of remembrance, Belgium offers the perfect balance of musical performance, cultural discovery and educational value. Its close proximity to the UK also makes it an accessible destination, allowing groups to enjoy an enriching international tour without the need for long-haul travel.

For choirs looking to perform in inspiring venues while creating lifelong memories together, Belgium is hard to beat! Julian echoes this sentiment:

“The venues are beautiful to sing in and travel to Belgium is just so easy – you don’t need to travel half-way round the world to have a good musical trip!”

Why choose to travel with Rayburn Tours?

Every school trip is different, which is why we work closely with teachers to create a tailor-made itinerary that reflects their priorities. Whether it’s more rehearsal time, subject-specific experiences or simply making the logistics run smoothly, our trusted network of partners and years of experience help make every trip a success!

“The fact that Rayburn plan the schedule around what we want to do rather than just offering a ready-made package. (We particularly wanted to do more singing on this trip and less in the way of “organised activities” because we only had a finite amount of time.) Also, the fact that Rayburn have trusted relationships with providers, for example booking restaurants that can cater for large groups, or using accommodation that is suitable for school groups (e.g. arranging staff rooms on the same floors as pupil rooms).”