School History Trips to The Battlefields

FAQs about this tour

Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

• What duration would you recommend for a school history trip to the Battlefields?

  A 4 day, 3 night tour allows you sufficient time to explore the sites found in Ypres and the Somme – but a trip can be planned in a day!

• Would you recommend a History Tour Guide on this trip?

  Absolutely, our Guides have huge in depth knowledge of the sites and their history. They bring history to life for students in a whole new way.

• Is there a good selection of accommodation available in the area, that caters well for school groups?

  Ypres is renowned for being a well visited area by school groups and for that reason there is a great selection of accommodation centres and youth hostels, just perfect for schools.

• Are students able to visit the cemeteries and graves of family members who may have fought and lost their lives here?

  This is one thing that our History Tour Guides take great pride in facilitating. If a school knows of any families within their school with particular links to a cemetery, they will make it possible for the relevant students to visit their families graves. This can be an extremely poignant moment on tour.

• How can I make my Battlefields tour personal to my group?

  To make your Battlefields trip more personal and inclusive to your group, tailor your itinerary to focus on specific soldiers from diverse backgrounds, as well as exploring women’s roles in WW1. History tour guides can also help make your tours more personal and inclusive; with their expertise, they know which sites will be the most informative and impactful. Check out our blog to find out more!

• What should students pack for a Battlefields school trip?

  Here are some of the essentials that students should bring on Battlefields trip school (please note that some items are seasonal):

  Travel documents: 

  • Passport 
  • Visa (if required) 
  • GHIC card 

  Clothing: 

  • Socks 
  • Underwear 
  • Tshirts 
  • Shorts/trousers 
  • Waterproof coat 
  • Jumper 
  • Pyjamas 
  • Outfits for downtime/ evening meal 
  • Appropriate footwear 

  Personal care 

  • Toiletries- shampoo, bodywash, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, sanitary products 
  • Medication  

  Environmental protection items 

  • SPF 
  • Hat/cap 
  • Lip balm 
  • Insect repellent 
  • Woolly hat  
  • Scarf 
  • Gloves 
  • Thermal layers 

  Other 

  • Chargers for electrical devices 
  • Plug adapters 
  • Card games 
  • Book 
  • Portable gaming device  
• How can we ensure students are emotionally prepared for visits to war-related sites?

  Engage in pre-trip discussions about the sites students will visit and the expected emotional impact it could have. Let students know that strong emotions are normal when learning about difficult history and the real-life experiences of others. On the tour, ensure emotional support is available through teachers and classmates, and offer breaks if needed.

• Is there an opportunity to participate in remembrance and commemoration?

  Yes, you can participate in moments of remembrance and commemoration at the memorial sites, such as laying a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate in Ypres.  Students can also read poetry and passages at key sites. Our Tour Coordinators can help organise moments of remembrance during your trip.

• How do we prepare students academically before, and ensure learning lasts afterward?

  For a GCSE or A-Level history trip to the battlefields, preparation and follow-up are just as important as the visit itself!

  Before the trip, students should be given historical context so they arrive with key knowledge and questions in mind. This might include classroom lessons on the causes, events, and consequences of the First or Second World War; analysing primary sources such as soldiers’ letters or propaganda posters; and researching the specific sites they will visit (e.g. Ypres, the Somme, Verdun). Setting enquiry questions – like “How should we remember the soldiers who died?” or “How did conditions on the front shape the outcome of the war?” – this helps frame the visit academically.

  During the trip, students can keep journals, sketch maps, or complete source-based worksheets at each site. This ensures they engage actively rather than passively.

  After the trip, learning should be consolidated through reflection and assessment. This could be presentations, essays, or projects linking their battlefield experiences to exam themes such as conflict, memory, or the impact of war. Group discussions about memorials and remembrance can also build evaluative skills. By combining pre-trip preparation with structured reflection afterward, the experience becomes not just a moving visit, but a lasting aid to historical understanding and exam success.

• Which memorials and museums offer guided tours suitable for GCSE/A-Level students?

  In Flanders Fields Museum

  The In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres provides guided tours of its powerful exhibitions and also runs guided walks around the city. These walks often include the Menin Gate, key memorials, and explanations of how the war shaped Ypres and its civilian population. It’s excellent for context – showing the human cost of war, reconstruction, and the importance of remembrance.

   

  Flanders Battlefield Tours

  Flanders Battlefield Tours offer structured day itineraries led by expert guides. Typical routes include Essex Farm, Pilckem Ridge, Langemarck German Cemetery, Tyne Cot Cemetery, and Hill 62. These tours allow students to connect multiple sites across the Salient and build a bigger picture of how tactics, geography, and memorialisation are linked.

   

  The Musée Somme 1916

  The Musée Somme 1916 in Albert offers guided visits and battlefield tours tailored for schools. Its underground galleries recreate trench life, while nearby excursions can include Thiepval Memorial, Lochnagar Crater, and other key Somme sites. The museum is excellent for in-depth study of the 1916 battle and its effects on soldiers and local communities.

  The Somme Museum

  The Somme Museum, linked with the Somme Association, provides guided tours featuring reconstructed trenches, interactive exhibitions, and hands-on handling of equipment and artefacts. Its programmes highlight the experiences of Irish and Ulster soldiers, while also addressing the universal challenges of life on the front, making it ideal for comparison and perspective work at GCSE and A-Level.

   

  History Tour Guides

  Our fantastic History Tour Guides are an excellent addition to your group – they impart in-depth knowledge upon pupils and they all maintain an unbeatable passion for History. Whether it’s wandering around the streets of Ypres or touring a cemetery in the Somme, students will experience a trip like no other with our History Tour Guides.