History school trips to Ypres

Pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of the First World War at this historic burial ground, where 1,204 dead are commemorated, of which 104 are unidentified. The cemetery, which was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is located within the John McCrae Memorial Site; it was here that the Canadian Lieutenant Colonel wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields' in May 1915.

Arguably the best and most in depth museum to commemorate the events of the First World War, Ypres’ In Flanders Field Museum offers students a real insight into the devastating events that took place from 1914 to 1918. We’ve seen students captivated by the experiences of the people living in Westhoek at the time of the First World War, and would recommend your group spend a good couple of hours here.

You can download a fantastic smartphone app which will lead you through this cemetery by using real examples of people such as Nurse Jane and gardener Tom. From 1915-1920 the hamlet became the destination for the largest evacuation hospital in the Ypres Salient. There is a fabulous, modern, interactive visitor centre for your students to look round.

The museum gives an amazing impression of the bloody battle of Passchendaele in 1917 where 500,000 lost their lives. The museum also exhibits a superbly realistic British underground bunker system, where you can see the communication and the dressing post, headquarters and dorms.

A prominent symbol of the First World War designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, Menin Gate has the names of almost 55,000 missing British soldiers engraved on its walls. We recommend visiting the edifice with your students in the evening; at 8pm each night, buglers of the local fire brigade play The Last Post as a traditional final salute to the fallen soldiers of WWI, and a humbling experience for your students.

A moving experience for students, the Poperinge Death Cells will give your group an insight into the terrible treatment of soldiers who were kept here prior to their execution for reasons of cowardice and desertion. The cells also offer a unique opportunity to discuss the unimaginable impact of fighting on the frontlines among your students, and how our understanding of this has changed over the last century.

The largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world – for any war – Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing commemorates British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealander and South African soldiers lost in the First World War. Buried here are several recipients of the Victoria Cross – the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system.

Behind the monumental gate of rosy sandstone at Langemark German Military Cemetery are the graves of 44,061 German soldiers, who fell in vain in October 1914 during military attempts to approach Ypres. During your visit, students can learn about the journey and the lives of the fallen soldiers – 3,000 of them were cadets and student volunteers of the 22nd to 27th Reserve Corps.

From December 1915, and for more than three years, two chaplains from the British Army set up Talbot House to provide rest and recreation to all soldiers that passed through, regardless of their rank. Today, as real as more than 100 years ago, the place offers a welcoming and friendly stop in Flanders. Come and see where the men stayed and sought solace from the war.

A must-visit for school groups studying the First World War, the Hooge Crater Museum has been voted the best museum in Belgium on several occasions, having become well-known for its life-size reconstructions of WWI battle scenes and an extensive collection of weapons, equipment and photographs. An excursion you and your students won’t want to miss.

Built in 1954, Bellewaerde is the oldest theme park in Belgium. Students will fall in love with the various attractions on offer, which include thrilling rollercoaster rides, an indoor aquapark, live stunt shows, a zoo boasting over 300 exotic animals and behind the scenes educational tours of the park. Due to Bellewaerde’s close proximity to Ypres, a day trip can be combined with a visit to the Hooge Crater as part of a WW1 battlefields tour.

Built in commemoration of the more than 500,000 British and Commonwealth troops who perished in the three battles fought for the Ypres Salient, St George’s Memorial Church is today both an Anglican church and Belgian national monument. During your visit, students can look through the church’s many plaques and memorials to those lost in the First World War.

Students can examine war relics, weapons, personal effects and photographs at this fascinating museum, which focuses on the surrounding sites of Sanctuary Wood and the Canadian Hill 62 during the First World War. Here, school groups can walk outside into the wood itself, explore the corrugated steel-lined trenches, and even view stereoviews from the era – the blending of two photographs to create a clear 3D image.

The famous British war memorial of WW1 and by far the most important edifice in Ieper (Ypres) to the British visitor. The Last Post, the traditional final salute to the fallen is played by buglers in honour of the memory of the soldiers who died in Ypres. Members of the local Fire Brigade play at 8pm every single night and aim to maintain this daily act of homage in perpetuity.

The last intact stretch of Belgian trenches from the First World War, the Trench of Death in Diksmuide – just a half-hour drive from Ypres – is an unparalleled excursion to help your students to better understand the horrific conditions that WWI soldiers had to endure. The experience is brought to life through interactive screens, pictures, film footage, authentic items and, of course, a tour of the trenches themselves.