Ypres: Battles in Flanders Fields
4 days from £639pp
Travel with us to Ypres, the main British battlefield of the First World War, and stay right in the heart of the city, close to the Menin Gate. This fascinating tour explores key WW1 sites and memorials, including Tyne Cot Cemetery, The Bluff, and Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater, as well as Essex Farm where John McCrae wrote the world-famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ in 1915.
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Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 4 or 5 day itinerary
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then on to Ypres where we stay in the centre for three nights.
More than 250,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died at Ypres during the First World War, and we begin our visit by driving up the iconic Menin Road via Hell Fire Corner out onto the ground where the fighting took place.
We explore where Scottish troops fought in 1914 at Black Watch Corner and visit the impressive memorial, walk into Polygon Wood, and see an original German bunker, the nearby cemetery, and the Australian and New Zealand Memorials.
At Tyne Cot Cemetery, we see the largest British and Commonwealth Cemetery in the world, and then examine one of the most controversial battles of the conflict: Passchendaele. We see the Canadian Memorial and ground around the village where the fighting occurred in 1917.
After lunch, we visit the In Flanders Fields Museum, one of the most important WW1 museums in the world.
We return to the battlefields and see Essex Farm where John McCrae wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ in 1915, and end at Yorkshire Trench, a preserved British front-line trench found in archaeological work here during in the early 2000s.
In the evening, you have time to attend the moving Last Post Ceremony, just a five-minute walk from the hotel.
Includes Breakfast
We start this morning at the so-called Aristocrat’s Cemetery at Zillebeke where officers were buried in 1914, many of them from titled families. We then look at the fighting for the key position at Hill 60, examining the War underground and seeing preserved mine craters and bunkers.
We then visit The Bluff; located alongside the old Ypres canal, this was also an area of mine warfare and heavy fighting, and here we see impressive mine craters and the visitors’ centre.
After lunchtime at Hooge Crater Café, with time for the excellent museum and reconstructed trenches, we travel down the Messines Ridge and have an included visit to the German trench system at Bayernwald, a place where Adolf Hitler fought in 1914.
Later, we see the Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater, now the ‘Pool of Peace’, and end at Ploegsteert, or ‘Plugstreet’, where we visit the Ploegsteert Memorial and discuss the story of the Christmas truce in 1914.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then on to Ypres where we stay in the centre for four nights.
More than 250,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died at Ypres during the First World War, and we begin our visit by driving up the iconic Menin Road via Hell Fire Corner out onto the ground where the fighting took place.
We explore where Scottish troops fought in 1914 at Black Watch Corner and visit the impressive memorial, walk into Polygon Wood, and see an original German bunker, the nearby cemetery, and the Australian and New Zealand Memorials.
At Tyne Cot Cemetery, we see the largest British and Commonwealth Cemetery in the world, and then examine one of the most controversial battles of the conflict: Passchendaele. We see the Canadian Memorial and ground around the village where the fighting occurred in 1917.
After lunch, we visit the In Flanders Fields Museum, one of the most important WW1 museums in the world.
We return to the battlefields and see Essex Farm where John McCrae wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ in 1915, and end at Yorkshire Trench, a preserved British front-line trench found in archaeological work here during in the early 2000s.
In the evening, you have time to attend the moving Last Post Ceremony, just a five-minute walk from the hotel.
Includes Breakfast
We start this morning at the so-called Aristocrat’s Cemetery at Zillebeke where officers were buried in 1914, many of them from titled families. We then look at the fighting for the key position at Hill 60, examining the War underground and seeing preserved mine craters and bunkers.
We then visit The Bluff; located alongside the old Ypres canal, this was also an area of mine warfare and heavy fighting, and here we see impressive mine craters and the visitors’ centre.
After lunchtime at Hooge Crater Café, with time for the excellent museum and reconstructed trenches, we travel down the Messines Ridge and have an included visit to the German trench system at Bayernwald, a place where Adolf Hitler fought in 1914.
Later, we see the Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater, now the ‘Pool of Peace’, and end at Ploegsteert, or ‘Plugstreet’, where we visit the Ploegsteert Memorial and discuss the story of the Christmas truce in 1914.
Includes Breakfast
This morning, we depart for the Flanders coast and see the Nieuport Memorial to the Missing, looking at how British soldiers occupied the trenches here at the top end of the Western Front, alongside the beaches.
We look at the Belgian Army in Flanders, visiting Ramskapelle, and then the Trenches of Death, a whole system of front-line trenches preserved along the Yser Canal.
After lunchtime in central Dixmude, we visit the impressive German Cemetery at Vladslo, with sculptures by Käthe Kollwitz showing parents mourning for their fallen son, just as she and her husband did when their son Peter died here in 1914.
We then examine life behind the lines in Flanders and visit the town of Poperinghe to look at the subject of men who were ‘Shot at Dawn’. We visit Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, one of the largest in Flanders, and here look at the story of women who served as nurses, and the role of the Chinese Labour Corps, also having time to see the visitor's centre.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
Got a question about this holiday?
Don't hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!
Novotel Ypres Centrum
The Novotel Ypres Centrum is located in the heart of historic town of Ypres, just a short walk from the Menin Gate. The hotel makes the ideal base for exploring the rich military heritage of the area.
Hotel Facilities
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General
- 3 Star
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
- Hairdryer
- Extra Pillows and Blankets
- Air Conditioning
- Fridge
- Non-Smoking Rooms Available
- Shower
- Telephone
- Free Wifi
Service
- Safe Box in Reception
- Room Service Available
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- Iron at Reception
- Dog Friendly (selected rooms)
Food & Drink
- Vegetarian Meals
- Gluten Free Meals on Request
- Lactose or Dairy Free Menu
- Vegan Menu
Accessibility
- Disabled Rooms Available
- Wheelchair Access
Transport
- Bus Stop Nearby
Hotel
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Lift
- WiFi Available
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The Lumina Experience
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Lumina is equivalent in size to a typical tour coach – but from there, every comparison ends.
The Lumina Details
Crafted for comfort
Supple leather, a deep diamond-quilted cushion, and the considered form of an armchair – never simply a coach seat.
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Exclusive to Leger Holidays, these exceptional vehicles blend state-of-the-art features with sophisticated design, offering business-class comfort on the road. Try Luxuria once, and you’ll never look back – the journey will stay with you long after the holiday ends.
With just 31 spacious seats, enjoy a calm, unhurried atmosphere from the moment you step on board – because true comfort means more space, more privacy, and more time to relax. You’ll also benefit from a choice of seating, allowing you to travel in a way that suits you...
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Face-to-face seats with personal tables are the sociable way to travel, ideal for card games, coffees and conversation.
With a superior average seat pitch – 32% greater than many leading short-haul airlines – Luxuria double seats offer unmatched personal space. Enjoy comfort that’s built in, not added on.
Luxuria Features
Entertainment at your fingertips
Immerse yourself in your own touch-screen TV, offering a world of films, TV shows, music, and games – entertainment designed around you.
The perfect pour
Our crew serves a selection of hot and cold beverages directly to your seat – ideal for staying refreshed throughout your journey.
Relax in unmatched comfort
Recline in spacious, ergonomically designed, armchair-style seating with generous legroom and experience a refined sense of luxury, crafted exclusively for your relaxation.
Stay connected
Keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey with USB ports and plug sockets at every seat – perfect for capturing memories and staying connected with loved ones.
Silver Service
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- Tables with Cup Holders Thoughtfully designed cabinets with secure cup holders mean refreshments are always within easy reach, adding both practicality and polish to your travel experience.
Silver Service Features
Deluxe design
Specially designed, luxurious seats enhanced with leather headrests deliver superior support, blending comfort with a premium finish.
Space to stretch out
Enjoy the luxury of generous legroom that goes far beyond standard coach travel, giving you the freedom to settle in with ease and stretch out fully.
Spacious rear lounge
Designed for socialising, the spacious rear lounge offers a stylish retreat with privacy screens, handy tables and cup holders – perfect for relaxing, chatting and enjoying the journey.
Thoughtful touches that make a difference
A carefully maintained interior climate and soft ambient lighting ensure the coach always feels comfortable, welcoming and perfectly suited for a relaxing journey.
Reviews
4.8 Out of 5 ( 12 Reviews )
Reviews
Quality
4.8 / 5
Value for Money
4.8 / 5
John Amos, 10 months ago
An interesting tour with an enthusiastic guide although he did make some errors of fact. Our driver was on her own for the first two days as a result of an accident to her partner but, when a relief driver arrived she became little more than a passenger and I don't recall any drinks being offered. Our hotel, the Novotel in Ypres, was first rate and the itinerary was interesting, although perhaps some improvements might have been made. For instance, we visited Poperinge without going to the fascinating Talbot House. Travel arrangements were generally good and \i should like to pay a particular compliment to our return feeder coach drivers, John and Graham of Delta coaches, whom I have met on several occasions previously, for their unfailing courtesy and professionalism.
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Brian Taylor, 10 months ago
Very good
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Mrs Bull, 11 months ago
Amazing tour went amazing places learnt a lot hotel amazing as well loved it
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Andrea, 1 year ago
All aspects of the Battlefield tour were extremely good. The drivers and coach were excellent. The hotel very clean and comfortable. The guide very knowledgeable. We look back with good memories and forward to our next tour.
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L Smart, 1 year ago
Saw a lot of locations in a comfortable coach. The guide had an unexhaustible knowledge of his subject.
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Dave Harrison, 1 year ago
A few years ago I was on my first battlefield tour with Leger and sat next to a chap called Jim. I asked him if he’d done one of Leger’s tours before and he said it was his eleventh. I wondered why he’d done eleven - I was originally only going to do just one for family history reasons. That original tour, ‘They Called It Passchendaele’ with Tim Thurlow as our guide was so good that I’m now on my eighth……. Is that enough of a recommendation for you? ‘Battles In Flanders Fields’ is apparently a new tour and it ticks all the boxes. I reckon it’s a problem to know what to put in and what to leave out when there’s such a huge subject to cover so you’ll probably end up doing a few tours yourself to get a real feel for the subject and get your bearings but ‘Battles In Flanders Fields’ gives you a really good look around the place. Peter Smith is a highly experienced battlefield guide so when he’s finished his patter at whatever location you’re at and then asks for questions very few people put their hands up because he’s pretty much covered everything. He doesn’t work from notes, keeps it entertaining for those people who just want a different kind of holiday and if you’re a bit more into the subject will point you in the right direction with further reading and advice on what to see. Mel and George, our coach crew were excellent. As I got back on the coach at one stop I asked Mel if she woke up every morning and gave thanks for rear-wheel steering, I got a very definite nod! I was sat near the front and watched her negotiate a narrow Belgian country lane. A huge truck came around the bend and I was thinking it was about to get interesting. No fuss, no bother, Mel just dealt with it. George had a similar bit of fun with some cyclists but again, no fuss, no bother and it ended up with a friendly wave from the cyclists. Novotel at Ieper Centrum is a brilliant choice for this tour. Clean, tidy, well organised and recently refurbished, it couldn’t be better located a short walk from central Ypres and the Menin Gate (where one night we got the Liverpool Scottish Pipe Band showing everyone how it’s done) and the breakfast is superb. I tend to stuff myself in the morning so that I’m set up for the day and usually go into the Grote Market for a meal and finish off the evening in the bar but there are places you can drink a little later if you feel like it. Great hotel with really friendly staff who all seem to speak better English than we do. All in all a superb, well organised tour with first class content, experienced, talented people running it and a hotel that’s just perfect. And I’m already booking another one!
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