The Somme
The Battle of The Somme took place between July and November 1916, and our tours will enable you to visit the main sites in the area. Guided Tours For groups looking to enhance their excursions to the battlefields of Europe, we are partners with the International Guild of Battlefield Guides and therefore have access to trained, experienced and vetted guides. They are chosen for their suitability to work with school groups to bring the reality of war to life. All Guild members have one thing in common, their love of Military History.
PLACES TO VISIT
Historial de la Grande Guerre
This museum is located in the medieval chateau of Peronne and is dedicated to the memory of the people who fought in and experienced the Great War. Based around four large rooms, the ’Historial’ deals sensitively with the multi-cultural aspect of the war, displaying British, French and German exhibits.
Neuville-St. Vaast German War Cemetery
Established by the French in 1919 as a concentration cemetery for German war casualties from the areas north and east of Arras, it is the largest German cemetery in France, containing 44,833 burials.
Notre Dame de Lorette
The largest cemetery for French soldiers, with 40,000 burials including 8,000 in a mass grave and the remainder in eight ossuaries, the site is dominated by an imposing chapel and 52 metre high Lantern Tower.
Pozieres
The site of the memorial to the dead of the Tank Corps of 1916-1918, and where the first tanks in history saw action.
Thiepval Memorial
Standing out from the surrounding countryside, the 45 metre high memorial is dedicated to the 73,000 Allied troops who lost their lives in The Somme and who have no known grave. On the old German front line, it marks the site of some of the bloodiest fighting of 1916 and remains a truly poignant reminder of the scale of the suffering encountered during the Battle of The Somme.
Ulster Tower
A memorial to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division. The tower is located very near to the famous Schwaben Redoubt which the Division attacked on 1st July 1916. The front lines were at the edge of Thiepval Wood which lies to the south-west of the road between the Thiepval memorial and the Ulster Tower. Guided tours of nearby trenches are available (advance booking essential).
Wellington Quarry
Located 20 metres below the town of Arras, this network of tunnels was transformed from chalk quarries by New Zealand soldiers during WWI and provided billeting for thousands of troops.
Visitors are taken on a guided tour to see audio-visual presentations of the campaign (admission fee applies).
Advance booking is essential and Galloway can make this arrangement on your behalf.
Newfoundland Park
A Canadian National Historic Site and a memorial to the Newfoundland Battalion, the park remains very much as it was in 1916.
Delville Wood
Virtually obliterated by shellfire in 1916 (and since re-planted), the wood was the location of some of the Western Front’s most savage and intense fighting.
Musée Somme 1916
Albert was subject to continuous bombardment in the months before the Battle of the Somme. Built within the shelters constructed during the Second World War, most of the museum displays weapons of the era, wartime equipment and lifelike tableaux detailing trench life.
Musée Vivant 1914-1918
An excellent museum, adjacent to the cemetery, with an audiovisual presentation, life-like dioramas and many interesting artefacts and documents.
Vimy Ridge
This spectacular site centres on the Canadian Corps’ superbly planned capture of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, an event that proved to be a turning point for the Allies in the First World War.
The trenches and subways have been preserved and restored for visitors. Guided visits of the tunnels and trench system are possible at certain times of year.
Lochnagar Crater
This impressive crater is situated east of the village of La Boiselle. Approximately 90 metres in diameter and 20 metres deep, it was created by a mine detonated on 1st July 1916. This is now a permanent memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives on the first day of the Battle of The Somme.
Itinerary Examples
2-Day Express WWI History: The Somme & Vimy Ridge
Ideal for tight budgets or weekend excursions, this high-impact 2-day tour gives travellers a focused, memorable introduction to the Western Front’s most iconic battlefields.
Day 1: Journey to the Front & The Somme (WWI History Focus)
Day 1
Morning: Depart your organisation by executive coach for a morning ferry or Eurotunnel crossing to Calais.
Afternoon: Drive straight to the Somme battlefields. Depending on your pickup location, visit the preserved trenches at Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park or the Delville Wood South African National Memorial.
Evening: Transfer to your accommodation centre, check-in, and enjoy a hot group dinner.
Day 2: Iconic Battlefields, Vimy Ridge & Homeward Journey (Remembrance & Heritage)
Day 2
Morning: Check out after breakfast with packed lunches. Visit the towering Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and the nearby Ulster Tower.
Afternoon: Stop at the striking Vimy Ridge Memorial Park to explore the restored trenches and visitors' centre before heading to Calais for your afternoon channel crossing.
Evening: Arrive back at your organisation in the early evening with a deep connection to WWI history.
3-Day Comprehensive WWI History:
The Somme Battlefields
Our most popular short-duration History trip gives groups ample time to explore the key sectors, trench systems, and memorials across the Somme without feeling rushed.
Day 1: Crossing & First Impressions of the Somme (WWI History Focus)
Day 1
Morning: Early departure from your organisation for your morning channel crossing to Calais via ferry or Eurotunnel.
Afternoon: Journey toward the Somme. Time permitting based on distance, stop at the magnificent Vimy Ridge or the massive Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle.
Evening: Arrive at your accommodation centre in time for check-in and a group dinner.
Day 2: Full-Day Somme Battlefield Exploration (Military & Social History)
Day 2
Morning: Depart with packed lunches to explore Thiepval Memorial and the Ulster Tower, learning about the devastating first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Afternoon: Walk through the preserved battlefield landscape at Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park and visit local cemetery sites.
Evening: Return to your accommodation centre for dinner and an evening group debrief or quiz.
Day 3: Final Historical Site & Return Journey (Heritage & Reflection)
Day 3
Morning: Check out after breakfast. Enjoy a final site visit, such as the Historial de la Grande Guerre in Péronne or a local trench museum.
Afternoon: Drive to Calais for an afternoon channel crossing, arriving back at your organisation in the early evening.
3-Day Highlights: Ypres Salient & The Somme
Combining the two most famous sectors of the Western Front into three action-packed days, featuring the world-renowned Last Post Ceremony in Ypres.
Day 1: Journey to Belgium & The Ypres Salient (WWI & International History)
Day 1
Morning: Depart your organisation for your channel crossing to Calais or Dunkirk, travelling on to your accommodation in the Ypres area.
Afternoon: En-route visits available depending on travel time, including Langemark German Military Cemetery or Passchendaele Museum.
Evening: Check into your Ypres accommodation for dinner.
Day 2: Full Day on The Somme & Menin Gate Ceremony (Remembrance Focus)
Day 2
Morning & Afternoon: Depart early with packed lunches for a full day exploring key Somme sites including Thiepval, Lochnagar Crater, and Beaumont-Hamel.
Evening: Return to Ypres for dinner, followed by attending the poignant Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate (20:00).
Day 3: Ypres Trenches & Homeward Journey (Humanities & Heritage)
Day 3
Morning: Check out after breakfast. Explore preserved trench systems at Sanctuary Wood Museum or pay respects at Tyne Cot Cemetery (the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world).
Afternoon/Evening: Drive to Calais or Dunkirk for your return crossing, bringing home profound historical insights.
4-Day In-Depth Study: Ypres Salient & The Somme
The ultimate Western Front study tour. Giving groups full, dedicated days in both Belgium and France allows for deep curriculum coverage, site analysis, and reflection time.
Day 1: Journey across the Channel to Flanders (WWI History)
Day 1
Morning: Depart from your organisation by executive coach for your crossing to Calais or Dunkirk and onward travel to Flanders.
Afternoon: Arrive in the Ypres Salient. Enjoy an initial orientation visit, such as Essex Farm Cemetery (where John McCrae wrote 'In Flanders Fields').
Evening: Check into your Ypres accommodation for a warm group dinner.
Day 2: Dedicated Somme Battlefield Tour (Military & Human History)
Day 2
Morning & Afternoon: Spend a full day in France examining the Somme sector. Visits include Thiepval Memorial, Lochnagar Crater, Newfoundland Park, and the Pozières Memorial.
Evening: Return to your Ypres accommodation centre for dinner and free time.
Day 3: In-Depth Ypres Salient & Menin Gate Ceremony (Remembrance Focus)
Day 3
Morning: Visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, Langemark German Cemetery, and the Hooge Crater Museum.
Afternoon: Explore the town of Ypres, including the In Flanders Fields Museum in the historic Cloth Hall.
Evening: Group dinner in Ypres, followed by attending the memorable Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 20:00.
Day 4: Vimy Ridge & Homeward Journey (Heritage & Homeward Crossing)
Day 4
Morning: Check out after breakfast. Travel south toward Calais, stopping at Vimy Ridge to explore the trenches and Canadian National Memorial.
Afternoon/Evening: Complete your channel crossing from Calais or Dunkirk and return to your organisation.
Note on En-Route Timings: Available visit time on Day 1 and your final day depends on your your organisation's pickup location and travel distance to the channel ports.
PLACES TO STAY
The Poppies School Hotel
This museum is located in the medieval chateau of Peronne and is dedicated to the memory of the people who fought in and experienced the Great War. Based around four large rooms, the ’Historial’ deals sensitively with the multi-cultural aspect of the war, displaying British, French and German exhibits.
Holiday Inn Express (Arras)
This museum is located in the medieval chateau of Peronne and is dedicated to the memory of the people who fought in and experienced the Great War. Based around four large rooms, the ’Historial’ deals sensitively with the multi-cultural aspect of the war, displaying British, French and German exhibits.