World War I - A Journey of Memory & Meaning with Wings

Where you'll go

1. Day to Day Itinerary

2. Day 1

   Your journey begins at London St Pancras International, where you will board the Eurostar for a scenic journey to mainland Europe. Travelling beneath the English Channel and into the landscapes of Northern France and Belgium, the vibrancy of modern London gradually gives way to the peaceful countryside of Flanders — quietly setting the tone for the reflective and moving days ahead. On arrival in Lille Belgium, you will be personally met by our travel partners and your hosts, Claire Dymond and Andrea Dal Moro, of Wings before continuing by private group transfer to the historic town of Ypres — where centuries of medieval heritage exist alongside the powerful legacy of the First World War. After check-in to your family-run hotel, an optional group dinner (at your own cost) can be arranged, offering the opportunity to relax, connect with fellow travellers, and prepare for the journey through memory and meaning that follows. Your Base: Ypres Your hotel The Albion Hotel has been chosen as it is centrally located where you will spend three nights full breakfast and perfectly immersed in one of Europe’s most historically significant regions — a landscape where stories of courage, sacrifice, and humanity are etched into every field, woodland and cobbled street. Ypres is not simply a history adventure but a deeply moving experience that stays with you long after you return home. Once at the heart of some of the most devastating battles of the First World War, the town today is a peaceful place of remembrance, reflection, and quiet resilience. Visiting in April time is of a particular time of remembrance too! Staying at the family-run Albion Hotel makes this journey feel especially personal. The warm welcome and thoughtful hospitality provides a comforting place to return to after spending time exploring nearby memorials and museums — somewhere to pause, reflect, and feel looked after! Ypres is a charming and welcoming town with cobbled streets, independent local shops, friendly cafés, and peaceful market squares that invite you to slow down and take everything in. Taking time to browse the local businesses or enjoy a quiet coffee in the square helps balance the sadness of the memorial sites with moments of connection and calm. This town was almost completely destroyed during the First World War, Ypres has been meticulously rebuilt to reflect its original medieval character. Today it stands not only as a place of remembrance, but also as a vibrant cultural destination. During your stay perhaps you wish to attend the moving Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate — a daily tribute to the more than 54,000 servicemen of the British Empire who fell in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave.

3. Day 2

   The Battlefield Experience Following your full breakfast, your Battlefield Experience begins. An expert local guide will bring this landscape to life during a guided exploration of the Flanders battlefields, including visits to: • Essex Farm Cemetery — where In Flanders Fields was written • Lange mark German War Cemetery • The Brooding Soldier Memorial • Tyne Cot Cemetery — the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery in the world • Sanctuary Wood Museum — featuring preserved WWI trench systems You will then return to Ypres for free time to explore the town at your own pace — perhaps visiting local shops, cafés, or simply taking time to reflect. An optional group evening dinner can also be arranged by your hosts by your own costs .

4. Day 3

   Poperinge & Talbot House After breakfast you will travel by train (approximately 10–15 minutes) to the nearby historic town of Poperinge. Beginning your day with a guided visit to Talbot House — a historic sanctuary founded during the First World War to provide soldiers with rest and a sense of normality away from the front line. Often referred to as Toc H, Talbot House welcomed men of all ranks and backgrounds, offering a peaceful refuge just miles from the battlefield. Today, it remains preserved much as it was during the war. Guests will also have the opportunity to visit: • Shot at Dawn Memorial & Death Cells • Hopmuseum After lunch, you will return to Ypres and an optional visit to Kazematten Brewery located within the town’s 17th-century ramparts, can be arranged at an additional cost . Kazematten Brewery is one of the most unique breweries in Belgium not only because of the beer but, the brewery was built within the original 17th-century defensive ramparts of Ypres in a series of historic underground casemates that once formed part of the town’s fortifications. Today these vaulted brick tunnels have been carefully restored and transformed into a working brewery, where traditional Belgian brewing techniques are used alongside modern methods and of course after the tour followed by the opportunity to sample a selection of locally produced beers. A farewell group evening meal will also be arranged by your hosts (at your own cost), a chance to try some of the local specialities dishes such as Carbonnade Flamande, regional cheeses, pâté terrines , famous breads and locally brewed Belgian beers!

5. Day 4

   Departure After breakfast, check out and private transfer back to the station for your journey home. As you leave Ypres time to quietly reflect on the landscapes , the steps you have taken and the stories you have heard, the lives remembered ! What began as a journey into history often becomes something far more personal —the courage, sacrifice, and humanity connected to this peaceful corner of Flanders.

Travel and where you'll stay

Hotel Albion, Ypres

'Like father, like son' as they say in Ypres, except that the Albion Hotel is run by two ladies: Christiane and her daughter Ruth. Both have been welcoming visitors of Ypres since 2000, when they started the hotel. The combination of hospitality, first class accommodation and cosiness was almost instantly a huge success amongst guests.

The Ypres battle at walking distance from your hotel

Nowhere else you will find a memory so vivid about this historic event as in the heart of the poppy fields of Flanders. The Albion Hotel is the perfect location in Ypres for visiting historic sites like the Menin Gate, the trenches and the museum In Flanders Fields evoking the several Ypres battles which took place in World War 1.

An Ypres hotel in a historic building

Discover the authenticity of a historically restored building dating from before World War 1. Your hosts, Christiane and her daughter Ruth, will ensure that your stay in this Ypres hotel will be an unique experience never to forget.

Ypres, a fine place for shopping and degustation

Enjoy the food and chocolate shops at only walking distance from the Albion Hotel. Discover the variety of trendy boutiques, charming restaurants and must-see places of Ypres. You will feel immediately at home in this small but charming town.

Ypres, so near by the historic cities of Flanders and France

Only half an hour from the coast, Ypres is also very near to UNESCO world heritage locations like beautiful medieval Bruges, the magnificent historic centre of Ghent and metropolitan Lille (France).

The Albion Hotel in Ypres (Ieper): stay in one of the finest hotels of Ypres. The hotel is centrally located close to the Menin gate and the In Flanders Fields museum.

The lounge/bar has been decorated to make you feel at home with comfortable seats to read the news from the outside world. The Albion Hotel has also a wide range of books about Ypres and the region to prepare your visits.

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