Lille, Flanders & the Somme Tour | Great Rail Journeys

Tour Highlights

Walking tour of Lille
Tyne Cot Cemetery
Langemark Cemetery
Ypres
'In Flanders Fields' Museum
Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate
VC Corner, Fromelles
Thiepval Memorial and Lochnagar Crater
Vimy Ridge

What’s Included (Full details)

Standard Class Rail
4* Hotel Accommodation
Breakfast Every Day
Selected Evening Meals
Optional Bag Concierge

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Itinerary
Hotels & Trains
Optional Extras

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Departure Times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Day 1

London to Lille

Our tour begins at our dedicated departure office at St Pancras International, where we board the Eurostar to Lille. On arrival we transfer to the Novotel Lille Centre, located close to the historic city centre, for a four-night stay.

Includes:

Dinner

Day 2

The Battlefields of Flanders

Our excursion today takes us by coach to the Ypres area, the centre of intense fighting. During our time in the area we visit Poperinge - the most important town behind the lines. Here we visit Talbot House. Known as "Toc H", Talbot House was somewhere for soldiers to use as a retreat - an "everyman's club" - where rank had no relevance. We then visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery, and Langemark, the last resting place of 44,000 German soldiers. We continue to Ypres, a city which was nearly destroyed by the four years of fighting but is now remarkably restored to its former glory. Here we visit the Cloth Hall to explore the insightful 'In Flanders Fields' Museum. After free time to explore Ypres, we meet up this evening to walk to the Menin Gate - the famous 'Memorial to the Missing' - and witness the Last Post ceremony.

Includes:

Breakfast
Excursions

Day 3

Exploring Lille

This morning we are joined by a local guide for a walking tour of delightful Lille. During the tour we pass some of the city's main sights, including the 15th century Palais Rihour, the Grand Place and the Notre Dame Cathedral. We also enjoy a tasting of two of Lille's local specialities: beer and waffles. Your afternoon is at leisure.

Includes:

Breakfast
Tour of Lille
Beer and waffle tasting

Day 4

The Battlefields of the Somme

We travel by coach to the immense Lochnagar Crater, formed by an exploding mine. We continue to Thiepval, a striking memorial dedicated to the missing of the Somme and as the Battle of the Somme reaches its 100th anniversary, our visit takes on more significance. Our next visit, on our return towards Lille, is to Vimy Ridge then we continue to the Australian cemetery and VC Corner in nearby Fromelles.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner
Excursions

Day 5

Homeward bound

After a leisurely start this morning, we take the Eurostar back to London.

Includes:

Breakfast

Please note

If requesting a twin room, please note the room layout of the Novotel Hotel will be a double bed and a sofa bed.

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Lille, Flanders & the Somme

Itinerary

Hotels & Trains

Optional Extras

Itinerary & Map

London to Lille

The Battlefields of Flanders

Exploring Lille

The Battlefields of the Somme

Homeward bound

Please note

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