Visiting WW1 Western Front Battlefields

Tour group at Hill 60 memorial, Ypres Salient, Belgium.

The 1WW battlefields of the Western Front are located in a long line of approximately 450 miles from the Belgian coast, through the southern Belgian province of West Flanders and regions of northern and eastern France. Throughout the areas where the major battles were fought there are numerous 1914-1918 battle memorials, museums, military cemeteries and battlefield remains. Many of these are public sites and, therefore, usually accessible to visitors at all times. Depending on the location of a memorial site or cemetery, there may occasionally be difficulty in access for vehicles or wheelchairs where there is a narrow path or farm track. Some privately managed museums or battlefield sites have restricted opening hours and may charge an entrance fee.

Some battlefield areas are frequently visited by pilgrims and tourists, such as the Ypres Salient in Belgium, and the Somme and Verdun battlefields in France. These areas are well-served with information for battlefield visitors from the local Tourist Offices. There are public museums, overnight accommodation to suit all budgets, restaurants and signposted battlefield routes.

Visiting a WW1 Grave or Memorial

Visiting a grave on the 1916 Somme battlefield.

An interest for many people wanting to visit the battlefields is the discovery of a relative who fought on the Western Front. In many cases tracing the war service of a relative leads to the knowledge that that the person was killed in action or died of wounds.

Following in the footsteps of a serviceman or woman in the First World War is a fascinating way to explore the battlefields and can be a deeply moving experience. Nowadays there are records available online to find the name of an idividual and where he or she is buried. Once you have found out the location of a grave or name inscribed on a memorial you can then make plans to visit.

If you want to join an organized battlefield tour be sure to check before you book and travel with the tour that you can be taken to the location of the grave. Most tours will be able to arrange a visit to a cemetery or memorial within a reasonable distance of the tour itinerary. However, if the place you want to visit is remote or inaccessible for a coach it may be necessary for the tour organizer to help you make arrangements to make the visit by taxi or other means. Either way, it is essential that you discuss any special requirements with the tour organizer in advance of your trip.

Finding the Location of a War Grave

Cross of Sacrifice at Bedford House Cemetery on the Ypres Salient battlefields.

If you would like to find out more about tracing a grave or memorial of a person serving with the British and Commonwealth Forces during the First World War see our page about the records held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

British & Commonwealth War Dead: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

For other nationalities see our page listing the national war grave agencies responsible for the care and maintenance of military graves. The relevant organization will be able to offer help or in most cases there is now an online register available to search for an individual:

National organizations caring for War Graves and Memorials

Tracing British World War 1 Family History

See our page to help get you started on what records are available to trace British ancestors who served in the military in the First World War:

Tracing World War 1 Family History

Attending Ceremonies and Anniversary Events

Annual 11^th November Armistice Day ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Each year there are ceremonies held on the battlefields, for example, a daily act of Remembrance, a ceremony to commemorate a particular battle action, the dedication of a new memorial, an annual anniversary event or the reburial of the discovered remains of a First World War casualty. Often a local museum will also have a themed exhibition to coincide with a special anniversary. Depending on the event the numbers attending will vary from just a few people to crowds of hundreds of people.

For events and ceremonies go to:

Ypres Salient Events Somme Events

Travelling with an Organized Battlefield Tour

Listening to the guide explaining the British attack on Mametz Wood on 7^th July 1916 at the 38th (Welsh) Division dragon memorial.

Joining a battlefield tour can be a very good way to visit the First World War battlefields, especially if it is for the first time. Not only do you have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the guides, but also you join other people who share an interest in the subject. Travelling on a battlefield tour can be a very rewarding experience and more often than not will lead to new and long-lasting friendships.

There is a wide choice for battlefield tour travellers these days, with numerous companies offering a variety of tours with regard to the number of days of the tour, the size of the tour vehicle - minibus or coach - and the subjects or places to be covered on the tour. Some tours start from the United Kingdom as an inclusive package tour, others can be joined once you are in the battlefield area.

A list of the main battlefield tour operators is provided on this website. As far as we know these companies comply with all tour operator regulations for taking travellers to the Belgian and French battlefield sites. When making enquiries with them, you are strongly advised to discuss any special requirements you may have such as a visit to a particular cemetery, memorial or place of interest in advance of joining a tour. Also, ask for travellers' testimonials to get a feel for how their travellers have found previous tours. You may like to know, too, if their company or their guides have any affiliation or accreditation with an organization such as The International Guild of Battlefield Guides, The Western Front Association or Blue Badge Guides.

List of Battlefield Tour Companies and Guides

Battlefield Tours Organized for Schools

There are a number of battlefield tour companies which specialize in tours for students:

List of School Battlefield Tour Companies

Arranging your own Battlefield Visit

Railway Hollow Cemetery, Hébuterne, one of the many British and Commonwealth military cemeteries to be found in a remote part of the Somme landscape.

Even if the battlefield you wish to visit is near a town, it is likely that the sites of the battles, the memorials and cemeteries will be located in a rural landscape. The distance between each place of interest may be up to several miles and, therefore, getting around can be difficult and it is recommended to travel around the battlefields by car. Having said that, once in the battlefield area, many people choose to walk and cycle around the battle sites, taking the opportunity to spend time reflecting on the what happened there almost a hundred years ago and enjoying the now peaceful countryside.

For enquiries relating to car or bicycle hire, bus and train timetables contact the Tourist Office in the area you plan to visit. See Tourist Information below for the links.

Travel by Car

With regard to the types of location to be visited on the battlefields, the easiest way to travel between the memorials, museums, cemeteries and battlefield sites is to travel by car. If you travel to Belgium or France by rail or air, it is advisable to hire a car for the battlefield visits if possible.

Travel by Rail to the Battlefields

Travel by rail can be made by the Eurostar service from the United Kingdom. Local trains or car hire can be made from the Eurostar stations at Brussels (Bruxelles) in Belgium and Lille or Amiens in France.

Travel by Air to the Battlefields

Travel by air can be made to Brussels (Bruxelles) in Belgium, or Lille and the recently opened Albert-Picardie airport in France.

Public Transport on the Battlefields

As the battlefield locations are generally in rural areas, it may be that travel by public transport is is often not available or is available but with an infrequent service. If you arrive in the battlefield region independently and using public transport, it is recommended that you contact the local Tourist Office to ask for information on the best way to make your way around the battlefield area you are wishing to visit.

Walking and Cycling on the Battlefields

A guided walking tour on the Somme battlefields, walking through No-Mans-Land on 1st July 1916 towards the German Front Line near Thiepval church.

On the more frequently visited battlefields maps for walking and cycling routes are available from the local Tourist Office. Some organized battlefield tours also offer guided battlefield walks. Some self-catering or bed and breakfast accommodation will be able to provide bikes and information about local walking and cycling routes.

Flights over the Battlefields

A fascinating opportunity is available to fly over the Ypres Salient battlefields. See contact details listed on our page of battlefield tour operators:

Battlefield Tour Operators: SBT Battlefield Tours

Guides and Tours when you get to the Battlefields

Flanders Battlefield Tour, one of a number of battlefield tour operators based on the Western Front battlefields of Belgium and France.

There are a number of independent guides and organized tours available to travellers who make their own way to the battlefields and want to join a guide or a tour once there. Tourist Offices will have a list of recommended guides and in most cases will be able to arrange contact with the individual or tour organizer. Our list of battlefield tour operators will state which operators and guides are based in Belgium or France.

Battlefield Tour Operators

“Circuit of Remembrance”, Somme Battlefields, France

Poppy symbol for the Circuit of Remembrance on the Somme battlefields, France.

The Somme “Circuit of Remembrance” has been set up by the Somme Battlefields' Partner. It is a route of approximately 40 miles in total with 12 stops at important sites between the towns of Albert and Péronne. This is a route that can be followed if you are visiting the battlefield independently and you either want to make the visits yourself or alternatively there are local guides who can arrange to take you round (there would be a charge for this option).

London Road Cemetery at Bois des Foureaux or High Wood, one of the places on the Circuit of Remembrance route on the Somme battlefield, France.

An MP3 audiofile can be downloaded for free or you can pick up a pre-loaded MP3 player from a Tourist Office. The route can be followed using the poppy signposts at the roadside. The other ways to travel on all or part of the route are: by horse and cart, by taxi, on foot, by bike, by plane or even by steam engine.

For information about the “Circuit of Remembrance”, the location of the 11 main destinations with numerous historical sites to be seen along the route and the audiofiles to download (including a sample file) go to:

Where to Stay near the Battlefields

One of the very few sites where original trenches dating from 1914-1918 have been preserved at the Hill 62 Sanctuary Wood museum, Ypres Salient, Belgium.

Some of the regions where the WW1 battles took place have seen a large increase in visitors over the past few years. In these cases there is a wide variety of accommodation to choose from. In other less frequently visited areas, however, the accommodation for visitors is more limited.

Accommodation in the Ypres Salient

The accommodation available to visitors in and around Ypres (now known by its Flemish name of Ieper) and Poperinge is plentiful and available to suit all budgets. The area is well served for places to stay, restaurants and shops. For a list of hotels, bed & breakfast establishments and self-catering properties go to:

Hotels in the Ypres Salient Bed & Breakfast/Self-catering in the Ypres Salient Hostels in the Ypres Salient for school, students or military groups

Accommodation on or near the Somme Battlefields

Visitors to the Somme battlefields can book overnight accommodation in or near a number of towns in the region: Albert, Amiens, Arras, Peronne. Amiens and Arras are both large cities with many cultural and historical places of interest to visit in addition to their each having a main line station and shops.

For Bed & Breakfast and Self-catering accommodation see our listing at:

Bed & Breakfast and Self-catering accommodation on the Somme battlefields

A range of accommodation in the Département de la Somme can be viewed and booked through the following websites:

Tourist Information

Tourist Information offices are a good place to start if you are planning a visit, as they can offer the latest information and advice for travellers.

West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen)

The famous Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) on the market square in Ypres (Ieper), Belgium.^{courtesy of Ieper Tourist Office, copyright Stad Ieper, Tijl Capoen.}

The battlefields of the Ypres Salient are located in the province of West Flanders. This is the westernmost province of the Flemish region in Belgium. The historic city of Bruges is the capital of the province.

For information about the province there is an official website of West Flanders (Flemish language only):

Provencie West-Vlaanderen: Ontdek de Westhoek

City of Ypres (Ieper), Belgium

The Tourist Office in Ypres (Ieper) can offer advice in English, Dutch, French and German, providing information on all aspects of visiting the city and its surroundings. See our page about the tourist office and its location at:

Ypres (Ieper) Tourist Office

The Département de la Somme, France

The beautiful rolling landscape of the Département de la Somme where the river Ancre, a tributary of the Somme, flows through the valley past the village of Beaumont Hamel.

The Département de la Somme is located in the region of Picardie in northern France. The prefecture city of the Département de la Somme is Amiens. The area is rich in cultural history and beautiful landscapes. Visitors can discover three areas within the department:

The Vallée de la Haute Somme (Upper Somme Valley) in the east, where the beautiful Somme river with its famous marshes (marais) and swamps (marécages) winds its way through a gently rolling landscape.
The central area of Amiens and its surroundings. Amiens is a busy city with shops, hotels, historical buildings including the gothic cathedral, museums, parks and a main line railway station.
The Baie de Somme (Bay of the Somme) on the Picardie coast in the west, where seaside resorts and fishing villages are to be found on the estuary.

Information on all aspects of visiting the Département de la Somme is available from the official Comité de Tourisme website:

Comité du Tourisme de la Somme

Somme Battlefields' Partner, France

The Somme Battlefields' Partner is a new network for visitors to the Somme, where local professionals involved in tourism and the history of this battlefield area have come together. The Somme Battlefields' Partner network offers information to visitors planning a trip to the Somme. It can help visitors to find their way around the area, visit the major 1WW historical sites on their own or with guides, find places to stay and eat, and discover what events are on in the area related to the First World War battles. The Somme Battlefields' Partner website “Somme Battlefields” offers lots of useful information including online booking for accommodation, news, events, a paper or online brochure, weather forecasts, books and films, list of guides. Visit the website at:

Somme Battlefields' Partner website: Somme Battlefields

Battlefield Remains

Artillery shells dug up during ploughing and placed by the side of a field in the Ypres Salient for collection and disposal.

Visitors to the battlefields should be aware that even over 90 years since the end of the First World War there are still dangers posed by unexploded ammunition. DO NOT TOUCH or pick anything up if you are not sure what it is or if it looks like a piece of ammunition.

Every year several thousand artillery shells of all sizes are found in the ground by farmers, construction workers and builders. This is often called “The Iron Harvest”. Particularly in the ploughing seasons in rural areas shells can often be seen placed at the side of a field by a farmer for safe collection by the authorities.

Exploring the battlefields off the beaten track will be a rewarding experience, especially if you are carrying out research in the footsteps of a relative. Visitors are reminded to ask permission if you want to go onto private land. Be mindful of your own safety if exploring any battlefield remains such as bunkers or tunnels which are not designated public sites.

For more information about the remains to be seen on the Western Front battlefields see our information at:

Battle Remains on the Western Front