22 Apr 2027
Twin share
£3,875pp
Single from £4,795
Escorted tour
WWI & WWII Battlefields: Ypres, the Somme & Normandy – 11 Days
London's Imperial War Museum, Ypres and the Menin Gate, Vimy Ridge, the Somme and the D-Day beaches of Normandy, ending in Paris.
11 days
From £3,750
Tour overview
This 11-day escorted tour follows the great battlefields of the First and Second World Wars, from London through Belgium and northern France to Normandy and Paris. A tour director travels with you throughout, local guides lead the key visits, and you travel by Eurostar and air-conditioned coach with extra legroom. You stay ten nights in comfortable city hotels, with ten breakfasts, one lunch and six dinners. The pace is reflective, with several later starts.
In London a local guide shows you Westminster and Buckingham Palace before a visit to the Imperial War Museum, with its recreated First World War trench and Holocaust Galleries. The Eurostar then takes you to Brussels. There you can choose between the battlefield of Waterloo, with its visitor centre and panoramic painting, or a chocolate truffle-making lesson and a guided walk through the city.
Read more
Two days are given to the First World War on the Western Front. Around Ypres you visit Hill 60, Polygon Wood, the Passchendaele Memorial Museum and Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. In the evening you attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, held every evening for almost a century. In northern France you pay your respects at the Australian cemetery of Fromelles and learn about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. You also spend time in Arras and visit the Canadian memorial and trenches at Vimy Ridge.
On the Somme a local guide brings the battle to life at the Thiepval Memorial, the vast Lochnagar Crater and the South African and New Zealand memorials at Longueval. After lunch you visit a small family-run museum at Auchonvillers and the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Moving to Normandy, you see Rouen's Gothic cathedral and the square where Joan of Arc was burned, and the Château du Champ de Bataille.
D-Day comes next: the clifftop bunkers of Pointe du Hoc, a D-Day experience with a simulated flight in a 1943 C-47, and the Normandy beaches. The tour ends in Paris, via Versailles, with a guided drive past the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées and a farewell dinner. It suits anyone with an interest in the two world wars, including those tracing family history.
Trip highlights
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The Imperial War Museum in London (Day 2)
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Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Last Post at the Menin Gate (Day 4)
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Fromelles and the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge (Day 5)
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Thiepval, Lochnagar Crater and Villers-Bretonneux on the Somme (Day 6)
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Pointe du Hoc and the D-Day beaches of Normandy (Day 8)
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Versailles and Paris by night (Day 9)
Your route
15 stops from London to Paris
- London Days 1–2
- Brussels Day 3
- Ypres Day 4
- Tyne Cot Cemetery Day 4
- Lille Day 4
- Fromelles Day 5
- Vimy Ridge Day 5
- Amiens Days 5–6
- Thiepval Memorial Day 6
- Rouen Day 7
- Caen Days 7–8
- Pointe du Hoc Day 8
- Omaha Beach Day 8
- Versailles Day 9
- Paris Days 9–11
Why choose this tour
One tour covers the key sites of both world wars, from the Ypres Salient and the Somme to the D-Day beaches. Local guides, the Last Post ceremony and time to reflect make it meaningful for those tracing family stories.
Best suited to
- Anyone interested in First and Second World War history
- Travellers tracing relatives who served on the Western Front or in Normandy
- Those who prefer a comfortable coach tour with hotels arranged
- Travellers starting from London
Day-by-day itinerary
11 days from London, United Kingdom to Paris, France
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Day 1 · London Arrive in London
Arrive in London and check in. The afternoon is free to walk in Hyde Park or along the Thames, followed by a welcome dinner with your tour director and fellow travellers.
- Hotel
- Park Plaza Victoria or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · London, Imperial War Museum London and the Imperial War Museum
A relaxed start, then a guided tour of London's landmarks, from the Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace. Visit the Imperial War Museum, with its recreated First World War trench and Holocaust Galleries.
- Hotel
- Park Plaza Victoria or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Brussels, Waterloo Eurostar to Brussels
Take the Eurostar to Brussels. Choose between the battlefield of Waterloo, where Napoleon was defeated in 1815, with its underground visitor centre and panoramic painting, or a chocolate truffle-making lesson and a guided walk through the city.
- Hotel
- Cardo Brussels Autograph Collection or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 4 · Ypres, Hill 60, Polygon Wood, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Lille Ypres and the Menin Gate
A relaxed start, then travel to Ypres to visit Hill 60, Polygon Wood, the Passchendaele Memorial Museum and Tyne Cot Cemetery, and learn about the battles of Messines and Passchendaele. In the evening, attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate before continuing to Lille.
- Hotel
- Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Fromelles, Arras, Vimy Ridge, Amiens Fromelles and Vimy Ridge
Pay your respects at the Australian cemetery of Fromelles and learn about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which cares for 1.7 million graves. After time in Arras, visit the Canadian memorial and preserved trenches at Vimy Ridge, then continue to Amiens.
- Hotel
- Mercure Amiens Cathédrale or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 6 · Thiepval Memorial, Lochnagar Crater, Longueval, Villers-Bretonneux The Somme
A local guide tells the story of the Somme at the Thiepval Memorial, the Lochnagar Crater and the South African and New Zealand memorials at Longueval. Lunch is at Auchonvillers, with a visit to its small war museum, followed by the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
- Hotel
- Mercure Amiens Cathédrale or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Rouen, Château du Champ de Bataille, Caen Rouen to Normandy
Visit Rouen, capital of Normandy, to see its Gothic cathedral, painted by Monet, the Great Clock and the Old Market Square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Continue via the Château du Champ de Bataille to Caen.
- Hotel
- Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 8 · Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach D-Day beaches
Follow the route of the American Rangers to the bunkers and memorial at Pointe du Hoc. At a D-Day experience, board a C-47 built in 1943 for a simulated flight over the landing beaches, and visit the house known as Dead Man's Corner. See the Normandy beaches where the Allies came ashore on 6 June 1944.
- Hotel
- Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Versailles, Paris Versailles and Paris
A relaxed start, then your tour director shows you the town of Versailles before you continue to Paris. As evening falls, see the city's monuments lit up.
- Hotel
- Marriott Rive Gauche or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 10 · Paris, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde Paris
A local guide shows you the Eiffel Tower, the obelisk in Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe. The afternoon is free, and in the evening there is a farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Marriott Rive Gauche or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 11 · Paris Tour ends in Paris
The tour ends after breakfast in Paris, with a transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport at a scheduled time. Extra nights in Paris can be arranged when you book.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- London (2 nights) Park Plaza Victoria or similar
- Brussels (1 night) Cardo Brussels Autograph Collection or similar
- Lille (1 night) Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place or similar
- Amiens (2 nights) Mercure Amiens Cathédrale or similar
- Caen (2 nights) Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance or similar
- Paris (2 nights) Marriott Rive Gauche or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 10 nights in comfortable city hotels
- Meals 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 dinners
- Transport the Eurostar from London to Brussels and an air-conditioned 40-seat coach with extra legroom
- Guided visits London and the Imperial War Museum, a choice of Waterloo or chocolate-making in Brussels, the Ypres Salient, Fromelles, Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Rouen, Pointe du Hoc, the D-Day beaches, Versailles and Paris
- Tour director throughout, with local guides
- Airport transfers at scheduled times
Not included
- Flights to London and home from Paris
- Meals not listed and drinks
- Optional experiences, such as the Tower of London, a Seine cruise or a Paris cabaret
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want flights included — they are not
- You want a light sightseeing holiday — the tour is reflective and history-focused
- You want all meals included — 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 dinners
- You want to stay in one place — you change hotel five times
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,750 per person, twin share, tour only. 11 upcoming departures.
06 May 2027
Twin share
£3,925pp
Single from £4,865
20 May 2027
Twin share
£3,925pp
Single from £4,865
03 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,950pp
Single from £4,890
17 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,950pp
Single from £4,890
01 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,995pp
Single from £4,995
29 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,750pp
Single from £4,570
26 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,850pp
Single from £4,760
09 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,195pp
Single from £5,135
23 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,195pp
Single from £5,135
07 Oct 2027
Twin share
£3,950pp
Single from £4,980
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Are flights included?
No. The tour starts in London and ends in Paris. The Eurostar from London to Brussels and a transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport at a scheduled time are included.
Can I visit a relative's grave?
Tell the team when you book. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission can help locate graves, and your tour director will try to help where the route allows.
What meals are included?
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 dinners, including a welcome dinner in London and a farewell dinner in Paris.
How much walking is there?
The physical rating is low. Most visits involve short walks around memorials, cemeteries and museums, sometimes on uneven ground.
What is the choice in Brussels?
You can visit the Waterloo battlefield and its visitor centre, with a 3D film and panoramic painting, or join a chocolate truffle-making lesson and a guided walk of the city.
Is the Menin Gate ceremony included?
Yes. You attend the Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres, held every evening at 8pm in memory of the soldiers of the British Empire.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary