Focused Itinerary: How the First World War Changed Literature, The Western Front
How the outbreak of war inspired some of the most moving pieces of literature
Whilst the First World War brought four years of brutality and global change, it also brought a shift in literature. Among the first to document the war in writing were the soldiers themselves. Poets like Rupert Brooke captured the idealism of war, whilst others such as Wilfred Owen exposed the cruel reality of it. And of course John McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields’ became one of the most poignant reminders of the First World War.
This itinerary focuses on How the First World War Changed Literature, where you’ll visit significant sights that bring the words out of the page and give context to various pieces of literature. Developed on the back of our all-encompassing school history trips to the Western Front, we also offer itineraries focusing on WWI Medicine & Surgery.
Our Recommended Itinerary
Here’s what your trip could look like
Day 1
Coach and Channel crossing to Ypres
Visit Essex Farm Cemetery and Tyne Cot Cemetery
Evening meal and Fun Files quiz
Day 2
Visit Serre Road Cemetery and Newfoundland Memorial Park
Sheffield Memorial Park and Thiepval Memorial
Menin Gate & Last Post Ceremony Participation
Day 3
Visit Poperinge Death Cells & Execution Post
Bedford House Cemetery
Coach and Channel crossing home
A typical quote is based on 3-day, 2-night coach tour for 44 passengers (+4 free places) travelling October 2025 and includes, subject to availability:
- Coaching for the duration of your tour
- Full board accommodation
- Travel insurance
- Free staff place ratio 1:10
- 24/7 support
- Vamoos travel app & info pack
- Tailor-made itinerary
- Motorway tolls and taxes
- VAT
- Excursions:
- Tyne Cot Cemetery
- Menin Gate & Last Post Ceremony Participation
- Essex Farm Cemetery
- Serre Road Cemetery
- Sheffield Memorial Park
- Thiepval Memorial
- Newfoundland Memorial Park
Optional Extras
- Dedicated Tour Manager
- Hoodies and Polo Shirts
Additional Information
Your journey doesn’t have to end here! See what else we can offer to help you get the most out of your tour. From expert History Tour Guides to dedicated Tour Managers, we’ll go above and beyond to support you and your students.
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Special Feature
There’s so much more to explore…
History Tour Guides
Here's why we recommend a History Tour Guide to enhance your School History Trip to the Western Front.
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Why schools choose us
FAQs about this tour
Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
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Do you DBS (formerly CRB) check your drivers?
As part of our coach audits, we request that all UK coach drivers are DBS checked by their employer prior to driving on one of our tours. We can request confirmation of your specific driver’s compliance if deemed necessary.
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Is all of your accommodation audited in advance?
Yes, all of our accommodation is audited prior to us offering it to a group. The criterion of these audits is governed by the School Travel Forum (STF). It is important to remember that each country is governed by their own standards and laws and these may differ from UK law. However, we require our accommodation to meet our standards as a minimum. We work with the hotels and agents to endeavour to ensure that our standards are met.
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What does our insurance cover us for?
Our insurance providers offer comprehensive cover to our groups for the duration of their tour and is tailored specifically for schools, with specialist insurance policies for individual tour types. As with any insurance cover, it is vital that you read through the terms and conditions and that you declare any relevant information as requested. Please see our insurance page for further information and to see what is covered. For groups opting to take their own insurance, we highly recommend that you read all inclusions and exclusions prior to departure.
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What safety support do you have in place for clients choosing to tour with you?
At Rayburn Tours we are proud of our continual commitment to safety. Clients who tour with us can be assured that we have the following support services and systems in place: Safety Management System, Generic Risk Management, Crisis Management System, ATOL Licensed, ABTA Bonded, insurance, 24-hour emergency contact system, hotel audits, coach audits and activity audits.
In addition, we are a member of the School Travel Forum (STF), giving you the reassurance that all of our trips meet, or indeed exceed, the safety standards required by your school and Local Authority.
Travel in safe hands
Your safety is of the utmost importance to us and we monitor the safety aspects of all of our tours to ensure you have a memorable experience for all the right reasons.
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