Friday 24th April 2026
- Travel day and free time in Ypres town centre
Tour coach collects first from Hampton White House and then Croydon to collect all people for the trip. Travel through Eurotunnel and then direct to Flanders Lodge hotel, located to the North East outside of Ypres.
Free Time
With the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure, you have the choice to relax in the hotel or step out into Ypres for dinner and sightseeing. Wander through the small narrow streets or enjoy a typical Belgian meal with beer and wine.
Saturday 25th April 2026
- Morning rehearsal and afternoon concert
- Visit to Ypres Cemetaries (Essex Farm)
- Tour dinner
Today after a leisurely continental breakfast, we start with a musical element of the tour with a morning rehearsal in the hotel. Set-up is from 9.30am with a planned rehearsal time from 10am to 12am. Please be prompt.
After an included light lunch, we will depart by coach to St Martin's Cathedral to arrive by 1pm for set-up.
St Martin's Cathedral
We play our first concert of the tour in the Cathedral from 1.30pm until 3.15pm (leaving the Cathedral at the latest by 3.45pm to return back to the hotel by coach.)
Free Time and Historical visits
A trip to Essex Farm or Ypres War museum to understand what happened at the three battles for Ypres, the reason why the Salient was so important to the Allies, living conditions and numerous artifacts. Alternatively wander around the streets enjoying some shopping and drinking some beer and enjoying Belgian Neuhaus, Leonidas chocolates (the hot chocolate drink is made from real chocolate and is a must-have item).
Tour Dinner
An evening group dinner is to be organised either in town or at the hotel.
Sunday 26th April 2026
- Guided tour of CWGC Tyne Cot cemetary
- Concert in Oeselgem
- Menin Gate Last Post event
- Free time for dinner
Tyne Cot Cemetary
Today we rise early and take the coach at 8.45am to Tyne Cot cemetary, the largest cemetary in Flanders, holding 11,965 graves, of which 8,369 are unknown. The cemetary stands on the site of a German strongpoint with four heavily fortified pillboxes, three of which are inside the cemetary. The land was fought over heavily in the third battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) in 1917. By 11.30am we return to the hotel to collect our instruments and having a packed lunch we depart at 12am for Oeselgem.
Oeselgem concert
Setting up with their band, we deliver a joint concert from 1.30pm until 4.30pm when we depart back to the Flanders Lodge Hotel in Ypres to prepare for the Menin Gate Event.
Menin Gate
Having enjoyed a light meal, afternoon tea, we depart by 7pm by coach for the Menin Gate Last Post ceremony, taking our place as directed at the Eastern side of the Gate. The Menin Gate records 59,846 soldiers who have no known grave in the Flanders area. The ceremony is planned to finish by 9pm after which people can stay in the town or return to the hotel for dinner.
Monday 27th April 2026
- Depart the hotel for Bruges
- Return to London by Eurotunnel
- Divert to Croydon to drop off some people
- Final destination is White House, Hampton
More details to follow
Bruges
Journey back to London