Destination – WWI Battlefields in Northern France
Visiting the battlefields of the WWI Battlefields from the UK is relatively easy.
The Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardie regions in northern France, as well as the Ypres Salient across the Belgian border, were indeed at the heart of the devastating offensives of both World Wars. These regions are consequently rich in memorials, sites of remembrance, preserved battlefields, and British, French, and German War Cemeteries. They have become a major destination for memorial tourism.
However, these regions are also home to many popular seaside resorts along the magnificent Opal Coast and Baie de Somme
Below are links to the various official websites that will allow you to explore these regions.
Traveling to the WWI Battlefields from the UK – Air travel and car rental
Traveling to the WWI Battlefields from the UK – Ferry travel information
Brittany Ferries operates from:
– Portsmouth to Caen-Ouistreham, Cherbourg, Le Havre and St Malo
– Poole to Cherbourg
– Plymouth to Roscoff
– Cork to Roscoff
P&O operates regular crossings from Dover to Calais.
DFDS Seaways operates services from Newhaven to Dieppe and Dover to Calais or Dunkirk.
Condor Ferries operates a weekly ferry service from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, from late May to early September, and Catamaran services from Poole and Weymouth to Saint Malo via the Channel Islands.
Traveling to WWI Battlefields from the UK – Car travel information
- Calais to Ypres (Belgium) (92km), Arras (109km), Verdun (390km)
- Dunkirk to Ypres (Belgium) (52km), Arras (117km), Verdun (399km)
- Dieppe (Normandy) to Ypres (Belgium) (279km), Arras (171km), Verdun (401km)
- Lille to Ypres (Belgium) (40km), Arras (52km), Verdun (323km)
Traveling to the WWI Battlefields from the UK – Rail travel information
Eurotunnel-LeShuttle links Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes.
Eurostar links London St Pancras to Calais in about 1hour, and Lille in less than 1h30.
