Our ever-popular Classic Waterloo Anniversary tour covers the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras and especially Waterloo itself – and takes place over the annual anniversary weekend when there will likely be re-enactors dressed in period uniform on the battlefields. We will be staying in historic Waterloo town, home to Wellington’s Headquarters.

When Napoleon arrived in Elba in May 1814, monarchs, aristocracy and diplomats (amongst them the Duke of Wellington) were gathered in Vienna to redraw the map of Europe. But whilst they dallied and danced their time away, the exiled Emperor had been scheming. Aware of the political unrest in France and disharmony amongst the Allies, he embarked on his final gamble. Returning to France with less than 1000 men, he sent the whole of Europe into panic. With his overtures for peace rejected, the restored Emperor set about creating the finest fighting force he had commanded since his glory days of Austerlitz. It was only a matter of time before he struck and so anxious Allies urgently mobilised their armies and hurriedly drew-up their plans before it was too late. On the night of 14 June 1815 near Charleroi in Belgium, the Emperor crossed the border with his Grand Armée taking his adversaries by surprise. However during a whirlwind campaign of just 4 days, the resolute and skilful leadership of forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian commander, Marshal Blucher, resulted in the decisive defeat and rout of the French army on the field of Waterloo in a battle that would be referred to by the Duke as ‘a near run thing’. Napoleon, abdicating for a second time, would end his days on the remote Atlantic island of St Helena from where death would be his only escape.

Day 1 – Brussels
We travel by Eurostar arriving in Brussels in time to visit the spectacular Grand Place, with its awesome gold-painted Guildhalls and Town Hall, and drive via the Rue Royal to see where Wellington was based and the Royal Park where his troops assembled. Then on to Waterloo town to visit the building where he planned the battle and wrote his famous Waterloo despatch. Check-in to our comfortable Waterloo hotel, our base for the tour. (D)

Day 2 - Ligny & Quatre Bras
At Ligny we see where Napoleon’s right wing clashed with the Prussians on 16 June 1815. We view Napoleon’s windmill at Fleurus, walk through the hotly contested village of Ligny and travel up to Blucher’s command post on the Prussian ridge to get a wonderful panorama of the battlefield and discuss how he managed to slip Napoleon’s trap and retreat to Wavre. After a light lunch we stand on the crossroads at Quatre Bras where Wellington halted the advance of the left wing of Napoleon’s army and then follow his skilful withdrawal to the defensive position at Waterloo. (B,D)

Day 3 – Waterloo
Today we spend the whole day on the battlefield of Waterloo, starting at Hougoumont – key to Wellington’s critical right flank. Then to the centre of the Allied ridge to see where Napoleon’s infantry columns were seen off by the British cavalry counterattack and walk down to the fortified farmhouse of La Haye Sainte to hear the story of its heroic, but doomed, defence. After lunch we see where French cavalry attacks were brought to a halt by Wellington’s resolute infantry squares. In picturesque Plancenoit village we see where the Prussians fell on Napoleon’s right flank. Finally, we walk the route of the advance of the Imperial Guard and its defeat by Wellington’s elite Guards and Light Troops. An epic day! (B,D)

Day 4 – The Museums
First thing this morning we walk the route of the advance of the Imperial Guard and its defeat by Wellington’s elite Guards and Light Troops. We complete our anniversary weekend with a visit to the new Waterloo Visitor Centre which includes the Lion Mound viewing platform, the Waterloo Panorama, and the excellent Museum and Audio Visual display. Return to Brussels for our return Eurostar journey to London. (B)