Join us for Open Days throughout September

Find out what happens behind the scenes at the CWGC as we invite you to a series of open days throughout September. 

Our open days in Great Britain

We’re opening the doors to some of our most interesting and well-known cemeteries and memorials across Great Britain.

80 years after some of the most momentous actions of the Second World War, we’ll be remembering those who fell on the path to liberation and who are commemorated in our sites across Great Britain. 

You’ll also discover what it takes to maintain our global estate, meet some of our team members who care for our sites and learn more about how we are preparing to continue commemorating the fallen of the two world wars for the next 100 years. 

We’re holding a range of tours at our sites across England, Scotland and Wales, where you’ll get the chance to find out more about our work and the men and women we commemorate. 

Our open days in France

On Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September, we’re hosting a couple of exciting open days at our visitor centre in Arras, France. 

On the Saturday, find out more about our new cemetery extension project at Loos British Cemetery. Discover what it takes to construct a cemetery for First World War casualties more than 100 years after the end of the war. 

Then on the Sunday, discover more about our Recovery Unit, what they do, how they do it and how we are able to identify individuals recovered from the battlefields. 

Throughout both days, there will be a number of demonstrations and presentations by our expert team members, as well as an opportunity to explore the centre and find out more about our work across France and around the world. 

Our open days in Belgium

100 years ago, thousands of pilgrims visited our many sites in the Ypres Salient as the end of the Great War meant the beginning of the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Our organisation welcomed people from all over the world, young to old at our sites and helped sharing the memory and stories of those who fell.

Throughout September, you can visit our team at our new visitor centre at the Menin Gate in Ieper. Speak to our team, and they’ll give you the resource that will let you follow in the footsteps of those who made the pilgrimages years ago. 

We’ve created two modern pilgrimages – a 4km walking tour and a 16km bike tour of the southern salient. Collect your route map and activity sheet from the visitor centre and start exploring. You’ll learn more about the CWGC in Belgium, discover hidden features in our cemeteries and share the stories of those commemorated there. 

Our walking tour is based in Ypres city centre and will visit the Menin Gate, Ramparts Cemetery and Reservoir Cemetery. 

Our bike tour takes in the southern salient – including the Menin Gate, Bedford House Cemetery, Woods Cemetery, Hooge Crater Cemetery and Perth Cemetery China Wall. 

After your tour, return to the visitor centre for some light refreshment. 

These open days are an exciting opportunity for our visitors and supporters to learn more about the CWGC itself and our work across the world. Our Public Engagement Manager, Megan Maltby, said: 

“Open Days is the perfect opportunity for the public to come and learn more about the work of the CWGC. By visiting your local war graves and hearing their stories, we can ensure the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice lives on.” 

Discover what our visitors had to say about our tours:

"We enjoyed our tour very much. Our guide was excellent and gave us detailed information on the commonwealth war graves. He answered any questions we had. We would certainly recommend and look forward to attending another tour."

"I was expecting to be better informed, I was not expecting to be so completely moved by the experience. Completely blown away by the effort, commitment, and hard work put into caring for all those who lost their lives and sacrificed their all."

"Brilliant knowledge, we never knew that people could find out so much more from your organisation."