18/06/2024
We love these photographs of Richard Townsley teaching the students of Holyport College how to operate cameras made and used during the First World War..
Zeitgeist Tours for Schools
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Modern, engaging and inspiring historical and battlefield tours for schools. Contact us for a quote.
Modern, engaging and inspiring battlefield and historical tours for UK schools
16/06/2024
14/06/2024
The best ending of any long and exciting day, is a visit to Leonidas Ieper.
14/06/2024
(Battle)Field walking is always a highlight
14/06/2024
Back at the 'bestest' of places.
14/06/2024
Christoph, the German half of our directorial-duo, has upgraded his guiding outfit. Quality work from the hands of Meister Bernd Fehrle (Bekleidungsamt XIII) in Germany.
Christoph's first outing this year will be in November, on a very special battlefield tour, which will lead us far away from the beaten school-tour track.
10/06/2024
Director Dawn is conducting a personal review and testing of the protective equipment required for an upcoming, immersive battlefield tour experience. After some final adjustments, the gear will undergo a full trial in Flanders later this month.
05/06/2024
Richard Townsley has once again teamed up with Luke Tomes for another epic history adventure. Tonight at 6 pm on History Hit.
22/05/2024
An extremely nice, custom-made upgrade to the Zeitgeist 'trench' arsenal. Super heavy, super wearable and without doubt, one of the 'coolest' pieces of First World War equipment.
08/05/2024
Now on YouTube!
29/04/2024
Are you waiting for a quote?
An important message (and an introduction to our new AI information system!)
26/04/2024
Just leaving this here.
Not long now.
25/04/2024
Winners all! Proud students of Ifield Community College present not only the best finds of their field walking session, but also the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes of our ever popular Zeitgeist WW1 History Coach Quiz!
The three quiz winners secured a relic German bayonet, an inert French ball gr***de and an inert British shell fuse for their school's history room!
24/04/2024
With our educators David von Alton and Richard Stadtley safely at home, preparation for the next tours is starting today.
23/04/2024
Engaging with the students at eye-level and taking the time to answer questions makes all the difference.
23/04/2024
A rare period photograph of the Prussians leaving Thiepval in November 1916 (colourised).
22/04/2024
See you again soon Joe! Thanks for the amazing guided walk!
22/04/2024
Always a highlight, using original, 110+ year old cameras to document the great adventure.
22/04/2024
The weather is very kind to us today and we have spent some quality time in Thiepval.
Taking half a ton of uniforms and equipment on a tour is certainly worth the effort.
22/04/2024
Lunch! 🍽️ Juicy burgers, golden chips and all served on a trench map tablecloth. What's not to like.
Thiepval next!
22/04/2024
In the professional hands of Joe MacDonald.
22/04/2024
This just came in: "I had a with my school, Queen Elizabeth's High School Gainsborough, in 2019 gone one a battlefields trip with Zeitgeist Tours. We visited the battlefields and memorials in France and Belgium and for me personally, I treasure these memories, but it was who Christoph Hopfer who accentuated the experience for both me and I believe the entire the trip.
Five years later, Christoph's advice still sticks with me. He advised me that if I love history I shouldn't worry about the money because if I was passionate enough, the money would come. It is due to his advice that I now plan to study history at university, with a hope to get into Oxford or Durham. I'd like to thank Christoph for the experience and advice he offered, I very much enjoyed our small conversations about history and also learning about his specific interests in WW1.
(...)
Yet again I'd like to thank Christoph along with your entire company for providing me a very formative memory that has helped with me decide that I would like to study history because of my passion and not necessarily for the money. If you would be able to forward this message to Christoph I'd be very glad, Alex T."
Christoph is our German co-director, who is ever so often joining our tours to shine a light on the German experience of the First World War.
We are Zeitgeist Tours for Schools.
22/04/2024
Private Arthur Edward Avis (7 Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment) was killed near Houplines on 8 August 1915 when a German shell hit the dugout in which he was sheltering.
He has been buried nearby ever since.
Today we had the honour of introducing him to his great-great-granddaughter Mia.
Private Arthur Edward Avis, we will remember him.
Move him into the sun—
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds—
Woke once the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved, still warm, too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
—O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?
(Futility, Wilfred Owen)
21/04/2024
One half of the Zeitgeist canine team is celebrating her 11th birthday today.
Happy birthday, Wilma! 🎉🎂🎁
She's very happy with her new cuddly elephant. There's no subliminal messaging about her celebratory head gear whatsoever 😉😁
21/04/2024
'Whither thou findest leisure, thou shall walk on the field.'
From: 'The Antiquarian's Guide to Martial Groundes: Wherein the Deeds of Heroes May be Traced', Reginald Hargrove-Smythe Esq. London 1699
EDIT: This is a made-up quote from a made-up book (attempt at humour)
Just to avoid this being shared too widely.
21/04/2024
Another wonderful day in our favourite place.
21/04/2024
Ready for action!
21/04/2024
We are off! Farewell to Blighty! Belgium awaits!
21/04/2024
🌞 Good morning from sunny Dover, where we are getting ready to board the ferry. Three exciting days in Belgium and France await!
19/04/2024
The Eagle has landed! What a superb, free resource for schools. Episode 1 out now!
Created by History Hit , guided supplied and advised by us. Co-presented by Captain Richard Townsley and supported by Frontline Living History. In large parts filmed at Hooge Crater museum (much more of Hooge in Episode 2). Armourer services at the Marne supplied by our friends at France 40 Véhicules
Imagine, it’s the winter of 1916. War has been raging in Europe for over two years with no end in sight. The line along the Western Front had barely altered ...
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Are you waiting for a quote? An important message (and an introduction to our new AI information system!)
Today on YouTube at 1800 BST on the History Hit Channel: 'Would you survive WW1' Episode 1. #ww1medicine https://youtube.com/@HistoryHit?si=R3cejiPhKSLlM_z6 Some of you may have noticed that Zeitgeist recently spent a week filming with our friends of History Hit in Belgium and France. Working with Richard Townsley and @frontlinelh, we organised and supplied advice, weapons, uniforms and people in addition to guiding the crew around. The first episode of the result will be available for free on YouTube tonight (from 18:00 BST). With a good amount of medical content, you should find it very useful! If you are looking for a modern, uniquely enjoyable, engaging and adventurous First World War Battlefield Tour to Belgium and France, ask us for a quote, as we still have some limited availability this year. And so has Frontline Living History for all your WW1 Medical Workshop needs. (Watch with sound) #battlefieldtours #Adventureoverlecture #learningisfun #gcsehistory
Did we ever mention that we sometimes do tours for adults? This week we are leading a 1:1 'VIP' tour of the Somme and Argonnes battlefields. And just like our school tours, we pack it full of exciting activities you won't get anywhere else. Across the battlefield in a 1943 Jeep. A nice gift from our friends at Somme Poppies Reproductions.
The best indicator for a successful and fun day of history-touring is acoustical! On the road with King Edward VI High School Stafford
Captain Townsley does a lot of shouting on a Zeitgeist Tours Battlefield Tour for Schools. This one was about the history and development of medicine in the First World War btw. #ww1 #edexcel #edexcelhistory #gcse #teachinghistory #schoollife #schooltours #battlefieldtour #historyteacher #gcse2024
We had long since crossed this magic mark on the follower-front, but still pleased to reach 1000 likes as well.
How many students fit into this particular bunker is a question we still haven't found a satisfactory answer for. We keep in trying: On a 'Battlefield to Blighty: Medicine in the First World War' Tour! #ww1 #battlefieldtours #gcsehistory #historyteacher #edexcelhistory #gcse #teachinghistory #schoollife #schooltours Jim Williams Frontline Living History Richard Townsley Phil Redmond Nigel Amies
- Tour a success. - On route back to Blighty. - Current mood:
Battlefield tours to the continent, WW1 trench experiences in the UK and school-workshops all across Britain. Ask us for a quote! #AdventureoverLecture #edexcelhistory #aqahistory #ww1 #battlefieldtour #historyteacher
Arrived at Hooge Crater museum for several hours of learning, fun and adventure. #ww1 #battlefieldtour #schooltour #gcse #historyteacher #edexcel #edexcelhistory #aqahistory #schooltrip #schoollife
Private Last Post ceremony for one of our schools. Thanks to the wonderful Bart Degroote and Hooge Crater museum for making this happen.
Moments to remember - on another wonderful day in Flanders.
Two coaches out in lovely weather today! #BelgiumOrBust
Back in the trenches in Flanders Fields today! Exciting #battlefieldtours for UK schools: zeitgeisttours.com with Frontline Living History
For some weeks now, we are looking at an increased number of booking and quote requests. We are aware that some customers are experiencing increased waiting times before they receive their desired quotes, and we can only apologise for this! All our tours are truly bespoke. For us at Zeitgeist Tours, this is not just an empty claim. We do not send generic, 'ballpark-figure' quotes out to our customers. We spend a lot of time working out the perfect supporting itinerary for each school, picking and reserving the best local partners, accommodation and travel options. We are not a corporate giant, not just a brand-name in the portfolio of major travel group. We are a small, family and friends run company of history-professionals, offering an exclusive and unforgettable experience. Please give us a nudge anytime. We are doing our best to process your inquiry as quickly as possible. "Good things take time and excellent things are not acquired without great effort and work" - Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen (1621-1676).
For all those patiently waiting for tour quotes, please do bear with us just a little while longer. You will receive yours within the next 10 days. The large number of bookings and quote requests we have been (and are still) receiving, has forced us to make some organisational and logistical changes - these have now been implemented. Thanks for waiting so patiently!
Always a highlight, no matter how often we come here. Flanders Fields 14-18
We're here, because we're here! On a Zeitgeist Tours UK Trench Experience for Schools. #AdventureoverLecture: A First World War History Experience without leaving Blighty. No stress, no complications, full immersion. #gcsehistory #Edexcel #SchoolTour #schooltrip
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WE ARE ZEITGEIST
WE CARE
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Theodore Roosevelt
Children are not cogs in a machine and we care about their learning. We strictly believe that we can change lives by believing in the students in our care, by motivating them to explore and by caring about them. We don’t believe it makes sense to put students on a grading curve or to lecture at them from above. We believe that by looking students in the eye and by responding to their specific comments and questions we can get them to push themselves to learn.
WE INSPIRE
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires” William Arthur Ward
Teaching is all about inspiration, not information. Effective teaching focuses on why and how, not what. On our tours we aim to spark each student’s imagination, aiming to find a hook in their heart and mind so that they feel a need to ask questions and aspire to learn more. Our educators aim to ask provocative questions, and to help the students make a path towards finding their own answers. If they are motivated to find the path, they will carve it themselves. This will unlock skills that come along with studying history. The skills of evaluating evidence, of posing questions and answering them, of writing, of mobilizing information in order to formulate a valuable argument.
WE EXPLORE
Our international team of historians and educators grants us the unique possibility to unlock hitherto untouched cultural and historical perspectives - issuing your students with accounts from ‘the other side’ and personal testimony of all those who were there, no matter what nationality. Through exploration, explanation, demonstration we aim to entice students to craft complex and incisive questions; think critically often one-sided historical sources; form and support their opinions with evidence; and communicate their conclusions in ways that will prepare them to be engaged citizens of the world. At Zeitgeist Tours we present history as a living, breathing record of the past.
