Relive the Events of the Waterloo Campaign
Explore Napoleon's Final Campaign
Discover the events that led to Napoleon's defeat and the end of his rule in 1815.
Understand the Battlefield Strategy
Learn about the commanders, troop movements and decisions that shaped the Waterloo Campaign.
Understand the opening moves of June 1815
The campaign developed across several connected engagements between 15 and 18 June 1815. In The Footsteps Tours, we examine the Sambre crossings, the fighting around Ligny and the crossroads at Quatre Bras, where the opposing armies tried to shape the route towards Brussels. Our historian connects the decisions made by Napoleon, Wellington and Blücher with the landscape, explaining how separate actions formed part of one campaign. We examine command decisions.
Follow the fighting at Waterloo and Plancenoit
We visit Hougoumont and the ground on either side of the Charleroi to Brussels road, then consider the Prussian arrival at Plancenoit and the final French attacks. In The Footsteps Tours, we use the three-day route to show how the campaign unfolded beyond the image of Waterloo alone. The tour begins and ends at your tour hotel, with a dedicated vehicle and historian throughout the visits. We compare final actions.
Day One: The Opening Moves and Ligny
-
Morning: The Prussian I Corps under von Ziethen defending the Sambre crossings and fighting delaying actions on 15 June
-
Afternoon: The mill at Fleurus, Napoleon's headquarters on 16 June, and the ground overlooked from Fleurus; Saint-Amand, with the fight between Vandamme's III Corps and Ziethen's I Corps; La Ferme d'En Haut at Ligny and the Battle of Ligny Museum; the Bussy windmill, Blucher's headquarters, to discuss the Prussian withdrawal and Napoleon's lost chance
Day Two: Quatre Bras and Hougoumont
-
Morning: The battlefield between Frasnes-lez-Gosselies and Quatre Bras, where the Prince of Orange's I Corps fought Marshal Ney's left wing for the vital crossroads
-
Afternoon: Hougoumont on the Waterloo battlefield, the "battle within a battle"
Day Three: Waterloo and Plancenoit
-
Morning: The fighting on either side of the Charleroi to Brussels road as the French tried to drive Wellington off his ridge
-
Afternoon: The arrival of Blucher's Prussians at Plancenoit and its effect, then the committal and defeat of the French Old Guard that led to Napoleon's downfall
Your tour ends at your tour hotel.
Itineraries are subject to change for operational reasons. Any changes will be advised before departure.
Price: From £695.00 GBP per person
Based on: pick-up and drop-off from your tour hotel; six people touring; a dedicated tour vehicle driven by an expert battlefield historian; two people sharing a twin room.
Notes: Costs may vary with hotel availability and selection. Single occupancy supplement £105.00. A supplement may apply for anniversary dates. Deposit is 30% or £200.00 per person, whichever is greater. Booking indicates acceptance of the Standard Terms and Conditions.