Aside from the outdoor memorial wall, the Wellington Quarry site is mostly underground and is accessible only by tour—either with a tour guide or by following an audio guide. Most tour guides provide commentary in French and English, while the audio guides offer a choice of several languages.
Given the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) history at Wellington Quarry, the site often features on niche WWI New Zealand or Australian battlefield tours. Visitors who want to see several local sites or memorials should take guided excursions from Arras, Ypres, or Lille. These offer a convenient way for car-free travelers to visit Wellington Quarry and other sites in one day or as part of a multi-day itinerary.
Advance booking is recommended for all tours.
The Arras City Pass offers a way to see the Wellington Quarry and other Arras attractions at reduced prices.
The underground tunnels are cool year-round—around 11°C (52°F)—so bring an extra layer.
On-site amenities include restrooms, a shop, free parking, and a picnic area.
You can access Wi-Fi at the quarry.
The site is considered accessible for people with reduced mobility.
The Wellington Quarry is on rue Arthur Delétoille in the town of Arras. From Amiens, drivers should follow the D919 highway north to reach the site in just over an hour. From Lille, drivers can follow the A1 and D950 highways south to arrive in around 1.5 hours. There is also a train station in Arras, a 15-minute walk from the site.
The site is open year-round except for an annual closure for the three weeks after Christmas. Visitors can head inside the quarry from midmorning until around lunchtime, and then, after a short break, it's open in the afternoon through early evening. The site closes early on December 24 and 31. On April 9, the Wellington Quarry puts on a memorial service at 5:30am—the date and time the Battle of Arras started.
The British army discovered the vast network of long-forgotten chalk quarries that ran beneath Arras and decided to link them up, creating underground barracks to accommodate around 24,000 soldiers. In six months, New Zealand soldiers linked these tunnels in what is considered one of WWI’s greatest engineering accomplishments.