Sad and amazing! Log walk but paths are in very good condition, wheelchair and disabled access is excellent.

Each memorial section has interesting information.The grounds are kept in good condition.I particulary liked the postal information quite surprising on how they operated through the war time, starting to look a bit worse for wear and could do with refreshing as could the wall of names as some of the names are fading. over all though a nice experiance. We did the train ride and the talk was well done and informative though sometimes it was hard to see some of the area's indicated but worth the price.
The food in the cafe was quite good but take your own water as the bottles of water where excesivly priced.

We could not have visited on a wetter day. It rained from the minute we got on the coach to when we got off at the end of the day. We spend over seven hours in all getting to and from the National Arboretum, but we would not have missed it. I will not repeat all the other observations, but I will give you some handy hints.

Make sure you book your train ticket as soon as you get there. There are only so many seats available. Fortunately, the ride was covered! You are on the train for a total of 50 minutes. Keep your ticket, it has the time recorded on it and it is taken from you when you get on the train.

If you pay to go in the exhibition you get the radio guide for outside. My husband used his despite the rain, but I did not. The exhibition is not large, but interesting, and I would recommend you visit here first as it does give an insight into what you will see later.

There are two eateries. The large restaurant area serves lovely hot meals, soup, sandwiches etc. Breakfast finishes at 11.30, and lunch starts at 12.00, which caught out our friends. We had scampi and chips, and lamb hotpot, both large portions and delicious. If you want a main meal go directly to that server, otherwise you could be in the wrong queue for a long time!

Tea/coffee is self service. Coffee is obvious, but the tea is not. Hot water is dispensed to the left of the coffee machine.

The coffee shop is much, much smaller, and serves drinks, wine, cakes and snacks. There is seating outside both the eateries.

This place is definitely perfect for the disabled. Very well planned. The staff and volunteers are very helpful and will do their best to answer any questions thrown at them.

I would love to go back on a sunny day to get the full benefit of the trees, plants and memorials. It is growing all the time, so always something new to see.

Please read other reviews as I have not gone into observations that have been covered elsewhere.

Went with a great group of friends to see Grease. Beautiful setting and a fantastic atmosphere. Had such a great time we're all popping across again this year to see Dirty Dancing! Definitely recommend a visit.

We are visiting from Australia and were taken there by our English friend. It was awesome and we used the land train but later walked a short distance to see the Far East memorials. The Changi POW camp exhibition was truly touching and heart breaking. The staff were so warm and friendly.

Extremely interesting and moving experience for all ages. The new visitor centre and refreshment facilities are top class. Staff are extremely helpful. This site will only get better with time.

Visited as part of a coach tour, had two and a half hours here but you could easily spend a whole day.

We took the land train tour (there is a charge and you need to book a time slot at reception, tip: do that as soon as you arrive). It will give you an overview of the site and be useful should you come back in the future.

The site covers not only military memorials but also other organisations.

Absolutely breath taking place. Wonderful for a nice peaceful walk. Main attraction really is something to be seen by everyone.

From the moment we arrived until leaving approx 4 hours later, we were overawed by the knowledge and friendliness of the staff, the layout of the grounds, the monuments themselves and the excellent upkeep of the whole area. We used the road train initially, which took about 45 minutes but then we retraced the journey on foot. It was a truly thought provoking and moving experience. There's good catering facilities and toilets together with a well stocked shop but be prepared for over the top prices. A map of the area costs £3.00. Nevertheless, well worth a visit.

Most of us will know someone who has served in the forces. We visited to pay respects to those who paid the ultimate price. The various memorials are informative. It can be a short or long visit, a stroll around or the land train. We strolled and spent the afternoon, could've stayed all day. Free entry but please make a donation as it helps towards the upkeep , £3 for a folding map (helpful) Volunteers are around should you need help. We visited the cafe for a drink and cake,.Good service and reasonable prices.

My second time here and always a pleasure. Normally I walk around but this time we had OAP's with us, so booked the Land Train. A 50 minute trip which covers most of the sight with excellent commentary.
Due to the layout the elderly were able to get to the main memorial, my only comment is lack of benches for them to use on way up and whilst at the top.
Throughly recommended.

The NMA has always been an interesting venue, but since the reopening and multi million pound upgrade it is now absolutely amazing. You can go there for a whole day and still not see or experience everything. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and the new tour with the hand held radio commentary is superb.Some of the memorials certainly make you stop and think.
The restaurant is excellent serving snacks, meals and drinks and you can book for Sunday lunch too.

This was our first visit, we were greeted in the main visitor area by one of the volunteers, who was able to explain the layout of the Arboretum and share some of his knowledge.

We began the day looking around the naval monuments first, very thought provoking, I went all around the naval and merchant seamen then walked down to the Falkland Island gardens, towards the Truce memorial on Christmas Day WW1.

The sun was out for most of the day, however when walking around the main centre memorial late afternoon, the air got cooler, what was interesting was the number of names on the walls, also the amount of space left was quite staggering!

If you experience limited mobility, there are buggy trips with a guide to explain however there is a small fee.

We spent a whole day there as there were about 150 acres and over 300 monuments to see, there was plenty of seating around so you can just sit and contemplate.

We used their coffee shop, excellent customer service and reasonable prices, was impressed.

We visited the day after the bank holiday, so it was quieter, apparently its worth looking at the website to see what events are happening, they had just had two days of a vintage fair.

This is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area, even if you do not have an interest in the services.

There were other memorials, such as the YMCA, Scouts, Police, Fire, etc

We had wanted to visit this venue for some time and we were not disappointed. We took the land train to give us an overall picture of the layout, which proved invaluable. Plenty of volunteers willing to assist. We enjoyed the whole experience. Although free there are donation boxes and we felt this was the right thing to do at such a memorable venue.

This was my first visit, The monuments were brilliant and so many of them to see, I went mid week and it was very peaceful in some beautiful grounds to walk around..There is so much to see and many more visits for me will definitely be on the cards.
Finished my day with a visit to the shop and cafe...Its also worth a mention that the staff were very friendly...Its a place i will certainly visit again.

Lovely calm place to visit. Staff really friendly and helpful. Many of them volunteers. Wonderful gift shop and great coffee shops. Well worth a visit.

My first visit and it was so moving. From the excellent new visitor centre to the train, monuments and staff it could not be faulted. There is so much to see that we could not do it justice in the 3 hours we were there and so will return soon. The moving monuments to so many deserving regiments and social groups need careful time and consideration and I could not bring myself today to see the monument of those shot at dawn in World War One or study the horrors of those imprisioned by the Japanese .
It is all so beautiful and a must see for all

I can't believe I'd never visited before as I've lived in Lichfield for thirty years now.
I suppose I was expecting a big 'village hall' type set-up but I couldn't have been more mistaken.
We attended a classic car show and were all amazed at just how beautifully set out and tendered to the whole site was.
Immaculate gardens, excellent restaurants/coffee shops and even a beer if you fancy it.
It was just not what any of us were expecting.

I would strongly advise a visit.

The National Memorial Arboretum is now in its second decade.
The changes that it has undergone since its beginnings are remarkable.
When I originally visited in the early years, it was a somewhat damp, puddly sort of place that could be very muddy in parts.
It is now well established with good roads and paths and very good signposting. Clearly the place is a work in progress though. New memorials are being built and developed all the time and I fully expect the National Memorial Arboretum to grow substantially over the next ten years.
Currently it occupies more than 150 acres.
In many ways, now is probably the best time to visit while it is not too large to easily find your way around.
You can choose to have a very rewarding visit on both warm and cool days providing you dress sensibly. I would suggest that very wet days are best avoided though.
You probably need to allow at least three hours for your visit, although you could probably get a flavour of the place in as little as two hours. Most visitors will spend a lot more time seeing everything they want to and the time will fly by.
The National Memorial Arboretum is easy to find just off the A38 dual carriageway in Alrewas. It is well signed with prominent brown tourist signs.
There is a large parking area with good sized parking spaces. Parking is pay and display and just £3.00 to park all day. There are plenty of blue badge spaces close to the Remembrance Centre.
The Remembrance Centre is a well designed modern, contemporary and very welcoming space that includes very clean and smart toilet facilities, a spacious reasonably priced and comfortable restaurant, a coffee shop, a well stocked gift shop with unusual and imaginative souvenirs. Helpful and knowledgeable volunteers and guides are plentiful and will assist you with any information you require to help you plan your visit.
Regular events take place and full details are included on The National Memorial Arboretum website.
The National Memorial Arboretum has put a lot of thought in being accessible to all.
The memorials generally commemorate the military, but also commemorate public services and important charity and civilian institutions. They range from the grand and elaborate to the simple and quite humble. Lots are set in peaceful woodland or calm, reflective wildflower glades. It is impossible not to be moved by the power of most of the memorials.
I personally found the Burma Death Railway and the Sumatra Railway Memorials which feature track originally laid by POW's, especially moving. The Shot At Dawn Memorial on the eastern edge of the Arboretum, is guaranteed to make you think about the terrible fate of young, frightened soldiers shot in WWW1 for apparently being cowards.
If this is your first visit, then the frequent Land Train tour (Around 1 hour duration £5.00 adults/£2.00 children) is a really good way to find your way around the site and get an idea of what you want to see in more detail. There is a clear and very informative commentary.
If you choose to simply walk around the grounds then the roads and paths are all level and well maintained and there are plenty of benches to take a rest or simply to sit and contemplate our recent military history.
The National Memorial Arboretum is well worth a visit. It is a moving and interesting place to see. It is not all sad though and aspects are quite uplifting so you will definitely enjoy your visit.
Admission is free and all profits from the parking, shop, restaurant, coffee shop and other events go towards the upkeep of the arboretum.

Very inspiring place to visit
Peaceful and tranquil and very thought provoking

The monument is lovely and incredibly clever how the sun rises between the walls throwing a shaft of sunlight across it

The gardens are wonderful and you could easily spend half a day here

Exhibitions and educational elements also make it interesting for young and old alike

Large cafe with good choice of food and drink

Good gift shop with wide selection of quality products

Wheelchair friendly

Considering how close this is, I've never taken the time to visit before today , and how much I've missed out,
Very easy to get to just off the a38,
Parking is £3 all day but free entrance .
Fantastic reception building with great facilities , lovely tea room and cafe, but nothing quite prepares you for the site itself .
Truly awe inspiring and very humbling.
It is a magnificent tribute to so many who have paid the ultimate sacrifice .
From the armed services , to the emergency services from around the world .
The monuments are fantastic and as you read the names and some of the stories , you can feel the welling up of emotion the place brings .
Fantastic day out, you will need to visit again as over 300 monuments set in 150 acres .
Land trains and buggies for those less able to walk round the site.

Having been welcomed at the visitor centre the first thing to note about the NMA is the wonderful volunteers. I visited with a coach party over two days and the numerous volunteers we came in to contact with were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
Then there is the visitor centre itself which is great with a cafe / restaurant and a shop where you don't feel you are being conned or ripped off.
Outside first impressions don't begin to show the vastness of the site or give any real idea of the array of memorials to be found.
Your eyes are immediately drawn to the Armed Forces Memorial atop it's 'hill' rightly as a centerpiece but there is so much more.
The thought and care that has gone in to the various memorials is simply stunning. So many have incredible detail and information from conception to construction that we ran out of superlatives as we toured the site.
So many memorials moved us.
Respect, honour and love are on open display as they should be.
A day is not long enough to take everything in, there is a lot of ground to cover away from the land train route and please, please talk to the volunteers who have a wealth of information that you might otherwise miss.

We visited with a mixed group of adults and children (4,8,12). The weather was shocking and rained throughout. We however still had a wonderful visit. We had visited the first time during October half term when their were craft activities and volenteers dressed in uniform giving talks which the children found fascinating. on our last day there were no activities but this didn't matter. This is a beautiful and tranquil place which can't be lost by bad weather. The children liked the parks which they enjoyed. The cafe is also nice, though a little pricey. A moving place of reflection for all ages.

I have visited the NMA a few times over the past few years, mostly with the Royal British Legion Riders and Ride To The Wall. It's always been very impressive but Saturday 6 May 2017 was the first time I'd visited since the new visitor centre opened.
A wonderful job has been done of the new centre, great cafe facility, shop and atrium area. The whole place copes very well with the large influx of bikers that is inevitable when we descend on the Arboretum for memorial commemorations.

The NMA was an incredible place. A great, enjoyable day out whilst still remaining peaceful and respectful, in-keeping with the reason it was first created.
The individual memorials are interesting, emotive and thought provoking to look at but maintain a sense of reverence and respect for all those people who have given there lives in many different ways.
In this cynical age it was grate to find somewhere that wasn't overly expensive or tacky, just designed to get as much money out of you as possible. I got a real sense that it is genuinely about memorial and not money.
The food in the restaurant was grate quality but not over priced. Also, as a wheelchair user, it was lovely to go somewhere where wheelchair access wasn't just a legal requirement or an afterthought. The paths were completely flat and smooth with at least 3 wheelchair accessible toilets that I saw.
The staff were nothing but friendly, helpful and passionate about the NMA. All in all a grate day out