National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Beautiful and moving memorials to so much more than the armed forces. The train and buggy rides were informative and convenient though booking in advance is recommended...the buggy tour is especially good as you can ask your guide questions, the train ride is a recording. We were all moved to tears on several occasions...
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited on a sunny saturday in May.
£3 to park, and a suggested donation of £5 per person. Gift aid available.
Marvellous venue with many poignant memorials to our war dead.
Decent restaurant and cafe on site. Gift shop too. New kids play area beyond main buildings and chapel.
Guided tour and roadtrain also available. Huge 120 acre site (if I remember correctly?) is immaculately maintained and we spent a good few hours here. Paid my respects to a school friend who was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
The main memorial is stunning, with a sobering number of names carved onto it's walls.
I shall certainly visit again.
£3 to park, and a suggested donation of £5 per person. Gift aid available.
Marvellous venue with many poignant memorials to our war dead.
Decent restaurant and cafe on site. Gift shop too. New kids play area beyond main buildings and chapel.
Guided tour and roadtrain also available. Huge 120 acre site (if I remember correctly?) is immaculately maintained and we spent a good few hours here. Paid my respects to a school friend who was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
The main memorial is stunning, with a sobering number of names carved onto it's walls.
I shall certainly visit again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
First visit .Absolutely fantastic place. Staff very helpful. Very moving. Free entrance but you are asked to make a donation, £5 is suggested.Well worth it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Enjoyed a couple of hours walking around the grounds which are maintained to a high level. Definitely worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was our second visit the first being 2 years ago.
The new reception area, restaurant and shop are a great improvement and very fitting. All the volunteer staff were very welcoming and friendly, the ones in reception helped us find a particular tree dedication site and others around the site often stopping to talk as we walked around. They obviously enjoy their role and were very knowledgeable, helpful and empathetic.
It is useful to take the train around the site early on as this gives you a good overview of what is there and also information about many of the memorials. However I do think that it would be even more useful if it was a hop-on-hop-off train.
On our last visit we realised that it is a lot more than just military memorials and we went this time to specifically visit the very moving SANDS garden and to find a tree, very recently dedicated to those from out local area who lost their lives in the 2 World Wars.
If you are able to get into the chapel for the 2 minutes silence at 11am it is well worthwhile.
We walked a lot in order to see the Far East Prisoner of War memorials, the Christmas Truce memorial and the Shot at Dawn memorial which is particularly poignant and discovered lots of others on the way. The centrepiece of the Armed Forces Memorial inscribed with over 16000 names of those who have died in service since the end of World War ll, and space for many more is very significant.
I am sure that we will visit again, more than once, as it is a very special place
The new reception area, restaurant and shop are a great improvement and very fitting. All the volunteer staff were very welcoming and friendly, the ones in reception helped us find a particular tree dedication site and others around the site often stopping to talk as we walked around. They obviously enjoy their role and were very knowledgeable, helpful and empathetic.
It is useful to take the train around the site early on as this gives you a good overview of what is there and also information about many of the memorials. However I do think that it would be even more useful if it was a hop-on-hop-off train.
On our last visit we realised that it is a lot more than just military memorials and we went this time to specifically visit the very moving SANDS garden and to find a tree, very recently dedicated to those from out local area who lost their lives in the 2 World Wars.
If you are able to get into the chapel for the 2 minutes silence at 11am it is well worthwhile.
We walked a lot in order to see the Far East Prisoner of War memorials, the Christmas Truce memorial and the Shot at Dawn memorial which is particularly poignant and discovered lots of others on the way. The centrepiece of the Armed Forces Memorial inscribed with over 16000 names of those who have died in service since the end of World War ll, and space for many more is very significant.
I am sure that we will visit again, more than once, as it is a very special place
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
It is great that we have a place that recognises the service of all those people who have risked their lives to keep us safe. The place is laid out in zones that recognises the contributions of all our various armed services
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was our second visit, never run out of things to see, very moving. Treated to a classic car show on the Sunday. Love visiting this place. Burma railway memorial very impactful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here today and found it very interesting but also very humbling. Fabulous place with great restaurant and coffee shop. Lovely gift shop too. We really enjoyed it and the staff are very helpful and friendly . Definitely worth visiting. Makes me feel blessed to be alive thanks to all these very brave and special people who gave their lives for us.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The National Memorial Arboretum is a truly amazing place. Situated in the middle of the country it provides a peaceful and extensive area for the nation to honour those who made the extreme sacrifice. The facilities are first class and the whole experience was both very interesting and uplifting. Highly recommended
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited the National Memorial Arboretum and found it to be a humbling experience. So much to see and take in and so well well kept and respectful.
The grounds are so special and peaceful where we can take in the many aspects of memory not only from serving personnel but the organisations that also played a part in the lives of people
The grounds are so special and peaceful where we can take in the many aspects of memory not only from serving personnel but the organisations that also played a part in the lives of people
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited the arboretum over the Bank Holiday. It was a beautiful day, extremely thought provoking and a lovely place to reflect. The grounds are beautiful and the memorials well marked and cared for. We only had time to visit half the memorials but we will be returning. The surroundings are peaceful and walking around reading the dedications was, in some cases quite saddening, the overriding feeling I had was pride, humility and thankfulness that individuals thought humanity was worth losing their lives for.
Facilities are excellent we had some lunch in a very busy restaurant and prices were reasonable. The shop was also reasonably priced and staff helpful. This is a wonderful place to spend a day, there is a children's play area and other activities on site. The site is free to enter and car parking just £3. Canine family members are more than welcome to join you. There is a small charge for some exhibitions and donations are very welcome. We hear and see the worst of humanity too often, these individuals are an inspiration and demonstrate the best that humanity has to offer. We will remember them.
Facilities are excellent we had some lunch in a very busy restaurant and prices were reasonable. The shop was also reasonably priced and staff helpful. This is a wonderful place to spend a day, there is a children's play area and other activities on site. The site is free to enter and car parking just £3. Canine family members are more than welcome to join you. There is a small charge for some exhibitions and donations are very welcome. We hear and see the worst of humanity too often, these individuals are an inspiration and demonstrate the best that humanity has to offer. We will remember them.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a great place to visit. Loads to see. The gardens are lovely. You can spend hours here. There is a nice café and shop. Only £3 to park all day. Spend time exploring it all and leave a donation to support it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wow this is an impressive place! There is a new visitor centre with cafe and gift shop as well as access to the main arboretum. The site covers a massive area with areas paying tribute to all sections of the services. It would take hours to walk the whole thing! There are also information places around we particularly were impressed by the Far East exhibition. Everywhere is well maintained. When we visited parking was £3 for however long you stayed but entrance was free (voluntary donation can be made). For those less mobile there's a land train and mobility scooters available at extra cost but the place is generally flat so ok to walk but it could be tiring trying to cover such a big area. Dogs are not allowed on the main site but there are special dog walking trails available close by. There's also a play area for children. So something for everyone. One last thing the ice creams are great!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The site is really well thought out with great staff and facilities. The grounds are so special and the kind of visit you have is really what you make it. The children's playground was welcome as our 4 year old needed something to encourage her to get round the rest of the site. A wonderful atmosphere.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
General:
I went today with family. I'm still speechless. There is such a silent, effortless national pride that radiates that it's actually quite overwhelming. It's free entry, with a well priced coffee shop and cafe.
Pros:
Inclusive - besides the crosses and rectangular wooden things you can write on and place beside your chosen regiment or monument, there are also Star of David's and Sikh symbols.
Staff are friendly, helpful and approachable.
The monuments are varied and breath-taking.
Cons:
None.
I went today with family. I'm still speechless. There is such a silent, effortless national pride that radiates that it's actually quite overwhelming. It's free entry, with a well priced coffee shop and cafe.
Pros:
Inclusive - besides the crosses and rectangular wooden things you can write on and place beside your chosen regiment or monument, there are also Star of David's and Sikh symbols.
Staff are friendly, helpful and approachable.
The monuments are varied and breath-taking.
Cons:
None.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A moving and wonderful place. Take the little train so that you see the whole site. Allow a day as it is large. So so moving to go around all the different memorials. Is a large coffee shop/ restaurant on site. There are buggies for the less mobile.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My third visit to the NMA and all for different reasons, this time it was as a visitor to a motoring event called "Drive it day".
I do believe that as well as the important core purpose of remembrance, the venue offers a superb outdoor space for displays and exhibitions, on this occasion, about 150 classic cars all parked in their own space in a beautiful setting with ample room to look around them, to sit and chat and to enjoy the venue and its participants.
We found the car parking charge of £3 to be entirely reasonable given that entry to the Arboretum is free and the car park is really well laid out and maintained. We enjoyed a coffee and cake in one of the cafes in the visitor centre at a very reasonable cost and again, the space is pleasant and welcoming.
The staff were most helpful, we found them all to be cheery about their work and keen to make you happy, I assume that some of them must be volunteers, they have that air of "happy to be involved" about them, well done guys, it does make a difference to the visitor.
This is a huge site, it has been made as wheelchair friendly as possible but you will still need to take your best "walking legs" with you, there are a few benches dotted around, not enough toilets, its not that the toilets they have can't cope with numbers, it is that many of the guests appeared to be "of age" and when you need to go, a 1/4 mile walk back to the loo can be a bit daunting.
The visitor centre is new, it's open and airy, smart and very usable as a conference centre, a display area or just a place to sit and reflect, the areas outside are superbly designed and on a sunny day it's worth a trip out there just to enjoy the sun and the outdoors.
I'd love to see the centre being used to its full potential, exhibitions, concerts, events, access from the road is superb, signage is excellent and this is a world class venue on our doorstep.
I do believe that as well as the important core purpose of remembrance, the venue offers a superb outdoor space for displays and exhibitions, on this occasion, about 150 classic cars all parked in their own space in a beautiful setting with ample room to look around them, to sit and chat and to enjoy the venue and its participants.
We found the car parking charge of £3 to be entirely reasonable given that entry to the Arboretum is free and the car park is really well laid out and maintained. We enjoyed a coffee and cake in one of the cafes in the visitor centre at a very reasonable cost and again, the space is pleasant and welcoming.
The staff were most helpful, we found them all to be cheery about their work and keen to make you happy, I assume that some of them must be volunteers, they have that air of "happy to be involved" about them, well done guys, it does make a difference to the visitor.
This is a huge site, it has been made as wheelchair friendly as possible but you will still need to take your best "walking legs" with you, there are a few benches dotted around, not enough toilets, its not that the toilets they have can't cope with numbers, it is that many of the guests appeared to be "of age" and when you need to go, a 1/4 mile walk back to the loo can be a bit daunting.
The visitor centre is new, it's open and airy, smart and very usable as a conference centre, a display area or just a place to sit and reflect, the areas outside are superbly designed and on a sunny day it's worth a trip out there just to enjoy the sun and the outdoors.
I'd love to see the centre being used to its full potential, exhibitions, concerts, events, access from the road is superb, signage is excellent and this is a world class venue on our doorstep.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent memorial to many arms of the forces and particular Army Corps.
Very peaceful and easy to walk around. Excellent layout and very well kept
Everything is top quality and thought provoking. Free entry and £3 to park
Gift store is good with a large restaurant and coffee shop
Very peaceful and easy to walk around. Excellent layout and very well kept
Everything is top quality and thought provoking. Free entry and £3 to park
Gift store is good with a large restaurant and coffee shop
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here and was very impressed.
Well worth making the journey.
We were advised to take the train round which is excellent value at £5.00 per person. Having complete the round trip you can then walk round to the sections that you wish to see more of. Without taking the train trip I am sure we would not have seen 25% of it.
Very well thought out and leaves you with lots of food for thought.
Well worth making the journey.
We were advised to take the train round which is excellent value at £5.00 per person. Having complete the round trip you can then walk round to the sections that you wish to see more of. Without taking the train trip I am sure we would not have seen 25% of it.
Very well thought out and leaves you with lots of food for thought.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely gardens and walks through the NMA. Shocking to see the walls of names of those lost since WWII, so many. New fun outdoor area for kids, and excellent restaurant for meals and also a new coffee shop. Definitely worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Over the years this is the 3rd visit and yet again even more to see. This time because it was a cold damp day we used the land train which was very good but could be improved by allowing you to get off and rejoin later so we could fully explore the bits too far for us to walk. The new visitors centre and restaurant was excellent with very good food and extremely helpful staff. Yet again it was another good visit but maybe some shelter from rain and some loos the far end of the site would be helpful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A place where you will want to visit again. We were delighted with the new Visitors Centre with a restaurant serving a good variety of food and drink. The land train is a must, afterwards you can plan your walking to memorials that you wish to explore. A very humbling experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Fantastic place to visit, huge venue with all military branches remembered. Plenty of helpful staff, place was spotless.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a truly wonderful, thought provoking place to visit. Very emotional and so very peaceful. Highly recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent memorial but very emotional and touching, well worth a visit for everyone. The layout is good but you need some good walking shoes as there is alot of ground to cover
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
