National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Have been here at least 4 times every visit discover something different. Took my distant cousin from Canada he is ex military and he could not believe the work that had gone into it he found it a very moving and thought provoking day. It was during this visit I really spent a long amount of time in the area dedicated to the army out in India the chindits off which my father was part of reading some of the documents made me realise why he never spoke much about it. There's a little train that can take you round but all pathways are very manageable.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited these Memorial Grounds on a cold and windy day in February. We were met by a very welcoming volunteer who on learning it was our first visit explained where everything that we need to find was. We attended the 11am remembrance service where there was a man who when the service was over asked permission to read a prayer. This request was granted and the man explained that that day was the 72nd anniversary to the time allowing for time differences that his father was killed in the Far East . This was so emotional and thank you to the volunteer who agreed to the request. It obviously meant a lot to the man and after all that's what the Memorial Grounds are for. The volunteer then explained the history of the Arboretum. We spent a good couple of hours walking round looking at all the various memorials until our faces were frozen stiff with cold. We took a train ride which was well worth the £5 each. It showed us just how much bigger the grounds are than we thought and knew we wouldn't see even half of it in one day. We had a lovely roast dinner where again the staff were very friendly. As it was February and very cold the grounds and restaurant were not too busy but there were still lots of people there and I imagine in the summer it will be packed as it should be. It is obvious that a great deal of thought has gone into the creating and positioning of the memorials and this was explained on the train ride. A trip to the National Memorial Arboretum is a must and we will certainly visit again as there is no way a single trip is sufficient. We went as a mark of respect to all those who have given their lives so that we can live as we do today. There is no charge for entry but £3 all day parking - cheap and the money goes towards the upkeep. I would recommend everyone to take a trip here.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
So much thought has gone into this memorial. Respect for those who died shown throughout. Some beautiful art works and great home cooked food in the restaurant.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were fortunate to be able to visit the day following storm Doris when the wind had dropped and the sun shone. There is no entry fee only a £3 charge for parking.
It had been decided to start the visit using the road train, which at £5 each was good value as the commentary helps to orientate where to follow up later. In total we spent 3 hours in the grounds as there are numerous memorials that are not all military to view. Many of the memorial sculptures are outstanding.
The extensive grounds are well maintained and there is a modern visitor centre with cafe and restaurant.
It had been decided to start the visit using the road train, which at £5 each was good value as the commentary helps to orientate where to follow up later. In total we spent 3 hours in the grounds as there are numerous memorials that are not all military to view. Many of the memorial sculptures are outstanding.
The extensive grounds are well maintained and there is a modern visitor centre with cafe and restaurant.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Everyone should take the time to visit. It's very heart wrenching to see some of the memorials but makes you appreciate the vast extent of what our services have done/ still do for our country. My dad served during the 90-91 gulf war and he came with us was undescribable proudness to share the experience with him especially the memorial to the gulf war recently added. £3 only to park the rest is donation based but it is not asked for by anyone however the grounds for their extent you wouldn't mind donating (we did) to the upkeep and the memory of all those memorials to people! Highly recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
From walking through the door until leaving you are made welcome by all those that work here at the National Memorial Arboretum. My first stop was the restaurant for a full English and I've got to say, sorry wife, but it's the best I've ever tasted.
Then through the door into a vast experience of the gardens. It is a personal time in the gardens and it meant a lot for me.
So when you get the chance please go. It's in memory of lots of individuals who gave the most they could. The upmost Their Lives.
Then through the door into a vast experience of the gardens. It is a personal time in the gardens and it meant a lot for me.
So when you get the chance please go. It's in memory of lots of individuals who gave the most they could. The upmost Their Lives.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Just returned from a great Visit here. My 4yr old grandson enjoyed dressing up and exploring the north pole and finding the polar bear. The guide was very engaging even my 2yr old granddaughter enjoyed it too. A great guide. Then more fun making picture frames with lots of sticky paper and glitter. The ladies running it were again very lovely.
Unfortunately it was too windy to explore all of outside but what I did see is both amazing and moving. I definitely intend to visit again soon.
Helen T and Family.
Unfortunately it was too windy to explore all of outside but what I did see is both amazing and moving. I definitely intend to visit again soon.
Helen T and Family.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A calm and tranquil place to remember and educate young people. Some staff were a little rude though.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The NMA seems to cater for most a wide range of visitors. It's a riverside country park planted with (young) trees and with scattered memorials for all the armed forces and support services, so you can enjoy a good walk (or buggy ride) and/or learn about and contemplate the sacrifice represented by the memorials. We found some of them very moving, and the Far East WWII room particularly so - it's harrowing even if you know what to expect. There are children-friendly areas, and a very good cafe. It's well visited, so everything is on a fairly large scale.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
a must for anybody interested in what is presented . take more than one visit to take it all in . so many facets included now as its grown and grown .
i belive had more royal visits than any other place last year . not suprising really .
i belive had more royal visits than any other place last year . not suprising really .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited briefly to pay my respect whilst on business in Lichfield last December (2016) how its changed since day one - big thank you to everyone involved - it's a moving experience now and I'm so glad we have such a place at home!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very interesting day out, although the weather was dull and wet. Never guessed there would be so many memorials to read. Lovely new cafeteria and gift shop. Staff were very pleasant. Remember to wear stout shoes as there is a lot of walking over grass and your feet can get very wet. Definitely worth a visit or two.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Took family here as they are very into everything about the war. It is such a lovely place. You can wander around at your own pace. Plenty of seats along the way. Best buy a guide book. Came in very handy to explain a lot of memorials. This isn't just about war there were memorials for just about everything. I learnt so much here. It is very peaceful and in the summer it must be beautiful with all the flowers . Would love to come back and see the poppy field . There are guides everywhere to help. The cafe does such lovely homemade food and it isn't expensive. It is spotlessly clean everywhere. A lovely shop with some wonderful buys. It is £3 to park for the day and is free to go in with voluntary contributions welcomed. Not a place for children if they can't be quiet and behave as after all it is a place of memorials not a theme park. Well worth a visit
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is one place I have been meaning to come to for a while and at last we did, and I am so glad I did. This place is beautiful, sad, meaningful and a place that should be seen to mark some respect to lost soldiers who have given their lives. Respect to them all. I will be back in the summer. Please come its worth every minute.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A fitting tribute. Beautiful grounds. Peaceful setting. A place to commerce heroes. Only a flying visit so chose the land train but would return and spend longer. Helpful staff and volunteers. Grounds well maintained and centre was spotless and pristine.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We enjoyed the experience of visiting the Arboretum and decided to have a snack before the journey back. The afternoon tea was just the job. A selection of freshly made sandwich, ham, cheese, tuna and egg were our choice with salad very tasty 😁 Aww then came the cakes and scones with jam and clotted cream. DELICIOUS. All homemade a real treat with a nice hot pot of tea. Would highly recommend and at £17 for two excellent value for money 👍
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is certainly not the place for a fun day out. However, the site is well organised and attractively set out, and it is a poignant reminder of the consequences of war. Those who lost their lives in wars involving Britain since 1914 are all remembered in the vast number of memorials on this site. It is not a glorification of war, however: there is a programme of talks, which includes reference to conscientious objectors and to organisations such as the Quakers.
Admission is free, but parking costs £3, and there is a charge of £7.50 (concessions available) for the use of an audio guide, which also grants entry to the Landscapes of Life exhibition. I’m not a great fan of audio guides, and I didn’t find this one particularly helpful: there seemed to be relatively few locations where one could use it, and it provided information about the physical details of monuments (such as their weight or how long it took to make them) rather than their significance. There is also a larger guide in book form, available at additional cost.
The grounds are spacious and attractive. It was a pity it was so cold on a February day, otherwise we would have explored them further. Inside, the exhibition was imaginative, and catering facilities were excellent, offering light lunches including home-made cake. There is also a gift shop.
Visitors should not miss out on the Millennium Chapel, which depicts how the various Christian apostles met their deaths. It is a working chapel, offering regular services as well as talks. For children there is a small play area, discreetly designed to blend with the character of the venue, rather than in typical nursery colours.
Our visit was an interesting experience, although it is not the sort of venue I personally enjoy visiting.
Admission is free, but parking costs £3, and there is a charge of £7.50 (concessions available) for the use of an audio guide, which also grants entry to the Landscapes of Life exhibition. I’m not a great fan of audio guides, and I didn’t find this one particularly helpful: there seemed to be relatively few locations where one could use it, and it provided information about the physical details of monuments (such as their weight or how long it took to make them) rather than their significance. There is also a larger guide in book form, available at additional cost.
The grounds are spacious and attractive. It was a pity it was so cold on a February day, otherwise we would have explored them further. Inside, the exhibition was imaginative, and catering facilities were excellent, offering light lunches including home-made cake. There is also a gift shop.
Visitors should not miss out on the Millennium Chapel, which depicts how the various Christian apostles met their deaths. It is a working chapel, offering regular services as well as talks. For children there is a small play area, discreetly designed to blend with the character of the venue, rather than in typical nursery colours.
Our visit was an interesting experience, although it is not the sort of venue I personally enjoy visiting.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a great experience. I had very few expectations in terms of size and personal impact, so it wasn't hard for those to be exceeded! But it's a wonderful and peaceful place, covering a vast area. I walked over 8km and didn't cover it all by any means. It's well laid out, and easy to navigate, and the audio guide is a bonus.
Wear sturdy shoes because you'll be walking on grass (mud atm) as well as paths.
The NMA is still relatively new and so the trees are not especially mature, making it a little lacking in shelter if there's a cold wind blowing!
Loads of volunteers around to help too.
Good cafe too as a reward at the end!
Wear sturdy shoes because you'll be walking on grass (mud atm) as well as paths.
The NMA is still relatively new and so the trees are not especially mature, making it a little lacking in shelter if there's a cold wind blowing!
Loads of volunteers around to help too.
Good cafe too as a reward at the end!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great place to visit. We will definitely be going back did not get to see all of it so had to choose which areas to to see also great work done by all the volunteers who are a great help.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A lovely place to go to think about all those men and women who gave their lives to defend us. More uplifting than sad
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very emotional, interesting and plenty to see and do. Would highly recommend a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum. Would recommend the restaurant too
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Absolutely brilliant place car parking and mobility parking mobility scooters for hire very low prices facilities are brilliant staff and attendants are absolutely brilliant they can not do enough for you there is cafeteria and restaurant facilities it is a well looked after place well worth the visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a must visit for everyone, poignant, uplifting, sad, grateful, thoughtful, reflective. Oh and it's got a great visitor centre.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited the National Memorial Arboretum the weekend after Remembrance Sunday. The site is unique in providing a space for a variety of memorials in honour of a variety of groups. The centrepiece, a wall dedicated to British military lives lost in combat, is the highlight, providing a poignant visual representation of soldiers killed in action.
While access to the site is free, the on-site refreshments are quite expensive. I raise this not to complain, as I expect that funds raised go toward the maintenance of the site, but to let large families know in advance.
While access to the site is free, the on-site refreshments are quite expensive. I raise this not to complain, as I expect that funds raised go toward the maintenance of the site, but to let large families know in advance.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Just an incredible moving experience. Everyone should visit here. It is an extraordinary memorial to all those lives lost over 100 years of war.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
