National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
It's ok for a walk, a monument in progress. I was missing something in the setup, it seemed a bit hap hazard as setup, no clear line to follow.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was my second visit; the first being over 10 years ago so lots had changed.
Very majestic in places but discreet in others but everywhere a sense of sadness and loss.
The most moving was the memorial hut to the Far East campaign and the Japanese treatment of those captured. I stood and watched a 6 minute video of 3 men who had survived, well into their 80s at the time of filming. Their bravery, their strength to not give up hope under unimaginable conditions but most strikingly their lack of bitterness. I don't understand that part but I'm hopeful that they were able to find some kind of peace over the years. And ever grateful for what they went through for our sakes.
I understand that the site is undergoing some remodelling which will be excellent when it's completed.
I have visited many commonwealth war graves across the world. If I was to have one criticism it would be that the planting and lawns aren't up to this standard. I think this is an area which should be improved.
Very majestic in places but discreet in others but everywhere a sense of sadness and loss.
The most moving was the memorial hut to the Far East campaign and the Japanese treatment of those captured. I stood and watched a 6 minute video of 3 men who had survived, well into their 80s at the time of filming. Their bravery, their strength to not give up hope under unimaginable conditions but most strikingly their lack of bitterness. I don't understand that part but I'm hopeful that they were able to find some kind of peace over the years. And ever grateful for what they went through for our sakes.
I understand that the site is undergoing some remodelling which will be excellent when it's completed.
I have visited many commonwealth war graves across the world. If I was to have one criticism it would be that the planting and lawns aren't up to this standard. I think this is an area which should be improved.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I have visited here numerous times since it first opened as I live quite close by. It has been a privilege to see how it has been developed over the years. Regardless of the fact i do not know any of the names on any of the memorials personally i still find it a wonderful way to recognize and respect many o the people who served our country.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Highly emotional, though provoking, and informative. Beautifully presented. Lovely riverside walk in addition to all the walking through the various monuments and memorials. A land train tour is available for those with walking difficulty, as is a golf buggy tour - both on payment of a fee. This site covers 150 acres so take good comfortable walking shoes. Entry is free although there is a suggested donation of £5.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Having seem this on the television we were inspired to make a two hour drive to visit. We were not disappointed, far from it.
The memorials had started from the second world war and covered all the services. Touchingly there was a moving memorial to those who deserted too.
The memorials covered a large area and took us the best part of five hours to cover what we wanted.
Free to enter, car park £3 and donations accepted.
The memorials had started from the second world war and covered all the services. Touchingly there was a moving memorial to those who deserted too.
The memorials covered a large area and took us the best part of five hours to cover what we wanted.
Free to enter, car park £3 and donations accepted.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A must for every Briton. Visit this beautiful arboretum and wander in silence among the many peaceful well planted gardens, marvel at the monuments, made from all things such as wood, marble, to Portland Stone. This place really is a fitting tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may wander, free, and unhindered to admire the beautifully created memorial's. Select an armed force branch, then a segment from that branch, find it and take in the beauty of it's design, read the appropriate words engraved therin, perhaps shed a tear for someone you knew who paid that terrible price, and say a prayer. If you are not fit enough to walk take the RoadTrain, pay the small price, and as you are driven round listen in silence to the commentary whilst viewing the garden's you pass. So peaceful, so tranquil, so enjoyable. Visit and see if you agree with me.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were here as part of the VJ Day commemoration, and as such it was a very personal experience.
I would prefer to keep my thoughts private, but it is run and maintained in a remarkable and unique manner.
I would prefer to keep my thoughts private, but it is run and maintained in a remarkable and unique manner.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Surprisingly large, extremely respectful and tasteful memorial to a huge range of services, battalions and individual members of the armed services but also organisations that serve the nation in very different ways eg the RNLI.
A thought provoking place that gives pause for thought.
A very decent cafe, very helpful staff, massive car park - £3 all day. Voluntary contribution based entry.
A thought provoking place that gives pause for thought.
A very decent cafe, very helpful staff, massive car park - £3 all day. Voluntary contribution based entry.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited by coach but plenty of parking. Very interesting and so many varied monuments a lot to take in
. I was looking for my father in laws name on the Killed in Service Memorial and found it very easily , photo taken forzMother in law. Lots of walking, but there is a train also mobility scooters are available (pre book).The chapel is lovely with wood carvings and a nice quiet place to sit and reflect.The restaurant has a good selection of food and drinks and the gift shop was doing a roaring trade. Wonderful place and well worth a return visit as there is so much to see .
. I was looking for my father in laws name on the Killed in Service Memorial and found it very easily , photo taken forzMother in law. Lots of walking, but there is a train also mobility scooters are available (pre book).The chapel is lovely with wood carvings and a nice quiet place to sit and reflect.The restaurant has a good selection of food and drinks and the gift shop was doing a roaring trade. Wonderful place and well worth a return visit as there is so much to see .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
As a member of the British Legion Riders Branch, I along with fellow Riders attended the VJ Day at the NMA. It is a fantastic place to visit at any time, but this day was made more poignant as there were also Veterans present. To meet a real life Chinditt was an honour, to think of what he went through at 18 being dropped behind the enemy lines and living the life he did, its a marvel that he and others are still with us. A very moving day. I'm looking forward to the Ride To The Wall (RTTW) now in its 8th yr, on 3rd Oct when around 20,000 bikers and scooterists will meet up and honour our fallen friends.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wanted to visit this place since it opened. We were not disappointed.
Awesome.
Free entry but £3 to park.
£3 for a map. You do need one its huge.
Great cafe. picnic areas.
The memorials are astounding especially the Royal Artillery one. Easily the best designed garden in the place says a non baised ex Gunnner.
We were there 5hrs and did not see it all.
Staff were all very friendly and helpful.
We will return
Awesome.
Free entry but £3 to park.
£3 for a map. You do need one its huge.
Great cafe. picnic areas.
The memorials are astounding especially the Royal Artillery one. Easily the best designed garden in the place says a non baised ex Gunnner.
We were there 5hrs and did not see it all.
Staff were all very friendly and helpful.
We will return
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited on Sunday 16th August and as there was a memorial service for VJ Day several veterans from that conflict, their array of glinting medals worn with pride and supported by their families, were in evidence. This alone was very moving but made more so by the section of the Arboretum which commemorates the war in the East. I found particularly emotional the lynch gate from the cemetery at Changi prison and the sections of old railway built by PoWs. The memorial to those shot at dawn also gives pause for thought and quite reflection.
There is a huge amount of seating around and about; it was much needed... it was good to be able to take a few minutes here and there to view the memorials and take stock. The RAF memorial was beautiful in the summer sun, the Polish memorial was formidable and informative and the Land Army's statue made me smile...
The Arboretum is immaculate and vast; comfortable shoes are definitely the order of the day but when your energy flags there is always the land train or a golf buggy.... even so we were hard pressed to get around all of the Arboretum so will need a second trip here.
There is a huge amount of seating around and about; it was much needed... it was good to be able to take a few minutes here and there to view the memorials and take stock. The RAF memorial was beautiful in the summer sun, the Polish memorial was formidable and informative and the Land Army's statue made me smile...
The Arboretum is immaculate and vast; comfortable shoes are definitely the order of the day but when your energy flags there is always the land train or a golf buggy.... even so we were hard pressed to get around all of the Arboretum so will need a second trip here.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited with my grandparents and our day at the arboretum was a very enjoyable and informative day. There are many and varied memorials in the huge grounds. The surroundings are very peaceful and laid out. We spent half a day here but to be honest if you want to explore and see all the memorials you would need a whole day. The grounds and memorials are very well looked after and the staff are very helpful and welcoming. There was also a good café located at the arboretum which was very reasonably priced. I would really recommend anyone who has never visited this peaceful place to come and visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wonderful place to visit. Try to get there for the 11am 2 minutes silence in the chapel. The land train to take you round the site is well worth the £5 charge, takes 50 minutes and helps you get your bearings if you want to go and see something in particular.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent tribute to those who gave their lives so that we can live the way we do, I feel privileged to have visited the Arboretum on several occasions and never tire looking at the tributes the wall of memory is very special. Its a most sobering experience and a must see for all.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Th place was fabulous. very interesting and sad at the same time. those lost to wars have been memorialized in a fabulous way. the monuments are extremely well crafted and one can learn alot from the guides. it is free to enter with a £5 fee if you wanted a tour on the mini road train. Great for those with walking problems. after the forst visit i returned 2 weeks later and took a friend,
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An extremely interesting place. You have a very happy time but also is a sad and very thought provoking place. The memorials are displayed around a vast area, a lot of walking....wear comfortable shoes and clothes. There is a train that goes around the memorials and also electric scooters available ( do not know if they have to be pre booked or if there is a charge). Royal British Legion now manage the Arboretum.
There is a Chapel that is also good to see.
A restaurant is on site and although I have only had tea and cakes, the hot food looks delicious.
There is a Chapel that is also good to see.
A restaurant is on site and although I have only had tea and cakes, the hot food looks delicious.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited in the school holidays with two children aged 10 and 13. I wasn't sure they would enjoy it but we all had a really good day. It's really quite sobering to see how many people have lost their lives fighting for their country. There was so much to see we didn't have time to fit everything in so will definitely visit again. We had a coffee in the cafe which was nice and reasonably priced but took a picnic for lunch so can't comment on the food. Entrance is free and they charge £3 to park. Overall I would definitely recommend a visit here.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
For anyone who has or had a relative who served in conflicts from the Great War up until the present day this is a must visit. Equally if you've no association at all with the services, there's something to engage and make you reflect on life and sacrifice here. Whether it's the walk along the tree lined path to commemorate Police Officers killed, or the Children's woodland with carved characters from 'The Wind in the Willows' where babies and children who have died are remembered. If you can, do attend the Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness at about 10:45 for a short talk as to why we hold a 'Two minute silence' and then at 11am join with others to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Afterwards a guide will give you a 10 minute introduction as to how and why the NMA came into being and why it's located in a former quarry in the middle of the country.
The site is still continuing to grow and a new visitor's centre is about to be built as numbers are approaching nearly half a million every year.
There is no entrance charge, only a £3 car park fee, and all the guides are volunteers. Many come every weekend to pass on their enthusiasm about this unique site and to remind us all that 'we will remember them'.
Afterwards a guide will give you a 10 minute introduction as to how and why the NMA came into being and why it's located in a former quarry in the middle of the country.
The site is still continuing to grow and a new visitor's centre is about to be built as numbers are approaching nearly half a million every year.
There is no entrance charge, only a £3 car park fee, and all the guides are volunteers. Many come every weekend to pass on their enthusiasm about this unique site and to remind us all that 'we will remember them'.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Attended the commemoration service 70th Anniversary of VJ Day, in the beautiful landscape gardens of the arboretum. The service was beautiful and the grounds are full of over 300 memorials. It is free entry (car park charge) and there is a land train with commentary for those wanting to see the immense gardens in this way.
There are cafe and restaurant facilities and picnic areas.
It is a very peaceful tranquil place a fitting tribute. The Far East Prisoners of War Memorial Building houses an exhibition there is also a piece of the Burma Railway track. An emotional and educational day set in beautiful surroundings.
There are cafe and restaurant facilities and picnic areas.
It is a very peaceful tranquil place a fitting tribute. The Far East Prisoners of War Memorial Building houses an exhibition there is also a piece of the Burma Railway track. An emotional and educational day set in beautiful surroundings.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were lucky with the weather on our visit. A nice sunny, but a bit too warm, day. Easy to find. Parking OK in the big car-park. Helpful staff at the entrance but once you buy your ticket and enter the grounds "staff.. helpful or not" are very thin on the ground. You can buy a thick booklet that will give details but we didn't as it was a pretty big booklet. Didn't want to lug that around all day. You can take a train tour (with commentary) around the grounds if you wish but at £5 per person I think its a tad expensive. And if you take the "train" it's not a hop-off hop-on service so you cannot "hop-off" and linger in a specific area if you want to take photo's etc and then "hop-on" the next train. The "centrepiece" memorial has to be the one on the hill. There are a few good statues/memorial (Polish armed forces, para's, shot-at-dawn, Basra wall, to name a few... but overall it wasn't as thought provoking as I hoped/expected. I guess if you have a direct family link to a specific memorial it is somewhat more poignant. Food wise. Best advice is take your own. It's an expensive place to eat.. On the plus side there is an abundance of seats/benches for weary legs to rest on. Another slight negative is that the few area with flowers/roses could do with a bit of TLC.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Have visited a couple of times now . Beautiful landscapes with roses and trees everywhere and something new to discover ,. Plenty of places to stop and sit and contemplate . The memorials range from grand impressive structures to individual plaques . Really thought Provoking and emotional. The place is somewhere everybody should visit .. Not only memorials for the forces , but emergency services , stillborns , and lots more . I happened to be by one of the most recent conflicts memorials when 5 soldiers In full uniform appeared .. To pay respects to a lost colleague .., very very emotional moment , I quietly walked away to leave them with their thoughts .
I shall continue to visit and support this venture and everybody should do the same .
Excellent on site facilities with a superb cafe serving hearty home cooked food and cake . Please visit .
I shall continue to visit and support this venture and everybody should do the same .
Excellent on site facilities with a superb cafe serving hearty home cooked food and cake . Please visit .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Peaceful. A place to think whether you have a few minutes or a whole day. Always evolving. and never the same place twice.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A lovely day out, the staff were all very knowledgeable and helpful. A very moving and humbling experience, will visit again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
regardless of what you think about military intervention you should visit this place
its a wonderful place to pay your respects for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
its a wonderful place to pay your respects for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
