National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Beautiful Autumn day for a visit to the National Arboretum. £3 to park and a little walk down the road to the site.Really helpful volunteers at the entrance to guide you how to make the most of your visit. There is a voluntary £5 donation should you wish to make one. We opted for the land train at £5 each which takes a 30 minute tour round , with narration giving a huge amount of information on the varying memorials.My only negative comment is about the train driver who was obnoxious, however I have contacted the Arboretum directly regarding this so wont go into detail.
I was surprised at how vast the memorial is, much more than I expected. It is beautifully and sensitively laid out, with many quiet spots if you need to have a moment. For those with mobility problems, there is a lot of walking, I did see mobility scooters around and it is all accessible by wheelchair.
There is a restaurant and a coffee shop , only had coffee so cant comment on the food quality.
This is a stunning, haunting and fitting memorial to our servicemen and women and well worth a visit.
I was surprised at how vast the memorial is, much more than I expected. It is beautifully and sensitively laid out, with many quiet spots if you need to have a moment. For those with mobility problems, there is a lot of walking, I did see mobility scooters around and it is all accessible by wheelchair.
There is a restaurant and a coffee shop , only had coffee so cant comment on the food quality.
This is a stunning, haunting and fitting memorial to our servicemen and women and well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Photos really don't do it justice. Would highly recommend doing the land train first and hearing the commentary as you go around, then walking back to key points of interest. Lots of volunteers around and they are so helpful and friendly, I'd recommend stopping and talking to them and they'll tell you really interesting facts. 11am chapel, get there in good time, a must for really. Again good amounts of facts from the volunteer there. Take a camera and money for lunch. Catering facilities are tasty and inexpensive. I'd say give yourself a day here to get a good walk and stops in.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We took our 2 Grandsons, as the older one (15), is & always been interested in the History of Wars etc. Very touching to see & read the Epitaphs.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Amazing and so moving. Beautifully laid out and very well worth visiting and making it a day long destination point.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have wanted to visit the National Arboretum for a long time. We remember it as gravel pits. What a wonderful transformation. When we arrived we were greeted by very pleasant staff who told us to go to the Chapel for the 2 mins silence at 11am. We were so pleased we did as it was a very moving experience. We walked around for 5 hours and still didn't see it all. We found the 1914 football match memorial at the furthest point of the site. It is fantastic and well worth seeing, but a pity it is not nearer the main area as it is probably missed by a lot of people.
It will all be even better when the new car park and visitor centre is opened next year.
A truly wonderful and humbling experience.
It will all be even better when the new car park and visitor centre is opened next year.
A truly wonderful and humbling experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Such a rewarding experience. This place is so quiet and respectful. Take a full day or two to get around it all
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Far larger than we expected - we were selective with what we saw in the time we had. We spent more than two hours and we had hardly scratched the surface. Good disabled facilities as you would expect, but it's a pity that you have to fight your way through the small café area to get to the arboretum. Every area is well laid out and you can see other areas being planned which will be for future visits. Everything is maturing nicely and so well maintained its a pleasure to walk around. It's free entry ( donations are suggested) with a £3 parking fee for all day - a must see monument in a lovely location. Well worth the visit and the effort to get there ( which we thought once in the vicinity was well sign posted and easy to find)
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A quiet and atmospheric place which is a must for all ex servicemen and their families to visit. The staff are very helpful and the facilities are first class.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Peaceful & poignant setting, amongst lots of attractive trees. Very moving & though provoking environment. Couple of attractive indoor & outdoor cafes
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Far larger than expected and maturing nicely. You need a lot of time to look at everything and that would be a long day. We were very selective and spent 3 hours easily. The "Shot at Dawn" memorial is tucked away but well worth looking for. Very moving. As was the "prisoners of the Far East" building. Small cafe and shop.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited the arboretum on a rainy monday but it did not deter the interest of visiting this wonderful place. On arrival we travelled around the whole site on a small train with commentary. It's a great way to see everything and then go back by foot to re-visit key places in more detail. The detail and thought which has gone into the planning is beautiful. The place is getting bigger and bigger and work is in place at present.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited the memorial on Sat 3rd Oct 15 as part of the large motorcycle contingent taking part in the annual Ride To The Wall (RTTW). This was our 8th visit to this wonderful yet very humbling memorial to our Armed Forces and others who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and other areas where conflict or terrorism has claimed innocent lives.
Every time we go, we find some more memorials that we have not seen previously. The NMA relies on visitor donations to enable it to be maintained to an exceptionally high standard. Anyone who visits will leave with mixed emotions - pride , sadness, wonder and gratitude for those who are remembered there. A truly lovely place.
Every time we go, we find some more memorials that we have not seen previously. The NMA relies on visitor donations to enable it to be maintained to an exceptionally high standard. Anyone who visits will leave with mixed emotions - pride , sadness, wonder and gratitude for those who are remembered there. A truly lovely place.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We took my Father (86yrs young) for the day in September 2015. Fortunately we had booked the VIP buggy tour as I had read previous reviews regarding the size of the place! This turned out to be a very wise decision. We would have missed so much of the attraction and our volunteer guide(Peter) was full of the most interesting information regarding many of the memorials . All in all a very enjoyable day out, even for the youngsters !!!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A perfect day for walking around this wonderful place. So much to see and take in , we could have done with at least another day. Such care taken with everything, and staff very helpful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a place that everyone should visit its huge with memorials to many including fire, nurses and even those who died in the twin towers.c The £5 train trip which takes 50 mins is well worth it. Cafe good value to
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We made a well overdue visit. Didn't realise it was Ride to the Wall on the Saturday but still visited and it was an amazing day with all the bikes. Went back the next day. Talk in the chapel with the 2 mins silence was a definite. As was the ride on the train to appreciate the main parts of the site. The staff were all super helpful. And food in the cafe was much appreciated. Will visit again - especially for 2016 Ride to the Wall.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Thus place has to be on your place to visit list seriously please allow a full day as there is so much to see. If you go on a sunday the carvery is superb.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Something to be very proud of, very well kept, always visit when in need of some peace, tranquility and reminiscence. Very moving.
Don't go for a flying visit, you'll get the best from it if you're in no rush.
Beautiful.
Don't go for a flying visit, you'll get the best from it if you're in no rush.
Beautiful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A truly wonderful place. So much to see and you need more than one visit to do it justice. A lot of thought and care has gone into the development of the site.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very Interesting to see all the memorials and also the trees which have been planted, we spent at least five hours over two days walking and looking around, nice little cafe, mostly staffed by volunteers who do a fantastic job
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was a spur of the moment visit. We live nearby but had never found time to visit. We decided to take the train around the site which was well worth the money. The commentary was excellent and we probably saw more than if we had walked. The "wall of names" was very moving and emotional. There is plenty of seating around the grounds. The chapel is also worth visiting as the carvings are amazing.certainly a place to visit again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a very poignant place to reflect and be absorbed into our heritage. Very emotional. Lovely facilities.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Well laid out, and there are many more memorials here than just the huge memorial you see on television although the construction of a new Visitor Centre means there is noise from the construction machinery and the Lunch Room is in a marquee .Reasonable choice of hot food (although the only ice creams on sale are in the Lunch Room which is only open from 12-3) I have limited mobility and I found the distance from the entrance to the land train and the lunch room quite testing, although the path was flat, so its worth a phone call to gauge. Wheelchairs and mobility buggies are available for hire (£5 I believe). The land train is a definite must, takes approx an hour and costs £5 (the staff will help you on board if mobility is an issue) good to help you get your bearings around the site, and its large 150 acres. Do talk to the volunteers, they are interesting in their own right.
Again, if mobility is an issue, you will need a buggy or a wheelchair to get to the top of the "main" memorial. So emotive to see all the names inscribed. You could easily spend a day here..
Again, if mobility is an issue, you will need a buggy or a wheelchair to get to the top of the "main" memorial. So emotive to see all the names inscribed. You could easily spend a day here..
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited 26th September as we were in the area. Wow what an amazing experience, words are hard to find to try and explain how overwhelming it is. It is truly beautiful / devastating all in one. I urge you all to visit and pay your respects.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
When we visited this wonderful place we were very humbled and got quite emotional because of the terrific memorials there. The main memorial is on a man-made hill with magnificent bronzes and high curved stone walls with hundreds of names recorded on them of people who died in action since the Second World War. Then all around the vast memorial grounds are smaller memorials to particular groups or individuals. There are plantations of trees with specific individuals names labeled on each tree. It is bounded on one side by a lovely river. There are good tea rooms too in a marquee type setting. This site is also good for wheelchairs as there is a small Dotto type train that runs around the whole park and even the large hill in the centre has a spiral sloped path to enable disabled people to reach the main memorial. fFabulous.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
