National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
A place of remembrance to all our fallen forces men and women who served for us, i salute every name on the plaques and say thank you to all and bless you all
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Have visited 3 times, and each time found it very interesting yet sad has well for those who have died in war.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Everyone should visit, totally fabulous memorial. The events held here are amazing as well. Also brilliant place for a school trip. Brings it to reality for the children x
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a must visit. It brings home all those
who gave so we may live in freedom. There is a small train that takes you around pointing out the main points of interest.
who gave so we may live in freedom. There is a small train that takes you around pointing out the main points of interest.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a fantastic place. A very nice place to visit for families whether it be the general public, families of the fallen or current service families paying their respects. The layout is excellent, the staff are very helpful and the cafeteria is very good. You can take your own picnics. There is a short walk from the car park to the venue but disabled parking can be arranged prior to the visit to park at the venue itself. It was a very emotional visit for us, as with most people but the kindred spirit amongst the old and young, families and strangers are united at this memorial. There are many events/commemorations held here so best to check in advance if you do not like crowds. The arboretum is huge but there is a little 'train' that can take you from A-B for a small fee.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very thoughtful place to visit, memorials to all services including foreign servicemen that gave their lives for world peace. Peaceful to walk around and you leave with a feeling of pride in our servicemen and women and the sacrifice made in the pursuit of world peace.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is such a special place that makes any visit so worthwhile. It makes you think of the sacrifice that men and women serving in the armed services have made for their family, friends and country.
Reading the names of those who have fallen since 1945 was very emotive, there are just so many names. Everything has been so well thought out and well laid out with great attention to detail.
The memorials are all so different and well designed.
Everywhere was clean and tidy and all the visitors were respectful of this special place.
The food available was good quality and we enjoyed the meal.
It is sad that such a place is needed but so glad that the service of the fallen has been recognised.
Reading the names of those who have fallen since 1945 was very emotive, there are just so many names. Everything has been so well thought out and well laid out with great attention to detail.
The memorials are all so different and well designed.
Everywhere was clean and tidy and all the visitors were respectful of this special place.
The food available was good quality and we enjoyed the meal.
It is sad that such a place is needed but so glad that the service of the fallen has been recognised.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My first visit to this beautiful place.....it is very moving with over 300 memorials set in a lovely landscaped area, not all these are for the Armed Forces, though the main one is impressive, but some smaller areas dedicated to W.I. ,Boys' Brigade Bevin Boys etc.....well worth a visit!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
It's a brilliant place to go it has a peaceful air about it .Its perfect for anyone who is disabled they have small trains that take you around looking at all the memorials which can carry wheelchairs .It is beautifully kept and really makes you realise how many people have risked their lives so we can be free
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Went on the land train all around the Arboretum and then wandered around taking in all the wonderful sculptures and memorials. It is a lovely peaceful place and I found my late fathers regiments garden and then in the POW exhibition I discovered my uncles name listed as one of the men who died in a Japanese POW camp. It was a very special day for me and thought the Shot at Dawn memorial was incredible and very thought provoking.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Every visit shows improvements with even more memorials.The trees are now starting to flourish and spread.The main building is undergoing extensive refurbishment which will enhance the experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Have just visited this fantastic place . Thought we would be there for about an hour, 4 hours later we left and still had not seen everything. I know it is a memorial park but it is not a morbid place.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a truly beautiful place to remember and reflect on all those fallen. The train is an excellent way to see all the different memorials and to learn about them. We had coffee and cake in the cafe and it was delicious.
A wonderful place.
A wonderful place.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Such a lovely place. Perfect memorial nice and relaxed.close to the a38 but not close enough that noise disrupts the peaceful surroundings.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A truly moving experience. Was busy when we went but going around it felt as though we were in a church really wonderful. Would recommend it to anyone. After being recently to Pearl Harbour the Arboretum is so much more.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
During a fortnight in the Peak District, we visited the National Memorial Arboretum and were impressed by the size and extent of the grounds, and the number of memorials.
The magnitude of everything is impressive, whilst also being presented in a very respectful manner, given who are being remembered, and the reasons for doing so.
We visited with our chocolate labrador, and four legged friends are catered for with their own walk and a number of "hitching posts" where they can be safely attached while their human owners visit individual memorials.
As there is a café on-site, it is very easy to spend a full day for a visit, which is what we did, before being almost the last to leave.
The magnitude of everything is impressive, whilst also being presented in a very respectful manner, given who are being remembered, and the reasons for doing so.
We visited with our chocolate labrador, and four legged friends are catered for with their own walk and a number of "hitching posts" where they can be safely attached while their human owners visit individual memorials.
As there is a café on-site, it is very easy to spend a full day for a visit, which is what we did, before being almost the last to leave.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We spent four hours touring the site on our third visit over a number of years. New memorials appear regularly and they now have a land train that takes you around the site with a commentary explaining some of the memorials you can see. Entrance is free but there is a request for donations to keep the site running. A beautiful site dedicated mainly to military remembrance but also has many other memorials which are peaceful and thought provoking. The cafe serves basic coffee but lovely cakes and is well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Although we have no close relatives that have been killed in action, we do have close family links to WW1 and WW2. We visited here on a nice summer day and enjoyed the experience. Although a memorial to those that have given all, it is very much a place to be enjoyed, as well as to be deeply moved at times. It is hard to move among the wooden posts, one for each of those shot at dawn, without feeling pain and loss yourself. This is but one of many, many memorials in this vaste arboretum. A forest, where each tree is a convoy ship lost. Real track from the Burma Railway. It makes our daily troubles seem very small. It really brings home what was given for our today. On a practical note - good signage and parking. Good catering - use the meal service in the Pavilion - much better than the cafe at the entrance. Very helpful voluntary guides. Get there for the 11am 2 minute silence ceremony in the chapel if you can. It is well worth reading up on everything on the website before you go. The £6.50 guide book is a very good buy. Allow most of the day to get the best out of your visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were lucky enough to have a guided tour, as our host had been a trustee of the arboretum. It is beautifully maintained and the memorial on the mound is extremely moving. Some of the statuary is amazing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We started our visit with a 30 minute presentation by a guide who explained the history and layout of the site. We then got on the visitor train to have a guided trip around the site with each memorial being introduced and described. At various locations you could get off the tour train to have a look round and then get on the next train when it arrived. After the conducted tour we went to the restaurant area where we had an afternoon cream tea, which was excellent quality and value.
We were there for half a day, we will be going back for a further visit as there is so much to see.
We were there for half a day, we will be going back for a further visit as there is so much to see.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Four of us planned a visit and decided to opt for the VIP guided tour. If you just want to visit and wander around on your own it's free but you would miss so many interesting things. It's spread over 150 acres of beautiful countryside and goes down to the river.
There were alterations to the site and entrance sinage was a little lacking but there were volunteers everywhere to guide us.
The cafe serves excellent, reasonably priced food and the gift shop has a beautiful selection of gifts, not shoddy tat.
Our tour involved us being guided around on a golf buggy which allowed us to cover the whole site in a day with a brilliant commentary from our guide Richard, who was extremely knowledgable and managed to incorporate facts with anecdotes. It also included lunch.
Altogether a good day out in a lovely environment with amazingly friendly, funny, lovely volunteer helpers.
There were alterations to the site and entrance sinage was a little lacking but there were volunteers everywhere to guide us.
The cafe serves excellent, reasonably priced food and the gift shop has a beautiful selection of gifts, not shoddy tat.
Our tour involved us being guided around on a golf buggy which allowed us to cover the whole site in a day with a brilliant commentary from our guide Richard, who was extremely knowledgable and managed to incorporate facts with anecdotes. It also included lunch.
Altogether a good day out in a lovely environment with amazingly friendly, funny, lovely volunteer helpers.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The most wonderful place...for everyone young or old.
A truly magnificent place to visit it takes your brwath away.
A truly magnificent place to visit it takes your brwath away.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Must be one of the nations best kept secrets, I was very very surprised when we arrived. But all my worry's soon disappeared when I found my dads name in far East prisoners of war memorial. Then we had a buggy ride round. Mr Neil whyte made our ride very interesting thank you. What the human race can do to each other. Not the most happy visit but very interesting.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Far east hut was interesting and grounds are fairly extensive. If you live within an hours drive it is worth a visit. Bikes have to be locked out outside if you cycle there. Parking is about £3.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My wife and I visited on Monday and Tuesday of this week. It is a quite overwelming and humbling experience. It is with great pride that we walked around the various monuments. It is very difficult to pick out and outstanding monument although the "Shot at Dawn" caused great sadness especially when you saw the age of the victims. Also to the FEPOW area isn't to be missed. As General Macarthur said We will Return
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
