We had tried to fit in a visit to the Arboretum before and never found the time and this time we only had an hour rather than the three or four needed for a proper visit. Every section of our armed forces is represented with its own area. The tributes to "The Fallen" are wonderful and it is hard to stay dry-eyed when visiting sections that have a significance. We particularly wanted to see the "Burma Star" section and the "ATS" and we were very impressed with both. Go for your own particular reason but prepare to be moved !

Good portions of hot food, but service was very slow. Sandwiches were made to order, which whilst very nice was time consuming for those waiting in the queue.

Before going to the NMA, we looked at the reviews on tripadvisor, especially those who rated it poor! (We like to see both ends of the spectrum!).

I can only say that those who considered it 'tacky' must have a very different view of 'tacky' to me! Yes, each organisation does have its own memorial garden, each one different. The inclusion of a Police lamp in the memorial garden was in memory of the youngest policewoman to be killed in the line of duty - not 'tacky' at all. The Rail Industry Memorial is, quite fittingly, a train.
The diversity of memorials is part of the attraction of the arboretum. I was especially moved by the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity (SANDS) garden, with its memorial of a sleeping baby, and all the named pebbles that had been left by parents. Also by the 'Shot at Dawn' memorial for those who were shot as 'deserters'. The main memorial is quite spectacular, and it makes one stop and think of the futility of war.

The trees are still immature, but in time they will be spectacular. A previous reviewer commented on the number of trees that had been removed. (This may have been because they were diseased?). The chippings were obviously left as a mulch - there didn't seem an excessive amount! All the gardens were well looked after, and we did not feel it was cramped at all.

We didn't use the landtrain or buggy, choosing to enjoy the walk. Some areas were a little soggy underfoot, but that is probably due to the previous use of the land.
We liked the walk by the river and saw sand martins and an egret, an added bonus.

There have been comments about the car parking charge and the suggested donation, both of which seem reasonable for something that receives no real funding. All free museums/galleries/cathedrals suggest a donation, so this is not unusual. £3 to park your car for a whole day isn't excessive either. Where do the complainers think the money comes from to fund the arboretum?If you go to somewhere like Kew Gardens and park in their car park, you pay to park and to go into the gardens!

The restaurant wasn't too overpriced, but service was very slow. There was a long queue to order sandwiches, which were being made to order, but then they didn't remember who had ordered what! Ready made sandwiches would have been a better idea.
The shop had an interesting collection of items, some reasonably priced.

There have been comments about the arboretum being like a 'theme park' or 'Disneyland' because of the land-train. I had expected some garish, seaside 'dotto' train, but no, it was a very simple, plain coloured land-train that was not in the least theme-parkish.

We will return in the future to see how it has developed over time, and to see any added memorials. It is worth a visit, honestly!

We've been popping in since it opened and this was the best visit yet. A lovely calm spacious place and many more trees since last time. Interesting memorials and a stunning centre-piece. Well worth the £3 parking fee.

I went here for the first time yesterday to see the names of many friends.

It is easy to find, car park is £3 even for disabled, veterans and serving servicemen/women.

The visitors centre and the staff are all clean tidy and informative, I was surprised at how many memorials and separate gardens are there.

The central and main memorial is amazing, sombre, thought provoking and appropriate. The shaft of light is very clever, well done.

The rest of the gardens range in levels of looked after and I was surprised to see so many, in a small space, it made it feel a little cramped. I was also surprised at how many trees (with name plaques and dedications) had been chopped down and the chipping a strewn across the gardens, and not recently.

The garden I went for was right at the back and next to a dog walking area and busy road, not what I went to smell and hear when thinking of my comrades.

Lots to see and think about here.

Has a small gift shop and are that smelt like school dinners, but that's not why you've come here.

We can do better for our young men and women.

This place is amazing and worth a visit from anyone, from the young to the old. It is beautifully kept, with not one bit of litter insight. You could literally spend all day here and not see the same memorial twice! Such a sad but truly wonderful place. We looked for a specific memorial plaque and couldn't find it, and a wonderful volunteer helped us locate it in no time! I recommend this arboretum to all.

I visited this arboretum on a cloudy windy and chilly March day. The site is vast- 150 acres, and full of extremely helpful volunteers who are passionate about this centre of remembrance. The site is riddled with over 300 memorials, placed to remember military, charitable and other organisations and people. We took a buggy ride for £5 each, with really interesting commentry from our volunteer driver. Having gained an overview of the site, we went off and visited things of interest to us. You could very easily spend a day here, lunching in the restaurant, or having a picnic in the grounds on a fine day. The river Trent and Tame, meet here. In summer there must be plenty of wild life to watch too.....bring a chair! The memorials are being added too....I am personally pleased the Horses of the First World War are to be remembered, they served their soldiers well, and were abandoned abroad.
I highly recommend this place- little ones can let off steam. In a few more years it will be wonderful.

The National Memorial Arboretum near Litchfield is not your usual attraction but a place of huge interest to all ages, a place to question man's stupidity but also praise individual bravery and devotion to freedom and country and to reflect.
"We will remember them"

Very tastefully presented national memorial covering all those who have been killed in our many world conflicts. The museum part in tribute to those who were Japanese pow in WW2 is especially poignant and at times difficlult to read and comprehend.

The entry to the entire centre is free and relies upon donations. I think anyone who visits this can't fail to be moved by the sheer numbers of people who have been killed as a result of wars and conflicts.
The many sculptures laid in tribute are outstanding.

Arrived at a serene moment, I was on the approach road when the sun shone through the clouds and lit up the gold on top of the obelisk lighting it up like a beacon. and that set the mood for the visit, true the visitor centre and the toilets are not brilliant. However the memorial Arboretum is not about the visitor centre its a spiritual journey and very thought provoking especially if your experiencing troubled times yourself. The Armed Forces Memorial is the crown jewel and especially when the sun is shining is truly amazing and very thought provoking, this must be ranked as one of the most amazing structures in the country. A couple of hours soon disappear as you wander around the amazing memorials leaving you with a lot of food for thought. I would highly recommend a visit you will not be disappointed :)

Large spacious site, wide variety of memorials and worthy tribute to servicemen and women who have lost their lives serving their country since WWII. Particularly moving tribute to the men shot as deserters, only pardoned in 2006. Good café, reasonable prices. Entry is free! This place will be spectacular in a few more years when more of the trees have matured.

Lovely day out despite what the the weather threw at us. Well worth the private buggy tour especially in that weather, excellently hosted by volunteer driver hugely knowledgeable and very personable. Food was excellent too.

Firstly, whilst it is free to enter there is a car parking charge and it is closes before the site closes. I parked some way from the site and entered by a side entrance and thereby avoided the visitor centre and "Disneyworld" side of things - after all it is the National Memorial.
It is well worth spending some time walking around the site and seeing as many of the memorials and areas devoted to different services and countries and the many thousands of names. The sheer breadth and scale is deeply thought provoking. Like some others, I do question the layout and it almost gets "theme parkesque". Perhaps the flag should raised in the morning and lowered in the evening and perhaps The Last Post should be sounded every evening. The memorial is worth visiting and remembering the many people and organisations who played their part in our history. Treat it as that and not an afternoon out with tea and ice creams.

We have just visited the Arboretum whilst staying with friends in the Derbyshire area and really enjoyed our day which luckily was mainly bright and sunny although there was a cool breeze blowing. This is a place which really makes you think about all the men and women who gave so much for their country and is a moving experience indeed. Cannot agree with the reviewer who referred to some of the memorials as tacky, they vary in shape, size and form but each reflects the individual organisations they represent in their own way and it adds to the interest of the place. Would really like to come back and visit again, would be nice to come later in the season when the trees have their leaves, some of the blossom trees are just starting to come out and we can only imagine what they would add when in full bloom. There is a good deal of walking to be done but there are plenty of benches to sit and rest awhile and reflect. Thoroughly recommend a visit.

Lovely museum with lots to see and do. This is one of the great places in Staffordshire and I'm happy to have visited it. The restaurant food here is very good too.

I am astounded by Rich53's offensive remarks about some of the memorials being "tacky". There has been lots of thought and care been put into them and I fail to see how you could not think they were a fitting tribute to those who have lost their lives for us. On a very windy, wet day I took the land train around so I could get a view of most of the site I will return so I can take more of a look around as there is so much to see.

There were some lovely item in the shop, the poppy glass ware, and some cheap items but anything you buy there helps towards the up keep but if as Rich53 you find it "tacky" then make a contribution instead,

I was very moved by the experience and think it is a wonderful place.

Went here for a day out, cannot fault anything about it, so memorials to get round, staff very helpful

This is only a few miles from us, so we have been a few times. It does have a restaurant, which can get extremely busy. However that's not why you visit here. The place is big, 150 acres, so if there is a potential of a little rain, make sure you dress accordingly. Its not a play ground, its a very thought provoking place that is carefully and lovingly cared for. Its a place that all should attend and time taken to think of others who have done so much for us from different areas of our services.

We go to the National Memorial Arboretum regularly to pay our respects to all the armed forces. The restaurant there serves hot and cold food which is lovely. We are always greeted with a smile from the people who work there. The gift shop is an added bonus. I for one love going to this place as it is so tranquil and peaceful. The vast space allows you to get away from the crowds and to just have the peace and quiet to remember those who have given their lives for this country.
The train that travels around the Arboretum is essential for individuals who may not be able to walk around the monuments for one reason or another and they can listen to the guide about the history of the place.

Regarding a previous review about the National Memorial Arboretum I for one do not go to it to look for faults in the layout of the place or to comment on the memorials, this is to name but a few of the comments left from this reviewer. I for one have the greatest respect for this place and what it represents, and I will continue to go to show my respect and support for the armed forces.

I really, really don't know what to think about this place.

Is it a cemetery, is it a war memorial, is it a museum, is it a garden or is it a theme park?

Given it is not that old the first thing that strikes you is that this is a network of newly (well new-ish) planted trees and shrubs. As the years pass the site will become mature woodland which will no doubt improve the look of the place. At the moment it looks cold and open, especially when the wind blows!

Most visitors head for the monument to service men and women killed in action since 1945 which in many ways is long overdue. The most poignant feature for me was not the names of those who have died in Korea, Northern Ireland, The Falklands and Afganistan but the vast area of blank wall space awaiting the names of future casualties of conflict. This is no Menin Gate or Thiepval it is a very simple modern structure.

The rest of this vast 150 acre site is something of a labyrinth of both well surfaced and less obvious paths between monuments, gardens and groves. There is no logical sequence or layout to the various services and organisations represented here and without a plan or guide it is easy to get lost or to wander aimlessly for ages amongst the memorials.

The memorials themselves range from the simple and dignified to the downright tacky. Anyone who has visited CWGC sites especially the aforementioned Thiepval Memorial is struck by the regularity of the sites, by the row upon row of identical gravestones. There is nothing of that here, every memorial is different as though the services and organisations are trying to outdo each other. I'm sure that is not the case but it gives the arboretum a strange, fantasy like air. One thing were were quite shocked to see was the large number of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on the memorials. Inexcusable in this day and age.

As other reviewers have pointed out this site which should remain dignified is already showing signs of becoming a theme park. The tacky gift shop (which you HAVE to exit through!), the vast cafe and outdoor snack kiosks and the Disneyworld train chugging around the surfaced paths. Is it such a part of the national character that we cannot visit a memorial to the dead without the accompaniment of a motorway services?

PS. The site can be entered free of charge as a public footpath runs alongside the River Tame close to which several of the memorial gardens lie.

Very moving tribute calm surroundings so much to see. Volunteers very helpful. Take time to walk by river to far corners. Allow up to 6 hours plenty of seats to sit and take it all in. Something new each time. Cafe nice food a little pricey hopefully supplements free entry to memorial. Car park £3 all day. Train guide round site £5

Thought provoking, humbling and a place to remember all the fine people who have sacrificed their lives for us.
This place is well worth a visit what more can be said

My husband and I were in the Burton area looking at what to visit and came across this venue, we were both a bit unsure whether to go or not but are so glad we did. There is a mix of traditional and modern monuments, we took a guided tour and the information we received was invaluable. Refreshments a bit on the pricey side but I think that's to supplement the free entry. There is a suggested donation and a really lovely gift shop where I got some "Christmas" presents to put by. A Poignant visit, well worth a look.

We went as part of a bigger party on a day trip - but three hours was never going to be enough. There are so many things to see and reflect on, so many memorials that we didn't see but we will go back to view. You need a couple of days at least - and new memorials are being added. The road train is a good way to get an impression of the place, but you need to wrap up warmly as it is quite chilly. However, some of the memorials need closer viewing and although you can get off the road train at certain points, you can't then get on a subsequent train and would need to walk back. Good accessibility for less able bodied people.

I have visited this National 'garden of remembrance' several times. It is a truly living memorial; it changes each time you visit, with trees maturing, new ones being planted and additional memorials erected. Inevitably, there are always new names being added to the 'main' wall, which you cannot fail to notice as you enter The Arboretum, as well as to smaller regimental and corps walls that you will discover as you wander among the peaceful groves.
Each time I've visited, I've been impressed by the number of coaches bringing present and past colleagues to pay their respects to fallen colleagues. Families, friends and school parties swell the ranks of visitors coming to quietly thank the brave people we may have never known. I am always moved to tears seeing the name of a school friend of our son carved on the main wall, the Basra Wall (rebuilt with stones brought back ftom Iraq) as well as on his regimental wall.
You can easily spend 4 hours here but you will leave changed by the enormity of what this memorial, and others elsewhere in the UK and further afield, mean to us all.