National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Amazing place... Calm picturesque and a must visit. Excellent cafe full of lovely good and snacks to warm you on a cold day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A great venue to come together to remember friends, colleagues & family. This is not a morbid reminder of ancient wars, but a relevant location for reflection and thinking of the future whether you are a member of the armed forces or not.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We live only a couple of miles away and I am ashamed to say we only visited for the first time last August. It's just beautiful. The car parking was only £3.00 for the whole day. When we arrived we could see people had picnics - we were surprised at this until we actually got 'inside'. You could easily spend a day there. The grounds are kept immaculately. You can even walk along the river. Worth a visit if you live in the area - even worth travelling to. (There are a couple of coffee shop/restaurants too.)
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
what an excellent place, a lovely and humbling place to visit. Outdoors for most of the visit so lovely if its a sunny day
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a beautiful memorial which everyone should visit. It is very thought provoking and makes you realise how many lives were lost to protect our freedom.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A fantastic memorial. Everyone should go. Entrance is free, car parking charges apply, but do make a generous donation. Really well laid out. Very humbling.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
New Years Eve was a bright, clear day, perfect for a walk, so we decided to visit the National Memorial Arboretum. It was our first time here and we were so impressed. We only spent a few hour, but you could easily occupy a couple of days. The memorials are varied - some very impressive, some thought provoking and all poignant. The volunteer guides are so knowledgable, interested and interesting, and clearly have passion for the place and what it stands for. There are numerous memorials both big and small, spread over a large landscaped area, and they are always adding new memorials, so there is always something new to look at. We found the Shot At Dawn memorial particularly compelling.Wonderful for a pleasant but thoughtful and moving day out, and it felt particularly meaningful on a special day of the year. We will definitely be making a return visit - maybe next New Years Eve.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. Recommend the buggy ride as you get a personal commentary (land train is pre-recorded). Walking footwear recommended as large areas to cover and can get a bit boggy after rain. Restaurant food very good. Will come back in a different season to see the trees in full leaf.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our visit on a freezing cold February day was very moving. What a great job has been done to honour all those lost in maintaining our peace and freedom. It is possible to visit the large area honouring the memorials to all the deserving men and women who have served and, serve our country. Buggies, wheelchairs ans road train give us all the ability to see the whole area. Very well organised and maintained.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Absolutely wonderful place. Stunning memorials of which there are dozens dotted around the entire site, varying in size and detail but all very moving. Plenty of benches to sit and take it all in, sheltered areas for picnics or to escape the rain with wooden carved animals and information boards inside. The main memorial is stunning and the way it has been designed to allow the light through on 11/11 is breathtaking. Free entry but a donation is suggested, cafe is lovely and quite reasonably priced, great gift shop, maps and tours available, extremely helpful and friendly staff. All in all a lovely and very humbling visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very lovely place to go for a walk with added history. It was clean and well maintained. Will be returning in the summer for a longer day out!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Why we chose to go on such a cold day is beyond me. The place is amazing and extremely moving. There is a special atmostphere there, hard to describe really. Perhaps one is just aware of what the area represents. We spent about 3/4 of an hour there but became too cold to continue. However once the warmer weather comes we'll go back.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Try to go in dry weather, with sun better still. Overcast, in the rain, and with a cold wind, the National Memorial Arobretum would be a bleak place. When we visited in December, arriving at the 9am opening time, we were kitted out for freezing weather, which was a good job! We had booked an electric scooter for me, as well as a golf-cart (for eight people) guided tour. Excellent reception staff gave a large scooter, because, well, I am large. But I saw someone huge going round on one. The golf-cart tour, the first of the day at 10.30am, just had the two of us on it. It was excellent, and the driver very friendly, informative and responsive to questions. The arboretum is enormous and the tour gave us a good idea of the layout of almost the entire site. We had already had an excellent breakfast in the smart cafeteria. My wife went off on foot to the particular memorials she wanted to see (plan ahead, the online information is thorough!), and I scooted off to the ones I wanted to see. We then regrouped for a really enjoyable lunch. The Sunday roasts looked great. By this time the cafeteria was pretty full.. We had to leave by two pm, but had managed to spend three hours sightseeing, and two hours eating good food. It is a very moving place to visit. The poignant blank walls on the main elevated memorial, for deaths yet to come, giving especial cause for sad thought. The guidebook is well-worth purchasing, and the memorials are impressive in their variability.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
With two teenage children its often difficult to get them to see the merit of a good walk, so we often like to take a walk that has a purpose, something to look at or find, this place fit the bill perfectly. There is lots of memorials to see, some interesting, some sculpturally beautiful, some thought provoking and others extremely moving. I doubt that we saw half of the site as despite it being a nic day there was a bitter wind. We left having enjoyed our visit knowing that with more to see we would have an excuse to return again, probably in the summer. No complaints from the teens either !
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited the arboretum last week while in the area for my birthday. We had a lovely morning out taking in all of the fantastic monuments. It is truly an beautiful place. We are looking forward to re-visit during the summer. We had a nice coffee in the cafe to warm us up from being out in the cold.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is an amazing place, very thought provoking and well worth a visit. We spent hours there and apparently still missed a chunk of it, my advise, get a map!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Having been recommended to us by friends we finally decided to visit, and what a truly amazing place. You can not fail to be moved by the fantastic monuments to the people that gave their lives in world conflicts, They are still building monuments and when finished and the grounds mature it will be awesome. We will be visiting again in the summes to see the place in full colour.
There is a £3.00 charge for parking, but that is for the day,and it will need that to see everything. there is a recommended donation of £5.00 for the entry, but it is not enforced, it would be money well spent for the views. We had tea and scones in the cafe, they were excellent and good value, Looking fotward to the summrt visit.
There is a £3.00 charge for parking, but that is for the day,and it will need that to see everything. there is a recommended donation of £5.00 for the entry, but it is not enforced, it would be money well spent for the views. We had tea and scones in the cafe, they were excellent and good value, Looking fotward to the summrt visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
On holiday in Church Broughton we came to visit. The sky was clear and blue, albeit cold, being January.
The staff (mostly volunteers) are dedicated to ensure you benefit everything you wish from your visit.
All the Forces are remembered and each monument is different and fitting, some are truly beautiful. There are free maps and people on hand if you wish to go to just particular monuments.
The cafeteria serves lovely food, well made and presented and reasonably priced. There is also a lovely gift shop with some very nice themed gifts to choose from.
The big monument which appears on tv quite bit is built so that you can whisper and still be heard. From 1945 all names of military personnel are inscribed on the walls by year and by Army/Navy/Airforce. Two sculptures are in the centre, each described by a very cold but lovely lady as to their significance.
There are two slits in the semi-circle walls and on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the sun shines through them on to a large central sculptured wreath of poppies.
Well worth a visit. No entry fee but they do suggest £5 per person.
The staff (mostly volunteers) are dedicated to ensure you benefit everything you wish from your visit.
All the Forces are remembered and each monument is different and fitting, some are truly beautiful. There are free maps and people on hand if you wish to go to just particular monuments.
The cafeteria serves lovely food, well made and presented and reasonably priced. There is also a lovely gift shop with some very nice themed gifts to choose from.
The big monument which appears on tv quite bit is built so that you can whisper and still be heard. From 1945 all names of military personnel are inscribed on the walls by year and by Army/Navy/Airforce. Two sculptures are in the centre, each described by a very cold but lovely lady as to their significance.
There are two slits in the semi-circle walls and on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the sun shines through them on to a large central sculptured wreath of poppies.
Well worth a visit. No entry fee but they do suggest £5 per person.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I had a misconception regarding this memorial believing it to be a site recognising the sacrifices made by those defending the United Kingdom and its values. It seems to be a general place of remembrance for people from all back grounds not necessarily from conflict. The Armed Forces Memorial was very touching as was the monument to the Polish. Compared to Commonwealth War Cemeteries I have seen in Europe the overall feel of this site is something done on the cheap and in a haphazard layout. Visiting on an extremely cold sunny day in January I have not see the trees at their best but I had expected the Arboretum to have a more mature feel but presumably as this is reclaimed land the land is poor and trees take longer to become established.
I expected the site to be free and was surprised that a charge was made to park. As soon as you hit reception you meet with a wall of ways to relieve you of money including £5.00 voluntary donation, £3 site map which detracts from the solemnity of this attraction. I think money generation could be delivered in a more subtle way. When I eventually discovered the way the memorial is funded I was happy to part with my cash!
The cafe was OK if a little amateur. The 2 soups advertised had run out and the staff not aware. We were offered "to order" alternative but had visions of something out of a packet so declined the offer and settled for cake and tea. Despite saying lunch is available until 3.30 the appearance was that they had closed shop earlier.
I am not sure I would recommend this place as an attraction particularly if travelling a distance.
I expected the site to be free and was surprised that a charge was made to park. As soon as you hit reception you meet with a wall of ways to relieve you of money including £5.00 voluntary donation, £3 site map which detracts from the solemnity of this attraction. I think money generation could be delivered in a more subtle way. When I eventually discovered the way the memorial is funded I was happy to part with my cash!
The cafe was OK if a little amateur. The 2 soups advertised had run out and the staff not aware. We were offered "to order" alternative but had visions of something out of a packet so declined the offer and settled for cake and tea. Despite saying lunch is available until 3.30 the appearance was that they had closed shop earlier.
I am not sure I would recommend this place as an attraction particularly if travelling a distance.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We came here just to see this magnificent monument, and what a truly amazing monument it is.
This is an enormous site, which needs a day to experience and pay your respects. Everyone is remembered here including Veterinary Doctors and The Land Army. Today has made us realize that our Forces and any other connected deserve all the respect.
Everyone has to visit the National Memorial Arboretum, if you haven't then do. We will be coming back in the summer, and support this charity.
This is an enormous site, which needs a day to experience and pay your respects. Everyone is remembered here including Veterinary Doctors and The Land Army. Today has made us realize that our Forces and any other connected deserve all the respect.
Everyone has to visit the National Memorial Arboretum, if you haven't then do. We will be coming back in the summer, and support this charity.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited the arboretum a few times usually while waiting for kids at a nearby outdoor centre. It is a lovely peaceful place to think and remember. Will improve in time as gardens mature. Lovely café and you can buy small selection of plants too.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Interesting for a stroll, lot of monuments for sometimes forgotten conflicts. I would think it would benefit from a good rethink in setup as the way you walk is not very logical, it does not flow.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Even though it was a very cold day when we visited, we enjoyed every minute we were there. We were greeted on arrival by a very helpful volunteer, who gave us all the information we needed about the site. We walked to the main memorial and then took a buggy ride round most of the site. Stuart our driver/guide was brilliant. The charge of £5 per person was well worth it, we learnt so much. Had a lovely snack in the cafe, very tasty and reasonable. Wonderful day out, will be back when it's warmer.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautifully maintained, serene and very moving. We visited on a freezing but sunny day and it was a heart wrenching visit but one I am glad I made. The grounds and memorials are kept immaculate by the staff. Lovely café too which was welcome after walking around in the cold weather. We will be back when it is warmer for a longer visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was my first visit, but will definitely be going back.
The site is easily accessible and well laid out. It beautiful and thought provoking, and you can spend as little or as much time as you want/ need to there.
There is a charge for car parking but no entrance fee, though you can leave a donation . There are remembrance items to buy and you can take flowers if you wish.
The site is easily accessible and well laid out. It beautiful and thought provoking, and you can spend as little or as much time as you want/ need to there.
There is a charge for car parking but no entrance fee, though you can leave a donation . There are remembrance items to buy and you can take flowers if you wish.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
