National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Over 300 memorials set in 150 acres of tree lined avenues, woodlands and landscaped gardens. The friendly voluntary guides, are on hand to answer any questions. For the visitor there are Buggy Tours, Train Ride Tours or Mobility Scooter Hire. The memorials from The Great War to Present Times are a sight to behold. The atmosphere is so enhanced by the sounds of just the birds singing. There a plenty of seats to sit and reflect and soak in the atmosphere if you decide to go around
on foot, at your own pace. Don't hesitate, if you are thinking about making a visit - JUST GO ! You won't be disappointed.
on foot, at your own pace. Don't hesitate, if you are thinking about making a visit - JUST GO ! You won't be disappointed.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My Mother in law was invited to a unveiling of a plaque by the "Old Dux" association for all that served at RAF Station Duxford 1917 - 1961. So we took the opportunity to view the tree we had planted 15 years age in honour of my father in law. He was a Royal Air Force Halton Apprentices.It's was the first time we seen it. The Memorial Arboretum is well worth a visit. The Memorial "Shot at Dawn" is very moving. There is a train which goes around the site, we walk around , which is disabled friendly. My mother in law was using her electric scooter, but you can not use a electric scooters in the visitors centre, café and shop. A wheelchair is provided to use inside. We had a lovely day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We stopped here on our way south. Cannot find enough words to describe what a wonderful place this is and how moving it is.
I cannot thank the staff enough for their help. I had slipped on the stairs at home before we went away and pulled the ligaments in my ankle and was unable to walk very far.
We took the bus round which was very interesting and they had organised for me to get a buggy by the the wall with the names of all the people who had died since 1945 and then take me back to the main building. There are wheelchairs and mobility scooters to hire for anyone with walking difficulties.
The whole site is beautifully kept and is divided into sections. It is certainly worth a second visit so that I can spend more time walking around.
Greatful thanks to all the staff who assisted me.
I cannot thank the staff enough for their help. I had slipped on the stairs at home before we went away and pulled the ligaments in my ankle and was unable to walk very far.
We took the bus round which was very interesting and they had organised for me to get a buggy by the the wall with the names of all the people who had died since 1945 and then take me back to the main building. There are wheelchairs and mobility scooters to hire for anyone with walking difficulties.
The whole site is beautifully kept and is divided into sections. It is certainly worth a second visit so that I can spend more time walking around.
Greatful thanks to all the staff who assisted me.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I am not a military minded person, but I always find this place an oasis of tranquility and reflection.Set on the banks of the river Trent, it spreads over many acres and there is always plenty of space. Many trees have been planted and, when fully grown, these will develop into woodland areas. There ar also many memorials and plaques to be found, providing an historical journey of past military activity. The central showpiece is a huge stone structure detailing the names of those who have given their lives.
There is a cafe that caters for all tastes from roast dinners to a salad bar. No entrance fee applies, although donations are encouraged. Well worth a visit.
There is a cafe that caters for all tastes from roast dinners to a salad bar. No entrance fee applies, although donations are encouraged. Well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
1st time visit on what proved to be probably the busiest day at the National Arboretum this year.
Absolutely wonderful place - huge expanse covered with lovely memorials / thousands of trees with moving memorial plaques and of course the huge main memorial statues and walls. Tree of metal leaves dedicated to children is particularly heart wrenching. Have visited Ypres, Flanders and Menine Gate and although these are all emotive and well kept, in no way do they compare with NA. Beautifully kept grounds and friendly and helpful Staff. If you haven't been please put this on your list of Must Do's, to honour the fallen and have yourself a meaningful and very pleasant day.
Absolutely wonderful place - huge expanse covered with lovely memorials / thousands of trees with moving memorial plaques and of course the huge main memorial statues and walls. Tree of metal leaves dedicated to children is particularly heart wrenching. Have visited Ypres, Flanders and Menine Gate and although these are all emotive and well kept, in no way do they compare with NA. Beautifully kept grounds and friendly and helpful Staff. If you haven't been please put this on your list of Must Do's, to honour the fallen and have yourself a meaningful and very pleasant day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Absolutely brilliant place. Very big, we only had a few hours before the coaches left to go back to our Hotel, but we did what we could. The memorials are outstanding, especially the Armed Forces Memorial, the two sculptures were amazing. We would like to go back and have another walk round. We had lunch in one of the cafes and the food was very good, the staff happy with ready laughs. The gift shop was okay, but not enough actual Arboretum gifts. Most of the stuff you could get at any gift shop, so it made buying presents for family very difficult if not impossible.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Well worth the long drive , took the land train which is a must if you want to see all the site, as its 150 acres. Helpful staff , good restaurant and parking.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a self-service restaurant for visitors to the National Memorial Arboretum and serves a good variety of food and drink. Staff are helpful and happy!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A oasis calm and tranquillity to remember those who lost their lives in conflict and serving the community. Access is easy and well signposted from the A38 just north of Lichfield. It is easy to navigate either on foot or on the 'road train' that tours the site. There is a good visitor centre with self-service restaurant.
Admission is free but there is charge for parking.
A small word of warning the area tends to be quite exposed on windy days so wrap up warm to enjoy your visit!!
Admission is free but there is charge for parking.
A small word of warning the area tends to be quite exposed on windy days so wrap up warm to enjoy your visit!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We had not realised quite how much was at the National Arboretum. The staff are all extremely friendly, starting with the greeter standing outside as we approached from the car park. We started our day by taking the land train to familiarise ourselves with the layout and the various key monuments/memorials. We then walked around for a few hours exploring the corners the train couldn't get to and for a closer look at the monuments of interest having learned a little about them from the commentary on the train. Every member of staff we met were friendly, helpful and informative. Couldn't have asked for more.
The memorials are very humbling and thought provoking, none more so than the Shot at Dawn memorial. It is free entrance though of course they ask for donations, and you can of course support it additionally by purchasing tickets for the train or buggy tours and purchases in the cafe or shop.
The memorials are very humbling and thought provoking, none more so than the Shot at Dawn memorial. It is free entrance though of course they ask for donations, and you can of course support it additionally by purchasing tickets for the train or buggy tours and purchases in the cafe or shop.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We had breakfast but I think the main draw of this place has to be the fantastic looking cakes and scones on offer - pity we were too early for those.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a well laid out set of individually presented tributes to our historical conflicts.
There are ample parking areas, well signed. Very good and reasonably priced restaurant (self service).
You can travel around the grounds on foot or use the motor train transport complete with commentary (pay).
A wonderful but poignant time spent viewing the commemorative zones.
Lest We Forget
There are ample parking areas, well signed. Very good and reasonably priced restaurant (self service).
You can travel around the grounds on foot or use the motor train transport complete with commentary (pay).
A wonderful but poignant time spent viewing the commemorative zones.
Lest We Forget
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautifully landscaped. I particularly liked the Naval area which as a stained glass panel with a statue of a sailor in front and at certain time of the day the sunlight reflects the shadow of the sailor through the stained glass - wonderful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Although the temperamental English weather prevented us from walking around this extensive site, we were able to view many of the commemorative gardens etc from inside the covered little trolley train, well worth the price of the ticket. A moving and very poignant day
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a truly remarkable arboretum and memorial. It is well laid out and has easy access for all, whatever your ability. The main memorial has to be seen (actually it would be difficult to miss) and is a very sobering experience. However, it was also an uplifting experience as the lay out and huge number of trees and sculptures are really beautiful, allowing you to pay your respects in a very appropriate setting. I recommend using the land train, as it gives you a full overview of the park with commentary, so you can return on foot to areas of particular interest to yourself. There are plenty of benches for resting or contemplation. The restaurant is ok, staff very helpful, loos have easy access and are clean. My only gripe, is that we opted for 'afternoon tea' and this is a misnomer as its only a very small cup of tea with floating tea bag and standard piece of cake and rather expensive at £4.95. We could have had a standard whole pot of tea and cake for £4.50 in the main restaurant. That aside I strongly recommend visiting this memorial.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a wonderful powerful place and well worth a visit. Apart from the £3 charge for all-day parking, the place is free to visit and it was well worth the long drive from home in Yorkshire.
It does seem a pity that the sole 'brown' sign on the A38 is located just a few yards before the turning to the A513. Apparently the cost of signange is prohibitive, but surely this should be borne by the nation rather than the charity!
It does seem a pity that the sole 'brown' sign on the A38 is located just a few yards before the turning to the A513. Apparently the cost of signange is prohibitive, but surely this should be borne by the nation rather than the charity!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I have been to hundreds of war commemoration sites in Britain and Europe and this far exceeded my expectations. The highlight for me was the Changi lychgate, built as an entrance to the cemetery at the Japanese PoW camp and brought to England in the 1970s. To be able to stand inside it made me feel closer to the men who had built and used it in such horrific circumstances.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
You must visit, it is so incredible.........I actually felt something very powerful! I just have no words to explain.....
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Having read some of the review - terrible, poor - I wonder if I was at the same place. Apart from parking £3 (who begrudges that) you do not have to spend any money, you can walk round at your leisure. A lot of families were sitting outside with their lunches and dogs.
We did the buggy tour not the train. It was brilliant as we saw the areas we asked for with our super knowledgeable driver - worth every penny of the £5. We had the lunch and although expensive it was excellent and the staff could not have been more helpful either in the restaurant or anywhere on the site.
You really do have to ask what people expect or why they went? The area is large - it needs to be and it is not just a memorial to our armed services but to many other aspects of our life including children who did not experience life.
Someone with a review who went this year said there are no trees..there are HUNDREDS of trees and in June/July the poppies will be blowing in the breeze.
Go for the right reason and enjoy, wear sensible shoes as there is a lot of walking if you want the true experience.
We did the buggy tour not the train. It was brilliant as we saw the areas we asked for with our super knowledgeable driver - worth every penny of the £5. We had the lunch and although expensive it was excellent and the staff could not have been more helpful either in the restaurant or anywhere on the site.
You really do have to ask what people expect or why they went? The area is large - it needs to be and it is not just a memorial to our armed services but to many other aspects of our life including children who did not experience life.
Someone with a review who went this year said there are no trees..there are HUNDREDS of trees and in June/July the poppies will be blowing in the breeze.
Go for the right reason and enjoy, wear sensible shoes as there is a lot of walking if you want the true experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here today for the first time. It was lovely. Staff were very helpful and friendly. It's quite a big place so to see it all will take a few hours. Easy access for buggy's and wheelchair users. There's a land train that goes round the arboretum if u don't fancy walking around from one end to the other. They also do tours. So a good history lesson for the little ones
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I had been told that I must visit the National Memorial Arboretum for a long time, but never got round to going.
Sometimes it's just because a place is close by, and you ignore it for this reason.
Anyway we have now been. I'm not really sure what I expected, this was not it.
So many memorials to so many groups. Wrens, Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers. Civilians. Men and women. From all over the country and the world.
Peaceful and calm. I now wish we had planned to be there for longer.
We are planning to go again next weekend for the VE day event.
We worth a visit.
Sometimes it's just because a place is close by, and you ignore it for this reason.
Anyway we have now been. I'm not really sure what I expected, this was not it.
So many memorials to so many groups. Wrens, Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers. Civilians. Men and women. From all over the country and the world.
Peaceful and calm. I now wish we had planned to be there for longer.
We are planning to go again next weekend for the VE day event.
We worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Emotional and moving- difficult to take it all in- a sobering experience. The wind was blowing but on a warm day I'd have wanted to stay much longer
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited the Arboretum on a beautiful, sunny but very cold day. It was a very sobering but interesting experience. The Arboretum is beautifully laid out and in a few years with more mature trees will look quite wonderful. We loved the thought and sometimes the humour that had gone into some of the memorials. Having visited Poland a few times over the years we especially liked it's memorial which was beautiful and very informative. The Gallipoli memorial was especially moving as we visited a few days after the 100 years anniversary. The only disapointment was that we couldn't find the REME Memorial (my father's regiment) but Googled later to find it was being repaired.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Does this come across as an attraction.
It is the most amazing poignant place I have ever visited,the staff were really helpful,polite,Nothing was too much trouble.Everybody should go and reflect on what it stands for
RECOMMEND IT AMAZING POIGNANT
It is the most amazing poignant place I have ever visited,the staff were really helpful,polite,Nothing was too much trouble.Everybody should go and reflect on what it stands for
RECOMMEND IT AMAZING POIGNANT
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
As a family we visit annually. A nice dry day is best , it does get busy but there are acres of grounds to wander in a look at the many memorials.
It is the calmness and the quietness that gets me every time we visit. There are plenty of benches to sit and have a minute.
I personally think everybody should visit at least once out of respect for our forces.
there are other memorials not just military.There is a visitor centre with a café and toilets and gift shop.
Love this place x
It is the calmness and the quietness that gets me every time we visit. There are plenty of benches to sit and have a minute.
I personally think everybody should visit at least once out of respect for our forces.
there are other memorials not just military.There is a visitor centre with a café and toilets and gift shop.
Love this place x
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
