National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
A wonderful place to visit, run by volunteers. The grounds easy to walk on or wheelchair,etc. so much to see. Take land train first, £5 each last an hour, but well worth it, so much information and things to look out for. An amazing day. Would definitely go back as didn't see everything.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful, well presented, peaceful place to visit and see over 300 memorials that honour those who have served, and continue to serve, our nation in many different ways. Free admission and free hire of mobility scooters/motorised scooters too.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful, well presented, peaceful place to visit and see over 300 memorials that honour those who have served, and continue to serve, our nation in many different ways. Free admission and free hire of mobility scooters/motorised scooters too.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I was drawn to the National Memorial Arboretum on 4th August 2014 (WW1 Centenary) to remember my Grandad and Uncle... and I'm glad I did. Apart from a small cost for parking my car everything else was free. In the short time I was there I dedicated a leaf for the 'Memory Tree', joined a guided walk, had a quiet lone ramble and attended the wonderful candlelit evening service put on in the glorious Armed Forces Memorial. The Visitors Centre is modern with a reception area, café, gift shop and toilets; there are plenty of picnic tables if you take your own food. Disabled access appeared good. I found all the staff and volunteers helpful and very cheerful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A wonderful memorial which is well thought out. Each tribute is well planned and dignified for those not with us any more. A wonderful place to say a silent goodbye to those we have lost. I especially was moved by the Far East memorial that contained many artefacts and records of that period, it was the only place to acknowledge my father who was a prisoner of war in Japan, it was on the roll call of prisoners he was listed and from there was able to trace what had happened to him during the war. A fitting tribute to the past and a wonderful place.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I along with My wife have been looking forward to going to The Arboretum, for many weeks, were we disappointed, No, as an Ex soldier I could appreciate the sacrifice many of our young men made to protect our Land.
Parking is £3 per day, food is available at a reasonable price, and fresh.
A visit to the Church is a must, but, be there for 1100 o'clock, everyday there is a two minute silence. Take the train ride from just behind the Church [£5.00 each] journey time 50 minutes well worth the cash, you will see more of this vast space, and will give you more time to look around.
Would We go again ? A resounding YES.
Parking is £3 per day, food is available at a reasonable price, and fresh.
A visit to the Church is a must, but, be there for 1100 o'clock, everyday there is a two minute silence. Take the train ride from just behind the Church [£5.00 each] journey time 50 minutes well worth the cash, you will see more of this vast space, and will give you more time to look around.
Would We go again ? A resounding YES.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The National Memorial Arboretum is a 150-acre site dedicated to remembrance in Staffordshire, near Alrewas. The Arboretum’s landscaped grounds contain many reflections on the First World War, from the poignant tribute to the shell-shocked soldiers who refused to return to the trenches and were ‘shot at dawn’ to the senseless slaughter at Gallipoli.
Currently, to mark the centenary, the Arboretum is hosting a series of special events like poetry and music recitals, as well as First World War trails around the site.
Currently, to mark the centenary, the Arboretum is hosting a series of special events like poetry and music recitals, as well as First World War trails around the site.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A very beautiful arboretum, thoughtfully and beautifully planted. Space for reflection and thoughts on the sadness of war. Lots of time required to walk through the whole area....so will be back, and of course it will change as the trees and gardens mature ......
Facilities re food and toilet facilities good.
Facilities re food and toilet facilities good.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a lovely, tranquil place and a credit to the country. There are some beautiful memorials and trees. Very moving for military families and for people who have lost loved ones. You pay to park (£3.00 in July 2014) and then its free entry. Guide book £6.50 which is well worth it. Very nice restaurant and gift shop.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful and thought provoking site with lots of information. We went there specifically to look at RN/QARNNS and RAMC memorials.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a memorable visit. Beautiful & Peaceful we all really enjoyed the day. A day isn't long enough to fit everything in. So we will be returning.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My husband and I visited the arboureteum yesterday it is well worth going so much to see and photograph .we were at 11am for the service in the chapel followed by a very informative talk about the history .the volunteers are also very friendly and helpful .the resturant excellent .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Full of history and very moving so much to see, we spent over five hours exploring and came away having discovered much that we didn't know.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The central memorial space is impressive and well executed. Great expanses of Portland Stone with beautifully carved script and a few strong bronze statues. Clever use of light and sonorous echoes as one walks around. It really helps one begin to understand the enormity of loss in conflict.
However, the rest of the arboretum seems to me to lack any coherent structure with a bewildering assortment of memorials dotted about in a fairly haphazard parkland setting. A plethora of park benches everywhere adds to a sense of being in a municipal park rather than a memorial arboretum.
I was particularly saddened to see a collection of war memorials, presumably taken from buildings now demolished or "regenerated" put up on a fence to the side of the restaurant with a load of mobility scooters in front of them.
Its great that the arboretum has been created and I think the centre piece is excellent and moving. I think the rest of the site needs a re-think, with a little more thought given to overall structure and coherence.
I hope that the problems, as I see them, are a result of this still being quite a new site and that all will be resolved over time. After all, there seems no end to people dying in wars, so this is going to be a long term project.
However, the rest of the arboretum seems to me to lack any coherent structure with a bewildering assortment of memorials dotted about in a fairly haphazard parkland setting. A plethora of park benches everywhere adds to a sense of being in a municipal park rather than a memorial arboretum.
I was particularly saddened to see a collection of war memorials, presumably taken from buildings now demolished or "regenerated" put up on a fence to the side of the restaurant with a load of mobility scooters in front of them.
Its great that the arboretum has been created and I think the centre piece is excellent and moving. I think the rest of the site needs a re-think, with a little more thought given to overall structure and coherence.
I hope that the problems, as I see them, are a result of this still being quite a new site and that all will be resolved over time. After all, there seems no end to people dying in wars, so this is going to be a long term project.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went not really knowing what to expect but what a remarkable place. The memorial monuments to many different people are set out in beautiful landscaped grounds. We took the road train ride so that we could see as much as possible and the £5 charge was well worth it as we learnt far more than if we had wandered round on our own although there is plenty of friendly staff who will put you on the right track if you're looking for any particular monument.
The main monument in the centre was particularly thought provoking, to see all those names of people who have been killed and then see the blank spaces yet to be filled makes you realise just how many lives have been lost.
There is so much to see it is hard to do it all in one day so I hope to go back soon.
The food in the cafe was lovely and reasonably priced. The gift shop has plenty of momentos to help you remember a wonderful day out.
The main monument in the centre was particularly thought provoking, to see all those names of people who have been killed and then see the blank spaces yet to be filled makes you realise just how many lives have been lost.
There is so much to see it is hard to do it all in one day so I hope to go back soon.
The food in the cafe was lovely and reasonably priced. The gift shop has plenty of momentos to help you remember a wonderful day out.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
As most do, we arrived by car. It was well signposted and the car park was reasonably priced, £3 all day. No admission charge but suggested donation £5 per head.
It is a lovely place to be, and a fitting location for the many and varied memorials.
We took the road-train ride to get an overview. Cost £5 per person for about 3/4 hours.
We also visited the post 1945 memorial, the biggest of the memorials.
So many names, and the list still continues.
A chance to reflect on the true cost of war, in human terms.
It is a lovely place to be, and a fitting location for the many and varied memorials.
We took the road-train ride to get an overview. Cost £5 per person for about 3/4 hours.
We also visited the post 1945 memorial, the biggest of the memorials.
So many names, and the list still continues.
A chance to reflect on the true cost of war, in human terms.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The National Memorial Arboretum is a good place to visit to pay tribute to the men and women that have given their lives in defence of our country. There are memorial monuments to many different individual units, and it's worth picking up a copy of the guide book to get full details of all of them. The only problem is that it is now impossible to get to the NMA by public transport except for on a Sunday.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
And I mean everyone, as it not only remembers those lost in conflict, but other innocent lives lost, 9/11, still births, everyone is remembered in a unique special way. The whole experience was more than I could have imagined. The staff were all very helpful, cheery and welcoming nothing was to much trouble. Food lovely and reasonable in cafe, shop very well stocked for all ages.
Can recommend the land train, although at £5 each thought it was expensive but so glad we did as we saw and learnt so much more than you would on foot, worth every penny! We jumped off at the shot at Dawn(very moving) approx 1/2 way round and walked back.
Just a wonderful day out, such a tranquil,beatuifully kept, peaceful place, highly recommended, hope to visit again. Thank you! :)
Can recommend the land train, although at £5 each thought it was expensive but so glad we did as we saw and learnt so much more than you would on foot, worth every penny! We jumped off at the shot at Dawn(very moving) approx 1/2 way round and walked back.
Just a wonderful day out, such a tranquil,beatuifully kept, peaceful place, highly recommended, hope to visit again. Thank you! :)
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Yesterday we went with two friends to above attraction out fourth visit their first.the Arboretum is a wonderful site to wonder round, very tranquil but has a very serious but interesting side.i must vist for everyone just so we rember the past and all the sacrifices made.beautiful kept but really needs more than one day to get round.they have a land train you can go round on and you can pay more for a buggy tour.£ 3.00 car parking but no entrance fee but rely on donations a very worthy cause.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our third visit to this ever changing, very special place and it won't be our last.
It can be emotional and moving but that is what it is-The National Memorial Arboretm
It can be emotional and moving but that is what it is-The National Memorial Arboretm
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Been here twice now and found new parts of it each time. Really enjoyed exploring and walking along the river, learning about a lot of British history that I didn't know previously. A though provoking place but with the sun shining and kids playing - a happy one as well, I didn't find it at all sombre. Well worth a visit. Cakes in the coffee shop are good too...
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely atmosphere of friendliness. The food is always very tasty. Worth a visit. When I last went there was a parade day for the 1st world war memorial. It is a wonderful place to visit and the restaurant staff are always pleasant and helpful even when they are under pressure of serving a couple of hundred people with hot food. Well done.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Really nice place to go and pay ones respect to the dead. The grounds are so well looked after. It's a pity the welcome is not so good. I presume that the people are all volunteers and so therefor do it for free non the less they could try to be a little not pleasant when arriving. One lady at a desk was looking down either to her phone or an Ipod and paying no attention to people entering the main entrance. The train could be more photographic friendly by that I mean you cannot take photos because you have a plastic window in front of your lens .Also you are all squashed up on it. Having said this it does cost a lot of money to run. I think it would be better to have something's modernised i.e.the train and charge an entrance fee.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a must visit if you are ever in the area, and well worth a dedicated visit. It does not in anyway glorify conflicts, but simply remembers anyone who has served our country in every day life, like the fire brigade, police ,ambulance service and the armed services.
The whole place makes you proud to be British and part of the commonwealth, individual monuments telling their own stories.
The road train ride is a great way to see the whole site, with a simple yet informative commentary played throughout, then a trip up to the main services monument a must do, the massive walls covered in names helps you appreciate their sacrifice.
The cafe/restaurant was very good and reasonably priced, and the gift shop well stocked with various souvenirs, bearing in mind most areas are staffed by volunteers the organisation and professionalism was excellent.
A calm and serene place that I hopefully will visit again.
The whole place makes you proud to be British and part of the commonwealth, individual monuments telling their own stories.
The road train ride is a great way to see the whole site, with a simple yet informative commentary played throughout, then a trip up to the main services monument a must do, the massive walls covered in names helps you appreciate their sacrifice.
The cafe/restaurant was very good and reasonably priced, and the gift shop well stocked with various souvenirs, bearing in mind most areas are staffed by volunteers the organisation and professionalism was excellent.
A calm and serene place that I hopefully will visit again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited last week, and what a joy. The peace and quiet is wonderful, as is the 600 monuments. Allow a lot of time as the site is massive and only visit when it is fine. There is a train to take you round the site, (£5) I fully recomment this. look at the Middle east section, including the burma railway.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
