We had been meaning to visit for some time so thought it would be a good idea to go at this time of year. It is a very moving place. Lots of wreaths were around the different memorials.
We will go back in the Summer as so much to see and in lovely grounds. We will make sure we arrive before 11 so there for the introduction talk and silence.

To visit it is easy to find and just a voluntary contribution if you feel inclined, it is a very large place so intend to spend a fair amount of time there, there is a cafe come restaurant on site to feed you with plenty of choices, should you also feel the need
There is a buggy that can take you around the site ,so not sure if you have to pre book it and if there is a cost
It is very well kept there and emotional as well when you see what happened in the past
If your around there or going past it then pay a visit

We attended the Armistice Day commemoration as we were lucky enough to get tickets. Despite the weather it was a fantastic experience and very well organised.

The NMA itself is a wonderful place, beautifully laid out and hugely sympathetic.

Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to see everything, but the areas we did visit really did justice to the memory of those that have fallen.

Do yourself a favour and make sure you go at some point - it makes you humble and thankful for what we have as a result of those that gave so much

Easy access and good information on arrival. We were made to feel very welcome by the volunteers who met our coach at the door. I arranged for our NADFAS group to visit and we did the 1 hour Land Train tour of the extensive grounds which has a good and clear comentary. We found the visit inspiring and came away with sobering memories of all those brave people who gave their lives for us. There is an easy to use self service cafe with plenty of seating both inside and out. Well worth a visit.

It is difficult to put into words the best way to describe The NMA as it means different things to different people.

As a veteran of the Falklands Conflict, there is a wonderful memorial that I visit every time, as well as the individual ships ones to pay my respects to the 258 who lost thier lives in the liberation of the islands.

There are, however, many more individual and group memorials that really bring to light the ultimate sacrifice that many have given in the line of whatever duty it was that was their calling.

Perfectly placed in the middle of the country, it is well worth making a weekend of it as you may need plenty of time to really appreciate the venue.

They also do a great Sunday Roast Dinner Carvery!

We visited the Memorial on the 8th and 9th of November. What a memorable weekend. The arboretum is the most amazing, beautiful and thought provoking place. The detail that has gone into the whole project is incredible. The Rememberance service was unforgettable. Beautiful grounds. Lovely gift shop. Good eating facilities. An unmissable experience.

This is a place we had planned to visit for some time and I was surprised how vast an area the Arboretum covers. The main memorial left me speechless. It is very humbling to look at all the names on the wall and realise the number of servicemen who have given their lives to protecting the lives of others since the Second World War. The gardens are beautifully maintained and there are very many monuments both military and civilian all of which are worthy of note. I was particularly moved by the 'Shot at Dawn' monument to all those who were shot for deserting their post. The river runs alongside the Arboretum and there is a lovely walk along here. They were planting bluebells whilst we visited and we bought and planted some which will form a bluebell wood next year. There is a café which serves very good food and a shop selling memorabilia. The Arboretum is well worth a visit but put aside a few hours as there is a lot to see and it is a large area. The car park is £3 but entrance is free although donations are encouraged.

Very memorable visit along with 4,998 other visitors. Service was very emotional for the young as well as the old

The National Memorial Arboretum is one of those venues that you must really put onto your list of things to see. This place really is a living memorial with an abundance of both civilian and military monuments. The grounds look spectacular with such an array of different trees and shrubs. Please make the effort to try and visit, you will not be disappointed.

Its hard to find the words to describe this place. Nothing can prepare you for how breath taking it actually is or how vast it is either. Whether you know some who has served or not this place is definitely worth visiting, I am so glad I did, even though the day was a bit dank it add to the whole ambience. I came away feeling ever so humble.

What a amazing place it makes you think of all these people and what they did for us and so much more as well like the place for the still born children .as I have been through this my daughter lost her first baby in a car accident an he was still born it was a very moving place for me .my partner a retired police officer also new work colleagues there on the beat very moving keep it up a lovely place to remember .

You could spend the whole day wandering around the amazing grounds. Make sure you wear comfy footwear and warm clothing - the site is very exposed and we got cold very quickly. There are loads of places to sit, rest and reflect therefore a flask of tea and some biscuits are essential.

This place is truly a fitting memorial for those who have given their lives, their liberty or their health for our country. Wherever one walks or looks there are wonderful tributes to our fallen. This place is one that every true Briton must visit at least once in their lifetime to spend even a little while remembering, and vowing ... 'Never again!'

The first thing that hits you is the wide open space and how the memorials are laid out allowing both visual acceptance and dignity. Then the absolute peace and quiet irrespective of the number of people visiting. This was our 2nd visit to the site and we wanted to see new The Land Girls memorial which is a wonderful tribute to these very brave young ladies. We wandered along the numerous paths reading inscriptions and thinking of those who had sacrificed so much. Although my husband found the visit very emotional we will definitely return.

what a fitting memorial to heroes from all walks of life.
This place is well worth a visit.
The arboretum is well maintained and all the volunteers are friendly and know
Knowledgeable.
I would highly recommend a visit.

I had to place this as an attraction, to some it may well be, but it is far more.

We have family in Staffordshire, so it is convenient for us to visit, and we have visited on several occasions. Each time we call, something has changed, or added.

The central Memorial is well elevated in the centre of the Arboretum, and looks impressive, both from a distance, and actually on the top. Access is by steps or a spiral path.It would be a very hard heart that wasn't touched by all the names of our service personnel who have been 'lost' in the many conflicts over the years. You may have family listed. Do your research before you go.

There are different areas, dedicated to the different services, and more recently, as is so right and proper, the Civilian Organisations that gave their services. Each has its own planting and memorial or Monument.we have visited since shortly after the opening, and have seen the trees growing, gardens developing, and new areas - recently the Land Army was recognised.

There is a generous car park with a Disabled parking area. Parking was free to the disabled but the last time we visited there was a charge for the more able. If you phone ahead of your visit, you may reserve a Mobility Scooter for a nominal fee. There is a cafe, toilets, and gift shop.

I would recommend a visit to everyone, and if you would like to know more, the web site is:-
www.thenma.org.uk.

Enjoy your visit.

A place to see as words cannot convey what a peaceful and interesting place it is. Many different events and organisations represented not all military.

Amazing and thought provoking - always developing and definitely worth a visit - whether or not you have connection to forces

We woke up last Sunday it was pelting it down but by 09:00 there was a break in the rain, so we decided to go here for a visit, it's not that far away from where we live.
Parking costs £3 for all day, and believe me you'll need all day to get around all of the memorials.
We attended the chapel service at 11:00 am where we paid our respects and the two minute silence is respected there every day of the year.
I'm not good on my legs so we caught the train that takes you around some of the memorials, the trip is around 50 minutes and costs £5 each person, but you have to buy your tickets before you can go on the train, you can't pay when you get on the train. There's also golf type buggies that you can pay to have a guided tour or pay for a walking guided tour.
We didn't know what to expect when we arrived at the memorial and a big surprise was its not just military memorials there, lots of trees and gardens, peace and quiet so you can sit and think.
I won't mention what memorials are there I'll leave that to you to find them, it certainly makes you think about things. It's not a grave yard like the one in America where this idea came from, neither is it The Somme or auschwitz, where you know that people lost their lives, just reading about those two places could make you weep, its The National Memorial Arboretum, bang in the centre of our country, if this wasn't here, there's no where else in our country or many other countries like this.

We were told that there is to be an injection of funds, they are knocking all of the buildings down apart from The Chapel, building new ones fit for purpose, the visitor numbers have gone up from 60,000 to 300,000. There are new memorials planned too.
You can get something to eat and drink there, there's a cafe indoors plus a marquee outside.
There's a shop selling things to do with the Arboretum, poppies, pens, mugs, ect ect.
There's no admission price, you make a donation in the boxes provided, were were told that it costs £4,000 a day to run the Arboretum, that equates to a cost of £6 for each visitor, bear this in mind when you do put your hand in your pocket to donate.
A visit here certainly is food for thought and for some people it could be very emotional.

150 acres 300 memorials and not enough time. Car parking £3 for all day. Free entry but a suggested donation of £5
Dogs not allowed through the main area but there is a great walk footpath around the outside with still loads to see and read
The place is so well kept with loads of guides on hand a road train to take people about expect to be a minimum of 3-4 hours there's toilets shop and restaurant
We will be going back to see more

This is such a dramatic place, it is only when you see all the memorials do you realise how many thousands of people have died in defence of our country. The forest of trees is specially haunting when you realise that each tree represents a ship full of people in the merchant navy.
The wall of rememberance is updated annually with the names of those lost since the end of the of the Second World War.
There is a small museum which displays paintings from the concentration camps, these can be harrowing and makes you wonder how man survived the traumas.
It is upsetting and uplifting at the same time. May their sacrifice not be in vain.

It's a strange way to fill a day out but ...I was totally taken back by the whole thing fantastic gardens and the memorial just blows you away looking at the names of the boys and girls who have given their lives for us all
It made it really special when an old plane flew over very very low
This is a day out for every one the young and the old

Luckily for us, we live within a few miles of The Arboretum and we take every opportunity to introduce our visitors to this site, which is of national importance. Every time we visit we find something new, it was good ten years ago, it is great now, and in a few years will be magnificent.
Make sure to give yourself time to do justice to the place, and don't forget to visit 'Shot at Dawn', those poor individuals who today would be guilty only of post traumatic stress.
Entry is free although there is a car parking charge and donations are most appreciated.

Visited the NMA recently - something we have intended to do for some time.

It is a very moving place, but it does seem a bit 'bitty'. A semi-random acculmulation of various memorials in loose groupings. It seems mostly to consist of 'stones' with plaques / inscriptions. Those memorials which buck this trend eg like the recently dedicated Land Girls / Lumber Jills memorial, really stand out - for the better.

However, we had thought that this was a memorial arboretum relating to armed forces / services / war & conflict. We were, therefore, somewhat surprised to find memorials to Stillbirth Children and similar. Have difficulty accepting that this is the place for memorial to these such losses. If so why not just a cemetary?

Yes you have to pay for the 'bits' - car parking, maps, etc, - but they are minimal for a place that has no entrance fee.

The cakes in the catering tent were pretty good too.

A beautiful time to visit on a bright sunny crisp day where a bowl of hot soup in the restaurant is welcoming after a lovely walk on flat even paths. The memorials are thoughtfully laid out with my personal favourite being the recent addition of the Women's Land Army & Timber Corp. The £3 all day parking charge and free entry makes it exceptional value day out.