Can only say what a moving experience. Well laid out, disabilty friendly, reasonably priced coffee shop

I have been to this place on numerous occasions and its always heart breaking when you see how many lives have been sacrificed to make us what & who we are. My friends name is on one of the pillars and I like to go and pay my respects to him and remember what his family lost.
This place is so peaceful and there is always so much to see as there is always a new memorial or garden opening.
The only thing that I worry about is the amount of empty pillars, ready to have the names of our loved ones on in the future.
RIP Winnie, always missed.x

This is a place I feel privileged to live close to. Have visited on several occasions and always find something new that moves me. So much to see that I have not completed the whole site yet. It is an ongoing project with new memorials. Would recommend this as a must for everyone visiting the area.

I am a regular visitor to the National Memorial Arboretum and I have walked round it with my wife in rain and sunshine, never tiring of the beauty of the whole site, the gardens, trees, the wildlife, but most of all the reminders throughout of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice from the armed services, the police and fire services, and civilians who gave their lives for this country.

Every time I visit there always seems to be another new monument or garden that has been opened or upgraded and the site is now maturing in such a beautiful a way that no-one could ever imagined when it was first opened.The Armed Forces Memorial opened by HM The Queen is a stunning example of architecture, poignant, yet uplifting and should always be included in your tour together with a visit to the chapel where a service of remembrance is held each day at 11am.

The volunteers on the site are always knowledgeable, always welcoming and are great ambassadors for the NMA.

My greatest pleasure is seeing and talking to some of the thousands of veterans and their families who visit each year from all over the Uk and overseas. There is no graffiti, no litter and only lovely people who visit and show the proper respect.

Let me turn to some of the negative points that other reviewers have mentioned and whinged about. Yes the NMA does not receive government funding so I am more than happy to pay my £3 for car parking all day which is a small price to pay, bearing in mind the experience I will have walking round this beautiful site, and that the food and drinks in the restaurant are much less that you would pay in a pub or restaurant and are better quality too..

Yes when we have very heavy and continuous rain there is sometimes some flooding on the low ground, but now that the hard surfaced road is all the way round the site it does not curtail your enjoyment of walking or taking the Land Train round the site.

Yes It is in the main a site dedicated to military sacrifice, but these are the gallant men and women who have paid with their lives ( and still paying) for everything we hold dear in this country and for every one who has made that sacrifice there are hundreds of thousands more who have been grievously wounded and the British Legion who run the NMA are always there to support our armed forces.

All in all a wonderful site and not to be missed.

This was our first visit here, and found it much bigger than we expected, unfortunately, on the day we visited, a lot of the grounds were under water. However, this did not detract too much from the visit. The Arboretum is not solely dedicated to the military, numerous civil bodies are also represented here. We found the experience deeply moving, and I am not ashamed to say I was reduced to tears on several occasions, particularly the 'Shot At Dawn' memorial, and the Far East POW memorial and exhibition.
We had lunch at the Arbour restaurant using the '2 for £10 voucher we found online. An absolute bargain! We had the turkey dinner followed by Christmas cake and coffee, superb, it all tasted home cooked.
We will certainly return here when the weather is more clement. Also I would appeal to others to please leave a donation towards this wonderful and humbling memorial, because although there is a £3 car park fee (All of which goes to support the site ) it costs a great deal of money for it's upkeep.

I've visited NMA on several occassions. You need a full day to be able to get around, and you still won't see everything.
Be sure to take your hankies. It's very moving.
We regularly visit the Royal British Legion section, where we have two trees dedicated to deceased members of our Branch. This year, also, we visited the Burma Star memorium. One of our very dear members passed away this year. He was a Chindit during WW2

Visited yet again and discovered something new although we've made numerous visits here already. Looked at the Far East and Sands memorials in particular and am in awe of the power of human endurance. Followed this with a visit to the Restaurant and made use of a voucher I'd spotted on the website for 2 main meals for £10 during January and February. Brilliant value for money with a melt in the mouth roast pork lunch. We have eaten here a number of times and have always been rewarded with a lovely meal and this certainly didn't disappoint!

Excellent place to visit, peace & tranquillity, not only have we been visiting with the RTTW guys but we also have a tree to remember my sister by, a bench will follow, this place is Perfect to visit for those you wish to Remember, whether it's someone in the Armed Forces or a family member or friend. And the Remembrance Wall is just something else, all the people there do a Fantastic Job, I look forward to more visits,

I have visited over the last 5 years and the memorial improves on each visit. Hopefully i will be able to see it mature. A must visit if in the area.

Amazing going again tomorrow

Its a very moving place the grounds are vast and with good weather you could spend hours just walking around. We live so close but every time we go another Memorial seems to appear. Well worht a visit

As an ex Serviceman it was inspiring to visit the many regimental
memorials and stories of our brave forces.

The core and the soul of the NMA is a physical place where the acts of remembrance and gratitude can be articulated by our whole nation, regardless of background, for the ultimate sacrifice made by so many. The quiet and calm surrounds have an air of pensive reflection that I think staff and volunteers strive to deliver. It is a place that everyone should visit.

Things to bear in mind / improve on:
£3.00 parking charge (take change).

Very poor public transport links.

Some more information on some of the older monuments such as where they came from and how they came to the NMA.

Ground can get very boggy in adverse weather, be aware of what you wear.

If you have small children, there is a large stretch of river near the play area that is unfenced.

But the need to come and remember and reflect outweighs these details.

A very moving and thought provoking experience - if you havent visited you should!! We have been several times as we live quite locally and always take our family and friends her for a visit as you see somehing new every time you go

Peaceful, memorable and a moving experience. The memorials are superb and it would be easy to spend a full day looking around.

Just visit, a true tribute to sacrifice. If you have any connection to our armed forces or police, or even a passing interest it is very moving.

We have only visited the National Memorial Arboretum twice - once in February 2010 and again last month. Just in that short time, it is obvious just how it is flourishing as the "special place honouring those who have served, and continue to serve, our nation .....".

The trees have visibly grown larger and it is not hard to imagine what a beautiful arboretum it will become - sadly, it is a place that has been necessary to create. It had to be done!

The 29th November 2013 was the 70th anniversary of a WW2 Atrocity - the 414 British POW's who lost their lives in the 1943 sinking of the Japanese ship 'Suez Maru' were never given the justice they deserved. Google "Suez Maru" to discover more. One victim's great-niece had the impetus to strive for a memorial to these men and, on the 29th, she and members of other victims' families stood and remembered - reading out all the names of the 414 British men who had perished.

This new memorial stands beside the FEPOW Museum (members of which helped to achieve this memorial too). There is a Memorial in Singapore (at Kranji War Cemetery) but it is only fitting that there is a focal point in the UK for families to visit.

The National Memorial Arboretum appears to be a very well-run centre and all staff/volunteers we met were friendly and helpful. There is a gift shop; tea room; toilets; exhibition area; and a lovely restaurant - all proceeds from the latter (and perhaps from all?) going straight back into the Arboretum. There is a car park fee but no fee into the Memorial site.

Keep up the good work :-)

Have been meaning to visit here for some time. Lots to see, very interesting place. The memorials are not only for the armed services. There are memorials for civilians too. Also a place where you can see plaques on trees for babies/children who have passed away. I think anyone who visits here, and at some stage of the visit doesn't feel emotional must have a heart made of ice. One sad place is the blank wall waiting for names for people who haven't yet died. Only charge for visit is for parking, buggy ride and donation.

An amazing site with so many things to see. A place of reflection and contemplation. Very moving to read all the names of people who gave their lives to their country in a variety of different wars and conflicts. Makes you appreciate how many people have lost their lives.

I go to the Arboretum regularly, on official business and for leisure. I never cease to be moved by the quiet dignity and the reverence shown by all visitors, of any age. Even new squaddies, "singing hymns in the key of grunt" catch on to the gratitude we must all show.

Everyone should take out time to visit this magnificent memorial to those that have served our country so magnificently and have made the ultimate sacrifice. Each memorial stone tells its own story and is a fascinating piece of ever changing history. All the staff are helpful and the grounds are manicured to the highest order. It is far from a morbid place and well worth a visit. Allow plenty of time because there is much to see.

This is obviously a special place with a lot of interesting and informative memorials and beautiful grounds. The land train is excellent for those without good mobility and the provision of blankets on a chilly day was super. Felt there could have been a lot more information provided and the catering was really disappointing not up to the standard of the rest at all.

As a serving member this have got to be one of most dedicated arboretum. Even if you don't serve its an emotional day for all. I think the wall touches people the most, as there is still a whole section with no names on. (Makes you think). The gardens are stunning and well looked after. This is where the real heroes are.

I have visited the NMA many times and every time am moved by the memorials there. Everyone should visit - Lest we Forget.

I only live 4 miles from the Arboretum, and have visited it many times. It is an incredibly special place, that never fails to move me at each visit. If you are planning a visit, you must include the 11.00am daily service in the chapel, and then allow yourself a good few hours to walk around the beautifully maintained grounds and memorials dedicated to all the brave men and women that have laid down their lives in the service of their country. A visit here will leave you feeling moved, emotiona,l humbeled and proud. Finally, please remember to leave a donation to keep this National Memorial open, and say a huge thank you to the army of amazing volunteers that without whom, the Arboretum would never survive. It is a place once visited, you will never forget.