National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Having read about the Arboretum I have been wanting to visit here for some time. Its about a 2.5 hour drive for us but we made a detour on our way to somewhere else and I am so pleased we did.
This is an incredibly well thought out, serene place, the planting and setting is outstanding and I felt very privileged to be able to wander in such a beautiful moving place. We spent three hours and could have spent longer. The overflow car park was in use yet this place is so vast that you never felt that it was crowded or spoiled in any way.
The staff, many of them volunteers were welcoming and informative. The guide book was excellent and the toilets and restaurant were very clean and the food was good. The gift shop was nice and suitably priced.
Access for the less mobile seemed very well provided for, because by its very nature there are many older people who visit. We actually had the pleasure to get talking to an 87 year old wonderful lady who had been in the land army, she was fascinating!
There is a train that runs around the whole site and when I visit again, which I will with my elderly parents, I expect this will be very useful.
I was overwhelmed by the place, everyone should visit if they can, its free entry (donations welcome) and all day parking is only £3
This is an incredibly well thought out, serene place, the planting and setting is outstanding and I felt very privileged to be able to wander in such a beautiful moving place. We spent three hours and could have spent longer. The overflow car park was in use yet this place is so vast that you never felt that it was crowded or spoiled in any way.
The staff, many of them volunteers were welcoming and informative. The guide book was excellent and the toilets and restaurant were very clean and the food was good. The gift shop was nice and suitably priced.
Access for the less mobile seemed very well provided for, because by its very nature there are many older people who visit. We actually had the pleasure to get talking to an 87 year old wonderful lady who had been in the land army, she was fascinating!
There is a train that runs around the whole site and when I visit again, which I will with my elderly parents, I expect this will be very useful.
I was overwhelmed by the place, everyone should visit if they can, its free entry (donations welcome) and all day parking is only £3
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
There are distinct areas here.Some,at the back of the'mound',are ill-defined and lack -lustre.However, move towards the river and the front of the site andit all changes.Each unit of the services has their own special themed memorial garden -each is individual, moving and generates gratitude for the sacrifices made on our behalf
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Absolutely brilliant how this place has been designed to pay respects to all our armed forces and more. It is kept in immaculate condition. This is a must to see place if you have never been.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The National Memorial Arboretum is a beautiful and solemn place. The memorial itself draws you to it. Names of individuals who have loss their lives in the line of duty while serving their country is listed on the memorial by year and branch of military service. In addition to that there are trees that are planted that represent police departments across the country that have loss officers in the line of duty. There are two magnificent sculptures in the center of the memorial. You must walk up the stairs (or use the ramps) to see these. They cannot be seen from the ground level. There is a restaurant and gift store on the premises. It is worthy of a visit, especially if you are in the area.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very moving to visit and see the range of memorials. Parking easy and good cafe/restaurant on the site.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had the privilege to sing at a memorial service here. Wonderful place to contemplate the asymmetry of the madness that sends people to die and the sense of paradoxical peace here.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
nice day out that is set in beautiful countryside. Lovely cafe to eat in. Full of information and history but so peaceful
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very emotive,uplifting in a tranquil setting, will be even more so in a few years time when trees are more mature.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What an amazing place. Was a little concerned it may be a bit morbid (went for a birthday day out) but it has been created so skilfully and brilliantly it never felt so. Some of the areas esp the Wall of Remembrance were shocking in the scale and the number of names/lives lost but it was beautiful in its simplicity and reflection that all lives lost are equal. Every memorial had been carefully thought out whether in tress used, design or shape. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to see everything in a day but will certainly go back. A must see for everyone.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Despite the walk from the back-up car park, we thoroughly enjoyed our brief visit to the Arboretum. On a beautifully warm Sunny day, it looked a treat with manicured lawns and tended gardens all around. The Wall of Remembrance is an astonishing and shocking jolt to the everyday comforts of life we all enjoy and the sight of so many lost and largely very young lives hits home hard. Given its' central location, all English schools should visit this perfect place. Most guides and helpers are volunteers and many are not even ex-servicemen or women but they help because they so enjoy the peace and atmosphere of what is a truly remarkable spot to visit. It is still growing and sadly, new names are constantly being added to the wall and the memorials dotted around the grounds. There is a car park fee, and I feel that this should be upped to £5.00 for the day and include the provision of a free site map. If a visit here does not grip your emotions, then you are either too young, too senile or too stupid to appreciate what many have done for you at such a cost.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Travelled with friends one of who was a Falklands veteran so the visit had particular relevance for him. However being ex military is not a prerequisite to enjoy this moving and enthralling facility. The site is free to visit and maintained purely by donations. We spent several hours there and could have easily extended that to a full day, will definitely revisit in the future.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What really shocked me was the amount of names everywhere and this place does a great job to make those who fought for us look heroic! the place is massive, but it is easy to get around. Truly amazing!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
this arboretum ,in my opinion is up there amongst the best in the world ,i defy any one who says not ,if anyone has lost a loved one ,weather first or second world wars ,also OTHER wars ,this is a must ,it is a history lesson ,everywhere you look on this mass arboretum ,shows us who did not experience those terrible things that had happened ,we must never forget the men and women who gave there lives so we still hear can live in peace [god bless them all ] it s sad when you stand next to someone who was there ,remembering there friends who they lost while in battle with the enemy ,you can see the hurt in there tearful eyes [mine too] just remember there were millions
i dont know how i would handle it ,but as one such man said you had no choice ,.
you need more than a day to get round ,i will be going back
i dont know how i would handle it ,but as one such man said you had no choice ,.
you need more than a day to get round ,i will be going back
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
If you like pleasant reflective walks in a nice calm environment then this is the place to go. It also gives you a chance to realise what price has been paid by the service men and women of this country in some of the more recent and ongoing conflicts around the globe.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
this is well worth a visit. The arboretum is a place where you can reflect on what is past in a place that is tranquil but not somber. the gardens and memorials are thought provoking. this place is where each generation can learn about the sacrifice that many have made throughout the 20th century
the arboretum is set in 150 acres so those who have mobility problems need to hire a mobility scooter or take a wheelchair.
all staff are friendly and knowledgeable. a lovely place to take a picnic and spend some quality time with those who are important to you.
car parking is £3 entry is free
the arboretum is set in 150 acres so those who have mobility problems need to hire a mobility scooter or take a wheelchair.
all staff are friendly and knowledgeable. a lovely place to take a picnic and spend some quality time with those who are important to you.
car parking is £3 entry is free
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A Memorial in its infancy and still subject to development and upgrading.. Some lovely and historic areas yet not sure what the criteria is for inclusion on the site. Seems to rely on voluntary workers and donations. With the amount of visitors to the site I would have expected more from Central Government. You need more than a day to see all areas. I don't want to sound critical but maintenance not to same standard as Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Free admission suggested donation £5. Car parking £3. Helpful staff, a must visit and will go again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The arboretum is well with a visit- very thought provoking and poignant- really makes you think of the amazing sacrifices that our armed forces have made. Good parking and had lunch in the restaurant which was excellent..
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautifully maintained site with plenty of room for more trees and memorials. The little train gives you a good tour of the site. It was very windy when we were there and we could have done with more protection on the train - it takes an hour and moves very slowly and so we got very cold. Some rugs for our legs would have been very welcome. The memorials are well worth the visit and are very poignant, emotional and thought provoking.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My husband and I visited the National Memorial Arboretum and were both pleasantly surprised by how beautiful and serene we found this place. It was not morbid. It is beautifully maintained. Probably best visited when not having rained for a few days, since some tributes were accessed via the grassed areas.
We walked the whole area (without a guide/map - which we must have missed on the way in), plus the little train was full. However we gleaned sufficient information at each memorial.
The cafe served a good selection of snacks, and was not over-priced, and it was service with a smile.
This could be an excellent centre of learning for our youth, as we spotted many younger visitors having memorials explained by elder relatives, I truly feel that guides or volunteers dotted around the site at the various memorials, or offering accompanied walking tours, would maybe be a better alternative to having the likes of us wandering around aimlesslessy.
Personally - I had no reluctance providing a donation at the end of my visit, since I could see - just from the maintenance of the grounds/gardens alone, just how much time & cost goes into this place. However - Requesting a small nominal charge for tours & the like (particularly from newcomers) may be a better idea than asking for donations - you'd feel like you'd had something for your money?
We walked the whole area (without a guide/map - which we must have missed on the way in), plus the little train was full. However we gleaned sufficient information at each memorial.
The cafe served a good selection of snacks, and was not over-priced, and it was service with a smile.
This could be an excellent centre of learning for our youth, as we spotted many younger visitors having memorials explained by elder relatives, I truly feel that guides or volunteers dotted around the site at the various memorials, or offering accompanied walking tours, would maybe be a better alternative to having the likes of us wandering around aimlesslessy.
Personally - I had no reluctance providing a donation at the end of my visit, since I could see - just from the maintenance of the grounds/gardens alone, just how much time & cost goes into this place. However - Requesting a small nominal charge for tours & the like (particularly from newcomers) may be a better idea than asking for donations - you'd feel like you'd had something for your money?
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My friend's son had been killed in Afghanistan so I wanted to see the memorial wall. There is a memorial service held which you can attend (or not) and then you can catch the little train to go round the main site. We did feel that, with a little thought, they could allow people to get on and off as they went round the site, especially if you are a bit hobbled or elderly. It is an impressive place and will get better and better over time. It is a good place to spend an afternoon walking as well as looking at the memorials. We had lunch in the marquee where the staff were busy but very friendly. I had a ham roll and coffee. Although the coffee was out of a machine, it was very good. The roll had to be praised. The bread was apparantly made on site and was great but the ham, the ham; ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Really good ham; cannot praise it enough. Also on site, you could have had a roast dinner which looked very good too. This was a very good place to visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We only spent about an hour and a half there but it is a large site with the number of memorials being added to all the time. Gerry says it was a humbling experience and I can only agree.
The restaurant was crowded on our visit because there was a veterans meeting being held so there were blazers, berets and medals everywhere. Yet we weren't made to feel that we were intruding. I hope I will be able to go and pay my respects again soon.
The restaurant was crowded on our visit because there was a veterans meeting being held so there were blazers, berets and medals everywhere. Yet we weren't made to feel that we were intruding. I hope I will be able to go and pay my respects again soon.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The arboretum is a place where you can spend many hours and continually see and learn something different.
The guide who are volunteers are amazing , compassionate and a credit to the arboretum.you should not miss the brief service in the chapel held each day.
The guide who are volunteers are amazing , compassionate and a credit to the arboretum.you should not miss the brief service in the chapel held each day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I didn't know what to expect on my 1st visit here as was slightly apprehensive. I found it very humbling to visit but am glad that I did. I was surprised how vast the Arboretum was. It was very well laid out with easy access to all points.
Home made soup in the café was scrummy.
Home made soup in the café was scrummy.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
this is a real must see place the atmosphere is something else so so moving the act of remembrance is carried out everyday at 11am and the grounds are just beautiful and beautifully cared for. The garden for the men shot at dawn is really moving the trees look so ghostly its hard not to visit and be moved.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The staff fell over themselves to make us welcome and be helpful and we had a wonderful day. The site was much bigger than we anticipated and, although we we still need to go back to see bits we missed, we walked miles. For those who can't, other forms of transport are available. Before the visit we thought that it was purely a war memorial and were presently surprised to find that although it involved every branch of the forces as well as individual incidents and campaigns like D Day and Gallipoli, it also included hundreds of auxiliary services as well as other organisations such as SANDS, Toc H, RNLI and even private individuals.
While we were there we had coffee, lunch and afternoon tea - not too expensive - excellent sandwiches.
As the site matures it will also expand in area and there are plans to rebuild the centre building to cater for the number of visitors.
While we were there we had coffee, lunch and afternoon tea - not too expensive - excellent sandwiches.
As the site matures it will also expand in area and there are plans to rebuild the centre building to cater for the number of visitors.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
