National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
A wonderfully calm place with lots of helpful caring volunteers. A `Must` visit.
Source: google.com
What a fantastic place
Source: google.com
Highly thought-provoking. We were there on a very windy & rainy day but stuck with it and made the most. The site is huge with a wide range of memorials to all who have given their lives in the service of the country - civilian and services.
There is a lot to take in but the Japanese campaign building is especially worth the effort. The main memorial has a special 11/11/11 sundial ans some very interesting statues.
The staff and volunteers are helpful and infomative.
A must-see.
There is a lot to take in but the Japanese campaign building is especially worth the effort. The main memorial has a special 11/11/11 sundial ans some very interesting statues.
The staff and volunteers are helpful and infomative.
A must-see.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I loved the central column and was saddened by all the names on the wall, and the space left for the future.
I liked the themed areas. A shame the ground is so wet.
I liked the themed areas. A shame the ground is so wet.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a truly wonderful place to visit. I was surprised by the vastness of the place. Every memorial is beautifully designed and kept. There is a play area for children which is a great idea too, and a large indoor area with shops, displays and a nice restaurant. Lots of benches dotted about to sit, reflect and enjoy the serenity. Well worth visiting.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The Arboretum is an excellent place to visit. The monuments are excellent and it is well spaced out. It has a chapel there and at 11am every day. They stop every thing that includes all the work staff and have 2 minutes silence.
An excellent place to spend time in reflection.
I would seriously recommend a visit.
An excellent place to spend time in reflection.
I would seriously recommend a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A truly wonderful place! - Very thought-provoking. I was moved to tears. On the day we visited, it was very cold but the sun shone all day in a clear blue sky - it was so quiet and peaceful. We have many beautiful photographs of the amazing memorials. We kept meeting up with one of the volunteer guides during our visit who was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and also entertained our 11 year old son with his magic tricks - thank you so much! The site is huge and we couldn't possibly see everything in the time that we were there - but we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit. No one should ever be allowed to forget all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and everyone should pay their respects and visit this magnificent place.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
On a recent visit to Lichfield we spent a day at The National Memorial Arboretum and can quite honestly say I was moved to tears. I strongly advise anyone in the vicinity of Lichfield to visit this truly magnificent place. It brings to mind the many thousands of 'heroes' which have lost their lives to protect us. There is also a small memorial garden to young children and babies who has passed away - very tear jerking. Please visit and pay your respects.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Massive place , need sensible shoes as long walks and boggy underfoot . road train a little expensive £4.50 but good commentary and music ( you can get off but not able to rejoin the train needs rethinking) hire of buggies is available .
The mound has a separate golf buggy tho take those who can not climb the steps .( would work better if the train could radio the buggy as at present a matter of luck)
Excellent restaurant .
Parking £3.00 per car
Map. £3.00
Advertised as free entry in all £10.50 before I had seen any thing be prepared .
The mound has a separate golf buggy tho take those who can not climb the steps .( would work better if the train could radio the buggy as at present a matter of luck)
Excellent restaurant .
Parking £3.00 per car
Map. £3.00
Advertised as free entry in all £10.50 before I had seen any thing be prepared .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My husband and visited here 6 years ago ago with my father-in-law (then 90 years old). He had served in India during WW2 and particularly wished to see the Burma memorial. It was, therefore, particularly poignant for us to return (following his death 3 years ago) and also interesting to see how the Arboretum had changed, grown and evolved in that time, particularly, of course, the very large memorial which now forms the main centrepiece. We went this time with two friends, keen photographers like ourselves, and perhaps saw it with a keener eye. It was a dull overcast, slightly drizzly day and poppies were draped around so many of the statues and in the gardens and it was particularly evocative. We were moved to tears on more than one occasion and brought back with us some memorable images, both on camera and in our memories. We certainly didn't see everything so will certainly return again in a few years time, when the trees especially should look spectacular. It is a place that everyone should visit, at least once, at some stage in their lives.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The Arboretum covers a huge area, and includes numerous memorials, a visitor centre and a Chapel. The main memorial is to those who've died on active service since WW2 - I had never realised how many there were before. (Previous reviewers have mentioned the steps to this, but there is a long spiral ramp to it available for those using wheelchairs or otherwise unable to manage steps.) The memorials are not only military, but cover a range of organisations - I was particularly pleased to see one for RNLI volunteers who've lost their lives on duty, and also one for members of the merchant navy, not just the Royal Navy. Some areas contain small individual memorials to all types of people. I loved the design of the Chapel - modern and simple, but very welcoming.
Unfortunately our visit was marred by a couple of issues. As other reviewers have mentioned, within the visitor centre there are constant reminders of the cost of running the place - £3700+ per day apparently, and while admission may be free, nothing much else is. Parking costs more than we were charged for all day in Birmingham the day before. No plans for the place are available on the Web, or shown anywhere in the grounds, forcing you to spend £3 on a small paper map if you want to find a given monument, and there are hundreds. All this seemed very out of place here. In part it's down to the fact that unlike places such as the National Museums they receive no Government funding. I can't imagine this being the case at a similar place in the USA, for example, so I understand why they need to charge, but it still felt wrong.
The other issue to be aware of is that, from the car park in, the whole place is muddy, and, unless you keep to the main paths, meaning that you can only see many of the memorials from a distance, the waterlogged ground will soak your feet very quickly. (The place is on a floodplain!) I think this would make it a struggle for anyone trying to look around in a wheelchair too.
Unfortunately our visit was marred by a couple of issues. As other reviewers have mentioned, within the visitor centre there are constant reminders of the cost of running the place - £3700+ per day apparently, and while admission may be free, nothing much else is. Parking costs more than we were charged for all day in Birmingham the day before. No plans for the place are available on the Web, or shown anywhere in the grounds, forcing you to spend £3 on a small paper map if you want to find a given monument, and there are hundreds. All this seemed very out of place here. In part it's down to the fact that unlike places such as the National Museums they receive no Government funding. I can't imagine this being the case at a similar place in the USA, for example, so I understand why they need to charge, but it still felt wrong.
The other issue to be aware of is that, from the car park in, the whole place is muddy, and, unless you keep to the main paths, meaning that you can only see many of the memorials from a distance, the waterlogged ground will soak your feet very quickly. (The place is on a floodplain!) I think this would make it a struggle for anyone trying to look around in a wheelchair too.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was our third visit to this testimonial to those who have served in the armed forces and who are no longer with us. We made the visit to lay poppies for the people in our families who had served and are no longer with us - the experience is always memorable, and there are many new memorials since our previous visit. The walk around is always emotional.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent day. This is a truly thought provoking place. Lots of car parking space, and good food available. It is free to enter(but obviously donations are welcome! .... and so they should be!) Just an amazing place. Would recommend anyone to go there, no matter how old you are.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The central memorial wall and statuary are very impressive- almost in the Socialist Realism style of the former Eastern Bloc.
The site is vast and takes several visits to be able to see all the monuments- more of which are continually being added. There is a land train tour to soem of the momuments.
The site is vast and takes several visits to be able to see all the monuments- more of which are continually being added. There is a land train tour to soem of the momuments.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I enjoyed to service in the chapel at 11 am with a Roger a volunteer. I really enjoyed our guide Peter explaining and pointing out everything as we walked around. I enjoyed the refreshment in the restaurant.
Most of all I enjoyed the calm, peaceful and serenity, to walk around the monuments each unique.
Everyone should visit.
Most of all I enjoyed the calm, peaceful and serenity, to walk around the monuments each unique.
Everyone should visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great welcome, excellent facilities and friendly staff. This is now my fourth visit and it never fails to impress.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Came across this place by accident and visited last year as part of a trip to the Leicester area. It is wonderful, inspirational, thought provoking and a place of emotion and awe. Lots of different memorials to look through. The grass up to the main central monument was so manicured it looked unreal - respect. The main monument is fantastic, if that's a right word to use. We took a walk down the river bank to the railway bridge, spotting wildlife and trying to photograph electric blue damsel flies. Definitely worth a visit and re-visit
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here for Remembrance Sunday for the free ticketed event. The event wasn't perfectly coordinated, however, had a lovely time and would love to go back on a non event day to really take it all in. Wonderful place to take the kids, partner or elderly relatives with a good level of accessibility.
Do your research before you go to find passed family members with more ease. The arboretum is mainly to commemorate those and those vessels who passed from the start of ww2 onwards, yet we found mentions of familiar merchant navy ships from 1941.
We live in Harwich and decided to stay in Stratford upon Avon the night before. Lovely weekend.
Do your research before you go to find passed family members with more ease. The arboretum is mainly to commemorate those and those vessels who passed from the start of ww2 onwards, yet we found mentions of familiar merchant navy ships from 1941.
We live in Harwich and decided to stay in Stratford upon Avon the night before. Lovely weekend.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
beautiful place if you want to go and reflect on anything from life to politics, great tribute to those fallen
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a must for anyone interested in our national heritage. I shall not spoil it by itemising the must-see memorials, but prepare to be moved. We spent 7 hours there on a chilly,overcast October day so it must have grabbed us. No gimmicks, no electronic displays, just a huge piece of the English countryside handed over to the idea of remembering.
Ok. I shall give you one site to visit - the Shot At Dawn Memorial- humbling.
Ok. I shall give you one site to visit - the Shot At Dawn Memorial- humbling.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
It will take all day to get around all the memorial gardens and visitor experiences. Theres a good cafe on site with good food and service.
So many moving tributes and pieces of sculpture, some of the gardens break your heart. the main memorial is impressive and so sad to see so many of our brave armed forces names there.
So many moving tributes and pieces of sculpture, some of the gardens break your heart. the main memorial is impressive and so sad to see so many of our brave armed forces names there.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a place that I would recommend to everyone. A day is not long enough to take in all the Memorials. It is both humbling and thought evocative. There is a peace to be found in wondering around this awe inspiring place. Will definitely return . We were there to have a Bench and Plaque blessed for Tri -Command Field Gun which ceased in 1999
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I had never been until a memorial bike ride went there this year. Not only was the turnout of bikers very moving, but the venue was beautiful and so very tasteful. It is tranquil with enough space around each memorial that you can take your time with your own thoughts. A fitting tribute to our heroes.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a place for peaceful reflection, we went to see where a stone would be situated with my Dads name as a memorial to him, (you do pay for this), we had a trip round the site on a road train, which is an excellent idea as most visitors were elderly at the time we visited.
A wonderful monument to our fallen which will be there probably for the next few 100 years.
A wonderful monument to our fallen which will be there probably for the next few 100 years.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went there on a sunny but very windy day, but it was a magnificent place dedicated to the fallen heroes, not only the armed forces but also the Emergency Services, it is a a very peaceful place to sit and reflect what these young lads have given up for their queen & country.
It is in the most tranquil place and most interesting, well worth a visit!!! you don't realise how many regiments there are in existance.
My husband found the Fire Brigade Memorial (as an ex-firefighter) very interesting also the Royal Artillery Memorial too, as he did his National Service with this Regiment.
But you have to be prepared for a lot of walking to see most of sites, we shall return again as we did not see all of it.
But I think that all teenagers ought to be made to go to see this site, to see what other young people gave up for them to live peacefully in this country. We shall go back another day as we haven't seen half of the site
It is in the most tranquil place and most interesting, well worth a visit!!! you don't realise how many regiments there are in existance.
My husband found the Fire Brigade Memorial (as an ex-firefighter) very interesting also the Royal Artillery Memorial too, as he did his National Service with this Regiment.
But you have to be prepared for a lot of walking to see most of sites, we shall return again as we did not see all of it.
But I think that all teenagers ought to be made to go to see this site, to see what other young people gave up for them to live peacefully in this country. We shall go back another day as we haven't seen half of the site
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
