National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
Liked the sentiment of the arboretum. Disliked the Land Train. Too slow, too chaotic, too expensive, only suitable for people who are unable to walk around the arboretum.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a very moving place to visit well worth a look and a tear or two.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Although we were aware various organizations had dedicated areas in the Arboretum we were amazed at the scope and range of the memorials and the fact that it is being added to all the time.
Personally speaking, the memorial that I found the most moving was the 'Shot at Dawn' it was so poignant although of course every memorial is thought provoking. It was also good to see trees planted in memory of an individuals. We spent about five hours there and felt there were areas still to visit and hope to return in the future.
It was nice to find the car parking charges are given to the Arboretum to help with their ongoing work and until we arrived we did not know there was no entrance charge.
So if you have chance go and visit the Memorial Arboretum, I'm sure you will be humbled by the sacrifices made by people over the years.
Personally speaking, the memorial that I found the most moving was the 'Shot at Dawn' it was so poignant although of course every memorial is thought provoking. It was also good to see trees planted in memory of an individuals. We spent about five hours there and felt there were areas still to visit and hope to return in the future.
It was nice to find the car parking charges are given to the Arboretum to help with their ongoing work and until we arrived we did not know there was no entrance charge.
So if you have chance go and visit the Memorial Arboretum, I'm sure you will be humbled by the sacrifices made by people over the years.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
One just has to visit to pay respect to all those who gave their lives for us to enjoy life and freedom. Too much to see in one afternoon. A wonderful memorial which will mature gracefully in years to come.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I cannot find the words to describe how wonderful our visit was; we felt privileged to be there. It was a truly humbling experience…
We arrived around on 10.30am on June 27 2012. There was ample parking - its pay and display so you will need some change, it's a maximum of £3.00 for a day; the proceeds go to back to the charity for the Arboretum.
Admission is free – donation boxes are available. The staff are amazing, they are all friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable.
There is a well stocked Visitors Centre where you can get a map for £3. We bought a Guide Book for £6.50. It lists the memorials on site and is also a lovely souvenir of our visit. There is so much to see so to get a better appreciation some kind of guide is a must. A Restaurant serves hot and cold food and there’s a land train which provides a guided tour of the site, ensuring that you don’t miss a thing.
The Armed Forces Memorial is breathtaking, the setting is amazing. It commemorates those who were killed on duty or as a result of terrorism from the end of the Second World War to the present day. Seeing all of those names was so sad and emotional.
The rivers Tame and Trent flow through the site and there is an abundance of birdlife and wildlife. It is so peaceful and serene with plenty of memorial benches where you can sit and reflect.
We only had three hours there, not enough time to see everything. We will return soon with our 12 year-old grandson and spend a day there. He enjoys history and I don’t think he will ever get a better history lesson than this!
A visit to the Arboretum is a must!!! I think everyone, young or old, should visit at least once. It is an opportunity to pay respects to those service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, and puts our own lives into perspective.
We arrived around on 10.30am on June 27 2012. There was ample parking - its pay and display so you will need some change, it's a maximum of £3.00 for a day; the proceeds go to back to the charity for the Arboretum.
Admission is free – donation boxes are available. The staff are amazing, they are all friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable.
There is a well stocked Visitors Centre where you can get a map for £3. We bought a Guide Book for £6.50. It lists the memorials on site and is also a lovely souvenir of our visit. There is so much to see so to get a better appreciation some kind of guide is a must. A Restaurant serves hot and cold food and there’s a land train which provides a guided tour of the site, ensuring that you don’t miss a thing.
The Armed Forces Memorial is breathtaking, the setting is amazing. It commemorates those who were killed on duty or as a result of terrorism from the end of the Second World War to the present day. Seeing all of those names was so sad and emotional.
The rivers Tame and Trent flow through the site and there is an abundance of birdlife and wildlife. It is so peaceful and serene with plenty of memorial benches where you can sit and reflect.
We only had three hours there, not enough time to see everything. We will return soon with our 12 year-old grandson and spend a day there. He enjoys history and I don’t think he will ever get a better history lesson than this!
A visit to the Arboretum is a must!!! I think everyone, young or old, should visit at least once. It is an opportunity to pay respects to those service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, and puts our own lives into perspective.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
So pleased i have been here. See it mentioned on the news. Spent a few hours walking around, and thanks to the guide in the Burma-Siam railway section, very helpful. Need longer so will visit again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I was in two minds to visit or not as I can't make it through a remembrence Parade but I'm glad I did. I felt Sadness, Pride and wonderful memories of those that have gone before and a wee smile and a thankyou as I left
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
lovely place to visit so peaceful and overwhelming
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An absolute "must visit" for history, remembrance, thanks and appreciation for those who have lost their lives in conflicts around the world, since the last WW 2 , so we can enjoy the freedom of today, albeit "watered" down to accommodate .
The site is tastefully set out, with some extremely moving accounts, including the unborn child.
Wear sturdy footwear and waterproofs if inclement weather forecast as it's a very large outdoor site, beautiful scenery especially where the rivers meet, and soft under foot to the "Shot at Dawn" memorial garden --- Youth Organisations , Fire, Police as well as Military are well represented, allow at least 4 hours to do it justice .
The site is tastefully set out, with some extremely moving accounts, including the unborn child.
Wear sturdy footwear and waterproofs if inclement weather forecast as it's a very large outdoor site, beautiful scenery especially where the rivers meet, and soft under foot to the "Shot at Dawn" memorial garden --- Youth Organisations , Fire, Police as well as Military are well represented, allow at least 4 hours to do it justice .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visit the National Aboretum and was totally taken aback by the place. So much to see. We spent 6 hrs there, and dont think we saw everything. Took the mini-train, which lasts around an hour, and its "hop on hop off" type at various stops. The staff on the train are so funny and always cracking jokes, which helps to lighten what could be a emotional experience, given the loss of so many lives being remembered. Visit here and you will not be disappointed.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have been meaning to visit the Memorial for sometime and we now wish we had done it sooner. It is a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives in the two great wars and the wall containing 16,000 names of those who have lost their lives since the last war is very humbling.
It is easy to find and there is plenty of parking, for which you pay, but admission is free. The site is enormous so take your walking shoes. If you able to walk there are mobility scooters available and a "train" that will take you round the main areas. We walked for more than two hours and didn't see the whole site so another visit is on the cards.
It can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster but at the end of it we felt pleased we had made the effort to go as it reminded us of all the different organisations, not just the Armed Forces, who sacrificed so much.
The volunteers greet you with a smile and are extremely helpful and the cafe serves very nice, reasonably priced food. It was good to see groups of school children be shown around, talking to the service personnel and getting into activities with the emergency services. There are even ex- servicemen who will teach them how to march!
All in all a good experience.
It is easy to find and there is plenty of parking, for which you pay, but admission is free. The site is enormous so take your walking shoes. If you able to walk there are mobility scooters available and a "train" that will take you round the main areas. We walked for more than two hours and didn't see the whole site so another visit is on the cards.
It can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster but at the end of it we felt pleased we had made the effort to go as it reminded us of all the different organisations, not just the Armed Forces, who sacrificed so much.
The volunteers greet you with a smile and are extremely helpful and the cafe serves very nice, reasonably priced food. It was good to see groups of school children be shown around, talking to the service personnel and getting into activities with the emergency services. There are even ex- servicemen who will teach them how to march!
All in all a good experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Only there for 2 hrs but needed the whole day to see everything. Everything seems to have been well thought about, and these little details means the experience is more poignant. It was very moving but also an humbling seeing the rows of names on the memorials. An experience everyone should have no matter what age. Looking forward to a return visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent memorial to all the services, with a truly impressive monument.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I have been to the NMA several times, including 30th June for Armed Forces Day and the Olympic Torch run.It is a very moving experience whenever you go,whoever you are and what ever your background.
Set in beautiful gardens, it is free entry and there is a restaurant/cafe, plus merchandise for sale.On a fair weather day, you are able to spend most of the day just walking around the beautiful grounds, but you must view The Wall. The names of all military personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice since world war two are engraved into the stone.
I am not ex military, I am ex Fire Service personnel, but this place allows me to pay my respects to those who fought and paid the ultimate price, which allows me the freedom to be able to visit here.
The first Saturday in October every year, you will find Motorbikes from all over the UK and many from Europe visiting the site in the annual Ride To The Wall (www.ridetothewall.org.uk) thousands visit for this event, most ex military personnel. This year on June 30th, they paid a cheque to the NMA for just over £55,000 from their efforts. What an event this is, and a real sight to see so many motorcycles in one place.
You will come away 'moved' and 'proud'. Proud you have been and moved by the sacrifice you have seen.
Lest We Forget.
Set in beautiful gardens, it is free entry and there is a restaurant/cafe, plus merchandise for sale.On a fair weather day, you are able to spend most of the day just walking around the beautiful grounds, but you must view The Wall. The names of all military personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice since world war two are engraved into the stone.
I am not ex military, I am ex Fire Service personnel, but this place allows me to pay my respects to those who fought and paid the ultimate price, which allows me the freedom to be able to visit here.
The first Saturday in October every year, you will find Motorbikes from all over the UK and many from Europe visiting the site in the annual Ride To The Wall (www.ridetothewall.org.uk) thousands visit for this event, most ex military personnel. This year on June 30th, they paid a cheque to the NMA for just over £55,000 from their efforts. What an event this is, and a real sight to see so many motorcycles in one place.
You will come away 'moved' and 'proud'. Proud you have been and moved by the sacrifice you have seen.
Lest We Forget.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
visited on the day the Olympic flame was lit and carried there. although we arrived later in the day the place was full of army personal and vetrans. quite a humbling experience when you see all the names etched on the main memorial and then all those trees dedicated to those lost. our visit made us realise we need to allow more time to explore this huge site. there are many memorials to various branches of the armed forces
we were more than happy to pay to park and there is obviously a huge cost in keeping this place so well maintained. I am sorry but if you start to carp about parking costs of places like this you have gone in the wrong frame of mind. we happily paid and also put in a contribution. on the day of our visit people there were doing a great job (most volunteers) and they had been at it since 6 a.m. to serve breakfasts before the Olympic torch arrived. everyone we dealt with was extremely helpful and friendly. people like these can make all the difference to a visit - well done to all who work/volunteer there.
we were more than happy to pay to park and there is obviously a huge cost in keeping this place so well maintained. I am sorry but if you start to carp about parking costs of places like this you have gone in the wrong frame of mind. we happily paid and also put in a contribution. on the day of our visit people there were doing a great job (most volunteers) and they had been at it since 6 a.m. to serve breakfasts before the Olympic torch arrived. everyone we dealt with was extremely helpful and friendly. people like these can make all the difference to a visit - well done to all who work/volunteer there.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A lot bigger than expected. A very poignant experience
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
All I can say is this place should be on the curriculum of every school in the whole of the British Isles. It is a truly wonderful place, so well kept and a thank you to everyone who gave their lives for world peace. I have been to Kanchanbury in Thailand near the River Kwai, and Arlington Cemetery in Washington, this ranks along side them. An emotional must!!!!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The Arboretum was brought to our attention when a Falklands Memorial was dedicated and we wanted to fit in a visit during our touring holiday. However, time constraints meant that I had to visit alone while my wife visited Gardeners’ World Live.
Wide paths lead the visitor through beautifully landscaped and designed areas scattered with large and small memorials of many designs and sizes, from those dedicated to small groups to the magnificent Armed Forces Memorial, some of them very innovative and all of them placed with care and beautifully maintained.
Unless you only wish to briefly browse the many memorials a day’s visit won’t prove sufficient and it would be extremely difficult to plan a route without a map (very well designed and £3). This map is also a feature of the guidebook (£6). There’s a very acceptable café and a well-stocked gift shop.
There is a parking fee of £3 (make sure you have change!) and, given that the entrance to the Arboretum is free, I found negative Tripadvisor comment regarding this charge churlish and unnecessary – it seems strange to have such a view without wondering how such a beautiful site is funded and maintained.
Wide paths lead the visitor through beautifully landscaped and designed areas scattered with large and small memorials of many designs and sizes, from those dedicated to small groups to the magnificent Armed Forces Memorial, some of them very innovative and all of them placed with care and beautifully maintained.
Unless you only wish to briefly browse the many memorials a day’s visit won’t prove sufficient and it would be extremely difficult to plan a route without a map (very well designed and £3). This map is also a feature of the guidebook (£6). There’s a very acceptable café and a well-stocked gift shop.
There is a parking fee of £3 (make sure you have change!) and, given that the entrance to the Arboretum is free, I found negative Tripadvisor comment regarding this charge churlish and unnecessary – it seems strange to have such a view without wondering how such a beautiful site is funded and maintained.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very emotional but enjoyable. Well laid out and helpful volunteers.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Bright, clean and looked after. We pnly had a cake and drink but there was a reasonable choice for travellers coming from further afield
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Such a special place,helpful informative staff,plenty of time to talk to you about the Arboretum,and where memorials are,I was looking for the Polish memorial,which is stunning.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a good day out for anyone who is interested in looking at a marvellous array of monuments and memorials dedicated to our lost relatives & friends etc whether it be Army, Royal Navy, Police, Wrens, RAF etc. You name it - there is a memorial for them.
Set in acres & acres of lovely grounds. There is a train which can take anyone round who does not fancy the amount of walking that is required. Nice river walk, A chapel & a couple of picnic areas...make it a good day out for most people - children are welcome, but personally I think they may become a little bored with all the walking. To see it all in one day - you would need at least 5-6 hours. We spent 3 hours there and only saw about a third of it.
There is a restaurant and a gift shop on site.
Please note...
It is free to enter the arboretum - but it is £3 to park your car. You can try and navigate the site without a map - but you do really need one. This costs £3. Guide books are £6 each.
If you use the mini train it will cost you £4.50 each - and you are asked to leave a donation, suggested £5 on exit. The gift shop is also very expensive.
We enjoyed the day - and will return at some stage to see the rest of it...but did not realise there would be so many 'add ons' - so be warned.
Set in acres & acres of lovely grounds. There is a train which can take anyone round who does not fancy the amount of walking that is required. Nice river walk, A chapel & a couple of picnic areas...make it a good day out for most people - children are welcome, but personally I think they may become a little bored with all the walking. To see it all in one day - you would need at least 5-6 hours. We spent 3 hours there and only saw about a third of it.
There is a restaurant and a gift shop on site.
Please note...
It is free to enter the arboretum - but it is £3 to park your car. You can try and navigate the site without a map - but you do really need one. This costs £3. Guide books are £6 each.
If you use the mini train it will cost you £4.50 each - and you are asked to leave a donation, suggested £5 on exit. The gift shop is also very expensive.
We enjoyed the day - and will return at some stage to see the rest of it...but did not realise there would be so many 'add ons' - so be warned.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very modern buildings. Understanding history was emotional
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
On 26th May, The Monte Cassino Society dedicated a memorial at the arboretum. It was a glorious day and the facilities were very good. Staff were very helpful. We had several World war II veterans with limited mobility and they were all catered for.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I had never been to the National Arboretum before so did not know what to expect. I went on the day before I was due there as a guest. It rained hard all the time. It is a place of solace and sirenity. A place to reflect not only on those who are remembered there but on ones own life. It is a place to give thanks and praise. I walked around and saw all those trees and names; all the memorials to brave people. Those people gave their lives for us - like one other I know 2000 years ago.
Ther next day I went back for the COPS (Care of Police Survivors) memorial Service - the sun actually shone! I walked along "The Beat" where a tree is planted for every Britsh Police Force with its plaque near the tree. I attended the service with lots of others, mostly Senior Offgicers in uniform but on this day there was no rank - just fellow officers and survivors of those who died. The Service was very moving and so were the array of Police cars and the Blue Knights (thank you). It was an event of remembering old friends and making new ones; seeing the bravery of the widows who gave their stories and the dedication of the Police Officers who never expect to get killed when they go on duty. The cafe/shop was good too and so were all the facilities.
Ther next day I went back for the COPS (Care of Police Survivors) memorial Service - the sun actually shone! I walked along "The Beat" where a tree is planted for every Britsh Police Force with its plaque near the tree. I attended the service with lots of others, mostly Senior Offgicers in uniform but on this day there was no rank - just fellow officers and survivors of those who died. The Service was very moving and so were the array of Police cars and the Blue Knights (thank you). It was an event of remembering old friends and making new ones; seeing the bravery of the widows who gave their stories and the dedication of the Police Officers who never expect to get killed when they go on duty. The cafe/shop was good too and so were all the facilities.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
