Local Reviews
In July 2013, carole w said about National Memorial Arboretum
What a fabulous day out,didn't know what to expect but wasn't disapionted.The morning started with a short service,last post,reveille and a welcome speech in the lovely chapel.We then went on a guided tour( on foot) the guide was excellent and this is a must as you learn lots of interesting facts of the varying parts of the Arboretum.We where part of a group booking our lunch was in a private room, the food was very good as was the service.Next onto the land tour nearly an hour on a train around many memorials,areas of natural beauty,the river and lots more,didn't want it to finish.There is plenty to see and be a part of,you can't do it justice in one day (especially when it is sunny!) The gift shop is like most other attractions shop,but like the restaurant,the charity shop and car park the monies go back to the Arboretum therefore didn't mind so much about the cost of the goods as its free to enter.Overall a humbling day out and we urge you to see for yourself ,makes you proud that for one day you where a part of it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In January 2018, Andy Smith said about National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum is impressive and humbling in equal measure. If it wasn't for the fact that I look down on this place twice a day from the train I think my knowledge of its existence would have been peripheral at best. The the US memorials such as this are given far more prominence somehow, but the in the NMA we have something of which we can be truly proud. We should shout about it louder than we do, perhaps.
It caters for everyone - the casual stroller, the ardent historian and, like my wife and I when we visited yesterday, just a couple of people looking for a walk in the fresh air and the opportunity to pay our respects to those who died in our name. The coffee shop and restaurant are good too.
It's free to stroll the grounds and visit the memorials (which can take you all day if you let it), but there is an entrance fee for the exhibition. This was probably a little over-priced, but overall the day we have was well worth what we paid. We'll come again often, I hope.
It caters for everyone - the casual stroller, the ardent historian and, like my wife and I when we visited yesterday, just a couple of people looking for a walk in the fresh air and the opportunity to pay our respects to those who died in our name. The coffee shop and restaurant are good too.
It's free to stroll the grounds and visit the memorials (which can take you all day if you let it), but there is an entrance fee for the exhibition. This was probably a little over-priced, but overall the day we have was well worth what we paid. We'll come again often, I hope.
Source: google.com
In January 2014, Trevor D said about National Memorial Arboretum
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.
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.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2014, LMW said about National Memorial Arboretum
Though mostly smaller monuments dotted around the site, you can't help be moved at the sacrifice of so many. A large, very impressive, centre monument for those lost after the Second World War is the highlight of the arboretum. Positives, friendly staff/volunteers, pleasant walks and moving monuments. Negatives, this is by no means a free museum. Entrance is free but you pay for car parking, £3,(even disabled visitors) and if you want to do the tour train it's £5.00 per adult (my mother is disabled and we thought this would be the least tiring way of seeing the site). While I don't begrudge paying towards running costs/upkeep I would prefer costs to be highlighted more on the website (only car parking charges advertised). Restaurant, though food was tasty, was very over priced. After spending £15.00 for train tour and £25.00 for lunch (it stated all proceeds go direct to the arboretum in the restaurant) I didn't feel I could justify leaving a donation. Would recommend but be aware all these extras add up.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In January 2017, Daf_J2014 said about National Memorial Arboretum
We came to visit the Arboretum a few weeks ago on a cold Sunday. It is easy to find but tucked away from daily life in a pretty quiet peaceful area. Entry is free, all day car parking costs £3 and a donation can also be given towards the running of the facilities.
There weren't too many visitors when we came but people were still coming on a day with poor weather. It's difficult to describe the feeling when entering as there are so many memorials to to different services.
There are a lot of staff and volunteers around to help along with a large restaurant and smaller coffee shop and a gift shop.
During the spring and summer it is easy to spend the better part of a day here, wandering around the grounds looking at the different memorials and spotting different wildlife but winter and autumn can still offer at least half a day exploring.
The arboretum is a real eye opener and gives a scary wake up call and visualisation of the lives lost during war time.
There weren't too many visitors when we came but people were still coming on a day with poor weather. It's difficult to describe the feeling when entering as there are so many memorials to to different services.
There are a lot of staff and volunteers around to help along with a large restaurant and smaller coffee shop and a gift shop.
During the spring and summer it is easy to spend the better part of a day here, wandering around the grounds looking at the different memorials and spotting different wildlife but winter and autumn can still offer at least half a day exploring.
The arboretum is a real eye opener and gives a scary wake up call and visualisation of the lives lost during war time.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In July 2017, jude9999_10 said about National Memorial Arboretum
We visited with the British Legion. The site is huge and contains 30,000 trees and many marvellous yet varied memorials. The National Memorial in the centre is very moving. It us a memorial to all those who lost their lives since the end of the Second World War with all the names carved.
We started our visit with the remembrance service at 11 in the chapel with the Last Post and two minutes silence. There was a recorded talk by Jeremy Paxman. This set the scene for the day.
I would recommend the land train which costs £6 and takes around 50 minutes to go slowly round the site with a commentary. There are also buggy tours or walking tours. Otherwise, take a map and follow one of the trails.
We wanted to find the Fleet Air Arm memorial which was my father in law's service, and the Land Army which was my mother in law's. Both very impressive.
Lovely café and restaurant and also an exhibition centre. You can also hire audio equipment for a personal commentary.
We started our visit with the remembrance service at 11 in the chapel with the Last Post and two minutes silence. There was a recorded talk by Jeremy Paxman. This set the scene for the day.
I would recommend the land train which costs £6 and takes around 50 minutes to go slowly round the site with a commentary. There are also buggy tours or walking tours. Otherwise, take a map and follow one of the trails.
We wanted to find the Fleet Air Arm memorial which was my father in law's service, and the Land Army which was my mother in law's. Both very impressive.
Lovely café and restaurant and also an exhibition centre. You can also hire audio equipment for a personal commentary.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In July 2017, Woodlands19 said about National Memorial Arboretum
It is free entry, but you pay £3 into the parking metre when parking your car. We spent the whole day there, not leaving until it closed at 5 o'clock. There is so much to see, it is truly amazing. My partner was in the RAF police where he also served for two and a half years in Singapore. At the restaurant there is a stand where you can purchase crosses with a poppy on that you can lay at your desired memorial.
We had lunch in the restaurant which was hot and delicious, also reasonable. Oh joy to be able to eat all kinds of good home cooked food, instead of these mass produced restaurants these days. We even went back in our last day of holiday, to visit the Far East exhibition building, which is a tear jerker. We even had lunch again, with a completely different menu. Be careful food finishes at 2.30. The grounds are vast so if you have difficulties in walking there is a comfortable land train you can travel in for £6 each.
There are plenty of walks a really enjoyable day out. Enjoy.
We had lunch in the restaurant which was hot and delicious, also reasonable. Oh joy to be able to eat all kinds of good home cooked food, instead of these mass produced restaurants these days. We even went back in our last day of holiday, to visit the Far East exhibition building, which is a tear jerker. We even had lunch again, with a completely different menu. Be careful food finishes at 2.30. The grounds are vast so if you have difficulties in walking there is a comfortable land train you can travel in for £6 each.
There are plenty of walks a really enjoyable day out. Enjoy.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In April 2015, Anne G said about National Memorial Arboretum
I visited this arboretum on a cloudy windy and chilly March day. The site is vast- 150 acres, and full of extremely helpful volunteers who are passionate about this centre of remembrance. The site is riddled with over 300 memorials, placed to remember military, charitable and other organisations and people. We took a buggy ride for £5 each, with really interesting commentry from our volunteer driver. Having gained an overview of the site, we went off and visited things of interest to us. You could very easily spend a day here, lunching in the restaurant, or having a picnic in the grounds on a fine day. The river Trent and Tame, meet here. In summer there must be plenty of wild life to watch too.....bring a chair! The memorials are being added too....I am personally pleased the Horses of the First World War are to be remembered, they served their soldiers well, and were abandoned abroad.
I highly recommend this place- little ones can let off steam. In a few more years it will be wonderful.
I highly recommend this place- little ones can let off steam. In a few more years it will be wonderful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2015, Pamela T said about National Memorial Arboretum
Having read some of the review - terrible, poor - I wonder if I was at the same place. Apart from parking £3 (who begrudges that) you do not have to spend any money, you can walk round at your leisure. A lot of families were sitting outside with their lunches and dogs.
We did the buggy tour not the train. It was brilliant as we saw the areas we asked for with our super knowledgeable driver - worth every penny of the £5. We had the lunch and although expensive it was excellent and the staff could not have been more helpful either in the restaurant or anywhere on the site.
You really do have to ask what people expect or why they went? The area is large - it needs to be and it is not just a memorial to our armed services but to many other aspects of our life including children who did not experience life.
Someone with a review who went this year said there are no trees..there are HUNDREDS of trees and in June/July the poppies will be blowing in the breeze.
Go for the right reason and enjoy, wear sensible shoes as there is a lot of walking if you want the true experience.
We did the buggy tour not the train. It was brilliant as we saw the areas we asked for with our super knowledgeable driver - worth every penny of the £5. We had the lunch and although expensive it was excellent and the staff could not have been more helpful either in the restaurant or anywhere on the site.
You really do have to ask what people expect or why they went? The area is large - it needs to be and it is not just a memorial to our armed services but to many other aspects of our life including children who did not experience life.
Someone with a review who went this year said there are no trees..there are HUNDREDS of trees and in June/July the poppies will be blowing in the breeze.
Go for the right reason and enjoy, wear sensible shoes as there is a lot of walking if you want the true experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In October 2015, Chris H said about National Memorial Arboretum
This National Memorial is currently undergoing major expansion so the initial view is not at its best yet. However, the staff and volunteers make you very welcome and you can tell that there is a commitment to make your visit worthwhile. To visit every memorial and give them due justice would be impossible in one visit, and this being my third, I had opportunity to explore new and interesting areas as well as seeing the maturing and expanding ones previously visited.
On a fine autumnal day, the trees looked well in the sunshine and despite some noise from the building work and gardening, there is a sense of unhurried purpose in the grounds. I think this would be a 'must' for the education of young people, although some areas, such as the Far East Prisoners' area, may be too graphic for the youngest to be taken to.
Catering is of a high standard both in the coffee shop area and the restaurant (both in temporary accommodation for the duration of the re-building of the visitors centre).
For adults, this would make a different and pleasant day out.
On a fine autumnal day, the trees looked well in the sunshine and despite some noise from the building work and gardening, there is a sense of unhurried purpose in the grounds. I think this would be a 'must' for the education of young people, although some areas, such as the Far East Prisoners' area, may be too graphic for the youngest to be taken to.
Catering is of a high standard both in the coffee shop area and the restaurant (both in temporary accommodation for the duration of the re-building of the visitors centre).
For adults, this would make a different and pleasant day out.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk