Local Reviews
In July 2017, M E said about National Memorial Arboretum
My Husband and myself thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The Arboretum is a lovely peaceful place to visit. There are lots of lovely walks, everything is well maintained and the staff were very informative and helpful. There is a nice restaurant and coffee shop and a gift shop which caters for all ages. We spent approx 4 hours here, but could have spent a lot longer, we are hoping to return in the near future.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In July 2017, Sonya T said about National Memorial Arboretum
Took the train trip around the Arboretum that comes with commentary. What a wonderful place that is peaceful, respectful and carefully thought out. You can do your own walking tour but the small train was well worth the small charge.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In July 2017, Moira M said about National Memorial Arboretum
Very disappointed with the Dunkirk memorial, not only is it outside the main building in the car park(where not a lot of people will see unless they know it's there!) , it's not mentioned at all within the building OR on the train commentary!
Dunkirk was and still is a very important part of our war history!!! We owe so much to these brave men, and for them NOT to have the recognition they deserve is a disgrace!!
Dunkirk was and still is a very important part of our war history!!! We owe so much to these brave men, and for them NOT to have the recognition they deserve is a disgrace!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2018, M_H8816 said about National Memorial Arboretum
I hadn’t been to the NMA for a few years but was up visiting a friend who lived close by so we went for a visit.
The last time I visited most of the trees were saplings so it was great to see an arboretum with maturing trees. There were also a lot more memorials on display since my last visit.
It isn’t truly disabled friendly, with wheelchairs or mobility scooters available for hire for a couple of pounds. The Armed Forces memorial is also wheelchair accessible by a circular path.
Some of the memorials were fenced off as they were being repaired. This is usually ground repairs as the whole area is liable to flooding from the nearby river. That said it was still a humbling and awe inspiring visit.
The last time I visited most of the trees were saplings so it was great to see an arboretum with maturing trees. There were also a lot more memorials on display since my last visit.
It isn’t truly disabled friendly, with wheelchairs or mobility scooters available for hire for a couple of pounds. The Armed Forces memorial is also wheelchair accessible by a circular path.
Some of the memorials were fenced off as they were being repaired. This is usually ground repairs as the whole area is liable to flooding from the nearby river. That said it was still a humbling and awe inspiring visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2018, Mmoo20 said about National Memorial Arboretum
We booked a buggy tour and two course meal for my Nan & grandads anniversary. We met our tour guide, who volunteers, and our buggy which was gratefully full of blankets to keep us warm. Bryan was very knowledgable and amazed us all with everything he knew. He also made the attempt to see if there was anything in particular we wanted to see (which both grandparents did due to both their fathers serving). The tour lasted from 10.30 to around 3.30 but depends on how long you take to eat (the food was really nice and we had our own reserved table and were waited on by a lovely young lady) and to walk the small sections without the buggy (mainly around the Burmese war). With the amount of money they spend to keep it running then I’d advise everyone to visit even just once. We learnt so much from our day and the whole experience was great. Thank you Bryan especially!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2018, Janet_Waring1 said about National Memorial Arboretum
We enjoyed our visit, we used the land train for our tour it was very interesting and informative. We had lunch there, a very tasty soup and excellent sandwiches. We will go again in better weather and walk around so we can view the memorials more fully. Well managed and tended, the staff and volunteers were very helpful and made us feel very welcome.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2018, 423dancer said about National Memorial Arboretum
Free to get in. Ability to walk round on your own or take the land train at a small cost for a 50 minute auditory tour
Cafe reasonably priced, with volunteers clearing tables as they are vacated
Dogs welcome
Site constantly dedicating more memorials. Will require more than one visit to see everything
Cafe reasonably priced, with volunteers clearing tables as they are vacated
Dogs welcome
Site constantly dedicating more memorials. Will require more than one visit to see everything
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In August 2020, FMMSouthWales said about National Memorial Arboretum
What a fantastic way to spend a day. We had been meaning to pay a visit for some time to pay homage to my husband's former troop sergeant who had been killed in N. Ireland and little did we realise just how much there was to see.
My husband has limited mobility so we walked slowly in hope there would be a route up to the main memorial avoiding any steps. I wandered off looking for such a route but within seconds and without even a request he had been picked up in a small car by a guide. The guide also waited (no pressure at all on us to be quick) to take him back down again. Absolutely exceptional customer service .....oh for a higher rating than 5.
Naturally we also wanted to see more of the site so opted for the land train which again proved excellent vale for money and extremely informative.
The restaurant on the site was also first class with excellent customer service.
We really do hope to return one day as the experience was wonderful and we truly believe it is a place to visit in each season. We were there in March but the arboretum in June or September or December would be so different and again so beautiful that the experience would be a new one.
My husband has limited mobility so we walked slowly in hope there would be a route up to the main memorial avoiding any steps. I wandered off looking for such a route but within seconds and without even a request he had been picked up in a small car by a guide. The guide also waited (no pressure at all on us to be quick) to take him back down again. Absolutely exceptional customer service .....oh for a higher rating than 5.
Naturally we also wanted to see more of the site so opted for the land train which again proved excellent vale for money and extremely informative.
The restaurant on the site was also first class with excellent customer service.
We really do hope to return one day as the experience was wonderful and we truly believe it is a place to visit in each season. We were there in March but the arboretum in June or September or December would be so different and again so beautiful that the experience would be a new one.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In August 2020, birgiss said about National Memorial Arboretum
Good value outing and straight forward to book with ample parking and loads of open space, didn't come across many other people whilst walking around.
Some lovely sculptural memorials and lovely grounds to walk around. We mainly visited to take our daughter to see the stickman which she loved, shame there's not more of the characters, would be a superb attraction for young families...also missing a trick not selling stickman product in the gift shop.
Some lovely sculptural memorials and lovely grounds to walk around. We mainly visited to take our daughter to see the stickman which she loved, shame there's not more of the characters, would be a superb attraction for young families...also missing a trick not selling stickman product in the gift shop.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In August 2020, arborfieldman said about National Memorial Arboretum
The centrepiece of the NMA is a steep sided mound with a circular memorial commemorating all those who have given their lives in service since the end of WWII; it’s a depressingly long list. The rest of the huge area contains smaller memorials for individual groups all moving in their own way. Definitely worth visiting if in the area.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk