National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
We went for Armed Forces Weekend expecting to spend a day there, we went very day Friday to Sunday and enjoyed every minute. This is Remembrance at it's very best. It was so peaceful and moving. Very well laid out with so much to see. With it being Armed Forces Weekend there were a lot of activities and events, including entertainment and a Spitfire flypast, excellent. We are in the cafe, which has an excellent, tasty selection of sandwiches and meals. Definitely s weekend to remember.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here today as part of a coach tour. Really interesting place and the 2.5hours flew by, so much to see. The land train at £6 was well worth it as there was so much information. Book the train at reception when you arrive as they are hourly slots.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very interesting day spent here, plenty of time and space to explore and take time to reflect on what the arboretum is for....rememberance.
Both our great grandfathers fought in the First World War, himself, his father was a desert rat his Mum in ATS and my father a serving member of British Army so we had some military interest...but it’s not all about military. It’s about all the services who help us in our daily lives, himself is a retired Police Officer, that service has its own place here. I’m a retired Midwife I was so touched to see the ‘SANDS’ memorial garden (for babies and children who sadly die pre or after birth). The main memorial is amazing and to think the architect who designed it put in place that on the 11th hour 11th day 11th month a shaft of light travels through a small opening into the centre of the memorial. It reminded me of Newgrange Neolithic site in Ireland .....simply beautiful . The Shot at Dawn memorial was for me the most important as I had lobbied the government for these dreadfully treated soldiers to be pardoned. Here to the design is such that it needs reflection is perfectly poignant and needs you to take time and look at the detail
, also it is the part of the arboretum which receives the early light in the morning.
On a lighter note coffee was good, lovely environment to sit and spend time.
Very kind and knowledgable volunteers.
Both our great grandfathers fought in the First World War, himself, his father was a desert rat his Mum in ATS and my father a serving member of British Army so we had some military interest...but it’s not all about military. It’s about all the services who help us in our daily lives, himself is a retired Police Officer, that service has its own place here. I’m a retired Midwife I was so touched to see the ‘SANDS’ memorial garden (for babies and children who sadly die pre or after birth). The main memorial is amazing and to think the architect who designed it put in place that on the 11th hour 11th day 11th month a shaft of light travels through a small opening into the centre of the memorial. It reminded me of Newgrange Neolithic site in Ireland .....simply beautiful . The Shot at Dawn memorial was for me the most important as I had lobbied the government for these dreadfully treated soldiers to be pardoned. Here to the design is such that it needs reflection is perfectly poignant and needs you to take time and look at the detail
, also it is the part of the arboretum which receives the early light in the morning.
On a lighter note coffee was good, lovely environment to sit and spend time.
Very kind and knowledgable volunteers.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wonderful place to visit and share reflections and memories. Land train (£6).highly recommended particularly for people with walking difficulties. Very well maintained and superb layout. Car part £3 for all day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
As veterans ourselves, and having lost close friends, this was on the the list of 'places we definitely must go', so we were really looking forward to our visit. It lived up to our expectations and more. Plenty of parking on arrival that costs £3 for the day, an absolute snip when you consider the rest of the day could be free if you wanted. However, there are plenty of ways to support the charity if you wish. We decided to have a buggy tour, which took you a little bit off the beaten track and with our guide, John, one of the many extremely knowledgable volunteers, we had the most marvellous hour or so.
The large Armed Forces Memorial literally took my breath away. My mind was completely blown when we were told about the tiny gaps in the side of the memorial walls that on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month (and only then), a shaft of light shines through and hits the wreath at the centre of the memorial. (Ask the volunteer at the Memorial to see a photo of this - they always have one handy to show you). Each and every one of the memorials throughout the arboretum had been so well thought out and had such meaning: e.g. All the buds on Anne Frank's rose are cut off and it is never allowed to flower because she never did.....yep I know, mind blown again!
The restaurant had the most amazing choice of food and a completely seperate gluten free section - who would have thought of a gluten free chocolate and beetroot cake, but decided to stick to soup! At the end of the day our feet ached but was a small price to pay compared to the price the many remembered there paid and we had the opportunity to reflect and remember - I shed a few tears that day. A fantastic day I will never forget and we will definitely return one day.
The large Armed Forces Memorial literally took my breath away. My mind was completely blown when we were told about the tiny gaps in the side of the memorial walls that on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month (and only then), a shaft of light shines through and hits the wreath at the centre of the memorial. (Ask the volunteer at the Memorial to see a photo of this - they always have one handy to show you). Each and every one of the memorials throughout the arboretum had been so well thought out and had such meaning: e.g. All the buds on Anne Frank's rose are cut off and it is never allowed to flower because she never did.....yep I know, mind blown again!
The restaurant had the most amazing choice of food and a completely seperate gluten free section - who would have thought of a gluten free chocolate and beetroot cake, but decided to stick to soup! At the end of the day our feet ached but was a small price to pay compared to the price the many remembered there paid and we had the opportunity to reflect and remember - I shed a few tears that day. A fantastic day I will never forget and we will definitely return one day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This really is a must visit place, the memorials are stunning and emotive and the whole area is beautifully designed for contemplation.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We always come to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas at least twice a year but especially for the Armistice Service in November. It is 150 acres of land with hundreds of Memorials to those who gave their lives for us, be they Military or Civilian.
The Memorials cover all aspects of life from the Falklands Memorial to the Suez Veterans' Association Memorial and the Basra Wall, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity Memorial to The Bevin Boys Memorial through to the poignant Shot at Dawn Memorial and of course The Armed Forces Memorial, all along with hundreds more.
It is a place allowing quiet contemplation and remembrance or pilgrimage.
Not only are individual Regiments, Ships, Units and Conflicts remembered with respect but also hundreds of Individuals amongst the Tree planting.
There are people there to help guide you as well as a good book shop and an excellent Restaurant (we always stop for Sunday lunch)..
You have to pay for Parking (£3-00 approximately) but entry is free and one can give a donation to help them out, we always do.
I highly recommend the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas for a visit be it just to remember or to attend a special function or ceremony etc.
The Memorials cover all aspects of life from the Falklands Memorial to the Suez Veterans' Association Memorial and the Basra Wall, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity Memorial to The Bevin Boys Memorial through to the poignant Shot at Dawn Memorial and of course The Armed Forces Memorial, all along with hundreds more.
It is a place allowing quiet contemplation and remembrance or pilgrimage.
Not only are individual Regiments, Ships, Units and Conflicts remembered with respect but also hundreds of Individuals amongst the Tree planting.
There are people there to help guide you as well as a good book shop and an excellent Restaurant (we always stop for Sunday lunch)..
You have to pay for Parking (£3-00 approximately) but entry is free and one can give a donation to help them out, we always do.
I highly recommend the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas for a visit be it just to remember or to attend a special function or ceremony etc.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have wanted to visit here for a while now and haven’t had the chance until today. You need a whole day as there is just so much to see. The memorials are poignant and interesting and all have a point to them and tell a story. This is a very uplifting and humbling place which is beautifully maintained and clean. Cafe food was lovely and not overpriced which is often the case. It is free to enter, parking £3 for whole day and we certainly got our money worth. If you have never been here I would absolutely recommend a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited today been before but a long while ago. What a surprise. It is so worth a visit. It’s the most beautiful place so clean and peaceful. We had a breakfast in the cafe before going out and about. It was such a hot day that we only managed a small part of it . So many memorials but well worth seeing. Plenty of seating round and about so that is helpful. Anyone thinking of going I would say don’t hesitate go and visit. Staff very friendly could not fault them.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited the Arboretum for the first time on Armed Forces Day. This is an amazing place providing remembrance for all the participants and fallen in conflicts around the world. The site is well laid out and maintained. All the facilities are spotless. The staff are friendly, helpful and personable. This is a must visit for anyone whose family have had any military connections over the years. I feel that unless there is a specific event on this attraction could be lost on the very young. Will return to shed a few more tears and remember those who have served our nation.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I wanted to visit this place a long time ago I went yesterday with my friends from The Royal British Legion .What a beautiful place so peaceful to collect your thoughts there was lots to see and lots of walking.There was a train for the public to go on at not much cost The train took you round the memorial Arboretum beautiful scenery but sad moments too. There is also a travel buggy were staff took people for short journeys to the place they wanted to go.which is brilliant.There was plenty of cafes and shops toilets I found all the staff very friendly and went out of there way to help one visit is not enough I will go back again
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
If you have family past or present In the British armed forces I would highly recommend making a visit . This was not at all what I expected .100’s of individual forces memorials and thousands of symbolically planted trees and statues. Take the train if you are in any way finding it hard to get around as this is a HUGE area to cover on foot. Take your family regiment details and see if you can Trace their history
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Yet again a fantastic day at the NMA. Friendly staff, immaculate throughout and a lovely atmosphere.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The National Memorial Arboretum is one of those places that you must visit. You can take a gentle stroll from one memorial to another whilst remembering those lives sacrificed in war and conflict. From front line troops in war zones to the local Bobby on the beat, children and animals.
This is certainly a thought provoking place, but we'll worth a visit. There is a coffee shop and restaurant on site, with toilets in the main reception building and at various points around the site.
Dogs are allowed in certain areas. Then complete your visit by visiting the shop which has a wide assortment of items.
This is certainly a thought provoking place, but we'll worth a visit. There is a coffee shop and restaurant on site, with toilets in the main reception building and at various points around the site.
Dogs are allowed in certain areas. Then complete your visit by visiting the shop which has a wide assortment of items.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely place, very peaceful. Nice to have somewhere to go to pay your respects to so many people who lost their lives defending our country and also other people who were not members of the armed forces e.g. Fire and police services. Would recommend a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Have been meaning to go here for years and finally got around to it. It was Armed Forces Day so very busy and had to use overflow car park. Not bad as all parking is only £3 per day and rest of visit is free.
Had a snack lunch then seemed to walk for miles visiting lots of memorials. Some like the Polish one required a lot of reading.
Not able to cover everything on a very hot Sunday so aim to go back in cooler weather
Had a snack lunch then seemed to walk for miles visiting lots of memorials. Some like the Polish one required a lot of reading.
Not able to cover everything on a very hot Sunday so aim to go back in cooler weather
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have visited here a few times now, with something new to see every time we go. Parking is £3 for the whole day and admission to the Arboretum is free. There are so many wonderful monuments to see in beautiful surroundings. Allow a whole day to see everything. Highly recommended that everyone should visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were surprised at how many people were there, but spread out in the 300-acre site, there was an amazing sense of tranquillity. We met up in the reasonably-priced café. Car parking costs £3 for the day and entrance to the Arboretum is free.
This is not a War Graves Cemetery. So many trees have dedications, no serried ranks of headstones, just lots of care expressed in many different ways for those who have given their lives in service to us. Armed Forces in many forms, and other public servants including Police, Fire & Rescue, Ambulance, RNLI. Then those belonging to other organisations who died in the course of other duties.
Every memorial has a story. We took the land-train and were treated to a superb commentary as we meandered through the site and along the bank of the River Tame.
Having whetted our appetites, in both senses, we had lunch and then set off on foot to visit those places we had ear-marked on the tour or had identified on the map. There is so much to discover. Brilliant architecture, astronomy-based features, really creative ideas abound
All-in-all a wonderful day, not to be forgotten, possibly to be repeated!
This is not a War Graves Cemetery. So many trees have dedications, no serried ranks of headstones, just lots of care expressed in many different ways for those who have given their lives in service to us. Armed Forces in many forms, and other public servants including Police, Fire & Rescue, Ambulance, RNLI. Then those belonging to other organisations who died in the course of other duties.
Every memorial has a story. We took the land-train and were treated to a superb commentary as we meandered through the site and along the bank of the River Tame.
Having whetted our appetites, in both senses, we had lunch and then set off on foot to visit those places we had ear-marked on the tour or had identified on the map. There is so much to discover. Brilliant architecture, astronomy-based features, really creative ideas abound
All-in-all a wonderful day, not to be forgotten, possibly to be repeated!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a must for EVERYONE to visit. An amazing place run by a dedicated and passionate team. My Grandad has a plaque here and out of literally 1000s I went straight to it. The food in the cafe is also excellent. The day we were there so we're the Gurkhas, and what polite, well mannered, and very smart young men they are. If you haven't been already put it on the top of your list of things to do.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is our second visit in a month. The first was for only 2 hours, not long enough, so today we spent 5 hours walking around the site.
So much to see, and so many 'lump in the throat' moments.
'The Christmas Truce' display and the 'Shot at Dawn' exhibit. This named all those young men, shot at dawn for military offences, including 'desertion'. Thankfully the government has accepted that shell shock was a valid reason, and all those young men have been pardoned.
All kinds of services are recognised, like fire and rescue, the WI, the Scouts, Wrens, and many different armed services around the world, who came to the fore in our conflicts.
So much to see, and so many 'lump in the throat' moments.
'The Christmas Truce' display and the 'Shot at Dawn' exhibit. This named all those young men, shot at dawn for military offences, including 'desertion'. Thankfully the government has accepted that shell shock was a valid reason, and all those young men have been pardoned.
All kinds of services are recognised, like fire and rescue, the WI, the Scouts, Wrens, and many different armed services around the world, who came to the fore in our conflicts.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A place like this has been a long time coming in the UK. The space itself is beautiful and has some wonderful, poignant memorials and not only to the military. It was sad to see more names being added to the wall commemorating the fallen since world war two. I could quite easily have spent the whole day here and plan to do so when I return in the near future. Next time I will use a guided headset but on this occasion we stopped whilst driving on to another engagement. Do plan to visit for a good amount of your day if you visit the arboretum. There is a good amount of parking and a great visitor centre.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Have wanted to visit here for ages and it didn't disappoint. Very thought provoking and humbling. The most poignant for us was the "Shot At Dawn" memorial, it speaks for itself.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wonderful site with much thought, detail and respect.
We booked a VIP tour which included a personal and very knowledgeable guide for the day, transport around the site by buggy and a 2 course lunch with waitress service.
What amazing value for money that booking was.
Our guide was wonderful and spent time getting to know us and what we would like to see before we set off, making sure the key areas were visited and the best route planned. This made it bespoke totally to us.
The buggy allowed maximum use of the time there and easy access for my mum who has mobility issues.
The lunch was a hot dinner with a wide choice of meals and deserts , served at a fully dressed table in the main restaurant. Excellent and good size portions.
Cannot fault our day. The site is well maintained , staff well trained and helpful and all facilites clean.
Sites like this need to be seen and appreciated by everyone. Go see. And ask for David Baddel to do the tour.
We booked a VIP tour which included a personal and very knowledgeable guide for the day, transport around the site by buggy and a 2 course lunch with waitress service.
What amazing value for money that booking was.
Our guide was wonderful and spent time getting to know us and what we would like to see before we set off, making sure the key areas were visited and the best route planned. This made it bespoke totally to us.
The buggy allowed maximum use of the time there and easy access for my mum who has mobility issues.
The lunch was a hot dinner with a wide choice of meals and deserts , served at a fully dressed table in the main restaurant. Excellent and good size portions.
Cannot fault our day. The site is well maintained , staff well trained and helpful and all facilites clean.
Sites like this need to be seen and appreciated by everyone. Go see. And ask for David Baddel to do the tour.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a fitting tribute to the men and women who have fallen in the service of this country.
Laid out in well manicured grounds are tributes to all branches of the armed services as well as other service groups such as the police and St. John’s ambulance and war time services with the Land Girls and Women's Timber Corps being among the many services honoured.
During our visit a commemoration of National Service was in progress and walking around the grounds with both military band music and a very good female singer rendering songs such as “we’ll meet again” and “white cliffs of Dover” along with the sight of hundreds of veterans, medals on display, added real poignancy to our visit.
The grounds are free to enter, although a donation is expected, there seems to be ample car parking at a reasonable £3, and the main building houses both a coffee shop and restaurant providing quite reasonable fare. Also in the main building are the reception, where you can book tours etc. an exhibition space and a souvenir shop.
Overall a very pleasant place to stroll around while reflecting on our country’s service personnel even if you have no direct connection with the persons remembered or with the forces. I personally enjoyed finding a memorial to my own very small branch in the Royal Naval area, as well as dedications to ships I had served on.
I must thank all the staff and volunteers for making this tribute so enjoyable.
Laid out in well manicured grounds are tributes to all branches of the armed services as well as other service groups such as the police and St. John’s ambulance and war time services with the Land Girls and Women's Timber Corps being among the many services honoured.
During our visit a commemoration of National Service was in progress and walking around the grounds with both military band music and a very good female singer rendering songs such as “we’ll meet again” and “white cliffs of Dover” along with the sight of hundreds of veterans, medals on display, added real poignancy to our visit.
The grounds are free to enter, although a donation is expected, there seems to be ample car parking at a reasonable £3, and the main building houses both a coffee shop and restaurant providing quite reasonable fare. Also in the main building are the reception, where you can book tours etc. an exhibition space and a souvenir shop.
Overall a very pleasant place to stroll around while reflecting on our country’s service personnel even if you have no direct connection with the persons remembered or with the forces. I personally enjoyed finding a memorial to my own very small branch in the Royal Naval area, as well as dedications to ships I had served on.
I must thank all the staff and volunteers for making this tribute so enjoyable.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We had a wonderful day here, faultless except for the obnoxious land train driver. Such a shame, he spoilt an otherwise peaceful and emotional day amongst stunning and meaningful memorials. Our advice; be cautious which driver you have on the land train. Our driver was loud, argumentative, confrontational, rude, disrespectful and worst of all he thought he was an hilarious comedian but in fact ruined our day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
