National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
So we planned to go to the national memorial arboretum on our way back from a few days away. We checked the website, it was open so off we set. When we were arrived, there was a major event on, not mentioned on the website and parts of the arboretum was closed. There were also problems with parking and the card machines at the entrance. Finally though we navagated through these problems and had a really lovely day. Spent hours walking around the grounds, a sombering yet peaceful and relaxing place. Worth taking the twin to orientate yourself to the garden lay out. The cafe was really high quality and cheap so well done !
It's free to enter, but we felt moved to leave a proper donation!
It's free to enter, but we felt moved to leave a proper donation!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The most concise, accurate and memorable day for a long time! The most educational day that we have ever been a part of.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was my 14th visit to the NMA and what an improvement this year with the new extention to the reception area. Could do with a larger Chapel now as many of our Memorial Svc could not sit inside. If you have never visited the NMA then please take a day out and go and see the Memorial to our Military hero's.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I cannot praise the Arboretum enough. In my opinion, it should be top of everyones must visit list. Beautifully set out , many interesting and beautifully constructed memorials. Staff/ Volunteers took me back in time, they were all friendly , knowledgeable and enthusiastic, what a treat. Take the buggy tour and/or the land train as some of the memorials are quite a distance and you don't want to miss anything.
A fantastic place to visit
A fantastic place to visit
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Take the 'buggy' or train rides as it too large a place for walking around to appreciate the diversity unless you are super fit and even then you would nead a couple of days to see it all.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The littlectrain takescyou everywhere and you get to see memorial gardens and fantastic pieces of art work depicting each one. The restaurant is good. The chapel is great and the volunteers very friendly and knowledgeable. Well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have visited before and decided to return to attend the Home Front Proms which were excellent.
You pay to park, £3 which all goes to the Arboretum and is a very fair price considering it costs nothing to visit the Arboretum itself. You can spend all day here, the place is huge and very pleasant.
On our first visit we booked the buggy tour to the far end of the Arboretum and very much enjoyed the 1hr tour, with a well informed guide.
This time, we returned to explore all the places we didint get time for on the first visit and also to return for the evening Home Front Proms, which ended its fireworks. We'd definitely return again for the Proms....
Staff are so lovely and there is a reasonably priced cafe on site too.
You pay to park, £3 which all goes to the Arboretum and is a very fair price considering it costs nothing to visit the Arboretum itself. You can spend all day here, the place is huge and very pleasant.
On our first visit we booked the buggy tour to the far end of the Arboretum and very much enjoyed the 1hr tour, with a well informed guide.
This time, we returned to explore all the places we didint get time for on the first visit and also to return for the evening Home Front Proms, which ended its fireworks. We'd definitely return again for the Proms....
Staff are so lovely and there is a reasonably priced cafe on site too.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went on the day of the Passchendaele anniversary which mad parking difficult but the staff were incredibly helpful and charming. Nothing was too much trouble. The service at Tyne Cot was relayed onto a screen. It was very atmospheric. We had not realised the size of the place. We took a "train" which gave a recorded commentary which was very informative. It would have been difficult to get round the entire site without this.
It is beautifully laid out. I am ex army and one of my soldiers is remembered there so it was very poignant to see his memorial and to pay tribute to him. The catering facilities are good and a complete day for the visit is preferable.
It is beautifully laid out. I am ex army and one of my soldiers is remembered there so it was very poignant to see his memorial and to pay tribute to him. The catering facilities are good and a complete day for the visit is preferable.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Totally free to get in and a real treat. The gardens were beautiful and vast with the river running along it. The memorials were lovely and brought a lump to my throat. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Even if you have no interest in the memorials, a great day out with a picnic when the sun is shinning!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Well worth a visit, a very touching place which is well presented, we visited for an evening prom which had a military brass band playing who were very good the evening ended with fireworks.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What an excellent place to visit. It was much bigger than we expected and it's impossible to see everything in one visit. The thunderstorm didn't prevent our enjoyment of this well laid out place. Only in England would you see families picnicking in a downpour at the special forces memorial! The grounds are well maintained and the whole place is peaceful despite the numbers of visitors. We read the guide book afterwards and realised how many more memorials there are to see - more than 300 apparently. They are not just to the armed forces but to many others who will be remembered, including the very moving stillborn babies' memorial. We will come back to try and visit more of them.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Finally visited and wondered why we had taken so long to. A good parking area and at £3 per day not expensive and a welcome from the many helpers at the entrance once through the reception and walking along the many paths where at every turn is a memorial to our heroes from every service army to the police and with so many stories of heroism on them that you could not read them all in one day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was our second visit to the national memorial arboretum, we visited two years ago. Still a lovely place to visit, we arrived at 10 am and left at 5pm and were still rushing and trying to see all the memorials, really enjoyed the Passendale trenches the actors were great and told you some great info and really gave you a view of what it was like to fight in WWI. Very family friendly place .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I am an ex forces person and I have found ,many memorials devoted to the ships I served on also my father's regiment. So nostalgic and a must see attraction devoted to all walks of life services
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited the National Memorial Arboretum for the first time, not sure about what to expect or how long the visit would last. From the moment I arrived, all of the volunteers I spoke with were friendly and welcoming.
I started the day with a short talk and remembrance service in the Chapel at 11am, which set the tone for the rest of the visit and provided some background information about the origins of the NMA. I then booked onto a buggy tour, which lasted just under an hour. I chose this over the train as it was a more personal approach and there was the opportunity to ask questions. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate, ensuring that we got the most from the tour and he stopped at some memorials so these could be explored further. For £5 it was well worth it and, even better, the money goes directly back to the NMA.
After lunch in the restaurant I continued to explore the grounds on foot - the whole place is a wonderful tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and is respectfully done. The grounds are beautifully maintained and the care and attention to detail is second to none. The memorial is a place of reflection, but also a celebration of those who serve their country.
I spent about 4.5 hours in total at the site and I still didn't get to explore everything. I would recommend booking a tour (walking, land train or buggy) to begin with and then exploring memorials which are of particular interest.
There is no entrance fee for the NMA, they do ask for donations to help with running costs and to ensure that this place of significance is preserved for future generations. I would highly recommend to everyone!
I started the day with a short talk and remembrance service in the Chapel at 11am, which set the tone for the rest of the visit and provided some background information about the origins of the NMA. I then booked onto a buggy tour, which lasted just under an hour. I chose this over the train as it was a more personal approach and there was the opportunity to ask questions. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate, ensuring that we got the most from the tour and he stopped at some memorials so these could be explored further. For £5 it was well worth it and, even better, the money goes directly back to the NMA.
After lunch in the restaurant I continued to explore the grounds on foot - the whole place is a wonderful tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and is respectfully done. The grounds are beautifully maintained and the care and attention to detail is second to none. The memorial is a place of reflection, but also a celebration of those who serve their country.
I spent about 4.5 hours in total at the site and I still didn't get to explore everything. I would recommend booking a tour (walking, land train or buggy) to begin with and then exploring memorials which are of particular interest.
There is no entrance fee for the NMA, they do ask for donations to help with running costs and to ensure that this place of significance is preserved for future generations. I would highly recommend to everyone!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Another visit made here, site keeps on growing. Had a lovely walk around then decided to take the road train, which promptly broke down on us. Brilliant work by Georgie(?) to keep us all informed despite being on crutches herself. Made a very enjoyable day indeed. And wonderful cake!!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My Sister Anna's birthday was 1st Aug and she asked if we could visit the N A. Not our first visit and certainly not our last. We try to visit every few months especially when a new memorial is opened.
The whole atmosphere of the place is alive and exciting admission is free although your given many opportunities to donate money. The staff and volunteers are so positive and full of enthusiasm and knowledge it's infectious.
This time we took the little train £6 per adult the journey was at a snails pace giving ample time to take photos. There was a very informative audio soundtrack pointing us in the direction of the next monument and telling us about the service it represented and interesting facts about its construction and about the trees planted around it and why that particular type of tree was chosen. The tour lasted approx 1 hour.
The Chapel is a must to visit the feeling of calm and love in there is wonderful.
Food in the restaurant is varied and offers a good choice of hot and cold at reasonable prices.
The shop has something for everyone prices vary from pocket money to beautiful glassware at quite expensive prices.
All in all a great day despite the rain and once again I came away full of pride and wonder I also gained more knowledge of just what our service people past and present do to keep us safe.
Cannot recommend a visit here enough, even the little children have something to do and they are learning without even realising it.
The whole atmosphere of the place is alive and exciting admission is free although your given many opportunities to donate money. The staff and volunteers are so positive and full of enthusiasm and knowledge it's infectious.
This time we took the little train £6 per adult the journey was at a snails pace giving ample time to take photos. There was a very informative audio soundtrack pointing us in the direction of the next monument and telling us about the service it represented and interesting facts about its construction and about the trees planted around it and why that particular type of tree was chosen. The tour lasted approx 1 hour.
The Chapel is a must to visit the feeling of calm and love in there is wonderful.
Food in the restaurant is varied and offers a good choice of hot and cold at reasonable prices.
The shop has something for everyone prices vary from pocket money to beautiful glassware at quite expensive prices.
All in all a great day despite the rain and once again I came away full of pride and wonder I also gained more knowledge of just what our service people past and present do to keep us safe.
Cannot recommend a visit here enough, even the little children have something to do and they are learning without even realising it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This was a truly wonderful experience. It is a calm and peaceful place. I felt so humble at the sacrifice made by so many for the future generations to enjoy a peaceful safe life.
We found memorials to friends, relatives and neighbours and it allows you to remember them in a situation unlike a cemetery.
It is so sad to see the huge amount of names on the memorial wall, each person being someone's father, son, brother, sister. Hopefully there will not be any more names added to this memorial and we can live in peace.
We had a private tour and our guide was very knowledgeable about all the memorials in a very interesting way.
This memorial site should be on every schools curriculum to ensure that the waste of life and whole generations will not happen again,
A wonderful place that should be on everyone's list of places to visit.
We found memorials to friends, relatives and neighbours and it allows you to remember them in a situation unlike a cemetery.
It is so sad to see the huge amount of names on the memorial wall, each person being someone's father, son, brother, sister. Hopefully there will not be any more names added to this memorial and we can live in peace.
We had a private tour and our guide was very knowledgeable about all the memorials in a very interesting way.
This memorial site should be on every schools curriculum to ensure that the waste of life and whole generations will not happen again,
A wonderful place that should be on everyone's list of places to visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
To see everything it is a long walk, but you can take the train for a quick tour, or hire a golf buggy and guide.
We went on a dry, sunny day in July but the strong wind was chilly as it blew across the park.
For me the area of most interest, and the most heartrending, is The Burma Railway Memorial.
The 'Shot at Dawn' Memorial was a long walk from the entrance, but worth the trek.
The gift shop is large and, in my opinion, quite pricey, but there are pocket money items for children.
We didn't use the restaurant but did buy a cold drink from the small cafe. On a dry day a picnic would be a good idea.
We went on a dry, sunny day in July but the strong wind was chilly as it blew across the park.
For me the area of most interest, and the most heartrending, is The Burma Railway Memorial.
The 'Shot at Dawn' Memorial was a long walk from the entrance, but worth the trek.
The gift shop is large and, in my opinion, quite pricey, but there are pocket money items for children.
We didn't use the restaurant but did buy a cold drink from the small cafe. On a dry day a picnic would be a good idea.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here with a coach party. Really heart warming experience. Went on the little train around the various memorials, took about an hour for £5. Very big site, but they hire scooters for £5. There is a lovely restaurant and coffee shop and not very expensive. There is also a shop for souvenirs, some of the things are very expensive. Really enjoyed the visit and would recommend.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Nice site for all of UK's war (and other) memorials. Lots of trees that will be great as they grow.
The "shot at dawn" memorial was particularly poignant.
Free to visit too
The "shot at dawn" memorial was particularly poignant.
Free to visit too
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is an amazing place, parking cost £3 but free into the Arboretum. Very friendly guides who give you plenty of information. It makes you feel respect for all the armed forces and their families. A train can take you around, it is a very large area or you can hire a golf buggy for a small charge. Thoroughly enjoyed here, even though it makes you think what the armed forces go through,there is a section of the trenches from the First World War.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I just don't like this place. It is very exposed and can be quite cold and damp underfoot. The memorials are often just blocks of granite or stone with little artistic merit. The circular memorial is haunting and the statues are very good but the rest leaves me cold. The best memorial for me is The Scout Association one, but it is off the track and not easy to find. The volunteers were not very friendly, one last managing to serve me without looking up or acknowledging me in any way.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I have visited the Arboretum on a number of occasions, and my wife and I re-visited in July of this year. As always, we found the experience to be emotional and very moving. A tribute to our fallen heroes. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the new cafeteria allows for a nice break following your visit. I would strongly advise a visit.......
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Took my dad here , as he had never been , a lovely kept place but so sad to see the amount of people who gave there lives, and so many young people who never returned.The bronze sculptures are brilliant in detail.There is a cafe for tea or food, will take several hours to see it all.The portable toilets could have been better and perhaps drink stations at the farest point.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
