National Memorial Arboretum
Latest Reviews
General:
I went today with family. I'm still speechless. There is such a silent, effortless national pride that radiates that it's actually quite overwhelming. It's free entry, with a well priced coffee shop and cafe.
Pros:
Inclusive - besides the crosses and rectangular wooden things you can write on and place beside your chosen regiment or monument, there are also Star of David's and Sikh symbols.
Staff are friendly, helpful and approachable.
The monuments are varied and breath-taking.
Cons:
None.
I went today with family. I'm still speechless. There is such a silent, effortless national pride that radiates that it's actually quite overwhelming. It's free entry, with a well priced coffee shop and cafe.
Pros:
Inclusive - besides the crosses and rectangular wooden things you can write on and place beside your chosen regiment or monument, there are also Star of David's and Sikh symbols.
Staff are friendly, helpful and approachable.
The monuments are varied and breath-taking.
Cons:
None.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A moving and wonderful place. Take the little train so that you see the whole site. Allow a day as it is large. So so moving to go around all the different memorials. Is a large coffee shop/ restaurant on site. There are buggies for the less mobile.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My third visit to the NMA and all for different reasons, this time it was as a visitor to a motoring event called "Drive it day".
I do believe that as well as the important core purpose of remembrance, the venue offers a superb outdoor space for displays and exhibitions, on this occasion, about 150 classic cars all parked in their own space in a beautiful setting with ample room to look around them, to sit and chat and to enjoy the venue and its participants.
We found the car parking charge of £3 to be entirely reasonable given that entry to the Arboretum is free and the car park is really well laid out and maintained. We enjoyed a coffee and cake in one of the cafes in the visitor centre at a very reasonable cost and again, the space is pleasant and welcoming.
The staff were most helpful, we found them all to be cheery about their work and keen to make you happy, I assume that some of them must be volunteers, they have that air of "happy to be involved" about them, well done guys, it does make a difference to the visitor.
This is a huge site, it has been made as wheelchair friendly as possible but you will still need to take your best "walking legs" with you, there are a few benches dotted around, not enough toilets, its not that the toilets they have can't cope with numbers, it is that many of the guests appeared to be "of age" and when you need to go, a 1/4 mile walk back to the loo can be a bit daunting.
The visitor centre is new, it's open and airy, smart and very usable as a conference centre, a display area or just a place to sit and reflect, the areas outside are superbly designed and on a sunny day it's worth a trip out there just to enjoy the sun and the outdoors.
I'd love to see the centre being used to its full potential, exhibitions, concerts, events, access from the road is superb, signage is excellent and this is a world class venue on our doorstep.
I do believe that as well as the important core purpose of remembrance, the venue offers a superb outdoor space for displays and exhibitions, on this occasion, about 150 classic cars all parked in their own space in a beautiful setting with ample room to look around them, to sit and chat and to enjoy the venue and its participants.
We found the car parking charge of £3 to be entirely reasonable given that entry to the Arboretum is free and the car park is really well laid out and maintained. We enjoyed a coffee and cake in one of the cafes in the visitor centre at a very reasonable cost and again, the space is pleasant and welcoming.
The staff were most helpful, we found them all to be cheery about their work and keen to make you happy, I assume that some of them must be volunteers, they have that air of "happy to be involved" about them, well done guys, it does make a difference to the visitor.
This is a huge site, it has been made as wheelchair friendly as possible but you will still need to take your best "walking legs" with you, there are a few benches dotted around, not enough toilets, its not that the toilets they have can't cope with numbers, it is that many of the guests appeared to be "of age" and when you need to go, a 1/4 mile walk back to the loo can be a bit daunting.
The visitor centre is new, it's open and airy, smart and very usable as a conference centre, a display area or just a place to sit and reflect, the areas outside are superbly designed and on a sunny day it's worth a trip out there just to enjoy the sun and the outdoors.
I'd love to see the centre being used to its full potential, exhibitions, concerts, events, access from the road is superb, signage is excellent and this is a world class venue on our doorstep.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent memorial to many arms of the forces and particular Army Corps.
Very peaceful and easy to walk around. Excellent layout and very well kept
Everything is top quality and thought provoking. Free entry and £3 to park
Gift store is good with a large restaurant and coffee shop
Very peaceful and easy to walk around. Excellent layout and very well kept
Everything is top quality and thought provoking. Free entry and £3 to park
Gift store is good with a large restaurant and coffee shop
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited here and was very impressed.
Well worth making the journey.
We were advised to take the train round which is excellent value at £5.00 per person. Having complete the round trip you can then walk round to the sections that you wish to see more of. Without taking the train trip I am sure we would not have seen 25% of it.
Very well thought out and leaves you with lots of food for thought.
Well worth making the journey.
We were advised to take the train round which is excellent value at £5.00 per person. Having complete the round trip you can then walk round to the sections that you wish to see more of. Without taking the train trip I am sure we would not have seen 25% of it.
Very well thought out and leaves you with lots of food for thought.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely gardens and walks through the NMA. Shocking to see the walls of names of those lost since WWII, so many. New fun outdoor area for kids, and excellent restaurant for meals and also a new coffee shop. Definitely worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Over the years this is the 3rd visit and yet again even more to see. This time because it was a cold damp day we used the land train which was very good but could be improved by allowing you to get off and rejoin later so we could fully explore the bits too far for us to walk. The new visitors centre and restaurant was excellent with very good food and extremely helpful staff. Yet again it was another good visit but maybe some shelter from rain and some loos the far end of the site would be helpful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A place where you will want to visit again. We were delighted with the new Visitors Centre with a restaurant serving a good variety of food and drink. The land train is a must, afterwards you can plan your walking to memorials that you wish to explore. A very humbling experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Fantastic place to visit, huge venue with all military branches remembered. Plenty of helpful staff, place was spotless.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a truly wonderful, thought provoking place to visit. Very emotional and so very peaceful. Highly recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent memorial but very emotional and touching, well worth a visit for everyone. The layout is good but you need some good walking shoes as there is alot of ground to cover
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I've been visiting the arboretum for several years now as I live 10 minutes down the road in Fradley. Having undergone a recent renovation, the arboretum is looking even better than it did before! The reception desk, museum area, food hall and gift shop are first up upon entry. The staff are always so lovely and helpful. What I really like is that my young son thoroughly enjoys the space of the outdoor areas of the arboretum, and spends many a happy hour running from monument to monument spotting different animals in the sculptures and all of the other interesting articles around. The food area is well stocked with plenty of choice (pick and mix lunch boxes are available for little ones too). A baby and toddler sensory group (Little Saplings) has started the first Friday of each month which is lovely and only £1.50 per child. The centre piece of the arboretum is beautiful, thought provoking and a must see. Naturally there is lots of interesting information around on wars, soldiers, animals in war, many different aspects demonstrating the courage and bravery of so many who have fought for our country and who continue to do so too. A really lovely venue and perfect for a family day out.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a great place to visit, peaceful and thought-provoking yet involving and easy going. I would recommend a visit to everyone, even if you have no direct connection to anyone in the armed forces or public service.
All the staff and volunteers were all very helpful and pleasent, including the grounds keepers who were going about there business in a very professional manner. That is except for the road-train driver, who was a bit abrupt and a jobsworth! He didn't appear to have any humour and with his scripted quips delivered in such a deadpan and unemotional manner just left us colder than the weather!
The site is BIG - so expect to do a lot of walking!
The road-train is a good way to get an overview and the edited highlights of the whole place but the on-board audio guide was getting tired, being a bit scratchy, quiet and missing in places. Also the noise of the train and smell of diesel was a quite intrusive. That being said these are minor niggles and wouldn't normally spoil the day. However, I have one suggestion which could significantly improve the experience, which is to make the road-train a constant service, where you buy a ticket for the day and are able to get on and off as many times of you like, so that you can explore the whole site without the the long walks?
Notwithstanding the above, I will visit again, hopefully in better weather, and get to see the memorials I missed this time.
All the staff and volunteers were all very helpful and pleasent, including the grounds keepers who were going about there business in a very professional manner. That is except for the road-train driver, who was a bit abrupt and a jobsworth! He didn't appear to have any humour and with his scripted quips delivered in such a deadpan and unemotional manner just left us colder than the weather!
The site is BIG - so expect to do a lot of walking!
The road-train is a good way to get an overview and the edited highlights of the whole place but the on-board audio guide was getting tired, being a bit scratchy, quiet and missing in places. Also the noise of the train and smell of diesel was a quite intrusive. That being said these are minor niggles and wouldn't normally spoil the day. However, I have one suggestion which could significantly improve the experience, which is to make the road-train a constant service, where you buy a ticket for the day and are able to get on and off as many times of you like, so that you can explore the whole site without the the long walks?
Notwithstanding the above, I will visit again, hopefully in better weather, and get to see the memorials I missed this time.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A truly thought provoking and emotional experience. Would definitely recommend and will be back again in the future.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My husband and I visited after many years of wanting to go. We chose a Beautiful day. We spent about 4 hours walking round the whole of the arboretum. The ages and walking abilities are varied but all taken care of. For a small fee you can use the land train to take you around with a commentary to guide you. There's plenty of seats to rest upon and have a picnic if you did not want to use the cafeteria. It is a beautiful place that we shall visit again. Everyone should visit out of respect and pride that our country can honour the people whole gave everything so we can benefit today.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A thought provoking and peaceful place to visit. The arboretum has grown considerably in two years since our first visit and on a sunny spring day is a great place to visit and pay respect to the many armed forces and organisations that are remembered here.
The shot at dawn memorial is one of the saddest things I've ever seen and shows just how sick and stupid mankind can be.
The shot at dawn memorial is one of the saddest things I've ever seen and shows just how sick and stupid mankind can be.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited with my partner and we began the day with a trip on the land train. The commentary pointed out a lot of the memorials and explained the significance of the shapes, colours and plants used. We later did the guided walk where we learnt even more about these memorials. All of the staff were friendly and helpful and they had the biggest range of gluten free sandwiches and cakes I have ever seen.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I spent a sunny afternoon with my two sons walking round the beautifully laid out and maintained gardens. This is such a fitting and proper memorial. Also very nice facilities. It is very much worth taking the time to visit and reflect.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My wife and I visited the National Memorial Arboretum with some friends who live in Stafford. It was not our first time but since our previous visit a few years ago there have been some substantial improvements, notably a large new visitors’ centre.
The 150-acre site is planted with over 30,000 trees amongst which are over 300 thought-provoking memorials, each with its own story. The memorials represent a broad range of military associations, charitable organisations, emergency services, fraternity groups and individuals.
Entry is free, which is pretty amazing when you consider the quality of the memorials and grounds. We decided to take the land train. This takes a 50-minute journey around the site and provides passengers with an informative running commentary on most of the main memorials. Well worth the £5 ticket.
A thought-provoking location and a “must see” if you are in the area.
The 150-acre site is planted with over 30,000 trees amongst which are over 300 thought-provoking memorials, each with its own story. The memorials represent a broad range of military associations, charitable organisations, emergency services, fraternity groups and individuals.
Entry is free, which is pretty amazing when you consider the quality of the memorials and grounds. We decided to take the land train. This takes a 50-minute journey around the site and provides passengers with an informative running commentary on most of the main memorials. Well worth the £5 ticket.
A thought-provoking location and a “must see” if you are in the area.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A very pretty place. We took the train, which meant less walking and gave a nice explanation of the various memorials. Very worth a donation to visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our 11th visit and always an inspirational place.
The 'volunteer' staff are very good, the Memorials, facilities and layout are all very good.
Will be back again and again.
The 'volunteer' staff are very good, the Memorials, facilities and layout are all very good.
Will be back again and again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited on a dry sunny day. We paid £3 for parking and entry was free. Inside the main entrance you can purchase guided tours, exhibition tickets etc, there are also toilets, a shop and a cafe. Outside there is a coffee shop and chapel. There are steps and ramps down to the main memorial and steps leading straight up to it or a sweeping path.
The memorial is a lovely tribute to all fallen heroes, its very clean and tidy.
Around the grounds are numerous other memorials and trees everywhere.
We had a lovely few hours walking around the beautiful grounds and will return in the summer when it's a little warmer.
Well worth a visit.
The memorial is a lovely tribute to all fallen heroes, its very clean and tidy.
Around the grounds are numerous other memorials and trees everywhere.
We had a lovely few hours walking around the beautiful grounds and will return in the summer when it's a little warmer.
Well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An opportunity to pay your respects to those servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The site is beautifully landscaped with the trees progressively maturing.
It is a place which must be visited.
It is a place which must be visited.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The National Arboretum is a fantastic site honouring all disciplined services who have over the wars and in civil times have given their lives in the pursuit of the UK's freedom from tyranny. The grounds are very well kept, my interest being my fallen colleagues in the Police Service
All the staff and volunteers are very friendly and helpful - There is a memorabilia shop and excellent catering facilities for simple food, all of which is reasonably priced
All the staff and volunteers are very friendly and helpful - There is a memorabilia shop and excellent catering facilities for simple food, all of which is reasonably priced
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An excellent morning was spent walking around the beautiful grounds of the arboretum, viewing the many memorials, sculpture and touching dedications. This is a large site and it needs good weather really to be enjoyed to the full. The land train is helpful to travel around the site. Entry is free but the exhibition attracts and entry charge. The onsight restuarant is an attractive and welcome feature
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
