Group Visits
Visiting groups of all kinds are welcome at The National Memorial Arboretum. In view of our increased visitor numbers and to avoid disappointment, it is essential that all visiting groups pre-book. There are already certain dates this year when we are unable to accept any more bookings.
Guides
Due to increased demand, it is no longer possible to pre-book conducted tours with guides for daytime visits. However, a number of guided walks to various areas of the site and of different duration leave the Visitor Centre throughout the day. The cost for these is £2.00 per person and places are limited to 20. Check on arrival at the Reception/Information point for the daily programme, where tickets can be purchased.
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| Panoramic view across The Phantom Memorial |
Publications
Our latest guide book "Remember – Their names will live for evermore …" is now available, price £7.00. A site plan is also available at £2.50. Both may be purchased at the Visitor Centre on arrival. Alternatively, contact Marianne Yates, Shop Manager, to obtain copies by mail order in advance of your visit.
Remembrance
A daily act of remembrance takes place in the Millennium Chapel at 11:00 every day of the year incorporating Last Post, silence and Reveille. Seating in the Chapel is limited to 120 and may not be reserved. Occasionally private services take place which will restrict access to our visitors.
For those wishing to pay their own tribute at a memorial, poppy crosses and poppy sprays are available all year round from the Visitor Centre and wreaths may be obtained with two weeks’ notice. In the Long Gallery, there is the facility to light a candle in remembrance. Visiting groups wishing to hold their own act of remembrance, in whatever form, are requested to lay out their intentions in writing with timings well in advance. Ceremonies of more than 15 minutes duration or involving more than 120 persons are deemed to be a Remembrance Event and charges may apply (further details may be supplied on request).
Parking
Parking is hard standing with a dropping off point outside the Visitor Centre. Coach parking is free and drivers are issued with a voucher for light refreshments. Visitors arriving independently by car should be aware that a charge of £2.00 per day will be introduced during the Summer.
Special Needs
The Arboretum has taken great care to ensure that as far as possible it is accessible to all. We have a limited number of mobility aids available for our less active visitors and advance reservation is recommended. When doing so, it is helpful for us to have the surname of those using the facilities in advance. We respectfully ask that a suitable donation is made for use of a manual wheelchair and charge £5.00 for a motorised scooter.
Only registered assistance dogs, such as guide dogs, are permitted on site.
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| RAF Boy Entrants Memorial |
Remembrance
A daily act of remembrance takes place in the Millennium Chapel at 11:00 every day of the year incorporating Last Post, silence and Reveille. Seating in the Chapel is limited to 120 and may not be reserved. Occasionally private services take place which will restrict access to our visitors.
For those wishing to pay their own tribute at a memorial, poppy crosses and poppy sprays are available all year round from the Visitor Centre and wreaths may be obtained with two weeks’ notice. In the Long Gallery, there is the facility to light a candle in remembrance. Visiting groups wishing to hold their own act of remembrance, in whatever form, are requested to lay out their intentions in writing with timings well in advance. Ceremonies of more than 15 minutes duration or involving more than 120 persons are deemed to be a Remembrance Event and charges may apply (further details may be supplied on request).
What to Wear
The Arboretum is a large open air site with limited undercover activities during inclement weather. Ensure that your members come prepared with waterproof protection if wet weather is forecast, and warm clothing in winter months. Appropriate footwear is recommended at all times.
Gift Shop
The shop sells a carefully selected range of products, including cards, books, souvenirs and seasonal gifts.
Catering
The Arbour Restaurant, situated within the Visitor Centre, is our licensed, self-service catering establishment offering a wide selection of hot and cold options, snacks and drinks throughout the day. We regret that we are unable to accept reservations Monday to Saturday.
Our popular self-service carvery option is available on Sundays (£7.50 per person for two courses). Reservations for 8 or more persons may be made via Susan Smith, Catering Manager on telephone number 01283 799854.
Visitors are not permitted to consume their own food within the Visitor Centre. However, there are a number of picnic benches sited in the grounds and we supply pre-ordered “Picnic Packs” for this purpose, price £6.00.
How to Book
All groups of 10 or more persons must book in advance. To check availability and provisionally reserve your booking, call Aileen Beesley, Visitor Services Administrator, on 01283 792333.
It may be useful to consider the following:
| · | Decide on a suitable date for your visit, with alternatives in case your first choice is not available |  Seat in the Royal Artillery Garden |
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| · | Decide if you require (subject to availability): | |||
| - | a conducted tour | |||
| - | to tour the site at your leisure | |||
| - | wheelchairs or motorised scooters | |||
| · | Decide on your arrival and departure times | |||
| · | This is the time to let us know if your group has any special requirements | |||
| · | The agreed date will be provisionally held for you until you complete a Group Visit Booking Form. (You may find it useful to keep a copy for your own records.) | |||
If you have any questions, please telephone 01283 792333 or email info@thenma.org.uk.
