In the grounds, you’ll find over 420 memorials of all shapes and sizes. The memorials you'll see are incredibly special, and their designs are rich in symbolism. They tell the stories of military, civilian and emergency service organisations who have served and sacrificed for our Nation.
There are a lots of flat wide paths to use, but don’t be afraid to head onto the grass to look at memorials you spot. Some of our memorials are tucked away in gardens and in woodland glades so you’ll need to explore to find them.
Some of the smallest details and textures help to tell the stories of the memorials and who they remember.
You’ll find more information about just some of the memorials on our memorials pages. Our guidebook, which can be purchased from our Welcome Desk, tells more of our stories and includes a map to help you explore, along with suggested routes to follow. Our team, are also happy to help you, and can answer any questions you might have.
We hope you leave our grounds feeling inspired by the stories you hear, and enjoy your visit to the Arboretum.
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Taking a tour
At the Arboretum we offer land train*, buggy and guided walking tours throughout the day. Buggy and Land Train tours are delivered by our team of knowledgeable volunteers, whilst the Land Train features a pre-recorded commentary.
* seasonal timetable applies.
Outdoor Play Areas
Here at the Arboretum, we have two outdoor play areas available for young visitors to enjoy. Our Children’s Sensory Play Garden can be found near to the Remembrance Centre. A second children’s play area, with a picnic area, can be found further into the Arboretum grounds
Please note: only assistance dogs are permitted within our Children's Play Areas.
The Stick Man Trail
From a twig for a nest to a mast for a flag, our Stick Man trail follows the adventures of The Stick Man as he tries to get home to his Family Tree. Pick up a free self-led trail sheet on arrival at the Welcome Desk, and head out into the Arboretum grounds to explore the, fully accessible, one mile route. Along the way you'll be able to spot fun character carvings, including Stick Man himself!
Visiting an exhibition
Our exhibition galleries are free to explore. In Landscapes of Life, you can learn more about the Arboretum and Remembrance, and our younger visitors will enjoy getting hands on by designing a memorial garden of their own, or taking a walk through our digital path of leaves and revealing the field of poppies beneath.
We aim to cater for the needs of all our visitors and try to accommodate all access requirements where possible. A number of accessible and family friendly parking spaces can be found near to our entrance. Baby changing and a Changing Places facilities can be found in the Remembrance Centre,
Please click the button below to find out more about how the Arboretum can support visitor access, as well as how to book accessible parking, sensory backpacks and other individual needs.
Our Restaurant is open daily and serves a range of hot food, sandwiches, soups and cakes suitable for all ages. Our range of children’s meals ensure that even the pickiest eaters will find something they can enjoy.
Families can dine in our indoor and outdoor seating area, or you can take your sandwiches with you and enjoy them in our picnic and play areas. You’ll find one of our picnic areas next to our Children’s Play area in the Children’s Wood.
We kindly ask that only food purchased from the Arboretum is consumed within our Restaurant and Coffee Shop.
We know that you might have questions about visiting us. To help you plan your visit we've answered some of our most frequently asked questions below. You can read the answers to further questions on our FAQs page.
Yes the Arboretum is very accessible. Our grounds are flat and there are lots of hard standing paths to use as you're exploring. You can find out more about how the Arboretum is able to support visitor access on our Accessability page.
The Arboretum is free to enter.
A daily parking charge applies for all cars, motorcycles and scooters that utilise the Arboretum's parking facilities. By booking your visit in advance you will receive a discount on our daily parking charge, and guarantee entry on busy days. You can find out more about parking at the Arboretum on our Book Tickets page.
There may be a small charge for other activities and events if you choose to take part in these. You can find out more on our What's On pages
