Visiting With Young Families

We are open to pre-booked visitors

The National Memorial Arboretum is open to pre-booked visitors. Tickets are released each Thursday and can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance. People visiting the Arboretum must follow the latest government guidance relating to travel and social distancing, and anyone advised to self-isolate should not visit the site at this time.

Access to the Arboretum will be via the Remembrance Centre where our visitor toilets remain available. A daily programme of walks and talks are available and our Shop is open. A limited take-away service is available with a range of freshly prepared hot and cold drinks and snacks. We are currently unable to offer dine-in options in our Restaurant.

We are legally obliged to ask all visitors over the age of 16 to either check in with the NHS Test and Trace App or to provide contact details upon arrival.

Further information about the measures currently in place at the Arboretum can be found by following the link below.

Visiting Us During Coronavirus

Exploring Our Grounds

Our grounds are very big, around 150-acres. In them you’ll find almost 400 memorials of all shapes and sizes. There are a lots of flat wide paths to use as you explore, 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 put on your explorer hats to find them.
Don’t be scared to take a closer look at the memorials you find. Some of the smallest details and textures help to tell the stories of the memorials and who they remember. The Bevin Boys Memorial, for example, is made from stone. It was chosen because it’s dark grey colour is similar to coal and it’s rough texture reflects the toughness of the pit men. If you look very closely at the memorial you’ll see two mice hidden in the carvings.
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. Our team of volunteers, who wear green shirts, are also happy to help you, and can answer any questions you might have.
Please note that children's bikes, scooters and roller blades can not be used in the Arboretum grounds.

Picnic Areas

You are welcome to bring picnics to enjoy during your visit. You’ll find one of our picnic areas next to our Children’s Play area in the Children’s Wood. Picnic packs and children’s meals can also be purchased from our Remembrance Centre.

We ask that only food purchased from the Arboretum is consumed in our Restaurant and Coffee Shop.

ARboretum Augmented Reality Experience

Using our new app, visitors will be guided to eight locations around the Arboretum, where an augmented reality character will appear. Participants can take part in fun family activities and learn about some of the people who have supported the country through the pandemic.

Find Out More

The Stick Man Trail

Our youngest visitors will enjoy joining Stick Man on his journey back to the family tree. You can pick up a free copy of the self-led trail from our Welcome Desk. We recommend that families wishing to try the trail wear appropriate footwear and clothing. The route may be unsuitable for some pushchairs and dogs can’t join you on the trail. Stick Man (C) 2008 & TM. Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffer. Licenced by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

Accessibility

We aim to cater for the needs of all our visitors and try to accommodate all access requirements where possible. A number of wider blue badge and family friendly parking spaces can be found near to our entrance. Baby changing facilities can be found in the Remembrance Centre and Heroes’ Square.

Read Our Accessibility Guide

Family Events and Activities

We hold lots of exciting activities throughout the year which are designed to help our youngest visitors learn more about the Arboretum, why it’s important to remember and the wildlife in our grounds. Some of our most popular events include our Little Saplings Sensory Play sessions, Autumn Festival and Armed Forces Day. We hope that we’ll be able to offer these events again soon.

Search Our Events