Welcome
The National Memorial Arboretum is the Nation's year-round place to remember and is a space that all the family can enjoy. The Arboretum is an inspirational living landscape where families, friends and comrades celebrate lives lived and remember lives lost.
Situated at the corner of the National Forest, our 150-acre Arboretum is home to around 25,000 young trees and over 400 memorials. People from all walks of life are represented, with memorials to the Armed Forces, emergency services and civilian organisations. The memorials are rich in design and symbolism with stories just waiting to be discovered.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Access to the Arboretum GroundsWelcome Desk Remembrance Centre Accessible Toilets and Changing Places facilityThe RestaurantThe Coffee ShopGift Shop Landscapes of Life Exhibition Learning Centre Arboretum GroundsArmed Forces Memorial Far East Prisoner of War Building AspectsLand TrainMillennium Chapel of Peace and ForgivenessThere is level access from the car park to:
Children's Woodland and Picnic AreaHearing
Visual
General
Getting here
For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.Travel by public transport
Lichfield Trent Valley station is located approximately five miles from the Arboretum. Lichfield City Station is approximately six miles from the Arboretum. Burton upon Trent railway station is approximately eight miles from the Arboretum. All are a short taxi drive away.
Taxi information: The Arboretum does not take any responsibility for taxi service availability or quality of service.
Other taxi services are available.
Travel by taxi
Details of how to reach us can be found on the ‘Getting Here’ page of our website, thenma.org.uk. An alternative website to assist in planning a journey by public transport is available at www.traveline.info. Where public transport is used there may be a requirement to walk from the village of Alrewas to the Arboretum which is approximately a 20 minute walk
Parking
Thirty accessible parking bays are available on a first come, first served basis (15 disabled bays and 15 wide bays for disabled/ family use). The car park has level access which is suitable for mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs. On special event days alternative parking arrangements may apply, please visit our website or contact us on 01283 245 100 for further information and advice. The Arboretum’s Car Park B, with a gravel surface, is located one hundred metres from the Remembrance Centre. This car park may not be suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Access via two sets of doors is necessary; both sets of doors are automatic and are suitable for mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs.On occassions, when they do not operate automatically, volunteers are available to assist.
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Welcome Desk
Things to See and Do
Access to the Arboretum Grounds
There are 150 acres of landscaped grounds at the National Memorial Arboretum, accessible via roads, firm paths and grassed areas. Access from the Remembrance Centre is via automatic doors. One set of these doors is operated by push buttons at a height suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. The doors open onto Heroes' Square, a flat paved area. The square leads to The Boyes Garden where there is a slope with a gradient of 4.5% leading into the grounds. The slope is suitable for mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs. This slope leads to Millennium Avenue and the Aspects Building.
Public toilet
Remembrance Centre Accessible Toilets and Changing Places facility
There are two accessible toilet cubicles and a Changing Places facility in the Remembrance Centre toilet area.
The Changing Places facility is accessed using a RADAR key. A RADAR key is also available at the Welcome Desk, and visitors with specific queries regarding our Changing Places Toilet are advised to speak to our Welcome Desk Team. The Changing Places facility includes:
Ceiling hoist system, Shower, Emergency alarm, Height adjustable wash basin, Height adjustable changing bench, suitable for adults. The changing bench dimension are 1m 80cm long, 80cm wide and can support weight up to 200kg, Privacy screen/curtain.
For those that wish to visit us just to make use of the Changing Places facility we are very happy to offer free parking for your visit, please mention that you wish to use Changing Places and our car park team will direct you to a convenient parking place. You are, of course, very welcome to use our Restaurant and Shop during your time with us.
Baby change facilities are available in one of the diabled cubicles, this cubicle is 1300mm wide at the right side and 1300mm at the front and is fitted with a drop down baby changing table. A second baby changing facility, with a fixed changing station, is located in the accessible toilet in Heroes' Square to the left of the Coffee Shop.
A wide pan bariatric toilet is avaialable in the male toilets and 2 wide pan bariatric toilets are available in the female toilet facilities.
There is a disabled toilet in Heroes' Square, to the left side of the Coffee Shop. A low level illuminated button suitable for access by wheelchair users opens the door automatically if the toilet is vacant. From inside the toilet the door can be locked/unlocked by an illuminated button on the left side wall. The door can also be locked/unlocked by the knob on the inside of the door.
There are three portable chemical toilets suitable for disabled users located beside the Shot at Dawn, Millennium and Christmas Truce shelters. Visitors can familiarise themselves with these locations at the Orientation area within the Remembrance Centre. They are also shown on the Orientation Guide available from the Welcome Desk.
Shop
Gift Shop
Place to eat and drink
The Restaurant
The Restaurant seating and servery are accessible to wheelchair users. Seating can be moved where required. Menu options are displayed on a wall-mounted video screen and printed signage at the front of the servery. Children’s portions and high chairs are available. Bottle warming facilities are also available in the Restaurant, contact a member of our Foodservices Team for assistance. Where possible all food produce is locally sourced. Special dietary requirements are catered for, visitors are advised to contact the Arboretum on 01283 245 100 before their visit, or contact a member of our Foodservices Team for further information.
Place to eat and drink
The Coffee Shop
The Coffee Shop is located in Heroes Square. Seating and servery are accessible to wheelchair users. Seating can be moved where required. Menus boards are available at the counter and cabinets. Children’s portions and high chairs are available. Bottle warming facilities are also available in the Restaurant, contact a member of our Foodservices Team for assistance. Where possible all food produce is locally sourced. Special dietary requirements are catered for, visitors are advised to contact the Arboretum on 01283 245 100 before their visit, or contact a member of our Foodservices Team for further information.
Landscapes of Life Exhibition
There is a clear contrast between the floors and walls. Exhibition content is positioned at a height appropriate for wheelchair users. Portable, lightweight, foldable seats are available in the Landscapes of Life exhibition..
Learning Centre
Access to the Learning Centre is by pre-booking groups only. The access route will accommodate mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Entry is via a double set of automatic doors separate from the general public entry. For safeguarding purposes, entry and exit to the Learning Centre is controlled by the staff, using key cards.
There is one disabled toilet in this area, the door is 800mm wide. The toilet has a left approach with 120mm side width and 1500mm front approach. The toilet seat height is 490mm from the floor.There are four standard toilet cubicles with 800mm door width.
Getting around outside
From Heroes' Square visitors can enter the grounds and the Aspects building via the Boyes Garden.
There is access via a slope with a gradient of 4.5%, and is suitable for mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs.The Arboretum is largely flat and is serviced by level firm paths; other areas of the grounds are grassed.
An accessible buggy, that can accommodate wheelchairs is available. This facility may be booked for those who have pre-arranged a Tailor-Made Tour and notified the National Memorial in advance that the accessible buggy is requested. This is offered on a first come first served basis. Upon request our team will transport and return visitors to a specific location or memorial on one of our buggies, this service is subject to availability.
A return shuttle service, via buggy, from the base to the top of the Armed Forces Memorial is also available upon request. Please speak to a member of our team for further information.
Picnic Area
Children's Woodland and Picnic Area
Armed Forces Memorial
Access to the Armed Forces Memorial is via smooth causeway leading to a flight of steps or the spiral Pilgrims’ Way. The Pilgrims’ Way has a gradient of 1.8%. Visitors who require access can be taken to the summit of The Memorial and returned to its base by buggy. Please contact a member of the team if further assistance is required. This service is subject to availability, and on busy days there may be a short wait.
Far East Prisoner of War Building
There is a 4 metre ramp with a gradient of 6% to the side of the Far East Prisoners of War building which will accommodate mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Alternatively there are three steps at the front of the building.
There is a turning space opposite the double door set that open outwards at the top of the ramp into the building. Visitors in wheelchairs or mobility scooters may require assistance to gain access.
The information panels provided have clear print. A video with sound plays in the building, the video depicts the experiences of a selection of WWII Far East prisoners of war.
The Far East Prisoners of War building houses an accessible toilet, with a vertical hand transfer and emergency cord.
Aspects
There are 2 routes to the entrance doors of Aspects.
1). Directly ahead from the Remembrance Centre, Heroes' Square and Boyes Garden ramp, four steps and a level area with a ribbed surface.
2). To the right of the building is a ramp witha gradient of 2.45%. This ramp is suitable for mobility scooter and wheelchair access.
There is a disabled toilet and baby changing facility to the right of the reception desk.
There are additional toilets with outward opening doors.
Land Train
The Arboretum offers an up to 50-minute guided Land Train tour of the site. The route can accommodate mobility aids including mobility scooters and wheelchairs. The Land Train stop is located on Giffard Avenue via Millennium Avenue or Heroes Square and the Blind Veterans UK (St Dunstan's) Pathway. A recorded commentary describes memorials and Arboretum features during the tour. A hearing loop is provided. Tickets are available from the Welcome Desk. There is designated wheelchair access to the Land Train via a ramp. Please ask the Land Train operator for assistance onto the ramp and into the carriage. A step may be required to access other carriages, this step can be provided on request from the land train operator. Walking aids and mobility scooters are left at the Land Train stop. There are normally two Land Trains in operation. Ramp access may vary from that shown below.
Millennium Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness
The Millennium Chapel can be found on Heroes’ Square 50 metres from the Remembrance Centre. The Millennium Chapel is open throughout the day. Access is level on a paved surface.
It is the only place in the country where an Act of Remembrance is observed every day. The Act of Remembrance features the Last Post, a Silence and the Reveille, and takes place at 11am.
An Arboretum volunteer is available in the Chapel for advice and support on access to the Chapel prior to the 11.00am daily Act of Remembrance. We request that visitors wishing to attend the daily Act of Remembrance are seated, within the Chapel, by 10.50am.
There is covered outside space for the parking of wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters.
A set of manual double doors with a total width of 1600mm lead into the Millennium Chapel. Visitors on foot use the right hand door which has a width of 800mm. Wheelchair and mobility scooter users requiring access to the chapel to attend the Act of Remembrance or at any other time should request assistance from the team member guiding the event or any other team member.
The Millennium Chapel seats approximately 120 visitors. To provide space for wheelchair or mobility scooter users, seating can be removed if required.
An induction loop system is available in the Millennium Chapel.
Customer care support
We can provide mobility scooters for a £10 hire fee. We advise booking by calling 01283 245100. Subject to availability we can loan blankets to wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
Please contact the Welcome Desk for advice and assistance.
Emergency evacuation procedures
The alarm system when activated will cause all automatic doors to open. Staff members and volunteers will provide guidance and assistance in the event of an evacuation. Our fire assembly point is located at the Falkands Memorial.
Customer care support