The National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas is the nation’s year-round centre of remembrance — 150 acres of maturing woodland beside the River Tame, where some 25,000 trees shelter more than 400 memorials to those who have served and sacrificed. It is not a sombre place: it’s a beautiful, thoughtful, surprisingly uplifting one, and entry is free.
The Armed Forces Memorial
At the arboretum’s heart rises its most powerful monument: the great stone circle of the Armed Forces Memorial, carrying the names of more than sixteen thousand servicemen and women killed on duty since the Second World War — with space, movingly, left blank for names yet to come. Its sculpted bronze reliefs and the shaft of sunlight designed to fall across the central wreath each Armistice Day make it one of the most affecting places in Britain.
Four Hundred Stories
Around it, the memorials tell every kind of story: regiments and squadrons, the Merchant Navy’s convoy of oaks, the police, fire and ambulance services, the Bevin Boys and Land Girls, SANDS’ children’s garden, and memorials to campaigns from Burma to the Falklands to Afghanistan. Part of the power of the place is discovery — everyone finds a memorial they didn’t know they needed to see. A Daily Act of Remembrance is held at 11am every single day in the chapel, and a land train offers guided circuits for those who’d rather ride than walk.
A Living, Growing Place
Because it’s an arboretum first, the site rewards visits in every season — spring blossom, summer wildflowers along the riverbank, and autumn colour that softens every stone. The modern Remembrance Centre at the entrance houses exhibitions, a good restaurant and a shop, and events run year-round from summer proms to the great gatherings of November.
Visiting the Arboretum
The arboretum is at Alrewas, just off the A38 between Lichfield and Burton upon Trent, minutes from the A50/M6 Toll. Entry is free (car parking is charged, which funds the site), it’s open daily except Christmas Day, and paths are flat and fully accessible. Allow at least half a day — most people stay longer than they planned.
Plan Your Visit
Opening times, events and the memorial finder are on the official National Memorial Arboretum website.
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