Exploring The Illuminated Arboretum in a Wheelchair
I live close to The National Memorial Arboretum and yet I’ve never really been to explore. Each year they do an Illuminated Arboretum experience in the run-up to Christmas, which I have always fancied going to see.
Back in 2023 we decided it was the perfect time to go for the first time and have a look around.
Illuminated Arboretum
The Illuminated Arboretum runs from the 05th – 22nd of December in 2025 at the National Memorial Arboretum which is located just off the A38 in the village of Alrewas, near Lichfield in Staffordshire. Entry to the illuminations is between 4.30pm and 7.30pm and staggered in 15-minute entry periods. The price for this year comes in at £25 per adult and £15 per child, under 5s and carers are free. Parking is £5 when paid in advance and £8 on the day and from 2025 you can prebook an accessible space.
The route of the illuminations is around 1 mile in length and is clearly marked out by rope lights for you to follow. You will also find a lot of guides around the route should you need help.
Is the Arboretum Wheelchair Friendly?
The Arboretum on the whole is wheelchair friendly, while they offer 15 blue badge parking spots and access to changing spaces toilets in The Remembrance Center and in Heroes’ Square.
During the day and from February through December they offer a Land Train which takes around 50 minutes and has a pre-recorded commentary, this is accessible to manual wheelchairs. The Special Forces Buggy Tours take around 40 minutes and are led by expert volunteer guides and explore some of the further away memorials. Lastly, they also offer the ability to hire a mobility scooter or wheelchair these cost around £10 per day.
But What About the Illuminated Arboretum?
The Illuminated Arboretum takes place over around 1 mile of the arboretum and is always different to previous years. The route in places does take you across areas that aren’t paved. However, the arboretum has covered these areas in woodchip and plastic walkways which made it easy to traverse in my chair.
The only place I found I couldn’t access was the armed forces memorial as this sits up the top of steps. However, I could see it lit up from the bottom and many people were just enjoying it from this view anyway without venturing further.
What Can You Do At The Illuminated Arboretum?
While of course you are going to walk through the illuminations and enjoy the, the arboretum has also included a range of hands-on features. This includes the ability to control some of the lights reaching right up to the sky, playing music at the touch of the button and lighting your own memorial lamp.
Partway around there is also a place to stop and buy a snack and a drink, including mulled wine; while at The Remembrance Center, you will find the restaurant and gift shop are open. I can definitely suggest trying the Churros, while there are some lovely items specifically for the illuminations in the gift shop.
What to Wear
While there are specific weather conditions the Illuminated Arboretum won’t go ahead in, rain isn’t going to stop play, so not only are you going to want to make sure your clothing is warm, but be ready for rain as well. While we were very lucky with the night we went, finding it cold, but not wet, a good warm coat is an absolute must.
I also personally found that having a wheelchair cosy from BundleBean for my legs makes a huge difference. Previously in cold weather, I’ve been able to keep my top half warm, but my legs got so very cold. Adding a wheelchair cosy into the mix meant it wouldn’t get in the way of wheels and I stayed warm.
If you fancy heading to visit the Illuminated Arboretum this year, tickets are now on sale over at the NMA website, and I know I’ll be booking closer to them time to hopefully beat the rain.
What do you think of the Illuminated Arboretum, is it something you would like to visit?
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Fantastic.. I will show friends who are wheelchair users.. they might want to visit. x
It is a lovely place – I’ll try and follow up with a daytime post sometime.
This is good to know. I’ve been waiting over a year now for a wheelchair on the NHS; I was told it was a long list, but I do wonder just how much longer I’ll be waiting.
I think a lot of places need to put on the front page of their website at the top somewhere that they’re wheelchair friendly. Though majority do at least have some space that is, but it gets frustrating when you go and there’s some places that aren’t accessible.
Oh gosh that sounds awful – I got lucky as my parents bought mine for me as all the NHS told me was yeah you should get one. It’s so sad that people are waiting so long for things that really will make such a difference to them.
There is such a lack of disability access and avalible spaces and the amount of times I see someone without a badge using the spaces as well.
Having mobility difficulties too its good to know it is generally mobility friendly
They do buggy tours and you can hire a mobility scooter as well if that is helpful.
Looks like a nice place.
It is a wonderful place to explore and spend some time.
We’ve missed the Christmas lights but the Arboretum is on my ‘to visit’ list after my mum recommended it for a day out.
It is a lovely place to go and visit – we were the the other week and probably going again this week as well depending on weather. It’s just a peaceful place to explore.
So many places are not wheelchair friendly. When my Mum needed a wheelchair it really opened my eyes to the difficulties and sadly some peoples horrid attitudes!
It is crazy – I’ve been lucky to explore some really wheelchair friendly places since over the last 12 months and I have to say the Arboretum is towards the top they have been so clever in how they have built everything to make sure it is wheelchair friendly, they have tours you can take where your sat with a guide.
Wow this looks amazing
Always great to know of wheelchair friendly places to visit
Some weeks I need a wheelchair – so glad I can still walk most of the time
Looks spectacular
Nice!
It looks like it was really good. Love the stickman character too!
It is great to see guides for wheelchair access. Ive recently had to start using one and everywhere says accessible and it really isnt!
It’s so hard isn’t it – I think they are often decided by people who have no idea at all what it is like.
It sounds like it was amazing
It was a lovely experience – I will have to make an effort to go back in daylight to!
I often need to use a wheelchair so guides like this are super useful – thanks!
Your welcome I am so glad you found it useful!
It looks so beautiful. We went to a light trail at Warwick castle and it was such a fun evening
I saw some lovely photos of the Warwick Castle one, light trails really seem to be becoming popular!
That’s getting pricey! £24 per adult?! Plus parking and snacks!
You can get it cheaper by pre-booking, we saved £5 per person by booking in early. It is also the only time of year they actually charge for entry (bar parking) and as a charity I think it is a nice way to support them while getting to enjoy something quite special.
I’ve never been to anything like this and it sounds great. But at £24 per ticket it certainly needed to deliver
We bought early but that does mean you risk the weather but makes the tickets cheaper. Also as they are normally free all year around otherwise for the daytime (bar parking) I think it’s a nice way to support them and their continued growth, they are a charity, and while part of the Royal British Legon they are seperately entity legally and have to fundraise in their own rights.
I went to something very similar in London called Sparkle in the night and as beautiful as it was with the illuminated lights, sculptures and trees, it was far too cold. I wore the wrong trainers for one, meshed ones that allowed the cold in and any longer there I think I would have gotten frost bite. But I do love a good light show. If only they have it when it’s less cold but it was only on for 3 days
Oh no! I hope your feet are OK, I have to admit I love a good pair of fluffy boots now as well to try and keep my feet warm, I’ve definitely changed what I wear on my feet over the years from just wearing trainers all year around haha!
@Sarah-Louise Bailey, Oh I need a nice pair of fluffy boots. Saying that I have won myself a Dr Martens boots that I need to try on and wear them in. They would be more weatherproof than the trainers I’ve got now.
Ohh Dr Martens are such good boots! I hope you manage to break them in OK – there’s some good tips on how to do that online.
It’s sounds like a great place to visit, and it’s interesting to hear about this from a wheelchair user’s perspective.
It’s a lovely place to visit – will definitely have to go back in the day when it is warmer as well.
we were meant to go with the kids to wellington country park illuminated but after reading so many reviews of these type of things being a nightmare in a wheelchair we decided not to risk it. will look for these wheelchair cosy that you mentioned , my legs are like slabs of ice in the chair and the blanket keeps getting caught up in the wheels!!!
Oh no that’s such a same, so many places don’t think about what it is like to get around in a wheelchair. The wrap I have is from BundleBean (I’ll link it in the post incase anyone else is interested), it’s really cosy and has a waterproof top so was great for being out in a bit of drizzle at a Christmas market. I wasn’t sure how good it would be so I got it was an Amazon voucher win but honestly it is really good, I’ve just looked at the website and they do ponchos as well for chairs might have to get one to match.