Rendlesham Forest Centre
Rendlesham Forest Centre
Rendlesham Forest Centre
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2 within 5 kms
Attractions
29 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
302 reviews
Excellent
163
Very good
107
Average
24
Poor
5
Terrible
3
Li S
Ely, UK1 013 contributions
Aug 2020
We came here in the hopes of a fortean / UFO style experience and struck lucky. As we drove down the isolated track through the forest we we buzzed and trailed by a black apache helicopter just above us. Obviously training at the base, but it was a brilliant experience!
We paid £2.50 for two hours parking, which I’m not going to grumble about as the forestry commission do fantastic work.
We done the 5Km UFO loop with the free guide and it was great to imagine what the people experienced on the night. The forest was beautiful, when we went there was a cold mist hanging in the air giving it a really ethereal feel.
No food truck when we went (early on a weekday morning) but there was decent portaloos.
Would definitely visit again if passing.
We paid £2.50 for two hours parking, which I’m not going to grumble about as the forestry commission do fantastic work.
We done the 5Km UFO loop with the free guide and it was great to imagine what the people experienced on the night. The forest was beautiful, when we went there was a cold mist hanging in the air giving it a really ethereal feel.
No food truck when we went (early on a weekday morning) but there was decent portaloos.
Would definitely visit again if passing.
Written 27 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LN
1 contribution
Apr 2021
Beautiful day in the woods, lots of friendly family groups and children just love it there, climbing, zip line eyc. No commercial hazards (ice-cream vans etc) so that's a big plus.
The only problem was car parking
There is plenty of room to park, but paying is a problem as you have to have coins, no change given, or pay by Ring go which takes a little extra and necessitates internet connection which my phone doesn't have..
It's not expensive at £5 for a whole car full of people all day, but the difficulty in paying meant that the only way not to get fined was to hand cash to the car park person who then tells the warden not to put a ticket on your car. He or she doesn't give you any ticket so you would have no proof that you had payed if there was a problem later. Who knows with cash in such a situation. I like to use cash for most things, but I need to know that it gone where it should go!
The only problem was car parking
There is plenty of room to park, but paying is a problem as you have to have coins, no change given, or pay by Ring go which takes a little extra and necessitates internet connection which my phone doesn't have..
It's not expensive at £5 for a whole car full of people all day, but the difficulty in paying meant that the only way not to get fined was to hand cash to the car park person who then tells the warden not to put a ticket on your car. He or she doesn't give you any ticket so you would have no proof that you had payed if there was a problem later. Who knows with cash in such a situation. I like to use cash for most things, but I need to know that it gone where it should go!
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hc8484
Frimley Green, UK19 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Fun idea with children, we were also very lucky to see the Apache helicopter training low over the forest which made it feel quite special. Be warned 2 hours in the car park was a bit of a rush to get round with younger children! Also we visited early afternoon and got the last ufo trail guide, no one about to ask for more but would not have been as enjoyable without it. Great way to spend a couple of hours though.
Written 28 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
racuk12
Felixstowe, UK28 contributions
Dec 2019
If you are expecting to see a UFO you will most likely be disappointed... but what can one say? The monument that has been placed there apparently bears no relationship to the actual craft seen at the time. December 1980. However, it marks the spot previously marked by three posts in the ground! But it does seem a little disappointing and underwhelming.
The Forest is beautiful. The location remote. The mostly disused RAF/USAF base that skirts the Forest looks windswept and lonely. The Forest paths are clearly marked and easily accessible. You could probably even take a wheel chair along the walk with a little help from a friend. But don’t go alone. It is a lonely place and in winter the darkness comes in early and it gets bitterly cold. The UFO walk is signposted and information boards are placed at important points. The back gate of the Woodbridge Airfield is still there along with the gatehouse. The MOD still use the vast site so there is no access, but the forest walk is beautiful and only takes maybe an hour to go right around. A parking/picnic spot is well tended, but parking will cost you £4 at least. Unless you park along the access road and walk in. Not a good idea for the children though.
I’d recommend this though. Interesting and beautiful location.
The Forest is beautiful. The location remote. The mostly disused RAF/USAF base that skirts the Forest looks windswept and lonely. The Forest paths are clearly marked and easily accessible. You could probably even take a wheel chair along the walk with a little help from a friend. But don’t go alone. It is a lonely place and in winter the darkness comes in early and it gets bitterly cold. The UFO walk is signposted and information boards are placed at important points. The back gate of the Woodbridge Airfield is still there along with the gatehouse. The MOD still use the vast site so there is no access, but the forest walk is beautiful and only takes maybe an hour to go right around. A parking/picnic spot is well tended, but parking will cost you £4 at least. Unless you park along the access road and walk in. Not a good idea for the children though.
I’d recommend this though. Interesting and beautiful location.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael M
Ipswich, UK702 contributions
Jul 2022
We paid £3 for two hours parking, the only other option was £5 for all day. Two hours was enough for us to have a picnic lunch and have a stroll through the woods following the easy route on the free map provided at the cabin in the car park. Other more challenging routes are available including a UFO route and a cycling route. We discovered three different basic play areas for kids with climbing frames, swings and a slide. Unfortunately the baby swing was broken and a zip line was out of use. I was disappointed that there was very little wild life to see.
Written 24 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian B
Diss, UK65 contributions
Jun 2020 • Solo
Drove down to the car park, the access road is full of no parking signs. The main car park is massive with kiosks and information boards. I visited very early in the morning, I grabbed a free map and information leaflet then headed back up the road the a second, smaller car park. This had a pay and display machine but it was locked away. I parked and consulting the map, I discovered the famous 'East Gate' track next to this little car park. I started my walk from here, following the clearly marked path. The UFO landing site is kind of spooky. An enjoyable walk and glad I picked up the information leaflet as it told the story as you walked. Lack of benches to sit down and I think the car park charge is excessive for the amenities provided. Luckily, as I went early, I avoided payment.
Written 23 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elephantintheroom
18 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Nice forest , but signage was incomplete. I couldn’t see the signs for the bridlepath from the centre. Also ‘Bear Grills’ cafe tried to charge me to pay with my debit card. This has been illegal since 2013 and is particularly unhelpful when we’re being encouraged to go cashless in this time of COVID-19
Written 22 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connor Peck
Ipswich, UK400 contributions
Aug 2020
I love going here. Parking was free but is usually £2.50 and you only have a 5-10 minute walk to the main bit. There is a park, food, toilets and picnic benches. There is a lot of walks to choose from and you can build dens in the main forest area.
Written 21 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sir Arthur Blades
3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Absolute s**t. I SWEAR TO GOD THIS PLACE!!!! Went out for a nice family walk with the youngins and we went to find the wooden sculptures for a nice day so we could just enjoy the good weather. But there was 12 sculptures and they were all deformed animals and not kept in good shape. This place is absolute rubbish and I hope it gets shut down as it is also next to a old US airfield which is dangerous for the children. 0/10 don’t recommend. One of my kids got hurt very badly on the slide. I’m fuming!!!! Had to come 48 miles for that!
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Canetoad71
Chelmsford, UK70 contributions
Apr 2022
We walked the UFO Trail in Rendlesham Forest this week. It was very enjoyable - not too long (three miles) but long enough to impart a sense of achievement!
I was extremely pleased to find that the parking machine takes coins and I wasn't going to have to struggle with an 'app' or have to waste time trying to get through to someone on the phone. It's £3 for two hours or £5 for the day, and it takes a mere few seconds to drop the coins in and get the ticket.
Thank you, Rendlesham Forest car park for not forcing people to use an 'app'.
I was extremely pleased to find that the parking machine takes coins and I wasn't going to have to struggle with an 'app' or have to waste time trying to get through to someone on the phone. It's £3 for two hours or £5 for the day, and it takes a mere few seconds to drop the coins in and get the ticket.
Thank you, Rendlesham Forest car park for not forcing people to use an 'app'.
Written 15 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry Gant
Lowestoft, United Kingdom
Can you use contactless payment method for the car park?
Written 10 October 2019
No cards at all. Cash only.
Written 11 October 2019
It is very many years since I last visited Rendlesham Forest, in fact it was shortly after the Great Storm in 1987 when all bar a few survivor trees were flattened - a very strange sight indeed! Would I be right in thinking that the area was cleared and replanted by the Forestry Commission and that they have now attained something close to their original height?
I'd also be very interested in any on site or local exhibition, that might provide pictures and explanations of the event. Thank you.
Written 25 February 2019
Hi Sorry but I cant give you any clear advise , not our type of thing , good tour though
Written 12 March 2019
The trail is 3 miles long so you could easily do it in an hour. But allow for two hours to read all the information panels and to stop and appreciate the beauty of the forest.
Written 8 August 2017
is the forest open at all hours? (especially the UFO trail)
Written 3 August 2017
You can walk around the forest at all times. But please note that the main car park will be gated off in the evening (8pm in summer).
Written 8 August 2017
All ages up to late teens
Written 20 November 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 13
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing