Is there anything to do in Staffordshire?

[bytheby]

Deliberately provocative to get you to (hopefully) come and tell me all the wonderful things that there are to do!

DH has an opportunity to work just North of Stafford for 6 weeks over the Summer. I am a SAHM with a 3 year old and we can go along for the ride. I might also persuade my parents to come for a bit too.

The catch is we have to decide very quickly (tomorrow). So what fun things can we do in the area when we won't have any friends etc to meet! If my parents come I'm also hoping to get some good food etc so hit me with the best pubs and restaurants etc.

Anything!

Monkey Forest in Stoke is worth a visit.

Alton towers

Trentham gardens is lovely. Brilliant children’s play area in stafford near the station
Paragon group have some nice pub/ restaurants- wayfarer, seven stars, etc
Lovely wildlife centre at wolsley bridge
Wedgewood

• try the visitstaffordshire website for info.

Trentham Gardens and Monkey Forest near Stoke
Museum of childhood (NT) at Sudbury
All of Cannock Chase as well as the Forest there is a visitor centre with activities running in summer holidays
If you have a car Tamworth Castle and Drayton Manor, Conkers just over the Derbyshire border, National Memorial Arborteum at Alrewas, they have activities in the summer

Leave as fast as you can via the M6, that's what I'd do in staffs

Lower drayton farm is good fun.

Alton Towers! Under 3s go free, so naturally your DC is 2...

Trentham gardens, lower Drayton Farm, Amerton Farm, Haughton Ice Cream Farm, Waterworld, Flip Out, Shuborough, loads of lovely walks over Cannock chase, some good soft play areas, Stafford town park, Wildwood Park, The Monkey Forest

Trentham
Monkey Forest
Alton Towers
Potteries Museum
National Trust - Sudbury, Biddulph Grange, Little Moreton Hall
Staffordshire Moorlands/Peak District

The Hand and Trumpet at Betley is nice to eat at as is the cafe at Emma Bridgewater (if it's open)

All of the above and Amerton farm between stafford and uttoxeter www.amertonfarm.co.uk/
Stafford's Victoria Park with a play park and a skateboard area
Cannock chase - cycling www.cannockchasecyclecentre.co.uk/trails
Staffordshire has many hidden gems

www.enjoystaffordshire.com/

Stafford Park in the town centre isn't bad. Splash pool, glasshouse, aviary, and ducks to feed

Amerton farm is near Stafford and good for little kids. Also has a good soft play if the weather turns.

Definitely Trentham Gardens/Shopping Village/Monkey Forest

thank you thank you all! Keep em coming. Having fun googling. I might even print out a schedule...

Also good walking areas, we have a dog. I am happy to drive quite far to make the most of a new area!

I live in Staffordshire and there's plenty to do, all of the above plus if you're national trust members there are a few good properties in the area, there are loads of open spaces, forests, woodland etc for picnics.
Birches Valley on Cannock Chase is nice for a picnic, there's lots of trails there, park, Go Ape etc
Lichfield is a nice City, not very big but has a beautiful cathedral with 3 spires.

Loads of lovely stuff in staffs- it’s an undiscovered gem. And not overrun with tourists either like Derbyshire. Good walking areas are Cannock chase, the roaches, the weaver hills, Staffordshire moorlands (actually part of the Peak District is in staffs), dimmingsdale (lovely walk near Alton), footpaths around Oakamoor, Wootton, Abbots Bromley, Stowe by Chartley, Stone (along the canal) and Rocester/ Denstone.

Cannock chase is brilliant for walking. Loads of footpaths

If you like walks head out to the Roaches in the Peak District right on the border between Leek and Buxton. Amazing walks and views.

Alton towers and Drayton manor / Thomas land

Also definitely the monkey forest in Trentham which is right next to Trentham Gardens

Fruit picking

Allow time to go to Staffordshire County Show while you're there, it's normally in May but been put back to end of August this year. A lovely day out and one of the more reasonably priced agricultural shows for visitors, day one is better if you/DC like chickens as that's their show day. Everything else is on over both days as far as I can remember.

@WhiskersPete

If you like walks head out to the Roaches in the Peak District right on the border between Leek and Buxton. Amazing walks and views.

This is excellent advice 😊

I live just north of Stafford.

We have:
Alton Towers
Trentham Gardens
Trentham Monkey Forest
Drayton Manor
If you're in Stafford itself there's often a funfair over the summer and also one in nearby Stone.
Stone also has a monthly farmers market, currently on Westbridge Park (big field not far from town centre) due to Covid but usually in the town centre.
Waterworld in Stoke is good like a water based theme park
There;s quite a few soft plays too
Hanley Park
Queens Park in Longton
Wedgewood Pottery Making and Musuem

I can't think of anything else but I'm sure I will. It's a fantastic place, I absolutely love living here.

Barlaston Downs which is just outside Stone (I suspect you will be close to here) is a good dog walking area with a shallow stream, it’s national trust (free).

Stone itself is a lovely little town. No one has mentioned food. Several lovely places to eat and drink in Stone and get the parent to babysit and go to Granvilles. Also a good soft play centre (come in to play).

Lovely but between Stafford and Stone on the A34 called the wayfair.

Shugborough is also nice. Strawberry picking at Great Haywood. Walk an alpaca on a lead at wetley moor.

War memorial and national arboretum are also in the chase just outside Stafford.

Lovely PUB (half asleep!)