Gloucester to Alton Towers- Stafford stop offs?

[DingleDungle]

Travelling from Gloucester to Alton Towers at the weekend. Staying at a hotel very close to Alton Towers, and would like somewhere to break up the journey. Preferably somewhere with less than an hour to go to our destination, so probably Stafford, but maybe Wolverhampton or Stoke?

What would be good for DC who are 3 and 6? Weather is potentially not good, so interested in both indoor and outdoor stuff.

We'd only be there for about 3 hours or so (as we always end up leaving late morning when we're going away), so nothing really big or expensive that needs a day to do it justice.

What are your favourite things for kids in this area?

Chase water is good if you like a steam railway or the Stickman trail at Cannock Chase.

There’s also a decent play area at Cannock outlet - quite a bit of it is undercover which is handy if the weather is crap

Lower Drayton Farm or Amerton Farm.

Or the animal zone at Rodbaston.

Thank you!

Is that the McArthur glen one? Whereabouts is the play area as I can't see it on the map?

Yes that’s the one. It’s down by Five Guys

Moseley Old Hall (NT) is not far from Jcn 1 of the M54.

Rodbaston animal zone is not far off Jct 12 of the M6, Lower Drayton Farm is nearer to Jct 13. Lower Drayton is definitely an option if the weather isn’t good.

If it’s nice then Birches Valley on Cannock Chase is where to head for. There’s the Stickmam Trail and a playground, and bike hire too.

There’s also the Wolseley Centre between Stafford and Rugeley, it’s a nature centre with lots of wildlife to see.

We did Cannock Chase and it was great. Really lovely place and good playgrounds. Great den making bit too. Room on the Broom now instead of Stick Man.

Parking was extortionate though, £12.50! And I thought £4 for the trail pack was quite steep.

Parking was extortionate though, £12.50!

Glad you had a good time, though.

Parking was extortionate though, £12.50!

Glad you enjoyed it, amazed at that though! They must be raking it in, the car park is always full whenever I go past.
We used to live on the edge of the Chase until a few months ago.

Yes I was shocked. I was happy to pay for the trail packs as I wanted to support the Forest, but didn't realise at that point quite how much I'd be supporting it through the parking!

It must be quite off putting for locals, especially on lower incomes which is a shame as it's so nice there.

There were plans to make more car parks pay and display and a number of laybys were going to be closed off to prevent people parking for free, not sure if that’s still planned but it wasn’t going down well with locals.

If you want to walk the dog or go for a run there are still plenty of places off the beaten track to park for free but if you’ve got kids and want to use the facilities at Birches Valley then you’ve got to pay unless you know your way around and can park elsewhere and walk a mile or two.