Wondering what to do in Staffordshire? Whether you are looking for unusual things to do in Staffordshire, cheap things to do, or ideas to get you spending time outdoors, here is our detailed guide to cover all the things to do in Staffordshire.
You may also find inspiration for family days out in Staffordshire, the best Staffordshire campsites and plenty of restaurants and cafés (that are dog friendly too!).
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Staffordshire is a landlocked county situated in the West Midlands in England. It borders Cheshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. The City of Stoke-on-Trent, the home of ceramics lies within the County of Staffordshire.
Staffordshire is my home town and somewhere I have grown up, and love. I may be biased but the people here are incredibly friendly, and there are so many amazing things to do for people of all ages and all interests.
Staffordshire is great for families with plenty of things to do to keep kids entertained. If the weather is not on your side, then there are plenty of indoor activities for kids to waste an hour or two.
If you are looking for a bit of rest and relaxation, then there is loads on offer in Staffordshire. Staffordshire is home to some top class spa experiences in Staffordshire including one of our favourite places to spend a Friday afternoon – Three Horseshoes Country Inn and spa. There are plenty of unique yoga experiences too – with World of Wedgwood offering their popular yoga and breakfast experience and Moddershall Oaks Made offering a yoga by candlelight that I can 100% recommend.
If you are hoping to enjoy the great outdoors then Staffordshire has plenty to offer. We love to jump on our paddleboard and there are some great paddleboarding locations in Staffordshire – with one of our favourite locations – Whitmore Lakes (I can highly recommend a cake and coffee at the Cake Shack afterwards). Whitmore Lakes is also one of our favourite wild swimming spots too. If you are looking for a bit of adrenaline fuelled adventure then Go Ape at Cannock Chase is always a great few hours for adults and kids!
Hoping to spend a few days or longer in Staffordshire? Then there are plenty of Staffordshire hotels to choose from, and some great Staffordshire campsites to offer an ideal base to explore the area.
Despite Staffordshire being a landlocked County – you will find some beautiful beaches and coastal villages nearby to explore that are a short drive away. So pack that picnic, swimmers, and flip-flops and head over to one of our favourite beaches nearby.
BEST Things to do in Staffordshire
Family Attractions in Staffordshire
There are plenty of great family days out in Staffordshire to cater for children of all ages. Here we have put together a great guide for family days out in Staffordshire all year round.
Read on for a little bit of inspiration for things to do in Staffordshire!
1. Stroll around the shops
There are LOADS of places to spend a few hours shopping in Staffordshire!
Trentham Gardens has some quirky independent shops with quality local produce and unique souvenirs and it also hosts a regular makers market which is great so spend an hour or two.
Stoke-on-Trent is the capital of ceramics and you will find a large number of pottery companies including Wedgwood, and Emma Bridgewater that offer great discounts on end of line pieces at a great price.
If you are looking for high street stores then Cannock offers the McArthurGlen Designer outlet West Midlands, and Stafford and Leek have bustling high streets with a combination of unique independent stores and high street names. The Potteries Centre, Hanley Stoke on Trent, Three Spires in Lichfield and Octagon Shopping Centre in Burton offers a choice of high street names too.
2. Visit a Market
If you love a market, then head to Trentham Estate’s Makers Market showcasing award-winning local food & drink, art and craft, and vintage artisans. The market takes place on the third Saturday of the month between 10 – 4pm.
The World of Wedgwood also have a great Artisan Market with over 30 independent local makers and small businesses from Staffordshire on the 2nd Sunday of the month between 10-4pm.
3. Visit one of the beautiful Staffordshire towns and villages
Staffordshire is home to so many picturesque towns and villages, with independent shops to browse around and plenty of places to eat and drink.
Leek, Longnor, Stone, Lichfield, Stafford and Burton-on-Trent are all lovely places to visit in Staffordshire.
4. Go swimming
There are so many places to go swimming in Staffordshire, with swimming pools, leisure centres, water parks and Staffordshire wild swimming spots.
If you are looking for a water park that is great for families, Alton Towers, Dimensions in Stoke, and Waterworld Stoke are all good options with water slides a plenty.
If you are looking for a general swimming pool then Fenton Swimming pool, Jubilee 2 in Newcastle-u- Lyme, Stafford Leisure Centre, and M Club spa and fitness are all great options.
5. Paddle boarding
We love to take the paddleboards out and there are some great places to paddleboard in Staffordshire.
We love our Portofino paddleboard and it has been well used over the years. I love how effortless it is to pump it up and put it away afterwards, and it fits in a handy carry bag that easily fits into our car or camper van.
Our favourite location to paddle board is Whitmore Lakes – it is really quiet, easy to park, and the Cake Shack is a lovely place to get a bite to eat or a cake and coffee afterwards.
Whitmore Lakes is situated in North Staffordshire in Three Mile Lane in Whitmore.
6. Eat an oatcake
You cannot come to Staffordshire and not try one of the Staffordshire oatcakes!
If you are not familiar with a Staffordshire oatcake it is a type of dense, savoury pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast and is a local speciality in Staffordshire.
You can add anything to it but common fillings are sausage, bacon, cheese, mushrooms, eggs and tomatoes. Oatcakes are an amazing breakfast and you will find plenty of oatcake shops dotted around Staffordshire.
Alternatively you can purchase your own kits with the Staffordshire oatcake company and make your own yummy breakfast (they are also amazing as a camping meal cooked on a ridge monkey!)
7. Visit Trentham Gardens
Read about a visit to Trentham Gardens here
Trentham Gardens is one out our favourite Family days out. We have an annual membership and this allows us to visit as often as we like.
Take a stroll around the lake, visit the monthly Makers Market, wander around the 80 timber lodges in the shopping village, or head over to the outdoor adventure park with the kids.
Trentham Gardens is extremely dog friendly, and there are also plenty of places to eat and drink too (I can highly recommend the Crepe and waffle house for a visit!)
8. Alton Towers
Read about our recent visit to Alton Towers here
Often if you think of Staffordshire, the first thing that will come to your mind is Alton Towers Resort.
Alton Towers Resort offers a pure adrenaline pumping experience and is suitable for adults, and kids of all all ages. There is also a separate water park, and the resort offers a number of events and experiences throughout the year, with Oktoberfest, Scarefest, Fireworks and Christmas events over the Autumn.
9. Head to a spa
READ: The best Staffordshire Spa Experiences
I love nothing more than a spa day and I am not sure I prioritise time for self care as much as I should. Staffordshire is home to some really lovely spa experiences, that include half day spa retreats, full day spa experiences, and twilight spa experiences. These can sometimes include a meal, drinks, exercise classes and use of the gym, and/or treatments too.
Keep an eye out for some great deals – with awesome package deals for spa breaks and spa gifts.
I can highly recommend Moddershall Oaks and Three Horseshoes Country Inn and spa for a relaxing spa experience to unwind and reset.
10. Bottomless brunch
A bottomless brunch is where you pay a set amount for a dining experience which offers a set food menu and unlimited alcohol, often in the late morning or afternoon. This is usually set for a period of time such as 90 minutes to two hours.
There are plenty of places in Staffordshire to visit for Bottomless brunch including 85 Secret Garden,
The Wine House in Lichfield, The Severn Stars in Brocton, and the Boat Inn In Penkridge.
11. High ropes course
READ: Go Ape at Cannock Chase review
Cannock Chase is not only a wonderful location for family cycling and walking, but it is also home to Go Ape Cannock, an outdoor activity centre with a great high ropes courses designed for both kids and adults. Now if you haven’t experienced a high ropes course, then definitely add it to your list!
Go Ape offers number of Tree Top adventure courses to suit all ages and abilities, We tried the Treetop Adventure Plus (minimum height of 1.2m) and It definitely challenged me both mentally and physically…. mind over matter and all that jazz.
It is a great day out that encourages time outdoors in the fresh air up high in the trees, challenges your mind and body and offers a great sense of achievement when you get to the end!
12. Go for a walk
Staffordshire offers some incredible walks and is a haven for walkers and nature lovers. With enchanting forests, spectacular lakes, pretty rivers and canals, and picturesque villages there are plenty of walking environments to suit all ages and abilities.
We love a walk with some favourite spots to walk the dog including Apedale Country Park, Keele University Grounds, Dovedale and Alton (I recommend a lunch at the Ramblers Retreat after a walk around Dimmingsdale Valley).
13. Go to the theatre
There are a number of theatres around Staffordshire that offer a wonderful night out.
Theatres including the Regent in Hanley, New Vic in Stoke on Trent, Lichfield Garrick and Stafford Gatehouse bring everything from touring West End shows, local productions, stand up comedy and music events.
At Christmas you will find some wonderful festive shows including the popular pantomime at The Regent theatre, and the Father Christmas show at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre to name just a couple.
14. Staffordshire animal experiences
There are so many fun family days out in Staffordshire and an animal experience is often a popular day out for all. Staffordshire has some great farms, zoos and wildlife parks, not to mention other animal experiences including llama and alpaca treks and horse riding.
Amerton Farm in Stone, has a play barn, abundance of farm animals, large outdoor play area, and additional experiences including the *alpaca experience.
National Forest Adventure Farm in Burton upon Trent s a great day out for families, there is plenty to do here including animal experiences, an indoor play area, mega slide mountain, adventure golf, bouncy pillows and tractor rides.
Trentham Monkey Forest is another favourite. Trentham monkey forest is home to 140 Barbary macaques who live in the 60 acre woodland. The Barbary macaques live freely around the forest, with no cages or bars meaning the monkeys are happy and free to rome.
Other great places to visit include Peak Wildlife Park, Drayton Manor Zoo, and Lower Drayton Farm.
15. Visit a National Trust Attraction
Having an annual National Trust membership means that you can enjoy free entry to more than 500 National Trust places and free parking at a National Trust car park. In Staffordshire there are some great National Trust places to visit;
- Biddulph Grange
- Shugborough Estate
- Moseley Old Hall
- Downs Banks
16. Eat out at one of the many restaurants in Staffordshire
Now we love a meal out every now and again, and there are too many restaurants to name in one post. We often keep our eyes peeled for great dog friendly restaurants that are good to pop in for a drink or meal after a long Sunday walk.
Trentham Estate has some great place to stop by and grab a bite to eat whilst you are wandering around the shops and I find 3 Horeshoes Country Inn and Spa in Staffordshire a lovely treat with great options for afternoon teas too.
17. Go for Coffee and cake
There is nothing better than pausing the day, and refuelling with a good cup of coffee and a delicious slice of cake, and you will definitely be spoilt for choice in Staffordshire.
There is a range of coffee shops from traditional to trendy.
For coffee with a view try the Cake Shack at Whitmore – the best cake I have tasted and they have a takeaway service too.
Denstone Hall Café Offers a lovely environment to catch up with loved ones with a coffee and cake.
Piccoloco in Newcastle u Lyme is one of our favourites to walk to and people watch from the window bench with a coffee and a slice of cake.
For a coffee with a bit of history, head to the oldest coffee shop in Lichfield – The Tudor of Lichfield.
For coffee with a diffference try the Rabbit Hole Tearoom in Stoke on Trent – An Alice in Wonderland themed Tea room and absolutely magical.
18. Go for a bike ride
Miles of former railway lines and breath-taking natural backdrops combine to create a haven for cycling in Staffordshire.
A sprawling network of cycle paths and greenways has replaced historic train routes like the South Staffordshire Railway and the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, now the Manifold Track, providing ideal spots throughout the county for sedate afternoon bike rides.
Family cycling in Staffordshire
Staffordshire offers some awesome cycle routes over Staffordshire for all cyclists from more difficult routes to relaxing family trails.
Cannock Chase is a favourite of ours with plenty of cycle routes for all abilities.
Churnet Valley is another fairly easy cycle route, and takes you along a dismantled railway from Denstone to Oakamoor in the Churnet Valley.
The Manifold Way (also known as the Manifold Track) is also a favourite for cyclists with a traffic free track that follows the route of the Manifold Light Railway..
For more challenging bike rides, head the the Roaches.
19. Enjoy a yoga class
READ: Unique yoga classes in Staffordshire
Yoga offers an opportunity to stop, take a break from the hustle and bustle of life and reset ready for the week to come.
There are plenty of unique yoga experiences in Staffordshire. Wedgwood offer a wonderful breakfast and yoga experience with local yoga instructor Helena Cornes. You can then head over to the Wedgwood Tea Room for a delicious breakfast experience. Whitmore Lakes have offered a hugely popular and unique outdoor yoga experience and swim at Whitmore Lakes. I can also highly recommend the Yoga Glow at Made (Moddershall Oaks) for a wonderful yoga class by candlelight.
20. Go on a distillery tour
Why not take part in a distillery tour?
Six towns distillery and bar is based at Wedgwood in Barlaston and offers a distillery tour that is great for a fun day out or a hen and stag party looking for a unique celebration.
Nelson’s Distillery and school is based in Uttoxeter in Staffordshire. Here there are plenty of unique experiences including gin, vodka and rum school, and a guided Nelson’s distillery tour.
Castletown Distillery is based in Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffordshire and offers Staffordshire gin and experiences.
21. Enjoy an afternoon tea
READ – The best Afternoon Tea spots in Staffordshire
One of the best things to do in Staffordshire is to enjoy a quintessentially English Afternoon Tea served in beautiful Stoke on Trent pottery. You will certainly be spoilt for choice with choices for afternoon tea spots in Staffordshire, from traditional to themed here are our favourite;
The Rabbit Hole tea room for an Alice in Wonderland styled afternoon tea.
The Cake Shack in Whitmore, Staffordshire for delicious homemade cakes with a view.
3 Horseshoes Country Inn and Spa for a luxurious Afternoon Tea ( I always find some great deal for afternoon here )
Wedgwood Tea Room, in Barlaston offer a wonderful and luxurious afternoon tea – perfect for a special occasion with loved ones.
22. Throw a pot
If you come to Stoke-on-Trent – you have to throw a pot whilst you are here. It is the rules right?
There are some awesome pottery experiences on offer from decorating studios which I have discussed further down in this guide, to the more traditional potters wheel experience.
If you fancy yourself as the next Pottery Throwdown champion then head to the clay studio at World of Wedgwood where you willl be guided by the team to help you to make your own pottery. The taster session is priced at £32.50pp and you will throw a cylinder shaped pot, remove you pot and it will fired ready to collect from World of Wedgwood up to 4-6 weeks after your visit.
LoveClay Ceramics Centre offer a number of classes for beginners to intermediates and also great workshops. The beginners workshop is priced at £30 and is an hour session full of pot throwing! I can also highly recommend the wreath making workshops at Christmas.
23. Go on an Alpaca Trek
If you haven’t experienced an alpaca or llama trek I can highly recommend one.
Walking Alpacas and llamas is incredibly calming and they are fantastic therapy animals. Alpacas are incredibly intelligent and are quick to learn.
There are a few places you can visit but I have listed the places that we have personally experienced and recommend in the guide.
Rustic Retreats in the Peak District offers an Alpaca walking experience with views of Carsington Water around the 500 acres of countryside on Owslow Farm.This alpaca experience is a lovely treat and children receive a special and thoughtful souvenir pack at the end of the walk! I love that for every alpaca experience booked, the team plant a tree, and it is genuinely a lovely fun experience spending time with cheeky alpacas.
Tunstall Farm park is another love places to visit. We visited for their pumpkin and alpaca experience (listed in my Staffordshire pumpkin picking guide too) with the children and they also offer additional alpaca walks too.
24. Visit a decorating studio
READ – Staffordshire decorating studios and ceramics cafés
There are plenty of ceramics cafės and pottery studios to choose from in Staffordshire and it is a great indoor activity to shelter from the rain too.
I have listed our favourite decorating studios in this guide that we have personally experienced but the list is by no means exhaustive and there are many other decorating studios in Staffordshire to enjoy too.
painting pottery is incredibly therapeutic and is a great activity with friends, children or as a celebration such as a hen party or baby shower.
Prices vary and usually you pay a studio fee and then an additional price for the pottery that you choose. You can also add in cake or afternoon tea to your experience!
- Emma Bridgwater Pottery Painting Studio
- Royal Stafford Ceramic Café
- World of Wedgwood Studio
- Amerton Paint a Pot Studio
25. Go to a Festival
We LOVE a festival, and Staffordshire have so many festivals and music events to choose from over the year.
Keep your eyes peeled for Trentham Gardens annual summer of live music with a few weekends of Summer evening outdoor concerts.
Technically just over the border but Just So Festival is nearby and is an amazing family friendly festival full of music, arts and crafts, dressing up and magic.
There are a few food and drink festivals that occur over the year too with the Stone food and drink festival, Lichfield Food Festival, and Stafford Festival.
The Forestry Commission’s Forest offer live concerts, that bring some big names in music to Cannock Chase, so do look out for these next Summer.
So there you have our ultimate guide for things to do in Staffordshire!
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