Places to visit in Staffordshire

All aboard the Churnet Valley Railway this morning, whose Breakfast Train departs at 10.30am. As it weaves from Froghall through the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands, its dapper staff serve an à la carte menu: try the local Staffordshire oatcakes (savoury pancakes filled with sausage and cheese). One of the top places to visit in Staffordshire, this round trip lasts around two hours. 

Looking for a one-off souvenir? Don’t miss the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, whose ceramic-making heritage is legendary. Fans of The Great Pottery Throw Down will recognise Gladstone Pottery Museum as the hit TV show’s current location – while Middleport Pottery was its original home. The nearby Emma Bridgewater Pottery Factory has a more contemporary aesthetic, while World of Wedgwood runs factory tours and      pottery workshops – a superb museum in Stoke-on-Trent. 

This afternoon, you have two options – the first of which is exploring Trentham Estate, whose Insta-worthy gardens were designed by Piet Oudolf, who also worked on Manhattan’s High Line. This stunning Staffordshire estate is also a sanctuary for endangered monkeys, who can be spotted swinging through the trees of Trentham Monkey Forest. One of the most surprising places to visit in Staffordshire!

Alternatively, in Cannock Chase you can venture into the treetops on the Go Ape high ropes course, or hire a mountain bike to hit the wild woodland trails. For adventure lovers, this is one of the top places to visit in Staffordshire. As another option, Burton upon Trent is just a short drive away, for “hawk walks” at Hawksflight Falconry and beer tasting at Tower Brewery – and other great Burton upon Trent attractions. 

The Moat House has a 600-year history of fine dining and warm hospitality – and it’s your recommended stay for tonight. Its award-winning Orangery Restaurant keeps things local with Staffordshire sirloins and cave-aged cheddar tortellini, served overlooking the hotel’s private lake. ​​It’s also very convenient for things to do in Stafford, as the town is just a few miles away; if you fancy extending your stay, don’t miss the mighty Stafford Castle and Shugborough Estate’s Downton-style glamour.

Will you meet the Arctic foxes, feed the meerkats, or hang out with the giant tortoises? Peak Wildlife Park offers up-close encounters with its most extraordinary residents – as well as its general safari walks. One of the best places to visit in Staffordshire, the park is home to tapirs, lemurs, red pandas and more, with naturalistic enclosures and a genuine passion for conservation – a wild start to the day.

Home-made sarnies, stuffed jacket potatoes, Staffordshire oatcakes with cheese and bacon – it’s all on the menu at The Cottage Kitchen. If you fancy a picnic today, all the dishes are available to-go, while the shop sells locally made delicacies: think small-batch gins, artisan pickles and a vast array of biscuits, bakes and slices of cake. One for lunch, one for the road…

Looking for wild places to visit in Staffordshire? At RSPB Coombes Valley, the towering oak trees are bustling with life: tiny black-and-white pied flycatchers, amber-feathered redstarts, chirruping fieldfares – and much more. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of this wildlife haven, but if you want to learn more there are info boards throughout the park. You’ll be a bird buff in no time.

Follow in your ancient ancestors’ footprints at Thor’s Cave, which was first occupied around 11,000 years ago – and long into the Iron Age and Roman periods. As you enter the huge cavern and your eyes adjust to the darkness, it’s easy to imagine those first settlers huddled around campfires, or looking out over the woodlands and valley below. It’s a short, signposted walk from the car park in Wetton.

Described by a restaurant critic as ‘the local we all wish we had’ The Duncombe Arms is all about old-school hospitality: a warm, friendly pub with rooms, one of the homeliest places to visit in Staffordshire. Tonight, linger fire-side over pork belly with black-garlic glaze, or butter-poached cod with steamed Jersey royals. It’s only a few steps to its Walnut House, which has 10 luxurious doubles.

You need a full day to do Alton Towers justice – so there’s just one thing on today’s agenda: rollercoasters! The park is one of the best places to visit in Staffordshire, featuring more than 40 rides and attractions: from the white-knuckle twists of Nemesis Reborn to the 14 loops of the Smiler and the stomach-flipping g-force of Galactica. Tonight, we recommend staying at one of the park’s six hotels and glamping options – which include log cabins, treehouses and stargazing pods.

Antique shops, gourmet delis and independent art galleries rub shoulders in the pretty market town of Leek, so grab your biggest tote bag and get stuck in. On selected days, the restored Victorian Buttermarket sells produce from local farmers and artisans, while many of Leek’s old Victorian silk mills have been transformed into vintage emporiums. 

As well as its rockstar name, the village of Flash has an unusual claim to fame: it is England’s highest village, at 462 metres above sea level. That’s 150 metres taller than London’s the Shard! Hop out for a photo beside its altitude sign and stretch your legs with a short walk through the village. One of the quirkiest places to visit in Staffordshire.

Prepare for serious garden envy at Biddulph Grange Garden, which is overflowing with bouquet-worthy blooms: from dahlias the size of dinner plates to sweet-scented English roses. First planted in the Victorian period, it also features an elegant Chinese garden, dramatic Egyptian-inspired tableau and an atmospheric path between up-rooted oak trees. Take a walk, then head to the tea room for lunch. 

This afternoon, go hiking in Staffordshire’s section of the Peak District National Park, on a circular trail around the Roaches ridgeline – one of the top places to visit in Staffordshire. This rocky spine dominates the landscape, and you have a choice of two walks: one around 4.1 miles (6.6km), and a longer option of 9.5 miles (15km). Both also include panoramic views from Hen Cloud hill. 

After today’s adventures, spa treatments and fine dining await at The Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa. Start with a bamboo back massage and a soak in the outdoor whirlpool, before dinner in the award-winning restaurant – whose meat, fish and veggies are sourced from local producers. In the morning, you’ll wake up to Peak District views.