Top 10 Things To Do In Stafford, The UK

things to do in stafford
Shivam
Shivam 
Published
| 4 min read

Stafford has a perfect blend of monuments, landscapes, gardens, and architecture. Staffordshire is also home to Alton Towers, which is one of Britain’s most famous attractions and lures so many visitors every year. If you are looking for splendid attractions, inspirational heritage, and beautiful outdoor adventures, then Staffordshire is the place for you. In the heart of Stafford Town Centre, you can tour some of the town’s most wonderful sites, such as The Ancient High House - the biggest timber-framed townhouse in England. There are so many wonderful things for you to do in Stafford. So, here’s a list of the top things to do in Stafford, the UK:

1. Pay a visit to Ancient High House

Museum - Ancient High House - Greengate Street, Stafford
Source: Photo by user Elliott Brown used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Ancient High House is a famous Tudor townhouse in the United Kingdom. It was constructed in 1595. The house has a traditional and magnificent layout that will take you back in time. Several rooms show the history of Staffordshire and you can learn about so many exciting things. You can explore the place where King Charles lived during the Civil War. The Stuart Bedroom houses an excellent poster bed that adds a dramatic charm while the Wallpaper Room is full of Georgian’s Charm. There are so many luxurious furnishings in the Victorian Room to admire.

Ancient High House

Address: 48 Greengate St, Stafford ST16 2JA, United Kingdom

Website: Ancient High House

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

Visited this place?

2. Spend time with animals at Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre


Located in Eccleshall, Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre is a gem. It is a real haven for many animal species. They rescue unwanted and injured animals. You can see so many animals like cats, primates, wolf-dogs, reptiles, raccoons, ponies, skunks, and birds of prey. They organise flight sessions that feature owl, hawk, kestrels, and European eagle owls. Make sure not to miss the wonderful sessions. You can explore the wonders of nature at Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre and be mesmerised by it.

Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre

Address: Stone Rd, Eccleshall, Stafford ST21 6JY, United Kingdom

Website: Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre

Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 10:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Tue)

Price: GBP 5 (USD 6)

Visited this place?

3. Watch live shows at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre


This is a place that’s famous for live theatres and musical shows. Ross Noble, Julian Clary, and Paul Foot were a few of the stand-ups booked for 2018. There are also live screenings of notable productions from the National Theatre and the theatre also organises performances during Stafford’s acclaimed Shakespeare Festival.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Address: Eastgate St, Stafford ST16 2LT, United Kingdom

Website: Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Visited this place?

4. Go for a ride on Amerton Railway

things to do in stafford | go for a ride on amerton railway
Source: instagram

Amerton Railway is a narrow-gauge line constructed by enthusiasts in the early 1990s. The first trains operated in 1992 but it was another decade of hard work before the railway became a full loop. The engines and some other infrastructure have all come from the mine railways and long-defunct quarry. It is the perfect place to bring your little ones for a ride on a diesel or steam train on weekends.

Amerton Railway

Address: Amerton Farm & Craft Centre, Amerton, Stafford ST18 0LA, United Kingdom

Website: Amerton Railway

Visited this place?

5. Explore Shugborough Hall

things to do in stafford | explore shugborough hall
Source: instagram

The wonderful thing about this stately home 4 miles (6.4 kilometres) east of Stafford is that the whole estate is unchanged, including its walled garden, servants’ quarters, and working farm. The house came into the care of the National Trust after 1960 and is open to the public. Some of the jewels to look out for are 4 paintings by the Georgian landscape artist Nicholas Dall and the 208-piece porcelain dinner service in the Verandah Room. There’s a part of the figurehead of his ship, HMS Centurion, mounted on a mahogany shield in the Verandah Passage.

Shugborough Hall

Address: Milford, Great Haywood, Stafford ST17 0XB, United Kingdom

Website: Shugborough Hall

Visited this place?

6. Head to Stafford Castle


Stafford Castle is a marvellous castle with intact earthworks from the start of the 12th century. In that time the castle was wooden and this was rebuilt with a stone keep in the middle of the 14th century. In the 16th century, the castle became a royal estate after Henry VIII had its owner, Edward Stafford, killed because his royal blood posed a threat. The castle has been in a state of decay since it was slighted after the Civil War, although some of the walls were renovated in a Romantic Gothic Revival style in 1813. The tourist centre has an incredible audiovisual presentation about the castle’s rich past and its displays of replica armours, weapons, and clothing are all informed by archaeological digs.

Stafford Castle

Address: Newport Rd, Stafford ST16 1DJ, United Kingdom

Website: Stafford Castle

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Visited this place?

7. Taste the delicious Staffordshire oatcakes

Staffordshire oatcakes 3729
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Clem Rutter, Roch... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

There is a special delicacy that you will find on every menu here and that is the “oatcake”. The Scottish biscuit also has a similar name so people outside the United Kingdom started to call it “Staffordshire oatcake”. The main ingredients of these amazing oatcakes are oats, flour, and yeast. The oatcakes are also stuffed with savoury ingredients like sausage, cheese, tomato, and mushrooms. The delicacy was first made in the 19th century. Earlier they were made using hot plates over open fires. You may even eat the oatcakes with maple syrup or any other sweet ingredient of your choice. They are quite famous in Staffordshire and are a must-try!

Visited this place?

8. Visit the fun Amerton Farm


Amerton Farm’s goal is to provide a calm and therapeutic environment that makes visitors enjoy their trip to the fullest. The tea room is proud of serving the best quality delicacies using fresh ingredients. The bakery of Amerton Farm has a wide variety of delectable cakes and so much more to relish. They even constitute a shop that comprises an array of products that are locally produced like cheese, meat, eggs, cream, and ice cream. Kids can explore the toyshop and play barn. The kids can even have fun on the train that operates every weekend. This place is a must-visit on weekends!

Amerton Farm

Address: Stowe by Chartley, Stafford, Staffordshire ST18 0LA, United Kingdom

Website: Amerton Farm

Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)

Visited this place?

9. Taste delicacies at The Lighthouse Restaurant


The Lighthouse Restaurant offers a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Guests can have a fully personalised experience that will make their trip memorable. This wonderful restaurant is located in the beautiful countryside of Derbyshire near the Staffordshire border. The surroundings are beautiful. The tasting menu is extraordinary. It is modern, creative, and presented amazingly. The Lighthouse Restaurant has the best of everything.

The Lighthouse Restaurant

Address: New Rd, Boylestone, Ashbourne DE6 5AA, United Kingdom

Website: The Lighthouse Restaurant

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 7pm onward (closed from Sun - Tue)

Visited this place?

10. Wander through the beautiful Wildwood Park

things to do in stafford | wander through the beautiful wildwood park
Source: instagram

This area of green space in the Wildwood suburb is beautiful because the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal bound it. The park slopes down to the water and has distant views over the quiet and undeveloped valley of the River Penk. You can break out into the countryside through a patch of woodland, hire out the tennis courts, or take a picnic by the canal. There’s a vast, newly remodelled play area for kids and a skate park with a bowl and half-pipe for bigger kids.

Wildwood Park

Address: Wildwood Dr, Stafford ST17 4PY, United Kingdom

Website: Wildwood Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Visited this place?

Pack your bags for Stafford

If you are looking forward to a memorable trip filled with amazing attractions, incredible outdoor adventures, and a relaxing atmosphere, then you must visit Staffordshire. From historical buildings, farms, to a fantastic wildlife centre, Stafford offers the best to all generations.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Hi, my name is Shivam Pandey, and I’m a certified freelance content writer from New Delhi, India. I specialize in writing on travel, technology, lifestyle, etc.

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore United Kingdom
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.