Our Favourite Free Things to do in Staffordshire

Westport Lake is Stoke-on-Trent’s largest expanse of water and is just a thirty-minute drive from the Moat House. Consisting of two lakes and a nature reserve, it is one of the best places in Staffordshire for birdwatching and walking, with level, accessible footpaths meandering around the lake. 

The on-site visitor centre has a welcoming café offering tasty snacks and panoramic views of the water, while a play area means it’s perfect for all members of the family. Dogs on leads are welcome everywhere except the play area.

Get lost in over 184 hectares of woodland, meadows and pools in this charming country park. 

One of Staffordshire’s newest parks, the area was once part of an open cast mine but has now been landscaped and restored to provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife. Enjoy the family-friendly nature trails, pond dipping and guided walks or check out the many events. 

There are a range of facilities on-site including toilets, shops and a picnic area. Dogs are welcome in most areas, but must be on lead around the visitor and heritage centre, the car parks and Whiteburn Paddock.

One of the top free things to do in Staffordshire is to visit Cannock Chase, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). As one of the largest surviving areas of lowland heathland in the Midlands, this scarce wildlife habitat is home to some of the UK’s rarest flora and fauna.

As well as spotting rare species, you can explore the many trails, venture through woodland, or let your four-legged friend run wild on the designated dog activity trail.

Tucked away in the heart of England, this awe-inspiring cathedral is the only medieval three-spired cathedral in the UK.

It is also home to treasured artefacts, including St Chad Gospels, an eighth-century Gospel book, Lichfield Angel, a medieval carved limestone panel, and the Herkenrode Glass, considered to be one of Europe’s greatest artistic treasures.

Although there is an entry fee to pay to visit Tamworth Castle, the surrounding parkland is free and open to all. Here you can enjoy family-friendly activities such as tennis, cycling and skating, or head to the huge accessible adventure playground. 

For a more relaxing day out, we recommend taking a stroll along the river or getting your artistic juices flowing by exploring the many sculptures dotted throughout the grounds.

With toilets near the playground, a shop and a café, it’s easy to spend a whole day exploring the grounds alone. 

Discover more about Staffordshire’s rich industrial history in the Churnet Valley, where industry and nature collide.

With a range of self-guided walks that weave through the landscapes that made Staffordshire a bustling hub of pottery and mining, you can discover the rocks, minerals, fossils and industrial heritage of the area, as well as its more poetic side by exploring some of the scenes of George Eliot’s iconic Hayslope from Adam Bede. 

Details of available walks, parking and facilities can be found on the Churnet Valley guide. 

This Green Flag award-winning park sits on the banks of the River Sow and is less than a 15-minute drive from The Moat House. 

With a wide range of facilities, including a play area, splash pad, aviary, bandstand, riverside Amphitheatre and sensory garden, it’s the perfect place for younger members of the family to let off some steam and explore. 

Dogs on leads are welcome in all areas of the park except the play area.

With a multi-activity adventure play area designed for children aged 2 to 12, as well as a giant sandpit and water play area, Brampton Park is another great park to visit in Staffordshire.

Free to enter, other highlights include the sensory garden, aviary and pond. There’s also a miniature railway, and Cheeky Monkeys indoor play area in the park, but admission charges apply for these attractions.