Top Family Parks and Gardens in Staffordshire Guide
If your kids need somewhere fun and exciting to run off some steam during their school holidays, why not visit one of Staffordshire’s extraordinary parks? From historical manors to wildlife preserves – there is something here for all of us!
Family fun at its finest – enjoy seeing an assortment of animals with plenty of opportunity for children to stroke/feed them! Very reasonable pricing given the quality experience offered.
1. Longton Park
Longton Park, situated at the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, is famous for its trees and lakes with plenty of wide open spaces, perfect for picnics or just relaxing. Additionally, Longton Park attracts runners, walkers, and cyclists from across the region.
The park boasts its own distinct personality and is considered one of the city’s heritage parks. A centerpiece is the clock tower and three bowling pavilions designed by Dean & Lowe of Stoke with distinctive styles; further buildings add to the ambience including an octagonal bandstand cast in iron by Dean & Lowe (of Stoke), two C20 tennis courts, and more than 40 buildings including an art deco bandstand by architect Harry Hayter (also of Stoke).
Longton offers an abundance of independent and larger chain retail businesses on The Strand, Market Street pedestrianised precinct and large retail park. There is also an impressive array of restaurants and cafes such as Glost House bar & Cafe located within Phoenix Works Pottery – also offering simple but delicious breakfast, lunches & afternoon tea services! Additionally there is Gladstone Pottery Museum which provides easy but tasty breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea services!
Experience local culture and history through museums and visitor attractions throughout Hanley. From viewing delicate paintings at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley to learning about beer at Burton’s National Brewery Centre or exploring Gladstone Pottery Museum’s history of toilets at Longton – Hanley offers something for all visitors looking to delve deep into local heritage and culture.
Outdoor recreation opportunities abound throughout Staffordshire with canals weaving their way across the county and numerous parks and open spaces such as Cannock Chase (formerly used for military training but now turned into an arboretum).
Longton is a fantastic place for families, offering excellent transport links such as trains on the Crewe to Derby line, bus services, and easy motorway access via A500 bypassing town. Additionally, primary schools include St Thomas More Catholic Academy and Stoke Studio College while those looking for properties can choose from terraced, semi-detached or detached properties with 3-bedroom properties available in plenty of sizes.
2. Trentham Monkey Forest
This unique attraction gives visitors the chance to encounter 140 free roaming Barbary macaques as they display their natural behaviour within a Staffordshire woodland setting. No cages or barriers interfere with your view – the monkeys can be seen swinging from trees, lounging on the ground and strolling right past you as they make their way along a 3/4 mile woodland path! For your own educational benefit there are informative information boards and guides along the route that provide more detail. And if you visit during birthing season you might even catch sight of a newborn clinging onto its mother’s belly!
Trentham Monkey Forest is one of the UK’s few open zoological parks where you can experience endangered monkeys in their natural environment. Operated by a family, who have also developed and operated several successful European attractions – it offers an unforgettable family day out!
Once your two hour visit is over, children can let off steam in the play areas, cafe and gift shop before returning to their car. There is a large car park on site and if you plan to stay overnight the onsite Premier Inn makes an ideal spot as it is within walking distance to Monkey Forest.
Our onsite gift shop is a treasure trove of unique toys and souvenirs sure to delight children of all ages, while there’s even the option of purchasing experience packages, from feeding monkeys directly through to taking a behind the scenes tour! Don’t miss it if you visit Monkey Forest!
If you plan to visit the Monkey Forest during peak times, make sure you purchase train tickets early or travel during off-peak hours in order to avoid peak time prices. Don’t forget your Railcard as this could make your visit even cheaper!
3. Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor offers something exciting for all members of your family at its Tamworth-area theme park owned by the same family who run Alton Towers – from rollercoasters and freefall towers, to Europe’s first stand up rollercoaster Shockwave, Thomas Land for younger visitors, Ben 10 Ultimate Rollercoaster with 4D movie experience and even an award winning zoo. With world-class attractions like G-Force, Apocalypse free fall tower and Shockwave standing rollercoasters you’re guaranteed a memorable day outing for everyone at Drayton Manor near Tamworth. Owned by the same family behind Alton Towers; with over 300 acres of lakes and parkland filled with world-class rides from G-Force G-Force is home to amazing family fun – something Alton Towers lacks! With rides like G-Force as well as Europe’s only Thomas Land featuring attractions and rides for small children plus an award winning zoo.
George and Vera Bryan, entrepreneurs who used a loan of PS6,000 to purchase the property in 1950, opened this theme park as one of Britain’s oldest theme parks with an initial goal to develop a small amusement park and generate employment in their local community. Today the theme park attracts over one million visitors annually with thrilling attractions like Stormforce 10 and Apocalypse for adults while smaller rides like Bounty Pirate Ship or Carousel offer entertainment for younger guests.
Thomas Land and main park are just the start of what this theme park offers! Plus there’s also a zoo with meerkats, monkeys and macaques as well as an eye-catching dinosaur trail! Plus it isn’t as sprawling as some large UK theme parks so you won’t spend too much time walking between rides!
Site facilities offer a selection of restaurants and cafes, and visitors are also allowed to bring food into the park. Peel Plaza near the entrance serves traditional British dishes including fish and chips, Toad in a Hole and roast meals; other cafeterias may provide more casual meals like burgers, hot dogs or chicken.
The theme park is open throughout the year with different operating hours during peak season. Situated near Tamworth and offering parking for just PS6 per car. Public transport links such as trains and buses from Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth are easily accessible; use postcode B78 3TW when using your sat nav for easier directions on route.
4. Biddulph Grange Garden
Biddulph Grange Garden in Staffordshire is one of its many gems and widely considered a “horticultural Disneyland”. Designed by horticulturist James Bateman as a playful paradise, its Grade I-listed grounds boast gardens inspired by Egypt, Italy and China all within an easy stroll – from stone sphinxes in Egypt’s garden to bright red Chinese pagodas by lakes; from Tudor-style Cheshire cottages with water buffalo statues adorning their grounds to its impressive gardens around mansion itself!
Garden rooms have been created that showcase various countries’ flora. This practice was popular during Victorian times when wealthy gentry traveled the globe in search of exotic plants to be placed into elaborate garden rooms around their estates.
Visit the entire garden in two hours, but due to all that it offers, taking time in each section is almost mandatory. China Garden for instance boasts numerous attractions – ‘Great Wall’ pagoda, traditional bridges, joss house, tower as well as temple, waterfall doorway and living pyramid!
The Italian garden, in contrast, features an impressive terraced hilltop display of yew hedges trimmed into shapes reminiscent of their time. Maintaining these intricate arrangements requires up to three men a considerable amount of work every year but the results certainly make up for any time spent doing it!
Mrs Bateman’s Garden features an ice house and fountain in Himalayan Glen; Herb Garden with a pond and waterfall; Cheshire Cottage; Geological Gallery; Cherry Orchard & Wellingtonia Avenue are also part of these sections of gardens, each one offering something different! Each garden provides an unique experience using shape & line to guide visitors organically through each space.
If you need a break while exploring the gardens, there’s a tea room offering hot and cold drinks, lunches, delicious cakes and other delicacies – as well as a shop. Or bring along your own picnic and find the perfect spot in one of the grassy areas or quiet corners with benches and tables where you can soak in the sights.
