Residents of Staffordshire are blessed with a superb selection of places to visit and things to do.
It’s peppered with historic towns like Stoke-on-Trent, Burton upon Trent, and the cathedral city of Lichfield, all of which also offer excellent cultural, retail and entertainment options, as well as vibrant communities that make living life here a pleasure. Add fabulous countryside and world class attractions, and you have a very special county indeed.
Settlements in Staffordshire are generally on the smaller side, which contributes to a more laid-back way of life in the county. However, larger cities are close at hand, with Birmingham and Manchester both an hour away by train from Stoke-on-Trent, opening up a huge array of work and educational opportunities. Liverpool is just over an hour away by road and 1 hour 30 minutes by rail.
In terms of the educational landscape, Staffordshire University, a public research university, dominates. It operates a main campus in Stoke-on-Trent, with campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury. However, with excellent road and rail links, many of the county’s younger residents study in the universities of Birmingham and Manchester.
And when it comes to recreation, few English counties have quite the breadth and depth of attractions boasted by Staffordshire. It has no fewer than two theme parks – Alton Towers and Drayton Manor (and that’s if you don’t include Alton Towers Waterpark as a separate establishment!) – plus many other unique places such as Trentham Monkey Forest – where barbary macaques roam free in 60 acres of peaceful Staffordshire woodland.
History buffs won’t be disappointed, either. From the grandeur of Lichfield Cathedral to the Staffordshire Hoard – the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found, and the county’s rich pottery heritage, Staffordshire’s history spans many centuries.
And when it comes to relaxing and regenerating in nature, Staffordshire excels once again. There’s the Gruffalo Spotters Trail at Cannock Chase Forest; the Follow the Dog Trail Mountain bike route; Chasewater Country Park; The Trentham Estate Garden; Tamworth Castle & Pleasure Grounds; and Westport Lake Visitor Centre – to name a few.
Stapenhill Ferry Bridge