Staffordshire is a historic and culturally rich county in the West Midlands known for its pottery heritage, scenic countryside, castles, and family-friendly attractions.
Arbor Low is a well-preserved Neolithic henge monument in Derbyshire, featuring a large limestone stone circle surrounded by earthworks and a ditch. It offers an outdoor archaeological experience showcasing ancient ceremonial structures and links to nearby barrows in a significant prehistoric landscape.
The Nine Ladies is a Bronze Age stone circle on Stanton Moor in Derbyshire, notable for its prehistoric origin, consisting of ten millstone grit stones arranged in a circle around 10.8 meters in diameter. It serves as a significant archaeological and cultural site, attracting visitors interested in ancient monuments and modern Pagan rituals.
Sudbury Hall is a historic Restoration-era English country house in Derbyshire with a renowned Great Staircase and fine art collection, featuring a National Trust Museum of Childhood that offers interactive and child-friendly exhibits within its restored interiors and surrounding grounds.
9–12 Oct, 16 Oct–2 Nov
Follow a trail inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar, spotting fruits and snacks and discovering facts about the caterpillar-to-butterfly transformation. The trail includes games and activities around the stable-yard and gardens.
Boscobel House is a historically significant Grade II* listed building in Shropshire, known for its role in protecting Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Visitors can explore timber-framed house interiors with original and Victorian exhibits, extensive formal gardens, and the famous Royal Oak tree on the grounds.
Biddulph Grange is a National Trust Victorian landscaped garden in Staffordshire, England featuring a variety of themed garden areas including Chinese, Egyptian, and Italian sections. It offers year-round plant interest and is particularly child-friendly with tunnels and a quiz trail.
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A volunteer-led talk in the Chinese Garden explores its history, design, different elements and sources of inspiration.
Biddulph is a picturesque market town in Staffordshire Moorlands known for its historic sites including Mow Cop Castle, Biddulph Grange gardens, and scenic valley setting between Mow Cop and Biddulph Moor.
Kinver Edge is a historic heath and woodland escarpment on the Staffordshire-Worcestershire border, featuring England's last inhabited rock houses open for tours, Iron Age hillforts, and scenic walking and biking trails through diverse natural habitats.
Lilleshall Abbey is a historic ruined Augustinian abbey in Shropshire with substantial 12th and 13th century stone remains set in a large monastic precinct. Visitors can explore the evocative outdoor ruins of the church and domestic buildings, surrounded by a cloister garden. The site is open to the public without charge and managed by English Heritage.
Little Moreton Hall is a historic 16th-century half-timbered moated manor house near Congleton, Cheshire. It features well-preserved Tudor architecture, extensive gardens, and a famous Long Gallery. Visitors can explore the restored house interiors, enjoy the gardens, and dine in the on-site restaurant, making it a comprehensive historic and outdoor experience.
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
A free spotter activity at Little Moreton Hall invites visitors to look for the wolf on the Moreton family crest and find wolves hidden around the hall and courtyard.
White Ladies Priory is a historic ruin of a 12th-century Augustinian priory near Brewood, Shropshire, known for its medieval church remains, Romanesque architecture, and its role in the escape of King Charles II. It offers outdoor exploration of the priory ruins and the surrounding historic landscape, with year-round public access.
Shugborough Hall is a Grade I listed historic stately home and museum in Staffordshire, England, featuring opulent 18th-century interiors, a working model farm, rare farm animals, and notable follies with classical and Chinese themes in extensive grounds.
15 Oct, 19 Nov
Join the Forest Garden Team for a walking talk at Arcadia, with a preview of the developing garden and an introduction to forest gardening principles.
Ilam Park is a 158-acre National Trust country park in Staffordshire featuring the historic Ilam Hall, a Gothic Revival style Grade II* listed building now used as a youth hostel, set amid ancient woodland and scenic river walks.
Dudmaston Hall is a 17th-century country house and estate in Shropshire featuring historic architecture, extensive gardens, parkland, woodlands, lakes, and a distinguished collection of modern art. Visitors can explore both indoor historic interiors and outdoor landscaped grounds within a traditional English country estate setting.
11 Oct, 13 Oct…
A volunteer-guided wellbeing walk through Comer Woods, offering gentle exercise and time to enjoy the woodland and chat with other walkers. Participants can visit the café for tea and cake afterwards.
Halesowen Abbey is the ruins of a Premonstratensian abbey founded in 1218 in Halesowen, West Midlands. The site is a scheduled monument and Grade I listed, managed by English Heritage. Visitors can view the ruins from nearby footpaths, though there is no direct public access to the site itself. It reflects medieval monastic history and architecture, with its surrounding lands forming important historical estates.
9 Oct
Join a guided three-mile walk at Clent Hills through woodlands and hills, exploring the countryside’s nature, scenery and history.
Halesowen is a historic market town in the West Midlands with Norman-era church, abbey ruins, and a redeveloped town centre with shopping and cultural amenities. It offers access to nearby countryside and hosts local transport connections by bus.
Norbury Manor is a historic 17th-century manor with an adjoining medieval hall house, known as The Old Manor, located in Norbury, Derbyshire. The site features distinctive medieval architecture, a herb garden, and the Old Manor is open to visitors seasonally.
Moseley Old Hall is a historic house and museum in Staffordshire, notable as a hiding place of Charles II during his escape in 1651. Visitors can explore the restored early 17th-century hall with period furniture and an enclosed 17th-century-style garden, all managed by the National Trust.
The Royal Oak in Boscobel Wood, Shropshire, is the historic English oak tree where King Charles II hid to escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Visitors can explore the outdoor site near Boscobel House and learn about its significance in British history, including related traditions and commemorations.
Wightwick Manor is a Victorian era Arts and Crafts house near Wolverhampton, showcasing original William Morris designs and a significant Pre-Raphaelite art collection, set in 17 acres of gardens and woodland with an additional De Morgan Gallery in the adjoining Old Manor. It is owned by the National Trust and open to the public with a café and shops onsite.
Mow Cop Castle is an 18th-century folly built to resemble medieval ruins, located on the border between Cheshire and Staffordshire. It stands on a historic ridge known for ancient quarrying and offers scenic views. The site is owned by the National Trust and is free to visit.
Downs Bank is a National Trust open countryside site in Staffordshire featuring woodland, heathland, and a glaciated valley with a stream. Visitors can explore footpaths and bridleways, enjoy natural habitats including restored heathland, and visit the Millennium Viewpoint with a toposcope.