Here is a little secret the big attractions do not shout about: some of the best family days out in Staffordshire cost absolutely nothing.
Yes, we are 10 minutes from Alton Towers, and yes, a theme park day is brilliant. But when you are booking a UK family holiday, the sums add up fast. Tickets, food, fuel, the inevitable gift shop ambush. It is why so many of our guests mix one big paid day out with several free ones, and go home with happy kids and a healthier bank balance.
So here it is, our honest guide to the best free things to do as a family in Staffordshire, all within easy reach of your lodge, log cabin or glamping pod at Quarry Walk Park.
Why “Free” Days Out Often Beat the Expensive Ones
Think of a family holiday budget like a phone battery. A theme park day drains 60 per cent of it in one go. A day climbing rocks, spotting deer and paddling in streams barely touches it, yet the kids come home just as tired and just as happy.
Ask any parent what their children remember from a holiday and it is rarely the queue for a rollercoaster. It is the stick they found, the hill they rolled down, the deer that wandered past. Staffordshire happens to be one of the best counties in England for exactly that kind of memory.
Visit Staffordshire has even built a whole “30 Days Out Under £30” campaign around it, which tells you everything about how much low-cost fun is packed into this county.
Free Nature Days Out Near Quarry Walk Park
Start with the Woodland on Your Doorstep
Before you plan anything, remember that a stay in our self-catering accommodation in Staffordshire comes with acres of woodland included. The kids can explore the trails, build dens, tick off a nature spotting list and burn off breakfast in our play area, all before you have finished your coffee. Our post on woodland tranquillity at Quarry Walk Park explains why guests find it so hard to leave.
New for this year, our free activities field gives everyone even more room to play. You will find a basketball hoop, a football goal, hopscotch, a giant inflatable football and giant Connect 4, and it doubles up as a lovely spot for a picnic too.
Dimmingsdale and the Churnet Valley (10 minutes)
Wooded valleys, millponds, stepping stones and trails for every age and energy level. Dimmingsdale is free to explore and feels like a proper adventure without a long drive. The Churnet Valley Trail, an old railway line turned walking and cycling path, is flat enough for little legs and scooters. Bring the dog too; our guide to the best dog-friendly walks in Staffordshire near Alton Towers covers the best routes.
Cannock Chase (40 minutes)
Cannock Chase is a designated National Landscape and a free playground on a giant scale. Wander through pine forest, keep count of the fallow deer, follow the family trails or let the kids loose at the open space at Pingle Slade with a football and a picnic. History fans can climb Castle Ring, an Iron Age hill fort with views across the Trent Valley. Entry is free; you only pay for parking. Some extras like trail packs carry a small charge, but you can easily fill a whole day without spending a penny beyond the car park.
The Peak District (30 minutes)
Part of the Peak District National Park sits inside Staffordshire, and it is all free to explore. Cross the famous stepping stones at Dovedale, scramble around The Roaches, or walk the flat, buggy-friendly Manifold Way to Thor’s Cave, one of the most dramatic sights in the Midlands. For routes and parking tips, read our complete guide to visiting the Peak District from Staffordshire.
Tittesworth Water (25 minutes)
Free to enter with pay and display parking, Tittesworth offers lakeside walks, a great play area and views up to The Roaches. Pack a picnic and you have a full family day for the cost of parking.
Free Rainy Day Activities in Staffordshire
Let’s be honest, this is England. Have a wet-weather plan.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
Completely free, and home to the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found, plus a genuine WW2 Spitfire. Kids love it far more than the word “museum” suggests.
World of Wedgwood, Barlaston
The V&A Wedgwood Collection is free to visit and takes you through 260 years of pottery history, with a free family trail through the exhibits. Pair it with a stroll through the neighbouring woods or along the Trent & Mersey Canal if the rain eases.
Brampton Park and Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme
An award-winning free park with a play area, sand pit and sensory garden, plus a free museum on site. Ideal for a half-day when you want minimal planning and maximum entertainment.
Free Trails, Parks and Little Extras
- National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield. Free entry (parking charge applies), 25,000 trees, riverside walks, two play areas and a self-guided Stick Man Trail for younger children.
- Victoria Park, Stafford. An award-winning riverside park with a modern playground, splash park and skate area.
- Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent. Lakeside walks, birdwatching and free school-holiday family activities at the visitor centre.
- Lichfield Cathedral. The UK’s only three-spired medieval cathedral, with free events through the year including the food festival.
Make Quarry Walk Park Your Free-Adventure Base Camp
Here is where the maths gets interesting. Because our lodges, cabins and glamping pods are self-catering, you control the food budget too. Cook breakfast before you head out, pack a picnic from our on-site shop (or pre-order supplies with our shopping list service), then come home to your hot tub while the kids sleep off a day of fresh air.
Mix in one showstopper day at Alton Towers, just 10 minutes away, and you have a week that feels indulgent but costs a fraction of a typical family holiday. Our family weekend itinerary near Alton Towers shows you exactly how to balance it.
The Short Version
Staffordshire is full of free family days out, from deer spotting on Cannock Chase and stepping stones at Dovedale to free museums, award-winning parks and the Stick Man Trail at the National Memorial Arboretum. Base yourselves at Quarry Walk Park, in award-winning self-catering accommodation near Alton Towers, and most of it sits within a 40 minute drive. Book direct at https://quarrywalkpark.campmanager.com/20007/Check-Availability/ for the best rates, and keep the money you save for ice creams.