Christmas is rapidly approaching, and Staffordshire is the perfect place to get your shopping done, with a huge selection of fantastic artisans and food & drink producers, and festive markets lined up across the county.

Here's our guide to the best Christmas gifts available in Staffordshire, featuring a host of brilliant local indepedent businesses.

Please support them if you can.

Peak Wildlife Park - VIP Experiences

Image shows two girls sitting in the meerkat enclosure at Peak Wildlife Park, with meerkats on their knees and smiles on their facesIf you have an animal lover to buy for, a VIP Experience from Peak Wildlife Park is a Christmas gift they will never forget.

Enjoy a rare opportunity to get up close to endangered species on the Be A Keeper, Junior Keeper (8-to-15-year-olds only), and Mini Keeper experiences, alongside a professional keeper who works with them every day, and help with feeding and mucking out.

If you prefer, why not choose an individual experience with the meerkats, penguins, lemurs, tortoises or tapirs, and take charge of feeding time with your favourite Peak Wildlife Park residents?

Prices range from £75 to £220. Find out more at https://www.peakwildlifepark.co.uk/animal-experiences

More like this: visit Trentham Monkey Forest before it opens to the general public and help the guides feed the macaques with the Breakfast with the Monkeys primate experience.

Nelson's Distillery & School - Gin, Vodka & Rum School

Image shows a class in progress at Nelson's Distillery & SchoolYou can learn all about the process for making gin, vodka and rum, and create your own unique blend, at Nelson's Distillery & School.

The Single Still Gift Certificate (£115) for one person and the Shared Still Gift Certificate (£155) for two include a journey through the history of these popular tipples, and some time choosing from 60 botanicals, with the help of a distilling expert.

There's a fascinating distillery tour, lunch, and three full measures from Nelson's award-winning range to take home with you, along with a bottle of your own creation to savour.

Visit https://www.nelsonsdistillery.co.uk/pages/experiences to find out more.

More like this: pick up skills in the kitchen at Perry's Field to Fork, the artisan butchery and cookery school where you can find out how to bake, make bread, and take your BBQ-ing to the next level. Children's cookery classes also available.

NPF Bassetts Pole - outdoor experience vouchers

Image shows a young thrill-seeker quad-biking through the woods at Bassetts PoleDo you have to buy for someone who loves white-knuckle excitement and outdoor adventures? The gift vouchers from NPF Bassetts Pole would be ideal!

There are more than 20 great outdoor activities to choose from at this huge site near Tamworth. You could try paintballing, airsoft, axe throwing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, quad biking and more.

Vouchers are available to suit most budgets and can be spent on any of the exhilerating experiences. Visit https://www.npfbassettspole.com/gift-vouchers for more information.

More like this: the Snowdome offers vouchers for as little as £10, plus Learn to Ski in a Day and Learn to Snowboard in a Day courses, while Waterworld has vouchers you can spend in the waterpark or on more sedate activities at Adventure Mini Golf and the brand new Adventure Mini Village.

The Moat House Acton Trussell - overnight stays

Image shows a luxurious bedroom at The Moat House Acton Trussell

An overnight stay at The Moat House Acton Trussell would be the perfect treat for someone who really deserves a break.

Ranging from £10 to £199, their gift vouchers can be used on a night at this beautiful, luxurious four-star hotel, close to the stunning walks at Cannock Chase Forest, or the equally lovely Dog & Doublet Inn.

And they can also cover sumptuous meals and afternoon teas at any of The Lewis Partnership properties, including The Red Lion at Bradley, or tickets for events like The Moat House's New Year's Eve celebrations and tribute nights for The Beatles or Robbie Williams.

Find out more at https://www.moathouse.co.uk/

You may also like: give the gift of relaxation with a voucher for an overnight stay, spa day, treatment or meal at Hoar Cross Hall, or gift a stay or meal at The Tawny.

Titanic Brewery - Pub in a Box

Image shows the beers, snacks and other treats included in Titanic Brewery's Pub in a BoxFrom baseball caps and t-shirts to bottle openers and mugs, there are tons of great Christmas gift ideas in Titanic Brewery's shop, but none better than their Pub in a Box!

Containing 12 Titanic ales, a Titanic pint glass and beer mats, and tasty snacks, the Pub in a Box (£32.95) has everything you need to bring the pub to your home.

Or if you fancy a pre-Christmas treat, there's a festive version available too (£38.95), which includes bottles of Grand Reserves of Plum Porter and Cherry Porter, and a bone china Titanic Brewery bauble for your Christmas tree.

It's not the pub, but it may just be the next best thing.

You may also like: if something from the vine is more their thing, Buzzard Valley offers hampers with their award-winning red and white wines, while Canalside Farm can provide bespoke hampers for a truly personal gift.

Trentham Estate - annual membership

Image shows a young Asian family walking through the gardens at The Trentham EstateMany of our wonderful attractions offer annual memberships, giving you a year of incredible days out and a host of other exclusive benefits.

A membership at The Trentham Estate, for example, gives free access to the gardens all-year round, and discounts of 10-15% in the garden centre, and participating stores, restaurants and cafes of Trentham Shopping Village.

Not only that, you get money off day tickets at Trentham Monkey Forest and Trentham Treetop Adventures, and privileged early access and deals on events tickets.

You could even get a membership for your dog!

Prices for gift memberships range from £66 to £158. Visit https://trentham.co.uk/trentham-membership/ for more details.

Other annual passes: save with a Merlin Annual Pass (from £99) - endless fun at Alton Towers Resort and 30+ other UK attractions - or the new Drayton Manor Resort passes (from £99) which include theme park admission, deals on overnight stays, and more.

Christmas Shopping - Sorted!

With a great selection of outlet stores, shopping centres, and artisan markets, Staffordshire has everything you need to get your Christmas shopping sorted.

The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands has up to 60% off your favourite designer brands, while there are festive markets across the county throughout November and December, including the Christmas Market at Weston Park, and artisan markets at Middleport Pottery.

For full information on these and other places for Christmas shopping, visit https://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/information/product-catch-all/searchresults?sr=1&cat=13169,14019

Related

Nelson's Distillery & School
Distillery
Learn all about gin at this fascinating Staffordshire Day event

Nelson's Distillery was launched with passion and a dedication to creating world-class spirits. Since setting off on this journey Nelson's has been continually recognised as an industry-leading, multi-award-winning producer of fine craft spirits. This prestigious reputation has allowed us to partner with some of the UK's best chefs.

The Moat House
Country House Hotel
Image shows a four poster bed in one of the rooms at The Moat House

Moat House, Acton Trussell is one of the premier hotels in Staffordshire with unrivalled quality, service and 600 years of history!

Peak Wildlife Park
Wildlife Park
Watching the penguins fly underwater

Winner- Bronze Award - Enjoy Staffordshire Experience of the Year 2019. Set on the edge of the Staffordshire Peak District; Peak Wildlife Park offers a truly unique and immersive animal experience.  Its large walkthrough exhibits allow you to come face to face with exotic and endangered animals from across three continents. Whether you love lemurs, have a passion for penguins or want to wander with the wallabies (and feed them with your hand!), the park has something for you.

Trentham Monkey Forest
Wildlife Park
Trentham Monkey Forest

Come and enjoy the unique Monkey Forest where you can walk amongst wild Barbary macaques living in total freedom in 60 acres of Staffordshire forest.

NPF Bassetts Pole Adventure Park
Outdoor Pursuits Centre
Graphic showing all the different activities that take place at NFP Bassetts Pole

Join the action at NPF Bassetts Pole Adventure Park, for a truly exhilarating outdoor experience. A family friendly adventure centre, conveniently located off the Bassetts Pole Island, near Sutton Coldfield, with activities available from 5 years upwards.

The Trentham Estate
Garden
The Italian garden with lake beyond at the Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Peace and quiet, fun and action - there's something for everyone at The Trentham Estate with stunning Gardens, a Shopping Village and the Monkey Forest.

Buzzard Valley Wines, Vineyard & Fishery
Vineyard
Buzzard Valley Wines, Vineyard & Fishery

Buzzard Valley is foremost a Vineyard including tours. It has a shop selling wine, brandies, whiskey's, jams, chutney, olive, oils, vinegars, a Bistro including a licenced bar and the fisheries including trout lake.

Canalside Farm Shop
Shop - Farm
Fresh and local produce for sale

The Farm Shop houses a top quality Butchery, Fishmongers and Delicatessen, plus wide range of local and regional products.

Alton Towers Resort
Theme Park
Wicker Man wooden rollercoaster at Alton Towers resort, Staffordshire, England.

Alton Towers Resort is Britain’s Greatest Escape and home to the UK’s favourite theme park with endless family fun and ground-breaking roller-coasters.

Drayton Manor Resort
Theme Park
Thomas the Tank Engine, Thomas Land, Drayton Manor Resort, Staffordshire

Enjoy fun for everyone at Drayton Manor Resort; home of over 50 exciting rides and attractions including Europe’s only Thomas Land, epic family thrill rides and even a 15-acre zoo.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands
Shopping Centre
Enjoy at great day out shopping at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock, Staffordshire

Designer Outlet West Midlands is the UK’s newest major fashion destination having opened in April 2021. Discover iconic brands such as BOSS, Levi's, Nike, Kate Spade, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and many more, together with a range of restaurants and one of the largest kid's play areas across the McArthurGlen UK centres.

Weston Park
Historic House
Image shows the House at Weston Park, seen from afar on a sunny day

Weston Park is one of the most welcoming stately homes with as much character as any English castle and with as many stories as any royal home.

Middleport Pottery
Pottery Visitor Centre
Middleport Pottery

Middleport Pottery, home of Burleigh, is an exciting visitor destination in the heart of Burslem, the Mother Town of the Potteries. World famous Burleigh pottery has been created here using traditional methods since 1889.