30 Family Days Out in Staffordshire for Under £30

Let’s face it there’s no getting away from the rising cost of living and keeping the kids entertained during the Summer 2022 school holidays could well be a challenge for many UK families.

At Enjoy Staffordshire we think everyone deserves the chance to escape, and as the UK’s biggest and best playground, Staffordshire is the ideal place to do so.

So read on for a whole host of ideas, including free days out in Staffordshire!

Budget days out Summer 2022

To help you make the most of Summer, we’ve put together a handy list of 30 different family friendly places to visit and things to do in Staffordshire, that won’t break the bank – in fact they all cost less than £30* for 2 Adults and 2 Children to get in, and some are free family days out!

Our new #30Under30Pounds campaign aims to fill your Summer with fun, whether your family is active, creative, curious, looking for adventure or simply loves wildlife, we’ve plenty of ideas and inspiration for you.

Each of our suggested attractions is either free admission, or costs no more than £30* for a family of four to enter, so start planning your family Summer days out in Staffordshire now!

Active family days out in Staffordshire

Burn off some energy in Staffordshire’s great outdoors.

Choose from easy family walks, safe off-road cycle routes and brilliant adventure playgrounds. For best value bring your own bikes, or you can hire some (additional cost) Sites are free to enter, parking fees may apply and some offer extra paid-for activities.

1. Baggeridge Country Park, near Wombourne – Challenge Academy ropes course from £6 pp
2. Cannock Chase Forest, near Rugeley – Gruffalo Trail pack £3.50; Bike hire from £15 child, £28 adult
3. The Churnet Valley Way, Oakamoor to Denstone
4. The Manifold Track, Hulme End to Waterhouses – Bike hire from £12 child, £16 adult
5. Tittesworth Water, near Leek
6. Stafford to Newport Cycle Route

Ideas for Adventurous families

Step-back in time, and literally let off some steam, at our heritage steam railways, all located in beautiful countryside with walks and activities nearby.

Explore a WWI trench, take on an Outdoor Escape Challenge or re-enact your own Mercian battle.

7. Apedale Valley Light Railway – Family ticket £19.00 (adjacent Apedale Country Park)
8. Chasewater Railway – Family ticket £19.95 (adjacent Chasewater Country Park)
9. National Memorial Arboretum – Free admission; Outdoor Escape Challenge £12-15 per group
10. Leek & Rudyard Lake Steam Railway – 2 adults + 2 Children £28.00 (adjacent Rudyard Lake)
11. Staffordshire Regiment Museum – Family ticket £15.00
12. Tamworth Castle Pleasure Grounds – Free admission to grounds. Castle family ticket £37.50 (up to 5 persons)

Things to do in Staffordshire for Creative families

Head for Stoke-on-Trent the World Capital of Ceramics for some seriously creative hands-on pottery fun.

Have a go on the Potter’s wheel, get clever with clay, paint & decorate pottery and be inspired by our famous designers and makers.

13. Emma Bridgewater Factory – Free admission; Decorating session £2.95 pp + cost of pottery. Factory Tour £5 pp.
14. Gladstone Pottery Museum – Family ticket £23.00. Annual pass 2 adults + 2 children £42.00
15. Love Clay Ceramics Centre – Free admission; Summer pottery decoration session from £5 pp
16. Middleport Pottery – Free admission to site; Heritage Trail £5-6 pp, Factory Tour £9-10 pp
17. Potteries Museum & Art Gallery – Free admission
18. World of Wedgwood – Free admission to site; Decorating session £5pp, 15-mins clay session £10 pp, Factory Tour £12.50 per adult (kids free)

Staffordshire has plenty of options for Curious families

Stir their imaginations and feed their curiosity with a peek into Staffordshire’s history and heritage. All these sites are free admission, parking fees may apply and some offer extra paid-for activities and events.

Look out for ‘The Beach’ coming to Lichfield Cathedral Summer 2022!

19. Ancient High House, Stafford
20. Brampton Museum & Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme
21. Lichfield Cathedral
22. Museum of Cannock Chase, Hednesford
23. Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford
24. Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield

More to explore for Wild families in Staffordshire

Who doesn’t love learning about wildlife, animals or farmyard friends?

Get back to nature and discover the amazing flora and fauna flourishing in rural Staffordshire. Budding conservationists will love the Wildlife Trust events like pond dipping and mini beast hunts.

25. Billy’s Farm Barn at Amerton Farm, near Stafford – 2 adults + 2 children £25.96
26. Branston Water Park, near Burton on Trent – Free admission
27. Dorothy Clive Garden, near Newcastle-under-Lyme – 2 adults + 2children £24.00. Annual Pass £20 adult, £40 family.
28. RSPB Coombes Valley & Consall Woods, near Leek – Free admission
29. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre, near Rugeley – Free admission
30. The Animal Zone at Rodbaston, near Penkridge – Family ticket £24.00

Other ways to save money on Staffordshire days out

Annual passes, season tickets and memberships and are the ideal way to save money on admission fees, particularly for local residents and regular repeat visitors.

Some of the UK’s biggest and best attractions are located in Staffordshire, and most of them offer great value for money annual ticket deals which pay for themselves within 3-4 visits.

• Alton Towers Resort – Annual Pass £119 pp. Advance day tickets save up to £29 (44%) per adult.
• Drayton Manor Resort – Annual Pass £109 pp (age 4+), £75 pp (age 2-3). Advance day tickets save 30%.
• Peak Wildlife Park – Annual Pass £44.95 adult, £39.95 child.
• Play@ Lower Drayton Farm – Annual Membership from £140 pp.
• Tamworth Castle – Annual Pass £29.75 adult, £22.50 child, £100 family (up to 5 persons).
• Trentham Estate – Annual Membership £69 adult, £16 child, £155 family. Advance day tickets £12.50 adult, £9 child, £37 family.
• Trentham Monkey Forest – Annual Membership £35 adult, £25 child. Advance day tickets save 10%.
• Weston Park – Annual Membership £35 adult, £85 family (2 adults + 3 children)
• The National Trust – Annual Membership £83.40 (1 adult family), £133.80 (2 adult family)
• English Heritage – Annual Membership £66 (1 adult family), £115 (2 adult family)

Look out for special offers and loyalty schemes too, such as Tesco Clubcard, day ticket upgrades and multi-visit discounts which help to make cheap family days out.

For day trips, book your attraction and theme park tickets online at least 5 days in advance of your visit to get the best prices & discount deals.

• Churnet Valley Railway – Advance day tickets save £2 pp on individuals, or save £7 on family tickets.
• Go Ape! Cannock Chase – Families save 15% on the Treetop Challenge course until 11/9/22.
• National Forest Adventure Farm – Advance day tickets £15.99 pp. Summer multi-visit offer 5 for 3, or 3 for 2.
• Play@ Lower Drayton Farm – Advance day tickets £17 pp, or family tickets from £60.
• Snowdome – Save 20 – 45% on snow-based activities. Book by 19/8/22. Use by 4/9/22.
• Waterworld & Adventure Mini Golf – Advance combo ticket deal £27 pp.

^{_{*prices correct at time of publication, July 2022.}}