Canal Route Planner
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Here are some places of interest within easy reach of Stone. If you stay in Stone and are looking for a short excursion or day trip you will find a variety of interests catered for. All locations have an approximate driving distance from Stone and have been put in order of the nearest through to the most distant. As with all events and attractions we suggest that you check to ensure places are open before making your trip.
Oak Tree Farm Project Hilderstone, nr Stone. This charity project provides work experience in horticulture and agriculture for people with learning difficulties. The Farm has a shop selling produce, plants, flowers and ceramic ware produced on site.
Directions: Take the Uttoxeter road (off Lichfield Road) out of Stone for approx 2 miles, at the crossroads signposted "Hilderstone" turn right, farm entrance approx 10 yards on left. Farm is closed due to Foot and Mouth Restrictions.
Travelling time: 5 minutes
Wedgwood Visitor Centre - See the process of producing pottery; shop, restaurant
Directions: Take A34 northbound, follow signs for Barlaston - 2 miles out of Stone (Visitor Centre well signposted)
Travelling time: 10 minutes
Amerton Farm, Nr Weston, Staffs - Garden Centre, bakery, farm animals, gift shop
Directions: Take A51 towards Lichfield, approx four miles turn left towards Uttoxeter, entrance is approx one mile on left
Travelling time: 15 minutes
Shugborough Hall, Stafford - National Trust property, ancestral home of Patrick, Lord Lichfield, contains museum, Victorian farm with rare breeds, brewery, park and gardens, restaurant and gift shop. Many events and exhibitions eg. country fairs, vintage cars, outdoor concerts (Not open all year round)
Directions: Take A51 towards Lichfield, at Wolseley Garden Centre and Wolseley Arms Inn turn right towards Stafford, approx 1 and a half miles entrance is on right. (Shugborough Hall is 2 miles out of Stafford on the Lichfield Road. )
Travelling time: 20 minutes
The Ancient High House, Stafford - England's largest timber framed town house built in 1595. Contains exhibition gallery, the museum of the Staffordshire Yeomanry, and the Tourist Information.
Directions: Take A34 south to Stafford. Walk to Greengate Street (town centre) Stafford.
Travelling time: 20 minutes
Stafford Castle - Norman motte and earthworks clearly visible, later 19C building accessible. Visitor centre with artefacts excavated during archaeological digs. Also used for activities and attractions, e.g. Civil War recreations, outdoor Shakespeare productions. (Not open all year round)
Directions: Take A34 south to Stafford. Take the Newport Road out of Stafford, the castle is on the right before leaving the town.
Travelling time: 25 minutes
For more information contact Stafford Borough Counicl on 01785 619347, or visit their website http://www.staffordbc.org.uk
The Dorothy Clive Garden, Woore, Staffs - a variety of landscape features, woodland garden, an alpine scree, a damp garden, summer flower borders, spring bulbs, flowering trees, rhododendrons and azaleas, quarry garden, waterfall, shrub roses, herbaceous, tea-rooms, and views of the Staffordshire countryside.
Directions: Take A34 North, then A51 (towards Nantwich) well signposted on right.
Travelling time: 20 minutes
Uttoxeter Racecourse, Uttoxeter. Home of the Midlands Grand National. Also used for antiques fairs and other events.
Directions: Take A520 Longton Road, then follow signs for Uttoxeter, well signposted.
Travelling time: 25 minutes
Bridgemere Garden World - Europe's largest garden centre, contains the Garden Kingdom, thousands of plants (indoor and outdoor), restaurant, play area.
Directions: Take A34 North, A51 (towards Nantwich), well signposted
Travelling time: 35 minutes
The Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent - Numerous factory shops specialising in pottery e.g. Wedgwood, Portmerion, Moorcroft; also the Potteries Museum, Hanley
Directions: Take A34 North, then A500 - well signposted.
Travelling time: 35 minutes
Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent - Water-based leisure centre with wave machine, fun for all the family.
Directions: Take A34 North, then A500 - well signposted.
Travelling time: 35 minutes
Cosford Aerospace Museum, Cosford, Shrops - comprehensive museum dedicated to flight, includes an original Spitfire
Directions: Take A34 south towards Stafford, join M6 and head south towards Birmingham, leave at junction 12 and follow A5 west, well signpposted.
Travelling time: 40 minutes
Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield - Wonderful building known as the Three Sisters for the three spires, dates back to the 12th century
Directions: Take A51 towards Lichfield, Cathedral in town centre (easy parking)
Travelling time: 40 minutes
Alton Towers - Theme park and gardens
Directions: Taker A520 Longton Road, head for Uttoxeter (A50) follow signs for Alton Towers
Travelling time: 45 minutes
Tamworth Castle, Tamworth
Directions: A51 to Lichfield, then follow signs for Tamworth, well signposted at Tamworth
Travelling time: 45 minutes
Snowdome, Tamworth
Directions: Directions: A51 to Lichfield, then follow signs for Tamworth, well signposted at Tamworth
Travelling time: 45 minutes
Stapeley Water Gardens, Stapeley - Garden Centre dedicated to ponds and fish, also coffee shop.
Directions: Take A34 North, A51 (towards Nantwich), well signposted
Travelling time: 45 minutes
Telford, Shrops. - Indoor shopping Centre, ice rink.
Directions: Take A34 towrds Stafford, join M6, then M54 signposted Telford
Travelling time: 45 minutes
Jodrell Bank, Cheshire - Observatory and space exhibition
Directions: Take A34 North, then join M6 at Stoke on Trent (signposted), leave the M6 at Junction 18, take the A54 into Holmes Chapel, and then the A535 (Signposted Chelford). Alternatively, follow the A50 from Newcastle-under-Lyme, turning right on to the A535 at Holmes Chapel
Travelling time: 45 minutes
Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire
www.ironbridge.org.uk
The Museum of Iron, Darby Furnace and Darby Houses: all within a landscape largely unchanged since the eighteenth century. See where the Darby Ironmasters and their
families lived and worked in painstakingly restored eighteenth century homes. Here the Industrial Revolution was born. The first iron railway tracks, iron railway wheels and iron bridge and the first steam railway locomotive were all made here.
Museum of the Gorge & Visitor Centre: the worlds first great Iron Bridge cast in 1779 by Abraham Darby III. The Bridge spans the River Severn, you can visit its original Tollhouse.
Coalport China Museum: some of the world's most beautiful porcelain was once made on the banks of the River Severn. The Museum is situated in
the remains of the old works. Also on site are demonstration workshops, shop, restaurant and a Youth Hostel.
Jackfield: kaleidoscopic displays of colourful decorative tiles and ceramics, including modern tile making and a shop. Here too is the 'Great Rock Sandwich' exhibition, explaining what lies under our feet.
Tar Tunnel: don a hard hat and walk underground in the tunnel and see an amazing source of natural bitumen discovered 200 years ago.
Blists Hill: a complete working Victorian Town. Talk to the costumed 'nineteenth century townspeople' as they go about their business, making candles, casting iron, baking bread
Clay Tobacco Pipe Museum, situated a short distance from Ironbridge in Brosely is this preserved time capsule of this ancient local industry.
Opening Times
7 days a week 10.00am-5.00pm.
Some museums close November - March, please telephone for details in winter.
Closed 24-25 December and New Years Day.
Weston Park, Shropshire. Beautiful Seventeenth Century, 1,000 acre Parkland. Stages variouis events through the year.
Built in 1671 by Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham, has a superb collection of paintings, furniture and objects d'art. Formal gardens, woodland walks, tea Room, Gift Shop and Ice-Cream Parlour, Woodland Adventure Playground, Pets Corner, Deer Park, Miniature Railway
Opening Times
Easter Weekend 22nd-24th April.
29th April - 1st May
Every Weekend in May & June(inc 29thMay - 2ndJune) (closed7thMay)
Every Day from24thJune to 3rd Sept (closed 15th July, 12th Aug, 18th - 21st Aug)
Every Weekend in Sept(until 17th then closed)
Opening Hours
Park and Gardens are open from 11am - 7pm (Last admission 5pm)
House open 1pm - 5pm (Last admission 4.30pm)
Sudbury Hall , Derbyshire - mixture of architectural styles, with carvings, plasterwork and painting, a collection
of family portraits, a carved staircase, formal gardens, tree-fringed lake, tea room, gift shop, long gallery of more than 138 feet. Grounds with wild life
- Sudbury is home to Kestrels, Grey Herons, Grass Snakes, dragon flies, newts, frogs, toads, Little and Tawny Owls and Woodpeckers.
The National Trust Museum of Childhood - Situated in Sudbury Hall, displays about children from the 18th century onwards
Opening Times
1st April to 29th October
Hall, Museum and Shop: Daily except Monday and Tuesday (but open BH Monday and closed Good Friday). The Museum of Childhood, National Trust Shop, Coach House Tea Rooms and Gardens also open weekends through November to 19th December inclusive from 12 noon to 4.00pm.
Do you have any additions (or corrections) to this article? If so, please email articles@into-stone.co.uk
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