Itinerary: Rainy days in the Staffordshire Moorlands
From indoor fun for the children to family trips through scenic countryside and lovely lunches at some of the district’s fabulous cafes, there’s no need for rain to stop play during a visit to the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Ideas for those rainy days
Come rain or shine, attractions such as Alton Towers Resort and Peak Wildlife Park are great entertainers for kids of all ages – just add coats and an umbrella.
Splash Landings – the Alton Towers waterpark - is a great option for a rainy day, although it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll still get wet!
The three towns of the Moorlands offer a range of independent shops, ideal for meandering in search of unexpected treasures you never knew you needed.
And when the skies are grey, it’s also worth checking out our What’s On pages for events in towns and villages across the area, from artisan markets and craft fairs to pop-up exhibitions and unique traditions.
Soft play and indoor play centres can be a great way for younger children to release some energy on grey days, and it can be a good idea to check out activities at leisure centres.
MyActive at Biddulph offers the Multi Active programme during school holidays, with up to 10 different activities each day, from nature art and foam fencing to science experiments and skittleball.
The Play Barn at Round Meadows Farm, Wetley Rocks, is one of the biggest indoor play frames in the area, offering children up to 10 years old an indoor adventure, with dedicated soft play areas for babies and toddlers.
The Wild and Free Adventure Playground at Cross Street Mill, Leek caters for children of all abilities and disabilities up to age 12 and offers a mix of soft play, ride-on-machines and arcade games.
Designed to be relaxing for adults, but exciting for children, The Snug Stay and Play Café in Watt Place, Cheadle, offers soft play and interactive sessions for children, with bookable Sensory play sessions also available.
A rainy day is sometimes an opportunity to just sit back and relax in a cosy corner, watching the world go by.
Hetty’s Tea Shop at Froghall Wharf sits alongside the canal and offers a cosy retreat, with delicious cakes and hot food with a quirky and welcoming atmosphere.
Delightful meals and snacks are on the menu at the Cottage Kitchen at Winkhill, which also has an in-store bakery and a shop with a range of gifts and foodie treats.
The Hideaway at Biddulph Grange Country Park serves hot food, cakes, snacks and drinks, as well as Snugbury’s ice cream. An ideal treat for a rainy day, whether you’ve attempted a walk around the parkland or not!
Or, for a taste of the Scandinavian art of hunkering down during inclement weather, the Hygge Tean Coffee Shop in Tean’s High Street offers tasty hot food and creative cakes in a comforting and friendly setting.
For those with an interest in history, there are a number of museums in the district, with both Brindley Water Mill in Leek and Cheddleton Flint Mill providing opportunities to see how people lived and worked in the past and the type of machinery and technology that helped drive the Industrial Revolution.
Based in the spectacular Grade II* Listed Nicholson Institute in Leek, the Nicholson Museum & Art Gallery collects and displays items relating to the history of the district, including paintings, textiles, ceramics and items from everyday life.
Exhibits to note include the work of Leek Embroidery Society, silk moths gifted by local textile manufacturer Thomas Wardle and a taxidermy wallaby, once part of a number that made their home in the Roaches after escaping from a private zoo.
The Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek has three exhibition spaces – the Gallery on the first floor, The Drawing Room Café and Hallway Gallery, as well as a packed programme of cinema, theatre, arts and music.
For those with an interest in apparel through the ages, the Hope House Costume Museum at Alstonefield is well worth a visit. The museum is owned and run by Notty Hornblower, who has created a treasure trove of fashions from the late 18th century through to the 1970s. The museum has more than 1,000 items of original costume for women, men and children, and is usually open by appointment only.
At the end of a busy day, whether you’re returning to holiday accommodation with armfuls of tasty treats for the evening meal or heading out to one of the area’s fantastic pubs and restaurants, there’s only one job remaining – to check the forecast and fit in tomorrow what you didn’t manage today!
