The 900-acre Shugborough Estate, rural seat of the Lichfield family, is one of the country’s most impressive country homes, with Victorian servant’s quarters and a working dairy. The ample gardens are abundant with rhododendrons and azaleas. Dan Brown buffs will be curious to see the cryptic inscription on the Shepherd’s Monument, which legend says leads to the location of the Holy Grail. England’s largest timber-framed townhouse, the Ancient High House, dates back to Elizabethan times and once dominated the skyline of Stafford. The house is now a museum with a Civil War Room where King Charles I once stayed.
The Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford has one of the largest plane collections in the UK, including 70 historic aircraft -- one of which is the world’s oldest Spitfire -- in three hangars. Visitors can enjoy interactive simulator rides, marvel at the underside of a Vulcan bomber, or follow historical informative displays. Stafford Castle and Visitor Center dates back more than 900 years to Norman times and has been reinforced and demolished repeatedly ever since. The 26-acre site preserves the ruins of the keep and bailey, and the visitor center has an audio visual display of the castle’s history. Admission is free.
The British Wildlife Rescue Centre saves endangered and injured birds and rehabilitates them before releasing them back into the wild. During the process, visitors are welcome to drop in and view specimens. Simian fans are spoiled for choices around Stafford. The Trentham Monkey Forest is the only place in the UK where visitors can walk among tame Barbary macaques in a 60-acre forest. The site is well posted on the road to Stoke on Trent. At Cannock Chase, visitors can release their inner monkey at Go Ape, a forest adventure land of zip lines, treetop high wires and a forest all-terrain Segway trail. Go Ape is at Birches Valley Forest Center 2 miles from Rugeley.
Eccleshall in the Sow Valley is a historical town dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, typical of Staffordshire, with a farmers' market on Saturdays. Visitors immerse themselves in the charming market town’s collection of authentic pubs, restaurants, shops, the Holy Trinity Church from the 11th century and approximately 130 maintained public footpaths for walkers. For a slice of canal life, Aston Marina sits on the Trent and Mersey waterway. Enjoy a traditional pub lunch in the bistro overlooking the brightly colored narrow boats, or go all out on a two-hour boat trip.
