Whilst this is an old fashioned museum and does not have all the bells and whistles of modern ones,…read morethere is something for everyone. The children have enough hands on displays and videos to hold their interest whilst the adults can read things in more depth. The history of salt mining in the area is fully explained and you learn things that are amazing. No additional facilities but close enough to town to walk in for a coffee afterwards.

I enjoyed my visit to the museusm, it was very informative and gave a great insight to life in the…read morelocal area not so long ago. We have lots of history on offer in Winsford and Northwich, its a great place to visit.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley offers a stupendous collection of locally made…read moredecorative pottery - as you would expect in Stoke, the center of British pottery production. It's not just huge, but also astonishingly varied. ANY person who loves pottery must go there when in England! On top of this, the museum also offers a fine art gallery - frankly, that one's not so special (hence, -1 star). The collection is limited, but you will find half a dozen paintings by the noted Manchester-based artist LS Lowry. The focus is on 19th and early 20th century British art. This is a "general purpose" museum, so it also covers local history and archaeology. The entry to the permanent collection is *free*, and you can take photos. There are a few lockers available on the ground floor (30p) and you will find a rather nice little café in the basement. During my visit there was a nice temporary exhibit on the history of Superheroes, which came with a UKP 5 charge. Great museum shop, too. The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery is, literally, the only real attraction in all of Stoke though, if you discount the parks.

Our family love it here. Something for everyone. Kids love the ice cream, and we like wandering…read morearound the garden centre. Good place to kill a few hours on a wet afternoon.

Great place to go for lunch - pleasant walk around the lake to the cafe. Prefect spot outside on a…read moresunny day! Take my Nan here most Tuesday's. The staff are really friendly and the food is really good. My favourite is the cheese and bacon staffordshire oatcakes (like savoury pancakes). Although everything else is good too.

Buxton Museum & Art Gallery is a smallish venue in the town centre, with modest exhibits of…read morehistorical objects and paintings (on the upper floor) which also offers a glimpse into the history of Buxton. There are some genuine artefacts on display, most obviously the "Buxton Mermaid" (see photo) - in the 19th century, people like the infamous P.T. Barnum displayed such objects as genuine "mummified mermaids"! Unfortunately, it's all downhill from there: the mostly modern paintings on the upper floor are insignificant, made by local artists - but they do add to the "community feel" of the place, and as suggested by the many posters and leaflets lying around, the museum plays an important part in the communal activities of the town. The entry is free, and you're allowed to take photos. So if you're close by, why not drop in for a half hour on a rainy day.

Some great displays and amazing art work, especially the art work from local schools.read more

Not for all walks of life but is a lovely day out for most. Its a large black and white Tudor house…read more(forgive me if the time periods wrong I'm not so good with history!) just off the A34. You park in the wooded car park and cross a lovely little bridge to get to the main grounds themselves. There is a little river that passes around the house with fish and ducks you can spot which are a good turning point for young children. You then enter a square where you can notice the fantastic old craftmenship on the outside of the building. The cobbled square houses the icecream stall, national trust shop and toilets. There are tours offered around the house however you can walk around in your own time if you wanted. Tour guides are usually dressed in costume (there are numbers of costume days throughout the year) to add to the atmosphere. Inside is as beautiful as the outside with the fabolous stain glass windows and original tudor furniture. The top floor has a large room which used to be a drawing/play room. The floor in this is famously uneven so be aware its not your legs that have given way below you! The grounds also hold outdoor theatre nights in tradition of the historical era it represents hosting particular favourites such as Romeo & Juliet. These are lovely to watch just difficult to prepare for in the British weather!

I really like Little Moreton hall, becuase its a real piece of history, and its in gorgeous…read moresettings. it looks a little rickety and you do often worry if you're going to be that last person who puts too much pressure on it and it falls down, but so far its been safe! The gardens and moat all around the Hall are as attractive as the property itself. It is a national trust property, and is located near to Congleton on the A34. However depite being near to a busy road, you cant really hear much of the traffic because its set back quite a way. Especially nice to walk around on a warm summers day when all the birds are flying around, making you actually feel a little like an elizabethan wandering around the grounds.

Shugborough is a charming estate with a lively house. We came here often in my childhood, and it…read morehas been well kept the grounds house events such as classic car shows and charming sculpture walks. The courtyard host coffee shops and ice cream, and I live the bridges. The passing bridge is still a favourite for pooh sticks even though I'm a fully grown woman. Nice place, great for a picnic too. PS, its a cracking place to collect conkers!

Shugborough Hall is a National Trust Property located in Stafford. The location and the Christmas…read moremarket event they were holding on the weekend made it the perfect place for the annual Jewellery Quarter residents trip (yes, I am of an age that I go on Coach trips). I have vague memories of maybe visiting this place in the depths of time gone by, although with most National Trust properties - they are much of a muchness. Once you've seen one stately home you kinda get the gist. As you would expect, it's pretty impressive. The driveway must be nearly a mile long to get to the property (and is a little dicey, so be prepared to close your eyes if you're an insecure passenger) and the place is surrounded by rolling green fields. I would imagine in the summer you might see deer (or at least cattle) strolling around as you approach the house. The house itself is pretty magnificent. Some of it's buildings are constructed in what I imagine to be sandstone and the main building is bright white and looks very well kept. There is plenty of parking to be had on site and as well as the house there are gorgeous gardens, a tea room a gift shop and all of the facilities you would expect from a National Trust property. The Christmas event is wonderful. As well as numerous market stalls under cover at the front of the building with lots of craft and local produce, there was live music and food being served all through the day. Once we had gotten in to the market, we grabbed a hot food and a warm drink and began to plan our day. The market had a great selection of gifts to be had! Everything from handmade toys, jewellery, clothing and food was on offer for very reasonable prices. We picked up some great presents (and a little something for me, of course) and had a really nice time chatting to the stall holders who explained how everything was made and where ingredients etc were sourced from. The inside of Shugborough had been specially with a "Christmas by candlelight" theme. Only the downstairs was open (apparently the upstairs is open normally) and all of the rooms were decorated with gorgeous bouquets of flowers, candles and decked out with Christmas trinkets. The staff were also wearing the clothing of the era and were on hand to answer any questions about the house, the history or anything in the rooms. Entrance for an adult to get into both the hall and the market was £8 in advance. I felt this was a fair price to have a look around the house, the gardens and the markets. Obviously a lot of effort goes into making everything look just right for the occasion and it felt very festive. I would recommend a visit to Shugborough during the Christmas event or at any point in the year if you're a fan of stately homes. The gardens must look magnificent in the Summer when everything is in bloom, but even in winter we had a lovely wander around admiring them. I would recommend the hall as a nice afternoon out for the family.

These people have lost ALL sense of reality when it comes to pricing of their china !!!!! £4,730…read morefor a teapot and £1,805 for a teacup No thanks!!!!

We enjoyed some scones and tea on Wedgwood tea service. Was fun and easy way to experience the…read morepottery.

PART I, SUDBURY HALL: Actually, the 17th century Sudbury Hall and its (much later) enclosed Museum…read moreof Childhood are one item - but you can visit them separately, and pay separately. Of course, it makes much more "sightseeing sense", if such a thing exists, to combine the two - price-wise, it does too. You will still end up with a UKP 18.30 bill, which is quite hefty, and the reason I cannot award this attraction the full 5 stars. Adults will find Sudbury Hall to be the far more significant one: A very fine stately mansion, owned and inhabited by the family who had it built in 1680-80 until the year 1969, when it was donated to the National Trust. Most of what's inside, in terms of furniture at least, actually comes from late 19th, early 20th century. But still splendid to look at. The main attraction is the astonishing 40 metres long Great Hall, which simply looks stunning and is filled with 2nd tier portraits of family members and (other) notables from the 17th to 19th century. The furniture you'll find in some rooms is a bit on the bland side, but there many interesting objects strewn around. There are very few art objects and paintings inside you'd recognize as outstanding; but then the Vernons didn't belong to the highest of nobility either. I've visited many mansions in England and Scotland over the past 10 years, and Sudbury Hall certainly sits on the lower middle end, three rungs below the most wonderful such place I ever visited, Castle Howard in Yorkshire. But maybe because it's not quite as refined as some others, it allows you an even more interesting glimpse into the everyday lives of the lower nobility. The café is rather nice indeed, though usually as crowded and loud as the attached Museum of Childhood, as those will both be full of industrious little terrorists (i.e. children). If you're in the Derby-Burton-Nottingham area and only have time to visit one country mansion, then I suggest you'll make that Kedleston Hall near Derby, which is far more imposing and luxurious. And easier to get to. Sudbury Hall offers a large car park that's a few minutes walk from the house. By bus, use the hourly 401 service between Tutbury and Uttoxeter. PART II: THE MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD: The Museum of Childhood is located on the grounds of Sudbury Hall (in the former stables of that mansion) - and if you're visiting the stately mansion, it certainly makes sense to include the museum in your tour. It covers two floors of various aspects of childhood (and the history thereof), but mostly focuses on toys of the past 200 years. And there are plenty! If you're at all interested in historic toys, you will find hundreds of those: Dolls, doll houses, board games ... anything, really. Some of them are so elaborate and precious you wouldn't let your own, or anyone's, kids play with them. It will probably cost you about an hour to sample the many exhibits, and while the place can feel a tad cramped (especially with that multitude of real-life little critters running about), it's a worthwhile addition to the main attraction, Sudbury Hall. Having said that, the price (even of the combined ticket) is a bit steep (hence, -1 star). I paid UKP 18.30 for an adult ticket to both places. You can unwind at a rather nice attached café, though when the place is busy, that one will be, too. Very helpful and friendly volunteers from National Trust running about. Unless you go there by car, take the hourly 401 bus from nearby Tutbury.

A National Trust owned property that is a great day out for all the family.Sudbury hall is a…read morefantastic house full of highly decorated rooms.Then there is the childhood museum, see toy's from year's ago, for adult's it takes you back to your childhood.For children it is a delight with play area's and fun thing's to do,but also educational.Visit the victorian school, complete with teacher!.