Our guide to the best Staffordshire villages…
Staffordshire in the Midlands is a lesser known county, sandwiched between Birmingham to the South and the Peak District in the north.
However, Staffordshire is home to many fine villages, twenty of which are featured here.
1. Alrewas
Alrewas is a Staffordshire village located along the River Trent, 5 miles northeast of the cathedral city of Lichfield.
The National Memorial Arboretum, located in Alrewas, is a national memorial park that won the Gold Large Visitor Attraction of the Year title in VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence in 2018.
2. Alton
Alton is a small English village in the county of Staffordshire. It is most known for the theme park Alton Towers, which was built around the site of the Earls of Shrewsbury’s Alton Mansion, which Augustus Pugin designed. Model railways, paddling pools, and a boating lake are among the park’s gentler attractions.
Many fine stone houses can be seen in the settlement, as well as a circular lock-up and the majestic remnants of a 12th-century castle.
3. Denstone
Denstone is a tranquil community in Staffordshire whose farm meadows are irrigated by many sparkling rivers that run down from the Peak District National Park.
The village is close to the Staffordshire Way and the Tissington Trail, making it appealing to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders alike.
The village is home to Denham College, a well known private school.
4. Norton in the Moors
Norton-in-the-Moors is a historic village perched on the side of a windswept hill with far-reaching vistas across rolling countryside towards the Peak District, as its name suggests.
It appears to be sandwiched between two bodies of water, the Trent and the old canal.
5. Rudyard
Rudyard is a charming village with a lovely cluster of cottages and residences with exquisite gardens, bordered by woodlands near the south end of the scenic Rudyard Reservoir, one of the region’s most beautiful tourist spots.
The lake is surrounded by a landscape of spectacular, unrivaled grandeur. It’s no surprise that it’s ranked as England’s third most romantic location.
6. Butterton
Butterton is a charming, quiet, strung-out village in the Staffordshire Moorlands, situated off the Manifold Valley.
It’s a great starting point for exploring the Manifold Valley’s centre section, with a decent network of pathways connecting it to Wetton Mill and Ecton.
The settlement is made of native sandstone, and the soaring steeple of the local church, which was built a few years after the central part of the church, dominates the view.
7. Grindon
Grindon is a charming moorland hill community perched 1,000 feet above sea level, above the most intriguing and exciting portion of the Manifold Valley, near its junction with the Hamps.
The village has a long history and is known as ‘Grendon,’ which means green hill, in the Domesday Book.
8. Hulme end
Hulme End is a small but charming village nestled alongside the River Manifold on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire Peak District boundary. It is surrounded by the picturesque White Peak area, which features rolling green hills and historic dry stone walls.
Hulme End was previously the northern terminus of the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, primarily used for milk trains in the nineteenth century.
9. Longnor
Longnor is a large village with a bustling centre and stone-built streets. Longnor is a prominent settlement in this part of north Staffordshire, primarily because of the market.
The old Longnor Craft Centre, which overlooks the cobbled market area and from where you may begin on a tour of the hamlet and uncover various hidden lanes and passages, is worth a closer look.
10. Wetton
Wetton is a lovely village in the Staffordshire Peak District, nestled in the Manifold Valley’s breathtaking beauty.
It has everything a White Peak village should have: charming stone houses in winding alleys, a welcoming country tavern, an antique church, and breathtaking vistas.
11. Abbots Bromley
Abbots Bromley is a charming, historic village south of Uttoxeter with an ancient church, several traditional Staffordshire half-timbered homes, and numerous pubs along the main street.
The yearly Horn Dance, a historical custom that draws guests from all over the world, is a world-famous event in the village.
12. Longsdon
Longsdon is a charming community located two miles west of Leek, surrounded by stunning scenery.
It is the heart of a large, wooded parish that stretches to the Churnet and includes the high land of Ladderedge and the hamlet of Horse Bridge.
13. Hollinsclough
Between High Edge and Brand Side, Hollinsclough is a popular starting place for hikes that explore the higher parts of the Dove and Manifold valleys.
In addition to the permissive right of way that currently permits hikers to follow the route up the summit of both Chrome Hill and its neighbour Parkhouse Hill, there are many fantastic vistas from the area’s hills and comparatively few walkers.
14. Oakamoor
Oakamoor is a charming village in the Churnet Valley, close to Alton Towers. It makes the Staffordshire Way, Hawksmoor Nature Reserve, Dimmingsdale, and the Churnet Valley Way relatively accessible.
There are many treks near the area for ramblers and walkers, including ‘Woods & Ways.’ Around the village, there is a signposted information trail that tells the narrative of Oakamoor’s role in the industrial revolution.
15. Meerbrook
You will find this small village in North Staffordshire.
Four miles north of the town of Leek. Meerbrook is known for its hotels and a local tavern named The Lazy Trout in the village, which also organizes an annual Fete and Scarecrow Festival in May, which attracts hundreds of people each year.
16. Acton Trussell
Acton Trussell is a lovely small community on the outskirts of Stafford with a magnificent church dating from 1212, which sounds more like a rugby score than a year.
In the Domesday Book, it is referred to as Actone. It is a wealthy community around 4 miles southeast of Stafford, with many magnificent residences but few local amenities.
17. Audley
In Staffordshire, England, Audley is a sizable community. It is located four miles north of Newcastle-under-Lyme and three miles south of Alsager, near the Staffordshire-Cheshire border, in the Audley Rural parish.
The area offers excellent transport connections and a welcoming atmosphere. Many of the homes in Audley are Victorian terraces, although there are also some larger, older-style homes and some newer constructions, including a small bungalow complex.
18. Froghall
In the lovely Churnet Valley, it is attractively located on the banks of the Caldon Canal. Froghall offers guests the chance to see various settings, including beautiful water meadows teeming with wildlife.
Many of the area’s outstanding and challenging walks focus on the region’s historical development by the coal, ironstone, copper, and limestone industries.
19. Cannock
Cannock – and in particular nearby Cannock Chase – is well known for its outstanding natural beauty.
The village has plenty of things to see and do, gardens to relax in after you’ve had your fill of shopping, and a decent mix of inns, cafes, and restaurants to keep you refreshed.
20. Penkridge
Penkridge is located in the South Staffordshire District and is among the most beautiful small villages in Staffordshire.
It’s famous for its excellent twice-weekly and monthly food and craft markets. Market Street, the village’s main thoroughfare, is lined with tiny stores, some of which are housed in structures dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
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