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National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas

Companionship careStaffordshire

Days out in Staffordshire for an older parent

Ten places in Staffordshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from National Memorial Arboretum to Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

National Memorial Arboretum. Photo: West Midlands Police, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ten days out across eight towns

The best places to take an older parent in Staffordshire

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for three confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas

Photo: West Midlands Police, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Alrewas

National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum is the UK's year-round centre of remembrance, with over 400 memorials set among 150 acres of trees beside the River Tame. The Remembrance Centre has exhibitions, a coffee shop and a daily act of remembrance.

Access from the car park to the Remembrance Centre is level, there are accessible and Changing Places toilets, and mobility scooters and wheelchairs can be hired, which helps across such a large site.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free entry, car parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Alrewas

Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield

Photo: Cc44332211, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Lichfield

Lichfield Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires, and holds the Lichfield Angel and the St Chad Gospels. The Cathedral Close around it includes the medieval houses of Vicars' Close.

There are a few Blue Badge spaces at the west front on a first come basis, and public accessible toilets in The Close near the Dam Street entrance.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Lichfield

Tamworth Castle, Tamworth

Photo: Malcolm Neal, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Tamworth

Tamworth Castle

Tamworth Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle in the Castle Grounds beside the River Tame, with rooms furnished from medieval to Victorian times. The grounds around it have gardens and riverside paths.

Wheelchair users can reach the whole ground floor including the courtyard and Great Hall, a manual wheelchair can be used on the day, there is an accessible toilet, carers go in free, and Silver Street beside the castle is for Blue Badge holders.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Tamworth

Shugborough Estate, Great Haywood

Photo: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Great Haywood

Shugborough Estate

Shugborough is a National Trust estate on the edge of Cannock Chase, with a mansion, walled garden, riverside gardens and classical monuments in the parkland. It was the home of the Anson family, including the photographer Patrick Lichfield.

There are more than 10 Blue Badge bays and manual wheelchairs to borrow if booked ahead, and the carer can plan around the mansion and gardens near the house.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Great Haywood

Biddulph Grange Garden, Biddulph

Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Biddulph

Biddulph Grange Garden

Biddulph Grange is a Victorian garden created by James Bateman to show plants from around the world, with an Egyptian court, a Chinese garden with a temple and a dahlia walk. It is looked after by the National Trust.

There are four Blue Badge bays, but the garden has many steps and tunnels between its sections, so the carer should plan a shorter route around the upper areas.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Biddulph

Moseley Old Hall, Fordhouses

Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Fordhouses

Moseley Old Hall

Moseley Old Hall is an Elizabethan house where Charles II hid after the Battle of Worcester in 1651, including the priest hole he used. It has a small knot garden and orchard, and is looked after by the National Trust.

There are eight Blue Badge bays, and the house and garden are small enough to see in a short visit.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Fordhouses

Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley, Rugeley

Photo: John M, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Rugeley

Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley

Cannock Chase is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of heath and pine forest, and the Forestry England visitor centre at Birches Valley is the main starting point for trails. There is a café, cycle hire and play trails beside the car park.

There are 13 accessible parking spaces and the Grounds Cafe by the visitor centre, so the carer can stay close to the car and still enjoy the forest.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, car parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Rugeley

Stafford Castle and Visitor Centre, Stafford

Photo: Nashetty, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Stafford

Stafford Castle and Visitor Centre

Stafford Castle is a Norman motte and bailey site with the ruined keep of a later castle on top, set in 26 acres with woodland and a herb garden. The visitor centre has a film on the castle's history and a shop.

Parking is free, the visitor centre is fully wheelchair accessible with a RADAR toilet, and the keep on its hill can be admired from below.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free parking, donations welcome

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Stafford

Erasmus Darwin House, Lichfield

Photo: Bs0u10e01, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Lichfield

Erasmus Darwin House

Erasmus Darwin House is the Georgian home of the doctor, inventor and poet Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, beside Lichfield Cathedral Close. Its herb garden is open all year and free to enter.

Carers can have a free ticket, and the free herb garden makes a quiet place to sit even if the house itself is not attempted.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, carers free, herb garden free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Lichfield

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield

Photo: Bs0u10e01, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Lichfield

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum

The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is the house on Lichfield's Market Square where the author of the famous Dictionary was born in 1709. Five floors of rooms tell his story, with a bookshop on the ground floor.

Entry is free, but the house has five steps at the entrance and many stairs, with no lift or visitor toilet, so it suits someone steady on stairs, or a short look at the film in the ground floor bookshop.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Lichfield

Regular groups and events in Staffordshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Staffordshire.

  • Cooking & Baking · LichfieldLichfield food and drink festivalsStreet food and produce festivals run by Lichfield District Council in the city centre, with local traders and cookery stalls. A carer can go along mid morning when the crowds are thinner, pick up ingredients and plan a dish to cook together afterwards.Details
  • Music · LichfieldLichfield FestivalA long running arts festival with classical concerts, recitals and talks across venues in the city each July. A carer can pick one daytime concert rather than a full evening programme and arrange parking and a break beforehand.Details
  • Dancing · LichfieldLichfield Folk Dance ClubA folk dance club meeting regularly in Lichfield with called dances and live or recorded music. A carer can come along as a partner, sit out the faster sets and keep the evening to an hour or so.Details
  • Photography · StaffordStafford Photographic SocietyA camera club in Stafford with a regular programme of talks, competitions and print evenings. A carer can drive to meetings, help with carrying equipment and print work, and sit in as company during the evening.Details
  • Photography · LichfieldLichfield Camera ClubA club in Lichfield running a season of meetings, speakers and member competitions. A carer can help prepare images for entry and provide transport, so that failing eyesight or mobility does not end an interest in photography.Details
  • Painting · StaffordStafford Art GroupA long established art group in Stafford with meetings, demonstrations and an annual selected exhibition. A carer can carry materials, set up an easel or board at a comfortable height and take finished work in for the exhibition.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Staffordshire

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
National Memorial ArboretumAlrewashalf a dayFreePartlyYesYes
Lichfield CathedralLichfieldan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Tamworth CastleTamworthan hour or twoPaid entryAskYesAsk
Shugborough EstateGreat Haywoodhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Biddulph Grange GardenBiddulphan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Moseley Old HallFordhousesan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Cannock Chase Forest, Birches ValleyRugeleyhalf a dayFreeAskAskYes
Stafford Castle and Visitor CentreStaffordan hour or twoFreePartlyAskAsk
Erasmus Darwin HouseLichfieldan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Samuel Johnson Birthplace MuseumLichfieldan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Staffordshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

Burton upon TrentUttoxeterBurntwoodNewcastle under LymeStoneHill Hook12345678910
  1. 1National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas
  2. 2Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield
  3. 3Tamworth Castle, Tamworth
  4. 4Shugborough Estate, Great Haywood
  5. 5Biddulph Grange Garden, Biddulph
  6. 6Moseley Old Hall, Fordhouses
  7. 7Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley, Rugeley
  8. 8Stafford Castle and Visitor Centre, Stafford
  9. 9Erasmus Darwin House, Lichfield
  10. 10Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Staffordshire

Carers in Staffordshire charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Staffordshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Staffordshire

National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield, Tamworth Castle in Tamworth, Shugborough Estate in Great Haywood, Biddulph Grange Garden in Biddulph, Moseley Old Hall in Fordhouses, Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley in Rugeley, Stafford Castle and Visitor Centre in Stafford, Erasmus Darwin House in Lichfield and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum in Lichfield. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield Cathedral and Tamworth Castle have an accessible toilet. National Memorial Arboretum, Tamworth Castle and Shugborough Estate lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield Cathedral, Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley, Stafford Castle and Visitor Centre and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 40 of the carers with a rate near Staffordshire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Staffordshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Staffordshire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Staffordshire

Days out in the areas around Staffordshire

Companionship care by town in Staffordshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Staffordshire

See carers near Staffordshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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