Staffordshire isn’t generally a place of big-name attractions. In fact, many people might be able to name only one: Alton Towers, which recently reopened for the season and will have received a good chunk of the 37 million visits to the county last year.
But as someone who’s lived in Staffordshire for more than 15 years, I’ve come to love the county’s lower-key charms. It’s the creative crafts and stunning landscapes – including the southwest corner of the Peak District – that set this place apart.
So if you come for the rollercoasters, be sure to stay for the pottery, heritage and brilliant hikes. Here are some of my favourite places to visit in Staffordshire.
Shorts – Quick stories
Fridge or cupboard?
This is your definitive guide on where and how to store your foods at home to maximise the quality and shelf life, from ketchup and butter to nuts and jam.
Where to store the basics
Keeping butter in the fridge maximises food safety and freshness.
Ketchup and mayonnaise can be stored in the cupboard but once opened, are best in the fridge.
Bread shouldn’t be refridgerated due to the starch molecules. A bread bin at room temparture, or an airtight container is best.
LIFESTYLE
6 min read
How and where to store food items
There is a fine line between ripe or matured and spoilt.
Jam
Keeping it in the fridge will help it last longer.
Eggs
Storing them at a constant cool temperature, preferably in the fridge, will keep them safe to eat.
Berries
Keeping them in the fridge slows down mould growth and keeps them fresh.
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5 min read
Where to store your food
Caption: Fresh organic tomato closeup . Photographer: Maria Korneeva Provider: Getty Images Source: Moment RF
Tomatoes
Ripe ones should be kept on the counter uncovered if you’re going to enjoy them in the first few days after purchase.
Potatoes
They need to be in a dry, dark place like a cupboard. Exposure to light or moisture can rot the skin.
When you cook potatoes the right way they go from being a health burden to a health hero (Photo: Getty)
Caption: A Hand holding a bit brown banana Photographer: bauwimauwi Provider: Getty Images Source: iStockphoto
Bananas
12°C is best, as they will ripen quicker if they are too warm, so a darker space with no direct sunlight is ideal.
Fridge or cupboard?
1Apples are best in cool to cold temperatures so the salad compartment of the fridge is ideal to keep them crunchy.
2At room temperature lemons stay good for a week but in the fridge it stretches to two.
3Ripe avocados should go in the fridge to slow down the ripening process but if they’re firm, a warm sunny spot is best.
4Soy sauce, due to the high levels of salt, is best in the cupboard – even once opened.
Where to store your food
Nuts
Nuts are fine in the cupboard but keeping them in the fridge in an airtight container helps prevent spoilage.
Caption: Cookie jar, tea, wine, nuts, books, lit candles and Christmas decorations on the table. Cozy Christmas hygge at home. Selective focus. Photographer: Jelena990 Provider: Getty Images Source: iStockphoto
Garlic bulbs (Photo: Emma Dahl/RHS)
Garlic
This suits dry, dark places so a cupboard is ideal.
Onions
Low temperatures can transform the starches of the onion into sugars, making it soft, and potentially mouldy.
Close up shot of man chopping onions during cooking class – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Are you ready for a change?
One career expert shares the surefire signs you’re ready for the next step in your career, and how to turn fear into excitement for new opportunities.
The research
Our research shows almost half of all workers (45 per cent) are ready for a complete career transition, but 49 per cent feel stuck on what to pursue next. The rapid shifts brought about by AI can be intimidating, but it will also create opportunities…
CHARLOTTE DAVIES, LINKEDIN UK CAREER EXPERT
Young woman at her first job interview with the owner of a coffee shop – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Signs you’ve outgrown your role
(Photo: Getty).
It’s an energy drain
If you’re clocking in and out with zero energy, that could be a sign of burnout by boredom.
You’re not learning
If you can handle all tasks on autopilot, you are not challenging yourself. Instead you’re operating purely on muscle memory.
Education, laptop and typing with student friends in library of university together for learning or study. Computer, development or growth with serious men and women on college campus for scholarship – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
(Photo: DMP/Getty Images).
You don’t feel valued
It can be extremely demotivating, and if it occurs consistently, it’s a strong signal that it might be time to consider moving on.
Your brain has started a side project
Caption: Side hustles Photographer: swissmediavision Provider: Getty Images Source: E+
When you are seeking out professional development and learning opportunities elsewhere that should be happening at work, it’s a huge signal that you need a job that keeps up with your ambition.
LIFESTYLE
7 min read
You don’t see a path to promotion
Medium shot of businessman leading meeting in office conference room – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
If you go into a meeting asking for a growth plan or a promotion roadmap and all you get are vague promises and non-committal language, that’s actually your answer: they aren’t planning for your potential.
A manager who truly values you should be able to list specific training, projects or goals to get you to the next level.
What to do next
You don’t need to make drastic moves.
The very first step is to diagnose the root cause if things feel unsettled, and don’t just assume it’s the job itself.
Find someone trustworthy to talk to. This isn’t a complaint session, it’s about getting perspective.
Refresh your LinkedIn profile and start reviving your in-person network.
Thinking of a new field? Check out a short course or certification to ‘test the waters’ before jumping.
Can you learn to love pigeons? A much-unloved animal in the UK
Features writer Kasia Delgado went on a safari to see if she could look past their rat-like nature
The tour guide
People think pigeons are stupid but lots of studies have shown them to have amazing memories, that they can identify people by their facial features, and they have an extraordinary sense of direction.
Florence Wilkinson, author of Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlife, took Kasia on a tour.
Positives of pigeons
War heroes
During the Second World War, carrier pigeons were routinely used to send messages, and they saved thousands of lives.
Homing ability
Scientists have put them in blacked-out vans and put miniature goggles on them to blur their vision and still the pigeons manage to return home.
The Dove family
We think of them as all grey, but they vary in shades, and some of them are quite amazingly coloured, says Florence.
Kasia’s feeding test
As I gingerly chuck some seed, wincing slightly, 15 or so flap their wings at me. I wouldn’t say I feel content or relaxed but I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would. I can see they’re not going to do me harm and after all, they’re just enjoying some free food.
A common myth?
Disease carriers
Research has found that between 1941 and 2004, there were only 207 reports worldwide of pathogens transmitted from pigeons to humans.
Not all walks are created equal
Read on to find out how to supercharge yours into an unbeatable health-builder
How to supercharge your walk
Get a bit breathless
All walking paces are linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but there are additional gains made by those who walk at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity.
Walk uphill
Try to find varying inclines to increase energy and muscle burn.
Add weights
The extra resistance challenges your heart to work harder, increasing cardiovascular fitness.
How to supercharge your walk
Uneven ground
Mountainous and uneven terrain work your stabilising muscles harder, increasing the difficulty and output from your walk.
Go Nordic
Using poles engages the arms as well as the legs and core, turning walking into a full-body workout.
A walk is beneficial at any time of day, but after eating could be best. Research has found that 10- to 30-minute walks taken 10 to 30 minutes after a meal can reduce the peak blood-sugar measurements reached.
Slower and lower blood sugar throughout the day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How to supercharge your walk
Go green
Walking in nature has more psychological benefits than concrete. It’s shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression.
Improve your posture
Staying tall through the spine, open your chest and keep your eyes forward (not leaning over on your phone..).
Meet outside
Walking is a good time to have conversations, whether with your boss or a friend.
Mistakes to avoid
1Focusing on step count – most research suggests that benefits plateau at 7,000 steps a day.
2Using ankle weights – they can tug at the hip flexors and the knees.
3 Doing one-and-done – just hiking for three hours on the weekend, and nothing throughout the week, means you’re missing out on benefits.
4Thinking it’s not a workout – walking packs in cardio and brain-boosting effects without the recovery time of intense exercise.
Eight million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease
And while chest pain is a well-known symptom, there are more subtle signs you should be aware of too.
Overlooked signs of heart disease
Dizziness and fainting
An abnormal heart rhythm can cause a dizzy feeling. While much dizziness is not serious, it can be associated with life-threatening complications.
Increased breathlessness
This breathlessness could be due to blockages and reduced blood flow in the arteries.
Swollen ankles
Unusual swelling can indicate a problem with the body’s circulatory system and kidneys.
Worsening fatigue
Ongoing and worsening fatigue can indicate an underlying health issue, and it could be a sign that your heart isn’t working as effectively as it should be. If persistent fatigue is impacting you day-to-day, the best thing to do is speak with your doctor.
Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation
Overlooked signs of heart disease
Indigestion-type symptoms Discomfort in the stomach, chest and ribs, or a burning sensation in the chest area, could all be symptoms of heart disease.
Erectile dysfunction If it’s an ongoing issue, there could be an underlying health problem, including atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), diabetes or high blood pressure.
World of Wedgwood
Perhaps the best introduction to Staffordshire is to discover its ceramic heritage – and World of Wedgwood in Barlaston is the place to do just that. The V&A Wedgwood Collection tells the story of Josiah Wedgwood, the 18th-century potter who was integral to the mass production of ceramics, and whose impact helped shape the industrial revolution.
Join a factory tour to see modern Wedgwood ceramics being created, or – perhaps the best part – pre-book an hour-long taster session where you can throw your own pot, overseen by expert instructors.
Have lunch at Lunar, an elegant and relaxed fine-dining restaurant just across from the factory, named after the Enlightenment group the Lunar Society, of which Josiah Wedgwood was a member.
Rudyard Lake
On the Staffordshire fringes of the Peak District, Rudyard Lake is an ideal place for an active day out. You can ramble around the lake, which was built as a reservoir in 1797; ride the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway along its shores; or head onto the water itself in a rowing boat, available to hire on the day. There’s also a cafe and picnic benches for enjoying your own food on a sunny day.
Cannock Chase
Stretching between Stafford, Cannock and Rugeley, Cannock Chase is 26sq miles of beautiful countryside, crisscrossed by walking and cycling trails that will take you through its heaths and woodland. Cannock Chase Forest car park is a good starting point for various routes, plus there is a cafe, play area, bike hire and Go Ape. It’s also close to Rugeley if you’re travelling by train.
Bluebells can be spotted in Cannock Chase in spring (Photo: GuruJosh/Getty/iStockphoto)
Lichfield Cathedral
A compact city in the south of Staffordshire, close to Birmingham, Lichfield is home to the imposing Lichfield Cathedral. It’s best experienced on a Highlights Tour, which lasts about 45 minutes, during which a knowledgeable guide will show you around the cathedral – including the 8th century St Chad Gospels book – and share some of its 1,300-year history. Alternatively, the Tower Tour takes you along hidden passages and up spiral staircases, culminating with stunning views of Lichfield from the Central Tower. The Highlights Tour isn’t bookable in advance.
Emma Bridgewater Factory
Another highlight is to be found in Stoke-on-Trent, part of an area known as “the Potteries”, which was at the centre of Britain’s ceramic industry in the 18th century, and is still a production hub today.
The Emma Bridgewater Factory is one of my go-to places. In the Decorating Studio, you can try your hand at painting pottery (advance booking required), which is then fired, and either posted to you or available to collect.
There are also tours of the factory, and you may well find yourself leaving with a new mug or two from the outlet shop. The onsite cafe is one of the best places to try Staffordshire oatcakes – a local speciality similar to crepes but made with oats, served with savoury fillings like cheese and beans. They also do very good cake – all served on beautiful crockery, of course.
Visitors can learn from the pros how to hand-paint mugs at the Emma Bridgewater Factory (Photo: Nathan Stirk/Getty)
Erasmus Darwin House
Once home to doctor, inventor and poet Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles), this Georgian house in Lichfield offers a fascinating insight into his life. The museum showcases Erasmus Darwin’s work, with displays including beguiling models of his inventions and his personal journal.
Like Wedgwood, he was a member of the Lunar Society, and you’ll be left with a real sense of his impact. Make time to wander the garden amid herbs, spices and other plants that were used in Darwin’s day for both cooking or health.
The Trentham Estate
On Stoke’s southern edge lies the sprawling Trentham Estate, which has many attractions, including Trentham Gardens, with its mile-long lake and beautifully designed Italian garden – perfect for a long stroll. It’s stunning all year round, but spring and summer are when it really dazzles with colour.
Also part of the estate, the Shopping Village is a collection of wooden huts housing places to eat and shops such as One More Bear, which is one of my favourites for gifts. Anasma Greek Eatery is particularly good (booking advised).
Froghall Wharf and the Churnet Valley Railway
The canal-side Froghall Wharf is a starting point for the Churnet Valley Railway, a heritage railway that takes scenic journeys through the Staffordshire Moorlands, with stunning views of the woods and water.
Have breakfast or lunch at Hetty’s Tea Shop (the scones are some of the best) in Froghall Wharf. You can also walk from here along the Caldon Canal – perhaps all the way to The Black Lion at Consall. After the roughly hour-long stroll, you’ll be rewarded with a cosy country pub with outdoor seating overlooking the water.
