5 of the best Bank Holiday days out in Staffordshire

The Bank Holiday Weekend is here and there are plenty of things to do in Staffordshire! See out the summer in style at one of these great events and attractions!

1. New rides at Waterworld

Four thrilling new rides have been unveiled at Waterworld, just in time for the Bank Holiday Weekend!

Dare you take on the Thunderbolt, Cyclone, Hurricane and Stormchaser, which have opened as part of a big expansion to celebrate the park's 30th anniversary?

Choose from the fast, near-vertical Thunderbolt, where you'll reach speeds of up to 24mph, or the Hurricane, one of the tallest flumes in the country, featuring plenty of exhilerating twists and turns.

Or there's the slightly more sedate Cyclone, which spits you out onto a revolving platform, and Stormchaser, the longest of the four, which you can sample in one or two-person rings.

All four will be open for the first time on Friday 23rd August, but Hurricane and Stormchaser opened on Wednesday 21st.

Visit the Waterworld website for details of opening times and admission prices.

2. Last chance to see: The Great Exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral's dazzling light and sound show, The Great Exhibition, draws to an end this weekend with an appearance from Britain's first astronaut, Helen Sharman.

Discover what life on the MIR Space Station was like in Helen's inspirational presentation, and then ask her your burning questions.

Afterwards, experience the spectacular show, a journey through the universe, galaxies, Space, creation and light, and take a walk on the lunar surface at One Small Step.

The show is on every night from Thursday 22nd to Monday 26th August, with tickets priced at £5 for advance booking (£4 children) or £7.50 on the night, subject to availability.

Please note, Helen Sharman's presentation and Q&A is on Monday only.

3. Moon Landing Maize Maze, National Forest Adventure Farm

The National Forest Adventure Farm has been celebrating the anniversary of the Moon Landing too, with their vast Moon Landing Maize Maze.

Lose yourself in the 10-acre maze, solving the Space-themed puzzles as you go, to help the Lunar Crew fix their spaceship and get safely back to Earth. For little legs, there is the Astro-Adventure Mini Maze, where you have to find the hidden planets from our Solar System.

When you've conquered the maze, join the Space Rangers on their Alien Rescue mission, retrieving the alien eggs stolen by the dastardly Zygons, or venture onto the farm, where sheep, chickens, cows and other friendly creatures are waiting.

Finish off your visit by burning off more calories in the huge outdoor and indoor play areas.

The Moon Landing Maize Maze is open until 2nd September, with tickets available from the National Forest Adventure Farm website.

Prices start at £11 for adults and children, except senior citizens/disabled (£8.99), and children under 2, who go free.

4. Summer of Fun, Drayton Manor Park

With the school holidays coming to a close, you're running out of time to meet Thomas & Friends at Drayton Manor Park.

The Summer of Fun is packed with live shows, meet n greets, and keeper talks in the zoo, plus thrilling rides like the family favourite Accelerator, and the white knuckle Apocalypse, the world's first stand-up drop tower.

At Europe's only Thomas Land, meet The Fat Controller and the Station Team, and Rory the Lion and Friends on the Imagination Stage.

Go around the world with Rory on a swashbuckling adventure, or stay closer to home and try the 25 rides and attractions.

Summer of Fun runs until 1st September, with great value for money ticket offers, and a limited number of half price tickets for the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Details are on the Drayton Manor Park website.

5. Spirits of the Railway, Churnet Valley Railway

Churnet Valley Railway is the place-to-be this weekend if you're a fan of gin, rum, vodka or whisky.

At Spirits of the Railway, you can sample up to 30 different gins, 10 rums, five vodkas and five whiskies, as you unwind on the 11-mile round trip through stunning Staffordshire countryside.

A full timetable of passenger steam trains will be operating throughout the Bank Holiday Weekend, with the tea rooms open at Cheddleton and Kingsley & Froghall Stations.

And there will be BBQs and plenty of live entertainment too, including covers from guitarist Barry Goodison, party anthems from Shout the Vows, and Ed Sheeran soundalike Paul Hand.

The Spirits of the Railway runs from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th August, with tickets available from the Churnet Valley Railway website.

Prices start at £12 adults and £6 children.

More Bank Holiday Events in Staffordshire

If that's whet your appetite and you're looking for even more Bank Holiday ideas, head to our What's On page for a full rundown of the weekend's events.