National Forest Adventure Farm

Description

Let’s be real; some attractions just kind of fizzle out once you get past the flashy adverts. But National Forest Adventure Farm – oh man, this one lingers! When you step into their adventure play park, you get an immediate sense that, while there’s the typical chaotic energy of a “family day out” spot, there’s also buckets of charm and well-thought-out fun. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill farm. I’m talking tractor rides that take you through honest-to-goodness working farmland, fields where pigs and sheep are doing their thing and, if you’re anything like my nephew, you’ll absolutely lose your mind over the go-karts and giant jumping pillows.

Now, before you imagine a day out that is just kids trailing mud through your car on the way home, let me stop you. There’s stuff here that tickles grown-up curiosity, too. I very clearly remember grabbing a mug of proper coffee at the onsite restaurant, biting into a sausage roll bursting with local flavor, and thinking, “Why isn’t more food like this?!” You get that sense they actually care about what ends up on your plate – the ingredients tell a story of the farmland right outside.

Of course, no place is perfect, and I’d be lying if I said it’s never crowded or that you won’t sometimes hit a queue, especially during school holidays. The odd grumpy teen on staff or muddy puddle does crop up. But more often, you’ll meet smiling folks proud to run this slice of Staffordshire, helpful with directions, and always happy to point out where the cheeky goats have wandered off to. And outside of the popular events (pumpkin picking, looking at you), it never feels overwhelming. If you want a place with a real, working countryside heart and activities for both the wide-eyed and the jaded, you just might find yourself surprised at how long you’ll want to stay.

Key Features

• Sprawling adventure play zones with slides, climbing frames, and well-kitted out sports areas – ideal for those kids who seem to recharge after five minutes of running wild.
• Unique go-kart circuit – not the kind where you gently potter around, but tracks where you’ll see genuine competitive glee from both big and small kids (guilty as charged myself!).
• Real tractor rides looping through working farmland with the chance to spot cows, sheep, and, if you squint on a sunny day, the odd smug pheasant lurking at the field edges.
• Outdoor animal paddocks: goats, rabbits, weirdly suspicious chickens, and, depending on season, the chance for hands-on feeding or petting. (Bring hand wipes! Trust me.)
• Catch seasonal events that draw families from all over – Halloween pumpkin picking, lambing weekends, Easter egg hunting, and a maize maze in late summer that honestly got me more lost than I’d like to admit.
• Onsite casual restaurant using local produce – hearty breakfast baps in the morning, tasty homemade cakes with coffee, and lunches that feel miles above theme park mush.
• Ample parking close to the entrance, and wheelchair access is genuine (none of that token ramp at the back stuff) – so grandparents and little ones in pushchairs won’t get left behind.
• Indoor play barn for when the weather goes sideways. I’ve seen parents collapse into a chair with gratitude here. It’s loud, it’s warm, and it works.
• Gift shop selling quirky local treats, toys that don’t cost the earth, and local preserves – my advice: grab the homemade chutney if you see it, it sold out last summer before I could replenish my stock.

Best Time to Visit

Okay, this is crucial. Visit on a sunny weekday during school term and you’ll probably want to move in permanently. The pace is gentle, staff can actually pause to chat, and animals seem more relaxed. But, yeah, most of us don’t have that luxury. So let me break it down.

Spring: If you love cooing over baby animals (who doesn’t?), plan for lambing season. There are fewer crowds, the air smells fresh, and the farm practically hums with new life. It’s a great antidote to dreary winter blues.

Summer: The maize maze is a proper event, and all the outdoor activities are in full throttle. Busiest time of year, though – if you’re crowd-averse, either come early, late, or skip school holidays. Bonus: strawberries and local berries are often for sale.

Autumn: If you’ve ever had the urge to don wellies and pick your own pumpkin, this is the time. The fields are Instagram gold (I’ve filled my feed with those orange beauties), and the play areas are usually less packed after the initial Halloween rush.

Winter: Not everything’s open, but the Christmas event, if you can snag tickets, is pure magic for little ones. Think twinkly lights, Santa, and that feeling of a proper British Christmas on a farm – muddy boots and all.

If you have kids who can’t handle queueing, midweek right after the school year begins is your golden window of calm before the festive madness. I’ll just say, bring waterproofs anytime from October to March – you’ll thank me later.

How to Get There

If you’re arriving by car (which, honestly, most people do), the roads in are straightforward – none of those hairy single-track lanes that make you question satellite navigation. There’s a roomy car park, so finding a spot isn’t usually a drama. For families, easy access is a lifesaver – think of scramble-free mornings where everyone emerges from the car with shoes on, ready to start the day.

For folks coming by train, you’ll want the nearest main station at Burton-on-Trent. From there, grab a short taxi ride or check for local buses – although, just a heads-up, public transport isn’t always farm-friendly, especially with bags in tow or after a ‘day out’ energy crash.

There are also pretty solid signs from the main road, so if you’re the sort who (like me) ditches the GPS in favor of a good old paper map or just a vague sense of direction, you’ll be alright. And if using a mobility scooter or wheelchair, the whole entrance and parking lot set-up is actually built with accessibility in mind.

Tips for Visiting

Now for the good stuff – the secrets you wish you knew before visiting! I’ve made enough rookie mistakes here to fill a notebook, so here’s the lowdown.

• Arrive early. Gates open with nowhere near the crush of midday. You get first-ditch on the animal feeds and the go-karts aren’t as hotly contested. Plus, nothing beats that early-morning farm smell (well, unless you’re standing downwind from the pig pen!).
• Check seasonal events ahead of time. The best stuff (maize maze, pumpkin picking, lamb cuddling) is tied to very specific dates. Tickets can sell out on big weekends, so hit up their calendar before you go.
• Dress for mess. Wear boots or old trainers and pack spare socks – the play areas and animal pens are magnets for rogue mud puddles, rain or shine.
• Bring a picnic blanket. There are tables, sure, but the grassy fields are the spot for a proper country picnic. If the weather turns, most families shift to the indoor barn, so having your own sit spot gives you freedom.
• Allergies? They’re pretty on the ball with allergy info at the cafe, but always double check. The food is mostly local, not super processed, but still, better safe than sorry.
• Budget for the shop. My wallet mysteriously gets lighter every visit – the farm shop is packed with genuinely tempting stuff. If travelling with kids, maybe set a ‘treat budget’ ahead of time.
• Accessibility-wise, wheelchairs and prams are good to go. Play areas are mostly level or ramped. The only grumble I’ve ever heard is minor mud on rainy days, but that’s British farms for you.
• Photos. Different spots get golden sun in the afternoon (prime for that “look at our happy day out!” pic). The tractor, maize maze, and those ridiculous jumping pillows are my personal favs for action shots.
• Dogs are a no-go (service dogs allowed), so leave furry friends at home or you’ll be stuck at the gate trying to negotiate with a very apologetic staff member.
• Rain plan. Half the fun is outside, but the soft play barn covers those classic British weather days. It gets noisy but you can still grab a decent cuppa while the kids burn off steam indoors.

Basically, whether

Location

Places to Stay Near National Forest Adventure Farm

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides