Jump directly to the content

A SPRAWLING 725-acre estate in Staffordshire that's been described as "gorgeous" and "beautiful" is home to award-winning gardens and the country's only monkey forest.

Trentham Estate is located in Staffordshire and is just a short drive from Stoke-on-Trent.

Trentham Estate is home to award-winning gardens and a huge lake where beaver safaris also take place
4
Trentham Estate is home to award-winning gardens and a huge lake where beaver safaris also take placeCredit: Alamy
Trentham Estate is also home to the UK's only monkey forest
4
Trentham Estate is also home to the UK's only monkey forestCredit: Alamy

The sprawling estate dates all the way back to the early medieval period when it was a royal manor.

It was recorded in the Doomsday Book before undergoing extensive renovations in the 17th century Leveson family.

During this time, the original Trentham Hall was built on the site and Trentham Gardens was also created.

In the 19th century, Sir Charles Barry, the architect behind the Houses of Parliament, redesigned Trentham Hall in an Italianate style.

Read More on Travel

Trentham Hall was demolished in the 1910s although the gardens and parkland remained.

Nowadays, Trentham Estate is home to range of attractions that make for a family-friendly day out.

One of those is the Monkey Forest, which is thought to be the only forest of its kind in the country.

The Monkey Forest is home to 140 free-roaming Barbary macaques, with visitors able to walk among the monkeys in a natural setting.

Visitors to the Monkey Forest can also attend talks where they can learn more about the endangered primates.

Other animals also live inside Trentham Estate with Beaver Safaris taking place in the wetlands.

The 173-year-old UK attraction with 'breathtaking views' is found one of England's prettiest towns

Trentham Estate reintroduced beavers into their wetlands with visitors able to observe the animals as they build dams and lodges.

There are plenty of other attractions too, including its award-winning gardens, which have been described as some of the finest in Britain.

For younger visitors, there's also an adventure playground with a climbing wall, Viking rope swing, twin zip lines and a hide and speak maze.

There's also the Barefoot Walk where kids can take off their shoes and walk along the stones with their bare feet.

Another attraction is the Fairy Quest where visitors are given a map and can follow the path of fairy sculptures and magical installations.

Trentham Estate has been given a 4.5/5 star rating from thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor.

One person wrote: "Stunning - we went on a great walk in the gorgeous gardens. I would highly recommend".

Another person added: "We always love Trentham Gardens as it's such a beautiful place to visit".

Day tickets to Trentham Gardens cost £9.90 for a full-paying adult and £6.5 for kids.

Meanwhile, Beaver Safaris cost £37.50 per person.

Trentham Estate is a 10-minute drive from Stoke-on-Trent.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Inside the UK's free ‘indoor rainforest’

EXPLORING the Amazon rainforest or going on an adventure in the jungles of Borneo might seem like impossible dreams for some.

But at the heart of a UK city there's a huge rainforest-like attraction, with hundreds of exotic plant species, that can be visited for free.

The Barbican conservatory in London is described as both a "utopia" and "a favourite" place for those living in the capital.

The indoor garden is the second largest conservatory in the city, but it doesn't cost anything to enter, with guests able to meander around its walkways and paths at their leisure.

Small terrapins and exotic fish can be seen swimming in ponds inside, adding to the feeling that you're in a tropical landscape.

Meanwhile, these camping etiquette mistakes will make other campers hate you.

And these are the best campsites to visit in the UK.

Day tickets cost £9.90 for adults and £6.75 for kids
4
Day tickets cost £9.90 for adults and £6.75 for kidsCredit: Alamy
Trentham Estate is a 10-minute drive from Stoke
4
Trentham Estate is a 10-minute drive from StokeCredit: Alamy
Topics