Staffordshire is one of those English counties that most visitors drive through without stopping — which is a shame, because there is more here than meets the eye. The Potteries around Stoke-on-Trent still produce some of England's finest ceramics, and factory tours at Wedgwood and Emma Bridgewater are genuinely worth your time.
Beyond the kilns, there is Lichfield with its stunning three-spired cathedral, the ancient woodland of Cannock Chase, and the Peak District creeping into the northeast corner of the county. Alton Towers draws the theme park crowds, but the surrounding countryside is quietly beautiful.
