Brian Westhead Pavilion

The Brian Westhead Pavilion sits on the outskirts of Stafford as a proper working sports facility rather than a tourist attraction in the traditional sense. It's a community venue that hosts everything from local cricket and football matches to athletics events, so what you'll find there depends entirely on when you visit and what's scheduled.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Stable Park Holiday Park is closest at under three miles away - and you've got kids who fancy watching a match or getting involved in a local sports day, it's worth checking what's on. The pavilion itself is functional rather than fancy, but that's rather the point. You're looking at genuine grassroots sports, not a day out at a stadium.

The real value here comes if you're planning a longer Staffordshire break and want to tap into what locals actually do. Stafford town centre is just a short drive away, and if sports aren't your thing, you've got far more interesting options in the area. The pavilion won't eat up much of your holiday - an hour watching a match, maybe - but it gives you a proper flavour of how the town ticks over when the tourists aren't looking.

Best bet is to ring ahead and find out what's on during your stay. Summer weekends tend to have more activity. Bring the kids if they're into sports; otherwise, Stafford itself deserves your attention more.