Lichfield Lawn Tennis Club

The Lichfield Lawn Tennis Club sits in the heart of Staffordshire's sporting landscape, a proper working tennis facility rather than a tourist draw. If you're the type who gets excited about well-maintained courts and the thwack of a decent serve, you'll find it's a functioning members' club with the usual grass and hard courts you'd expect. It's near Burton-on-Trent, making it accessible from that part of the Midlands.

Realistically, this isn't somewhere you'd build a holiday around. It's the sort of place you'd visit if you're already a member or seriously considering joining one. The club has that earnest, slightly no-nonsense vibe of grassroots sports venues - it does what it does without fussing about tourism. If you're a keen player stuck without a court during a caravan holiday at nearby Cannock Chase Camping & Caravanning Club Site, you might ring ahead to see if they offer day passes, but I'd not count on it.

For families, there's limited appeal unless you've got teenagers who live for tennis. Even then, drop-in casual play isn't guaranteed without membership. The location's reasonable - close enough to Burton-on-Trent for supplies and a decent pub meal, and within striking distance of Cannock Chase for proper outdoor time. Worth knowing about if tennis is your thing, but don't expect the place to roll out a welcome mat for casual visitors.