Congratulations!! We’ve all made it through the first few weeks of the new academic year – whether it’s your first or your last. You’ve probably already started to adapt to the new workload for the year and things are starting to seem brighter as you look towards the end of the year.
If you’re new to Staffordshire it might be time to discover some of the things the county has to offer. Even if you’ve been at Staffs for a while, it’s never too late to try something new. So here is our quick guide to the top six things to do now the weather is getting colder and the nights are growing darker.
1. Take in some fresh air
Less than five miles from campus is the renowned Trentham Estate. Shopping village, sprawling grounds and lake, Monkey Forest. Yes, you heard right – it even has a Monkey Forest!
It’s the perfect place to catch some fresh air, find some unique gifts to decorate your bedroom, enjoy some delicious food and see the beautiful views and history that Staffordshire has to offer. They also run regular seasonal events so make sure to check out their what’s on guide too.
2. Get your chill on
If you fancy clearing your head indoors, why not try out the several yoga studios that have opened in Stoke-on-Trent. Places such as Yogi Smith’s and Love and Light Shala run regular classes as well as specialist events, so even if you’re a beginner to yoga or mindfulness, there are plenty of opportunities to get moving and clear your head from all those deadlines.
3. Get ahead of the game
Don’t miss FutureFest!! From 13-17 November, the Stoke campus will be jam-packed with fairs, talks and experts to help you get the most out of your studies and map out your career path. Check out the schedule and book onto talks and workshops using the handy FutureFest app.
4. Visit a Winter Wonderland
For the second year running Winter Wonderland will be back in Hanley, complete with ice rink, theme park rides, Santa’s Grotto, and Bavarian-style bar. Entry is free with the grand opening happening on Thursday 16 November at 4pm.
5. Catch some culture
With Stoke-on-Trent officially in the running for UK City of Culture 2021, why not take advantage of the many theatres and cultural experiences the city has on offer? November will see the Take That musical ‘The Band’ coming to the Regent Theatre in Hanley, as well as other classics such as ‘Cats’ and ‘Cilla’. If comedy is more your thing then Jimmy Carr’s Greatest Hits tour will also be at the Victoria Hall this month.
6. Get in the festive spirit
It may seem confusing at first that the city is made up of so many little towns, each with their own culture, but that means we get to enjoy a lot of Christmas lights. Discover what various communities around the county have to offer by night by enjoying a good cheesy light switch on this month. Leek’s switch-on is on Friday 17 November. And Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford will both turn on the Christmas sparkle on Saturday 18 November.
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