Play Ground

Honestly, the setting alone makes this one worth the trip — you’ve got a proper lake backdrop that most playgrounds in Stoke could only dream of. Kids can bounce between the climbing structure and the sandbox, which keeps a decent mix of ages happy without too much negotiating. There are benches if you need a sit-down, and the food and drink situation is sorted — ice cream, snacks, hot meals, the works, some of it with a view over the gardens. It’s one of those spots where the adults don’t end up just staring at their phones waiting to leave.