Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter sits in the east of Staffordshire, close to where the River Dove marks the border with Derbyshire, roughly midway between Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Burton-on-Trent and the Peak District town of Ashbourne. It is a working market town rather than a picture-postcard one, and that is a large part of its appeal: this is a place with a genuine Staffordshire pulse, where the Wednesday and Saturday markets still draw shoppers into the square, and where farming, engineering and racing have shaped the local economy for centuries.

The town's market charter dates back to 1252, granted by Henry III, and by the seventeenth century Uttoxeter had grown into one of the three largest towns in Staffordshire. That heritage is still visible in the timber-framed buildings and narrow lanes around the Market Place, even though much of the wider town has a practical, everyday character rather than a chocolate-box one. Uttoxeter is perhaps proudest of two things: its racecourse, which has been staging jump racing since 1907, and JCB, the yellow-liveried construction equipment giant founded here by Joseph Cyril Bamford in 1945 and still closely associated with the area today. For visitors, Uttoxeter works well as a quiet, affordable base for exploring the Staffordshire Moorlands, the Churnet Valley and the southern fringes of the Peak District, with Alton Towers Resort only a short drive away.

Top things to do in Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter is not a town packed with visitor attractions, but it has a handful of genuinely worthwhile draws, plus easy access to some of Staffordshire's biggest days out.

• Uttoxeter Racecourse — A National Hunt course on Wood Lane that has been racing since 1907, home to the popular Midlands Grand National each spring and a regular calendar of race days with a lively, unpretentious atmosphere.
• Uttoxeter Market — The outdoor market in the Market Place has been trading since the thirteenth century and still runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, selling everything from fresh produce to household goods.
• Alton Towers Resort — The UK's largest theme park is around 20 minutes' drive away in the Churnet Valley, making Uttoxeter a handy, lower-cost overnight base for families visiting the rides and waterpark.
• JCB heritage — JCB was founded in Uttoxeter in 1945 by Joseph Cyril Bamford and remains one of the area's biggest employers, with its striking main headquarters building visible on the edge of nearby Rocester.
• River Dove and Doveridge walks — The River Dove runs along the edge of town, offering gentle riverside walking routes and a natural boundary with Derbyshire, with the Dove Valley opening out into classic rolling farmland countryside.
• Heath House and the Staffordshire Moorlands — The rising ground north and east of the town leads into the Staffordshire Moorlands, with the Churnet Valley's wooded gorges and villages such as Alton and Cheadle within easy reach.
• Ashbourne — Just over the county border in Derbyshire, this handsome Georgian town, often called the 'Gateway to the Peak District', makes an easy add-on trip for cafes, antique shops and the start of the Tissington Trail.

Getting to Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter has its own railway station on the Crewe to Derby line, with regular services connecting it to Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and onward to the wider rail network. By road, the town sits just off the A50, the key route linking the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent with the M1 near Nottingham and Derby, making it a straightforward stop for anyone travelling across the Midlands. The A518 and A50 connect Uttoxeter to Stafford and Derby respectively, and the town is around 40 minutes' drive from East Midlands Airport. There is no direct motorway junction in the town itself, so most visitors arrive via the A50 or A518.

Best time to visit Uttoxeter

Spring and autumn suit Uttoxeter well, particularly around the racing calendar, with the Midlands Grand National in March drawing crowds to the racecourse and the surrounding countryside looking its best either side of summer. Summer brings warmer weather for exploring the Dove Valley and day trips to Alton Towers, while the market keeps running year-round regardless of season, giving the town a steady, working rhythm rather than a sharp tourist peak. Winter is quieter, with racing continuing at the course but fewer visitors passing through otherwise.

Where to stay in Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter's accommodation is largely made up of independent guesthouses, pubs with rooms and budget hotel chains, reflecting its role as a practical stopping point rather than a resort town. There are also caravan and camping sites in the surrounding Dove Valley countryside, popular with visitors heading to Alton Towers or touring the Peak District, and a scattering of farm-based B&Bs in the villages around Rocester, Marchington and Doveridge.

Food and drink in Uttoxeter

The town centre has a solid spread of everyday pubs and cafes around the Market Place, alongside chain coffee shops and bakeries serving the daily market trade. The White Hart and other town-centre pubs offer traditional food and ale, while the surrounding villages have well-regarded country pubs worth seeking out for a proper Staffordshire Sunday lunch. As with much of rural Staffordshire, the best food and drink is often found just outside the town in the surrounding villages rather than in the centre itself.