Cannock is one of the three main towns in the Cannock Chase district associated with the Cannock Chase landscape. Its history ranges from its reputation as a spa town in the 17th and 18th centuries to the industries that remained important in the Cannock area well into the 20th century. The market, church and park offer further, distinct starting points for planning your stay. When looking for a hotel in Cannock, you can choose to focus your stay on the town’s history or the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail.

History between spa town and crafts

Thanks to the quality of its water, Cannock gained a reputation as a spa town in the 17th and 18th centuries. This historical role gives the town’s history a clear focus. It differs from the industries that later became important in the Cannock area and remained so well into the 20th century.

These included the manufacture of bricks and roof tiles, ironworking and the production of cutting tools. The range therefore extended from building materials to iron and cutting tools. A spa town reputation linked to water quality and a diverse range of manufacturing offer two distinct ways to explore Cannock’s history.

Church and market in town life

St Luke’s Church has been at the heart of life in Cannock for 900 years. The building is listed at Grade II*.

Cannock Street Market takes place in Cannock town centre every Tuesday and Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. These are two specific days of the week to bear in mind when planning your visit. If you plan to visit the market, check the opening times again in advance.

Park and regional connections

Cannock Park is just a short distance from the town centre. Its facilities include football pitches, tennis courts, a children’s playground and skateboarding facilities. There are options for a range of leisure interests: sports on the pitches and courts, play and skateboarding. Both its location in relation to the town centre and its varied facilities are useful points to consider when planning a visit. As facilities may change, it is worth checking what is currently available before you go.

The Cannock Chase Heritage Trail is ten miles long and connects Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley. Both the route’s length and its links between these three places are relevant to understanding the region. This sets the trail apart from the attractions within the town: it places Cannock in a wider context with Hednesford and Rugeley, while the market and park offer points of interest specific to Cannock. When planning, you can therefore choose between exploring Cannock itself and taking in the wider route connecting the three places.

Discover more destinations: Long Compton, Tamworth, Whittington, Hatherton, Newport, Hopwas, Leek, Burton-upon-Trent.

For the main travel overview: Staffordshire.