Cannock Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Cannock

    It is thought the name Cannock may come from the Celtic word Gnoc or Cnoc, meaning a high place. Cannock was once part of forestland, which in 1086 became the royal hunting ground of William the Conqueror. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the town became known as a spa town because of the good quality of its water. Wealthy families were attracted to the area and their houses can...Read more still be seen today in the High Green part of the town, which was then the town centre. In the 19th century, the coal industry was big in Cannock and in the 20th century the brick-making, tile-making and iron founding industries were important. Read less

  • 2. Now in Cannock

    Shopping facilities in the town have been upgraded in recent years and the pedestrianised centre and shops attract people from all the outlying smaller communities. Cannock sits at the southern end of Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cannock Chase is best known for its open heathland and pine forest.

  • 3. Events in Cannock

    The annual Charity Masquerade Summer Ball takes place in Cannock every July in aid of Cancer Research, and includes live entertainment, a charity auction and more. Summer carnivals to take place in the Cannock area include the Summer Cannock Carnival, in July, and the popular Great Wyrley Carnival, which is held in June. The Love Life, Love Running event is held in June and inc...Read moreludes three main running events, camping facilities, children's activities and entertainment. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Cannock

    The Museum of Cannock Chase tells the history of the town and is on the site of the former Valley Colliery. The museum includes an interactive toys and games gallery for children, a coal mining gallery with a crawl-through tunnel, a 1940s room and a miner's cottage gallery. The Silver Blades Ice Rink attracts visitors from across the region. As well as a variety of ice-skating ...Read morelessons and sessions, the rink hosts snow parties and UV foam and bubble parties. The Chasewater Railway is in Chasewater Country Park, on the outskirts of Cannock, and includes heritage steam and diesel trains and a railway museum. The Artworx Gallery in Cannock includes a mixture of modern and traditional art and has 200 pieces of work on display. The Cannock Chase Visitor Centre, in Hednesford, is the starting point for walking and cycling trails in the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site includes an adventure playground, picnic sites, barbecue stands, the Great War Hut and a birdwatching area. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in Cannock

    S.N.A.P is Cannock's Special Needs Adventure Playground, which includes outdoor adventure play equipment, an aerial runway, cycle track with specially adapted bikes, a sand pit (with diggers), indoor soft play area, craft room and a multi-sensory room. It has been designed to engage, interest and stretch children with all types of disabilities. Chase Leisure Centre has a 33.3 m...Read moreetre main swimming pool and a baby-friendly teaching pool as well as a sports hall, badminton facilities, a fitness room and more. Read less

  • 6. Business in Cannock

    The Cannock Shopping Centre is at the heart of the town centre and is a fully enclosed shopping mall on two levels. It contains many high street names and independent stores and attracts visitors from all the outlying communities. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from in the town centre, from fast food outlets to traditional pubs. Regeneration is being ...Read moreplanned for the Hednesford area of the district and will result in better shopping and parking facilities. Read less

  • 7. Transport in Cannock

    By car, Cannock is close to the M6, giving easy access to the north and south. The A34 also heads north and south from the town, and the A5 leads to the east. The A460 leads directly to Rugeley in one direction, and Wolverhampton in the other. The nearest airport to Cannock is Birmingham International Airport, which is easily accessed by the M6 or by train. Cannock train statio...Read moren is in Mill Street and has good links to the rest of the region. There is also a train station in Market Street, Hednesford. The town's bus station is next to Cannock Shopping Centre and has good services to the rest of the region. Read less

  • 8. Entertainment in Cannock

    The town's cinema is called the Electric Palace Picture House and shows all the latest films. The main theatre in Cannock is the Prince of Wales Theatre, which has a varied programme including live music, comedy, ballet, theatre and children's shows. The Tackeroo is a traditional English pub and thriving rock band venue in Brindley Heath, Cannock.

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Cannock

    St Luke's Church is an attractive piece of history in the town centre. The church may have been founded as far back as 1100 AD, although it has been added to over time and was almost completely rebuilt in the 14th century.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Cannock

    Cannock Chase is the smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Britain

Close Window
Thumb

Special Offers

Top Business Reviews

Cannock Events

Cityvisitor is a great place to advertise events.

Do you know of an event in your area that you would like to share with others? Are you involved in an event taking place in your area? Post your local events for FREE here!

Click here to add an event

Cannock Marketplace

Cannock Blog

  • Residents urged to join the games

    Residents are being encouraged to take part in a mini Olympic games in their community. Cannock Chase Council has organised the Chase Community Games in an aim to celebrate the year of the Olympic Games in London and encourage people to take part in physical activity. The council has joined forces with the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust to set up events all over the region. Games events include charity football matches, play rangers sessions for children in local parks, …

    Continue reading →

  • Memorial for miners

    Miners who worked in the Cannock Chase coalfields have been remembered with a special memorial. The memorial, naming nearly 1,500 miners, was officially opened in Hednesford town centre with a special service at the end of April. More than 1,000 people turned up to pay their respects at the ceremony. The miners’ names have been engraved on bricks at a cost of £20 each and placed around the existing miners’ torch memorial. The existing memorial already contained the names of …

    Continue reading →

  • Super slimmer loses 10 stone

    Super slimmer Becky Edwards says her life has changed dramatically after losing a staggering 10 stone in just over 15 months. Becky, 30, from Cannock, could not even fit behind the wheel of a car before losing the weight, and is now able to learn to drive for the first time. The mum-of-two began her weight loss programme after being ashamed that she could not fit into a theme park ride. She dropped from 25 stone to just over 15 …

    Continue reading →

  • Ant and Dek join college life

    Cheeky duo Ant and Dek will be playing a big part in college life, but it is not the pair off the television. Ant and Dek are the names given to two special pigs that have joined the Animal Centre at South Staffordshire College’s Rodbaston campus. Staff and students are celebrating after the special Kunekune pigs were donated by a family in Tamworth. Animal Centre manager David Riley said: “The Kunekune pigs are a welcome addition to the college’s collection …

    Continue reading →

  • See more blogs

Cannock News