Weathervane Hotel by Greene King Inns
A Greene King family stay 20 minutes from the park
About this hotel
Weathervane Hotel by Greene King Inns sits in Meir, twenty minutes' drive from Alton Towers and ten minutes from Stoke-on-Trent centre, giving families a practical middle ground between the park and the wider city. Rooms are individually furnished with a private bathroom, tea and coffee facilities, TV, hairdryer and radio, spacious enough for a family without historic-building quirks to work around. The Hungry Horse Restaurant serves light lunches, full meals and a dedicated children's menu, while the bar offers snacks and drinks for the evening. Free parking and free WiFi are included as standard, and the Peak District National Park is a further twenty minutes' drive for families extending their stay beyond the waterpark. The outdoor sitting area gives children somewhere to burn off remaining energy once dinner is finished for the evening.
- Children's menu
- Free parking
- Modern rooms
- 20 min to Alton Towers
Our take
Weathervane Hotel by Greene King Inns is a practical choice in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, about 20 minutes from Alton Towers. Rooms are spacious and modern, parking and Wi-Fi are free, and the Hungry Horse restaurant has a proper children's menu. With 7.3 out of 10 from 1,789 reviews, I see it as a functional base rather than a countryside retreat, and it suits families who also want to explore Stoke.
- ✓Order from the children's menu at the Hungry Horse Restaurant rather than assuming only adult meals are available.
- ✓Use the ten-minute drive into Stoke-on-Trent centre for an evening out if the hotel restaurant does not suit everyone.
- ✓Allow the full twenty minutes to Alton Towers in your morning schedule, longer than some countryside options closer to the gates.
Why we love it
- Dedicated children's menu
- Spacious modern rooms
- Free parking included
- Close to Stoke-on-Trent centre
Why guests love itFamilies staying at the Weathervane before an Alton Towers day often mention the children's menu at the Hungry Horse Restaurant as a genuine convenience, removing the usual scramble to find something a fussy eater will actually eat. The spacious, modern rooms suit families who prefer straightforward comfort over historic character. The twenty-minute drive to the park is longer than some closer options, which families weighing up locations should factor into an early-morning schedule.