Visit stoke-on-trent

Aynsley China
Aynsley China was one of the first pottery companies in Stoke. In 1775, John Aynsley founded a small business, which over 200 years grew into a well-respected china company that has commissioned china for royalty and other alike. Although modernisation changed many working practices in Stoke, Aynsley kept the traditional method of throwing and painting china by hand. If you visit one of the factory tours you can see the skill and artistic talent the painters have who work in Aynsley and the traditional methods of construction and decoration.

Doulton & Company Superstore
The Doulton & Company Outlet Superstore is one of the largest retailers in the Stoke-on-Trent region offering second and best quality tableware, crystal, china, collectables and housewares. Brands stocked include Minton, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert and others. This large outlet store is located on Festival Park, near to a cinema, bowling alley, marina and restaurants.

Etruria Industrial Museum
The bone and flint mill was built in 1857 to grind the raw materials for farming and pottery. In the early 1970’s, the mill stopped grinding materials and became an ancient monument. In the visitors centre, there is a family friendly, interactive hands-on exhibition that tells the story of Etruria, the pottery industry and Shirley’s Bone and Flint Mill. You can then enter the mill and see what the dangers of working in the mill, how it worked, and the kilns they used.

Ford Green Hall
Ford Green Hall was a seventeenth century house, owned by the Ford family, but has now become a relic and an insight into life in a bygone age. All the rooms are furnished with authentic 17th century furnishings, crockery and fabrics. The gardens outside the house were planted in the mid 90’s to recreate the passion for gardening and their uses in mystical and medicinal ways. There is also a Dovecote, which was built in the 17th century to house doves for food. As well is this, you can find a tea room and small gift shop.

Freeport Talke Outlet Centre
Freeport Talke Outlet Shopping Centre is easily accessed from the M6 (Junction 16) / A500 and located on the Staffordshire / Cheshire border. Not as large as some other Outlet Centres, this centre has over 40 outlet stores offering a range of products from well-known brands. Car parking is free.

Gladstone Pottery Museum
The Gladstone Pottery Museum takes you back to the origins of pottery in Staffordshire, and there are many hands-on exhibitions and interesting insights into the local industry. Because this is the only Victorian factory left, authentic pottery demonstrations are regularly given to the visitors by skilled craftsmen, and you are given a chance later in the tour to throw your own pot with the help of the pros. There is also a small tea room and a gift shop offering exclusive products.

Portmeirion Potteries
Founded in 1960 by Susan Williams-Ellis and Euan Cooper-Willis, Portmeirion started off as just a supplier for the gift shop in Portmeirion, Wales. By starting with very simple designs, they grew to be one of the largest pottery makers in Stoke. After the release of the Totem pattern in 1963 and the Botanical Garden pattern in the early 1970’s, Portmeirion became the largest tableware seller in the world. Now in the 21st century, Portmeirion Potteries has a strong following in the USA and has an established reputation for quality and innovation.

Regent Theatre
The Regent Theatre was opened in 1929 as a cinema for silent movies, but became a concert venue in the 50’s. It was reopened in 1999 by Her Majesty the Queen after a £23 million redevelopment to restore it to its original form. As you can see from the photo, in the top corners of the entrance are two sculptures of the two poles of acting, comedy and tragedy. It now mainly houses the touring theatre, but also has showings of opera, dance and cultural plays.

Royal Winton Factory Shop
Royal Winton is popular the world over as being a leading manufacturer of quality ‘Chintz’ pottery. With history dating back for more than 100 years, Royal Winton introduced more than 60 Chintz patterns and their products remain very popular to this day. Their factory shop offers discounts on ‘seconds’ and ‘best’ quality products, and is located close to the Gladstone Working Pottery Museum in Longton, Staffordshire. Free car parking.

Spode
A total shopping and heritage experience right in the heart of the Potteries. As well as the Spode factory shops, a variety of retailing areas are situated on the Spode site. eg. Royal Worcester, The Mill Shop, Traditional Cook Shop, Crystal Shop, Giftware Emporium, plus much more. In addition, why not take a guided factory tour or relax in the Blue Italian Restaurant? Opening hours 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm Sunday.

Stoke Repertory Theatre
After Stoke’s long-established amateur dramatics group applied for a lottery grant to build their own theatre for in-house productions, the Stoke Rep was born. With capabilities to hold an audience of 220 people, the Stoke on Trent Repertory Players show 5 plays per season, including Shakespeare, and some more modern classics such as Harold Pinter. As well as the amateur dramatics links, there is also a programme called “Young Rep” which encourages children and young people to get involved in acting. For intervals, there is a buffet bar, café and intervals bar.

Stoke Ski Centre
The Stoke Ski Centre offers many facilities for different abilities of skiers, snowboarders and toboggans. With different junior slopes, and a main ski slope, the Stoke Ski Centre can cater for all people’s needs. The ski school offers lessons to all skiers, from the extreme novice to the most experienced wanting to increase their stunts. On the main slope is a ramp that allows experienced skiers to try out new tricks. The unique feature of this ski centre is its “toboggan” rollercoaster installed: the alpine rollercoaster lifts you up to 6 metres off the floor and hurtles you around steep bends and fast descending track.

Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens once famous for its outstanding ‘Italian Gardens’ has recently been transformed following an injection of some £100m. Trentham now has the UK’s largest indoor and outdoor Garden Centre, a very popular Retail Village complete (with restaurants, coffee shops & cafes), a Monkey Forest Park and other attractions. An award winning garden design team has been involved in revamping the old Italian Gardens, and with 750 acres of lake and parkland Trentham Gardens has a lot to offer.

Victoria Hall
The Victoria Hall is a premier concert venue in the Midlands, which offers an eclectic range of bands such as Magic, a Kind of Queen, Agent Blue, a local punk rock band, and many others. Also, it is favoured by many comedians, as it’s such an intimate venue that allows the performer to reach out to the audience. It is also just a 2 minute walk from other venues such as the Mitchell Memorial theatre, and the Regent Theatre.

The Wedgwood Visitor Centre
Wedgwood Pottery was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in the late 1700s. In the museum, you can see original pieces of pottery from the early days and a video of how Wedgwood was formed. You can then see the factory at work, making pieces of pottery for sale in the shops. After you have seen the pros do it, visitors will be given a chance to throw a pot for themselves and decorate it. There is also a gift shop offering exclusive products and a restaurant, serving meals on elegant Wedgwood crockery.

Places to visit and things to do in Stoke-On-Trent