Stoke On Trent: Discover ceramics, museums and parks

When travelling to Stoke On Trent, you can plan your stay around ceramics, the city’s history or green spaces. Attractions range from collections on historic factory sites to listed and designated parkland.

Ceramics history and craftsmanship

At the Spode Museum, you can explore ceramics, artefacts and the history of Spode on its original factory site. The Blue Room displays hundreds of blue transfer-printed pieces made at Spode between about 1790 and 1847. It therefore focuses both on individual objects and on the manufacturer’s history.

The Moorcroft factory was built in 1913. On the guided tour, you’ll walk through the original factory and learn about craft techniques such as mould-making, slip casting, throwing, tube lining, hand-painting, kiln firing and glazing. Tour content and booking arrangements may vary.

The factory tour at Middleport Pottery shows how Burleigh Pottery is made using the same craft methods as in the 1880s. The site includes the Heritage Offices, a steam engine, the Grade II listed Bottle Kiln, the Ceramic Design Archive and Harper Street. Middleport Pottery also offers creative workshops and craft markets; the programme may vary seasonally. Check the tour’s availability before your trip.

At Gladstone Pottery Museum, the Tile Gallery displays one of the country’s finest collections of decorative tiles. To compare the different collections, it’s worth keeping their distinct focuses in mind—from blue transfer printing and craft production methods to decorative tiles.

Museums, history and special collections

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery displays collections of fine and decorative art, costumes, local history, archaeology, natural history and Staffordshire ceramics. It is also home to the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever discovered. Exhibitions and displays may change.

The museum also offers a specific focus for anyone interested in local history: the City Archives reading room at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery holds 344 cubic metres of archive and local history material. Ford Green Hall offers a different experience. This 17th-century timber-framed farmhouse has a small garden laid out in period style.

The Etruria Industrial Museum is home to Britain’s last working steam-powered pottery mill. Access as part of an event is available only on certain occasions. Another attraction at Waterworld is the Thunderbolt, a water slide described as the United Kingdom’s first trapdoor-drop water slide.

The Living Heritage City Trail starts at the Spode Museum car park on Elenora Street and heads towards the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery on Bethesda Street. Its named destination therefore serves as a guide to the route; it does not establish that you will arrive at the museum. The Staffordshire oatcake, a savoury pancake made with oat flour, is also part of the city’s culinary heritage.

Parks and outdoor activities

Hanley Park is a Grade II* listed historic landscape. It has three play areas: one for toddlers, a sensory play area and an adventure playground. Fishing is permitted in the park as Community Water, provided you have a valid Environment Agency rod licence.

Park Hall Country Park includes lakes, sandstone ravines, woodland, heathland and fishing opportunities. In 2002, it was designated Stoke On Trent’s only National Nature Reserve. Central Forest Park offers opportunities for walking, cycling, informal sports and skateboarding. These parks have different highlights, from landscape features and fishing to a range of leisure activities.

Plan your visit and find hotels

The Spode Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, with free admission. Check opening hours before you arrive. Moorcroft tour content and booking arrangements may also vary; check the availability of the Middleport Pottery tour before your trip. This information can help you factor your visits and interests into your plans without assuming a particular order or duration.

This way, your choice of destination stays aligned with your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Burslem.

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