Trains to Stoke-on-Trent

How to get cheap train tickets to Stoke-on-Trent

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Things to do in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent, where the potter's wheel is king, is a city with a rich history in ceramics. From Wedgwood to Spode, Burleigh, Moorcroft and Emma Bridgewater, Stoke-on-Trent has produced some of the most famous and sought-after pottery in the world.

Culture and heritage

Full of character, the city is made up of the six distinct towns of Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall, all collectively known as The Potteries. Hanley, a short distance from Stoke-on-Trent station is home to the Cultural Quarter, an area where the shopping and cultural scene thrives.

Hop on a train to Stoke-on-Trent, which locals are proud to call the World Capital of Ceramics, and immediately immerse yourself in Stoke's cultural scene based on its ceramic industry and famous brands. As soon as you step out of the station, you will come face-to-face with the statue of Josiah Wedgwood, founder of Wedgwood pottery.

Stoke-on-Trent is a relatively small city, so you can easily walk around, and as many of us are looking for value for money, you can also enjoy plenty of free attractions in the city.

Attractions

From the station, take a short stroll to the free-to-visit Potteries Museum in Hanley where you can appreciate the world's greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics, such as Wedgwood, Spode, Minton, Gladstone and Royal Doulton. The museum also houses the Staffordshire Hoard , the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found.

Paint your own plate or enjoy afternoon tea in a decorative china cup on a tour of a factory museum a short distance from the station, such as the Emma Bridgewater Factory in Hanley. If you are a fan of her colourful designs then this is an absolute must-visit. Or check out one of the lesser-known china brands, Dudson , whose free museum is the only one inside an original redbrick bottle-shaped kiln.

The heritage tour at the canalside Middleport Pottery is fascinating. While it’s a little further afield, it's well worth the journey. Watch the potters at work and wander the original redbrick buildings at this working pottery with a Grade II listed bottle oven, Victorian offices and a fully restored steam engine. You can also stop for tea at the canalside café and check out the pots in the Burleigh factory shop free of charge.

If you're looking for something unique, take the bus to the UK's only Monkey Forest at the Trentham estate south of the city where families spend hours mingling with the resident Barbary macaque monkeys or wandering the estate’s trails and gardens.

Food and drink

While you’re in Stoke-on-Trent, you have to try a Staffordshire oatcake. A pancake-style flatbread made with oats, traditionally served with cheese, beans or bacon, these were a popular snack food for pottery factory workers. Now you can find them in cafes and bakeries all over the city. Staffordshire Oatcakes bakery sells piping hot oatcakes and gluten-free options to take away from their shop in Hanley.

Stoke-on-Trent’s independent restaurants, coffee shops and tea rooms are a testament to its vibrant and creative pottery community. If you're looking for something a bit special, check out The Rabbit Hole Tea Room on Glebe Street, a charming cafe with an Alice in Wonderland-style interior, mismatched furniture and upside down clocks, where they serve lunch and afternoon teas in vintage tea cups from the potteries.

For something more substantial, The Quarter at Potbank is a lively café-restaurant at the former Spode pottery factory, where the decor has been inspired by the site's former use. The food is equally attractive, with a menu of Staffordshire oatcakes for breakfast, all-day brunch, afternoon tea, vegan options and Sunday roasts. Musicians play outdoors on summer evenings at The Factory Floor.

Sports and outdoors

Fancy a walk around The Potteries Tile Trail ? This self-guided tour takes in some of the city's most famous pottery landmarks. The trail is divided into six sections, each of which covers a different part of the city and focuses on a different aspect of the pottery industry. Download one of the walks from the Visit Stoke website and look for interesting examples of ceramics in buildings and public spaces as you walk by.

Hanley Park is a beautiful, peaceful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The award-winning park is huge, bisected by the Caldon Canal, with plenty of footpaths to wander along. Recreational areas include a lake and a bandstand, which hosts a number of free concerts throughout the summer, lawns, kids' zones, a sensory play area and sports facilities. And the best bit? It's only a 10-minute walk from the station.

For a longer waterside walk, follow the towpath along the Trent and Mersey Canal. The canal once served as the main transport link for the potteries. The easy walk takes you past Middleport Pottery , which briefly featured in the BBC drama Peaky Blinders. The towpath is now a green corridor through Stoke-on-Trent, and is a relaxing setting for a gentle walk alongside colourful narrowboats.

Waterworld aqua park, between Stoke-on-Trent and Longport, is a fun place to cool off on a hot day. The park has a tropical-themed indoor and outdoor pool with waterslides, a lazy river and a wave pool - plenty to keep the kids entertained. Nearby, Stoke Ski Centre has a dry slope and all-terrain park for boarders and skiers, an ideal place to start if you’re a beginner.

Music and nightlife

Stoke-on-Trent has a lively nightlife scene, with plenty of pubs and bars, some which offer live music, as well as larger venues.

Several of the city’s trendy hotspots are in The Cultural Quarter in Hanley, such as The Alchemist a creative cocktail bar with gin-based cocktails; Bloom , a floral bar and restaurant; and Bottlecraft bottle shop and bar specialising in natural wines and craft beers.

If you're looking for a more cultural experience, The Cultural Quarter also houses the Regent Theatre , a beautiful art deco theatre offering opera, ballet, drama and West End musicals; and the Victoria Hall , an outstanding concert hall, hosts everything from classical music and tribute acts, to engaging talks and comedy.

Shopping

No shopping trip to Stoke-on-Trent would be complete without visiting Hanley. Market Square is always bustling with street performers, buskers and market stalls. The Potteries Centre is a good place to find all the high street brands. And for something unique, browse the indie shops and bars along Piccadilly and in Hanley's many side streets, where you'll find everything from vintage clothes to quirky gifts and, of course, pottery.