Stoke on Trent Potteries and Museums

(Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK)

The rich pottery heritage of Stoke on Trent is quite undeniable and the city offers the chance to visit some of the most famous and historic ceramic companies still operating in Britain. Many of these potteries have their own museums or visitor centres, often providing insightful factory tours, allowing you to observe their skilled craftsmen at work whilst they create their world-class ceramics.

The New Wedgwood Museum has recently opened at the cost of more than £10 million and is part of the Wedgwood Visitor Centre in the Barlaston area of Stoke on Trent. Located at Longton, the Gladstone Pottery Museum is another tourist magnet and is actually the only complete Victorian pottery factory still in existence, being famous for its enormous brick-built bottle kilns. Visitors to the Gladstone Pottery Museum can even try their hand at decorating ceramics, throwing their own pot, or making a detailed china flower.

General Information

Another definite Staffordshire highlight is the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley, where a host of beautiful ceramics are displayed, along with an actual Spitfire plane, local handicrafts, natural history exhibits and a gift shop in the foyer.

Unfortunately, due to withdrawal of funds, the Ceramica museum that was to be found in Bursley and which explored the wealth of history related to the Staffordshire pottery industry closed in 2011. Standing within Burslem Town Hall, Ceramica was founded in 2003 thanks in no small part to a Lottery Grant of more than £2 million.

The Wedgwood Visitor Centre and New Wedgwood Museum

Address: Barlaston, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST12 9ES, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 282986
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, students, families and seniors

Gladstone Pottery Museum

Address: Uttoxter Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST3 1PQ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 237777
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families (two adults and two children) and seniors, children four years old and under are free

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery

Address: Bethesda Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 3DW, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 232323
Open hours: March to October, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

The Dudson Museum

Address: The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5DD, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 285286
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 15:00
Admission: free

Moorcroft Heritage Visit Centre

Address: Sandbach Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 2DQ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 207943
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday - 09:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts for children, guided factory tours available

Etruria Industrial Museum

Address: Lower Bedford Street, Etruria, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7AF, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 233144
Open hours: mid-April to December, Wednesday to Sunday - 12:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families (two adults and two children) and seniors, children five years old and under are free