A Proper Stokie Day

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is the home of the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest and most valuable Anglo-Saxon treasure ever to be found, consisting of over 3,500 items. This is an absolute must-see for anyone with an interest in history and heritage as the exhibition sets out a rare and incredibly interesting glimpse into our ancestors’ lives. See for yourself one of the most impressive finds of the 21st century in this display which includes a mead hall adorned with Anglo-Saxon artwork, a replica fire pit and king’s chair.

A Stoke-on-Trent delicacy absolutely adored by locals... Oatcakes are like a savoury pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast and arguably best served with breakfast items like cheese, bacon, mushroom, sausage, and eggs. However, the combos are endless so we’ll let you be the judge. Head to the Oatie Mostons van on Upper Market Square for your oatcakes fix.

Owing to Stoke-on-Trents rich ceramic heritage, being home to the likes of famed Potter Josiah Wedgwood, bottle ovens used to dominate the skyline of the city. You can still see some of those remaining in the City Centre, at the Dudson Centre, or head to Lawrence Davies – they’re a graphic design company housed within a genuine bottle oven – perfect for those Instagram shots!

Titanic Brewery was founded in Burslem, one of Stoke-on-Trent's six towns, in 1985 by local brothers, Keith & Dave Bott with the purpose of creating great beer. The inspiration for the brewery's name comes from Stoke-on-Trent’s connections with Titanic’s Captain Smith, who was born in Stoke and the beers often hold a reference to the nautical disaster in their names. You'll find some guest beers in local bars and pubs such as Bottlecraft and Wetherspoon.

Global sensation and Singer Robbie Williams hails from Stoke-on-Trent. He shot to fame with boy band Take That during the 90’s and has enjoyed tremendous success in his solo career too. Head to HMV in intu Potteries to pick up his greatest hits!

The Spitfire is the star of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery and was donated to the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1972 to honour the life of Reginald J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, who was from North Staffordshire. It’s currently being restored to its former glory and will be returned to the museum in 2021 in a showstopping new display.

And speaking of Reginald Mitchell, why not sink a pint in the local Wetherspoon pub, named after the local hero?

As lunch time rolls round, treat yourself to a sausage roll or a good old old meat and potato pie from local pie shop Wrights Pies - veggie options available too!

‘Our Front Door’ is a project initiated by Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID in partnership with Entrepreneurs Network, a gallery and printshop located on Piccadilly, and YMCA. The new and exciting venture injects colour and vibrancy into the area via the provision of street art by incredibly talented and local artists, also providing a platform for the city’s creatives to showcase their stunning work. Can you find them all? Pick up a trail map from one of our Street Ambassadors, from businesses along Piccadilly or intu Potteries. 

Discover 200 years of pottery produced in Stoke-on-Trent at the unique Dudson Museum. Explore the original Dudson factory courtyard and step inside a Grade II listed bottle oven. You'll find a breathtaking collection tracing the fascinating history of the Dudson company from 1800 to the present day. The museum provides a vivid insight into 200 years of pottery history and the oldest surviving family business in the ceramic tableware industry. With free entry and helpful, friendly staff, the museum is a must-see for any visitor to the Potteries!

Nutty for footy? Stoke-on-Trent has two great teams; Stoke City and Port Vale. For Stoke fans, head to the Stoke City shop in intu Potteries to grab some merchandise from our oldest and longest running football team which has seen incredible displays of sporting talent from the likes of legends Stanley Matthews, Gordan Banks and in recent years, Peter Crouch. From shirts, footballs and gifts to tickets for games, you can’t get much more ‘Stoke' than this!

OK, not quite 'meet' maybe, but you can ogle at the statues of two local heroes who we're proud to say hail from our city.

Check out footballing legend Stanley Matthews in Upper Market Square. Matthews was born February 1st 1915 in Hanley and went on to become the first professional footballer to be knighted, becoming the most renowned player of modern times. His professional career spanned 33 years and when he reached retirement, he had made nearly 700 League appearances for Stoke City and Blackpool and had played for England 84 times, including two appearances for Great Britain. During his career, Stanley Matthews gained respect not only as a great player but also as a gentleman. This is exemplified by the fact that despite playing in nearly seven hundred league games, he was never booked.

A 2-metre high statue of novelist, playwright and essayist Arnold Bennett (1867 - 1931) is located on Bethesda Street outside The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. Bennett, whose most highly regarded works include the Clayhanger series and The Card – which was made into a film starring Alec Guinness – drew on his experience of life in the Potteries in his literature. He was born in Hanley and lived in Burslem and went on to become a figure of major significance in politics and culture in Britain in the first part of the 20th century.

These are just two of the 18 statues you'll find in the City Centre vicinity, and of 40 across the wider city. Why not take on the sculpture trail here?