Make a Weekend of it

There’s so much to do in and around the area and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on it! You can easily fill an entire weekend – or longer – in Stoke-on-Trent and with three hotels located right in the middle of the City Centre, why not make them your base for exploring? 

We’re located in the heart of England, between Manchester and Birmingham and within close reach of other cities like Nottingham, Liverpool and Sheffield, so for your next weekend away, consider trying somewhere new and paying us a visit. 
If history and heritage is your thing, or perhaps you’re after a lively entertainment hub, we’ve got everything you need to make your time with us extra special. 

You’ve seen why the City Centre is a one-stop destination, now read on to see how you can venture beyond and ‘make a weekend of it.’

We're not called the Potteries for nothing you know! If you’re headed to the ceramic capital of the world, it’s an absolute must to head to one (or all) of these destinations, each celebrating the city’s unique heritage and our most famous export by far. 

Located just outside of the City Centre on the banks of the Caldon Canal is the Emma Bridgewater Factory, synonymous with kitschy designs and polka dots.There's fun awaiting the whole family as you can embark on a fascinating factory tour, try your hand at decorating a piece of your very own unique pottery (booking is required for both activities), enjoy a homemade lunch in the cosy café and bask in the sunshine (hopefully!) in the beautiful factory courtyard and garden. You can shop 'til you drop too as there's a factory outlet full of new designs, superb seconds and discontinued items spanning tableware, cookware and textiles - all at reduced prices.

Middleport Pottery is the home of Burleigh, and an award-winning visitor destination located in the heart of Burslem, the ‘Mother Town’ of Stoke-on-Trent. The same traditional handcraft methods of the 1800s are still used here so you’ll want to book onto a factory tour to see them in action. Step into the iconic bottle kiln and learn all about the history of Burleigh pottery.

Just one mile from the City Centre, Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre is located in a century-old factory which houses an authentic bottle kiln too. Visit Moorcroft Museum for insight into the world-renowned brand and which is home to the world’s largest collection of Moorcroft and then treat yourself to some handmade Moorcroft pottery items from their shop. 

The Spode Heritage Centre includes exhibition and gallery areas, demonstrations including painting and transfer printing on ceramics and a shop selling a huge range of ceramics including antique and vintage Spode and Copeland china, craft items from local artists, greetings cards, high quality art prints, books and much more. Guided tours of the Spode factory site are available on request too. Swing by their Potbank Café for a spot of lunch.

The ultimate destination to experience the world-renowned Wedgwood brand, World of Wedgwood is the ideal place to eat, shop and explore. Take in the V&A museum collection, experience the factory tour, turn your hand to pottery in the Master Craft Studio and shop in the factory outlet and flagship store. To round of the day, try the elegant afternoon tea, or enjoy the menu in the Dining Hall, a contemporary take on a worker’s canteen. 

Stoke-on-Trent’s largest museum, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, uses exciting and varied displays to tell the story of The Potteries and includes the world’s finest collection of Staffordshire pottery, items from The Staffordshire Hoard and a Spitfire as just some of the highlights of the collection. But that’s not all; there’s monthly classic cult film screenings(, theatre performances, talks from historian and experts, music concerts AND it’s also home to a cute little café.

Continuing the pottery theme, discover the last complete Victorian pottery factory in the country at Gladstone Pottery Museum. Be amazed by demonstrations of traditional skills, have a go yourself at creating your own personal piece and learn all about the history of the Potteries in the immersive museum. 

The Biddulph Grange Gardens were created in the mid-19th century by James Bateman to display his impressive collection of plants from around the world. The beautiful Biddulph Gardens takes visitors on a miniature tour of the world including Italy, China, Egypt and Scotland. The bright colours and stunning landscapes are really something to behold and the gorgeous aromas are inviting too in this not-to-miss attraction. 

Step right back into history at Ford Green Hall, a must for any history buff. This Grade II listed house dates back to the late 16th century and offers visitors a fascinating insight into the Tudor times in its museum which includes original textiles, ceramics and furniture. 

Once you’ve had your fill of the The Potteries Centre, head to Festival Park which is just a 10-minute walk from the City Centre and 5 minutes from Premier Inn. There you can find many shops including Outfit, Toys R Us, River Island and Next (which houses a Paperchase too), restaurants including Frankie and Benny’s, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and a Toby Carvery located on the canal, a ten-pin bowling alley and an Odeon cinema. Plus, if you’re feeling energetic, you can slot in a workout at M Club gym too!

Just beyond Festival Park lies Stoke Ski Centre where you can hit the slopes no matter the weather. Total beginners and professionals are equally welcome here so grab some skis and a snowboard and either opt for lessons or freestyle it down those hills. If that’s not for you, try tubing – it’s great fun!

You won’t want to miss out on Waterworld, the UK’s number one Tropical Aqua Park, a wet and wild adventure for the whole family, located a short walk from the City Centre. Thrill seekers will love the Space Bowl and Black Hole whilst the beach sun loungers and hot tubs are perfect to just totally chill out. 

It almost needs no introduction! Alton Towers is the ultimate destination for adrenaline junkies and those looking to have a truly magical experience. It incorporates a theme park, including Nemesis, Europe's first inverted rollercoaster, Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop rollercoaster and the latest rollercoaster addition, The Wickerman, plus CBeeBies land, Splash Landings waterpark, Alton Towers Spa, mini golf and a hotel complex for those extra special stays. Please note the theme park season runs from March to early November. It’s a half hour journey by road from the City Centre, or catch the X32 bus. 

Ever watched Ninja Warrior on TV and thought “Yeah. I reckon I could do that…”? Well here’s your chance to put that theory to the test. Inspired by ITV’s hit programme, this indoor obstacle course is the first of its kind in the UK. The unique attraction on Sun Street is just a 5-minute walk from the City Centre and is suitable for all inspiring Ninjas aged 4 and over – you don’t have to have the upper body strength of local Strong Man Eddie Hall to have a lot of fun here! There’s a huge selection of obstacles to tackle including the infamous warped wall.

The award-winning Trentham Gardens boasts 77 timber lodges housing amazing boutiques which are the perfect place to find that special gift and cafés to sit back and unwind. There’s also some great restaurants on-site too like Frankie and Benny’s and Joe’s Kitchen. Head to the gardens themselves and amble around the beautiful mile-long lake, onto the famous Italian Gardens and then through to the woodland, maze and gardens where the fairies live; follow the fairy trail and see if you can spot them all! From a serene setting to an action-packed one – an exciting adventure playground, complete with zip-wire, sand pits and climbing nets will entertain the kids. 

The Trentham Monkey Forest is perfect for the animal-lovers out there. Make some monkey friends as you make your way through this incredible nature park and hang out with 140 free roaming Barbary macaques.

With not one, but two popular football teams in the city, why not take in a game of the world’s favourite sport? Whether you support the Mighty Potters at bet385 Stadium in Stoke, or the Valiants at Vale Park in Burslem, get your scarves and your best chanting voice on!

It’s worth noting that Stoke-on-Trent is within 12 miles of the Peak District too which is perfect for the most scenic of hikes and perhaps a picnic too. 

For more inspiration, go to Visit Stoke, the official tourism site of the city of Stoke-on-Trent where you will find useful information about things to do throughout our six towns and find out what's on.