Holiday Destinations in Stoke-On-Trent
Often overlooked, The Potteries offers an unforgettable British weekend escape. Discover its rich cultural history in museums and factories; dine well at affordable restaurants; relax during canal cruises or at Trentham Gardens.
Discover antique bottle kilns, Victorian art pottery, and coal mining history at Ford Green Hall before exploring revitalized Italian and flower gardens in Tunstall Park.
1. The Potteries
The Potteries (or Stoke-on-Trent as it is known locally) is an area rich in museums and factories that appeal to history enthusiasts and culture lovers alike. Additionally, this city features a theme park, beautiful gardens, and plenty of attractions!
Cultural Quarter in Hanley is at the core of city, where The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery can be found. Here, visitors will find fine and decorative arts exhibitions, costume, local history and archaeology displays as well as world-class collections of Staffordshire ceramics from Staffordshire Hoard.
As you stroll around the Cultural Quarter, you will come across restaurants serving food from across the globe – delis, tapas bars and family-oriented eateries are plentiful – plus there is The Sugarmill venue if you prefer something more lively!
Ford Green Hall, a 17th century timber-framed farmhouse now serving as a period museum, features antique bottle kilns and Victorian art pottery displays as well as displays about the area’s rich coal mining history. You may also want to visit Tunstall Park which provides a mile-long stroll adorned with lush floral gardens.
Alton Towers provides thrills galore, offering thrilling rides for adults and kids alike! Don’t miss this family-friendly theme park during your stay in Stoke-on-Trent; its activities will make for an unforgettable holiday!
To spend an enjoyable and leisurely day out, take a canal cruise and stroll along one of the picturesque towpaths. Or discover nature by visiting Trentham Gardens’ 750 acres of parks and woodlands featuring lakes, rejuvenated Italian and magnificent flower gardens as well as an exquisite manor house.
2. Alton Towers
Staffordshire’s largest theme park offers thrills for kids (and big kids). Alton Towers Resort is one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations and features thrilling theme park attractions, water park attractions, Cbeebies Land attractions, spa services and mini golf. Adrenaline junkies will love Alton Towers Resort for its world-class rollercoasters Wicker Man, Nemesis Reborn and Oblivion rollercoasters to satisfy their thrill-seeking itch.
Families with young children will also enjoy spending an entertaining and exciting day at Cbeebies Land – the world’s first family zone dedicated to Cbeebies TV characters like Tinky Winky and Teletubbies, Hey Duggee Live and Postman Pat! This will keep them laughing.
Are you in search of something more relaxing? Look no further than Alton Towers Water Park’s indoor section – open all year excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day for maintenance; though two weeks are closed off each January for repairs. Plus there’s the Calypso Cave to explore with family members or just to relax after exploring all that nature has to offer!
At Sandon Hall Resort is also home to the world’s first Cbeebies Hotel – designed specifically with kids in mind! Here, guests can meet their favourite TV characters while staying there while children will love all its bright colours and exciting activities! Plus it’s conveniently close to Cbeebies Land for even more entertainment and activities!
Longton’s Gladstone Pottery Museum provides an insight into the region’s pottery history with displays and workshops, while further south in Barlaston lies the World of Wedgwood Heritage Showcase, offering hands-on pottery demonstrations as well as factory tours.
3. Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens offers more than just gardens and wildlife parks – it is an experience. Spread across 725 acres, its estate features award-winning gardens, world class botanical collections, glorious ancient woodland and even its own outdoor shopping village! Recently awarded ‘Green Space of the Year 2021’ from iTravel Staycation Awards. Trentham Gardens provides tranquility as well as fun for all ages.
Contemporary garden designs in Britain have grown into some of the finest examples in Europe, with Tom Stuart-Smith’s Italian Gardens earning multiple Chelsea Gold-medal wins and featuring Rivers of Grass, Floral Labyrinths and Floral Labyrinths as hallmarks of excellence. Furthermore, there’s the UK’s first barefoot walk, adventure playground mazes and circular lakeside walks around Capability Brown designed lakes featuring boat trips.
At Monkey Forest, children will find plenty of activities for themselves at this 60 acre woodland with 140 free range barbary macaques living cage- and fence-free in 60 acres of woodland. Piper loved being able to interact with these adorable animals and we both fell completely in love with these majestic creatures! In their feeding area they are given fruit, vegetables and seeds in addition to special pellets designed to keep their health.
Trentham Gardens offer more than just gorgeous scenery; their gardens host cafes, restaurants and a selection of bars; while their shopping village features both independent boutiques as well as nationally acclaimed high street names housed in timber lodges. In addition to these features, Trentham Gardens also features its own Premier Inn hotel featuring 119 rooms; you can purchase a package deal that includes staying there as well as tickets for both Trentham Gardens and Monkey Forest to maximize your visit experience.
4. Ford Green Hall
Step back in time with a visit to Ford Green Hall, a 17th-century timber and stone farmhouse that has been turned into a museum. Step inside to view period furnishings representing life for farmer Hugh Ford who once resided here; original textiles, ceramics and furniture can also be found arranged throughout.
Hugh Ford began construction of The Hall in 1624, and it remained within his family for 200 years before it was purchased by Stoke-on-Trent Council in 1946 and opened as a museum in 1952. Its original timber-frame construction remains, while two brick extensions were added during this timeframe, including one in 1728 and again 1734. The oldest section is timber-framed while brick extensions were later added by 1728 and again 1734 respectively.
Ford Green Hall Ltd, a charitable company owned and run by volunteers and members of the community. Profits generated by its operations go toward maintaining and improving the property.
Booking a private vacation rental near a museum can be an ideal way to enjoy all the comforts of home for your entire group, including access to a fully equipped kitchen and full amenities like parking or pet-friendly properties. Check availability today of your favorite one on our site!
5. Trentham Estate
Trentham Estate encompasses 725 acres and features award-winning gardens, glorious ancient woodland and an outdoor shopping village – not to mention 140 free roaming Barbary Macaques at Trentham Monkey Forest! For even more excitement try Treetop Extreme or take the high rope adventure course challenge.
Trentham Gardens welcome visitors with expansive perennial plantings that create captivating seasonal vistas, set against historic parkland and Capability Brown designed lake. Walk around or ride Miss Elizabeth – an electrically powered boat designed by Capability Brown! Open all year long with an event calendar including craft fairs and fireworks shows!
Robin Wight has decorated the gardens with wire fairies made by local artist Robin Wight that make this stroll more than enjoyable! At the visitor centre they provide maps to help locate them while it can be great fun looking out for them as you wander.
Trentham also offers three incredible spots to relax and dine – a tearoom within its gardens, Terrazzo del Giardino (serving Italian cuisine with strong Venetian influences) and Cafe which serve hot/cold meals, snacks and beverages – not forgetting a large Garden Centre offering products for home and garden.
St Modwen owns and manages Trentham Gardens estate. St Modwen invested PS120 million to transform them into a premier leisure destination by renovating their listed buildings, creating a garden centre, retail village and providing various leisure attractions.
