Things to Do in Stoke-On-Trent
As part of its six towns, Stoke-on-Trent boasts world-class museums, beautiful gardens, and thrilling attractions such as its incredible stash of Anglo-Saxon gold and its Spitfire aircraft – just two highlights among many!
Pottery enthusiasts can visit Emma Bridgewater’s acclaimed factory for an insider tour, or head over to Gladstone Pottery Museum and witness bone china cast, fettled, sponged, fired and decorated in coal-fired ovens.
Explore the Downtown Area
Stoke-on-Trent’s downtown is an exciting hub of culture, food, and fun, featuring museums and boutiques to discover, an assortment of restaurants offering dining for every taste, nightlife venues such as bars or live music venues, as well as historic sights like Potteries Museum & Art Gallery that reflect its long and rich history. Additionally, it features numerous green spaces ideal for hiking or simply relaxing – perfect places for all sorts of entertainment activities!
Take a stroll along the canals that powered the Industrial Revolution; Heritage Canoe Trail is especially popular. This relaxing activity provides several routes throughout the city; some may take less time while others could last all day or longer. Furthermore, canals also serve as excellent places for cycling, kayaking and canoeing to take a break from city life.
Stoke-on-Trent offers many free activities, from exploring its vibrant heritage at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery to enjoying beautiful Victorian gardens at Biddulph Grange. There are plenty of family-friendly activities in Farley to keep everyone occupied, such as visiting Trentham Monkey Forest where more than 140 free-roaming macaques will amuse and entertain you. Or if thrills are what you seek, rollercoasters at Alton Towers Resort in Farley will set your heart racing. To extend the longevity of your travel funds, book Manchester Airport (MAN) Security Fast Track to avoid long lines at the terminal and use that time more wisely! Plus, there’s always plenty to see and do in Stoke-on-Trent!
Visit Alton Towers
Stoke-on-Trent provides budget travelers with plenty of accommodation, restaurants and attractions suitable for tight budgets. As England’s pottery capital, its rich history can be experienced through free and low-cost museums; scenic parks and canals allow peaceful strolls or picnics; scenic parks provide ample scenic strolling spaces while picnic areas provide relaxing relaxation opportunities; serene parks offer peaceful strolling space as do serene canals for peaceful strolling or picnicking; its rich pottery history can also be explored at Wedgwood Museum and Emma Bridgewater Factory, while listening to 140 macaques chatter at Trentham Monkey Forest!
Hanley, Tunstall, Burslem, Longton, Fenton and Stoke form this polycentric city that spans six towns: Hanley, Tunstall, Burslem, Longton Fenton and Stoke. Arnold Bennett immortalized five of them with familiar aliases while leaving Fenton out as one of its smaller rural settlements.
Alton Towers resort, famous for its thrilling rollercoasters like The Smiler and Wicker Man, will set your heart racing. Those brave enough can scale the Sky Shuttle for an aerial view before experiencing its exhilarating Sky Ride experience.
As well as offering plenty of cultural attractions, Hanley also boasts plenty of retail therapy in the form of Intu Potteries Shopping Center with over 90 shops located there. This mall features high street brands as well as designer fashion retailers.
Trentham Estate provides families with younger children a host of activities on its 725 acres, such as revitalized Italian Gardens and taking a mile-long walk around its picturesque lake. Furthermore, the estate houses botanical gardens and lakeside miniature trains for kids to use for playtime outdoors.
Take a Hike in the Peak District National Park
The Peak District National Park provides an abundance of fun activities. Here you will find everything from dramatic sandstone ridges to mesmerizing caves; gardens, stately homes and the legendary pottery of Josiah Wedgwood all await discovery here.
Head out on an unforgettable hike through Tideswell and Millers Dale for one of the area’s most picturesque hikes. Traverse the rolling countryside on a figure-of-eight route past stately manors and charming villages en route. You may be lucky enough to spot wild red and fallow deer while passing Roaches ridgeline; climbers often find this gritstone cliff beautiful when its vibrant purple heather blooms with vibrant color in spring and summertime.
As soon as your adventure is completed, head off on the Peak District Heritage Canoe Trail for another relaxing journey through its rich history and natural splendor. Look out for special route markers along this 20-mile pathway designed for paddlers of all abilities!
As you go about your daily business, keep an ear out for the chatter of 140 free-roaming monkeys at Trentham Monkey Forest. Book a breakfast with monkeys experience for an up-close view of this family-friendly attraction!
Stoke-on-Trent boasts no shortage of entertainment venues, with three impressive theaters and two professional football clubs competing for your attention. You’ll also find West End shows, household-name comedians and up-and-coming bands. And for shoppers, Hanley Potteries Shopping Centre and Trentham Garden Village both provide ample shopping opportunities; Hanley features 77 timber huts housing major retailers as well as independent boutiques while Trentham Garden Village features outdoor and lifestyle brands aplenty.
Watch a Movie at the Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre
If you love going to the cinema, Stoke-on-Trent offers many choices for filmgoers. There are numerous independent and foreign theaters that show new releases; you may even enjoy viewing some films in their original language! In many of these independent venues there are no advertisements or trailers so that the main feature can unfold uninterrupted.
There are also a number of family-friendly theaters in the city, such as Stratford-on-Avon’s Acorn Theatre and Hanley Park’s Central Theatre, both offering family friendly productions. Furthermore, several small cinemas show children’s movies and documentaries; you can visit these local venues’ websites to check which shows are running when.
Stoke-on-Trent is an ideal destination for family travel in England. Boasting an abundant pottery heritage and host to cultural and historical attractions ranging from museums and gardens to theme parks like Drayton Manor and Trentham Gardens as well as zoos and monkey forests, Stoke is sure to please all ages of visitors.
Stoke-on-Trent is also an excellent destination for concertgoers or those interested in attending live theatre, offering both professional and amateur venues, music venues known for hosting West End shows, comedy events, as well as entertainment arenas hosting popular up-and-coming bands and musicians. There’s truly something here for everyone in this city of six towns!
Visit Biddulph Grange Garden
Stoke-on-Trent offers something for every visitor, from thrilling roller coasters and thrilling theme parks to relaxing gardens and leisurely walks along canals and parks. Stoke’s rich pottery history can be experienced at museums, factories and factories; leisurely strolls along parks and canals or picnicking are perfect opportunities to appreciate its landscaped charms; there’s also a vibrant arts scene featuring theatres, professional football clubs, household-name comedians and emerging cult musicians – plus there are budget accommodation and dining options that make trips easy on budget traveller’s budgets!
Biddulph Grange’s Victorian garden is an incredible National Trust property that deserves to be explored. Packed with hidden tunnels and pathways for exploration, its expansive plant collection spans the globe; including Italian terraces, Egyptian pyramids and Himalayan glens. Open throughout the year but don’t miss June for its unforgettable Dahlia Walk featuring colorful blooms planted between giant buttressed yew hedges!
At the garden there are also a variety of restaurants and cafes, and picnicking facilities where visitors can bring in their own food to enjoy in a designated picnic area. Alternatively, for an alternative dining option there is also a tea room offering hot and cold drinks, lunches, and cakes – making the garden the perfect destination.
Biddulph Grange is an ideal destination for families with kids, offering treetop walkways and fairy trails to keep younger visitors enthralled, plus an aviary housing exotic birds. Plus, for an unforgettable experience book the “breakfast with monkeys” experience where you’ll enter the monkey enclosure prior to opening hours to feed and interact with these adorable animals!
