The 10 Best Museums in Stoke-on-Trent, England

Gladstone is the only complete Victorian pottery factory from the days when coal burning ovens made the world's finest bone china. Traditional skills, original workshops, and the cobbled yard and huge bottle ovens transport visitors back in time. Visit the gift shop and tea room and have a go at throwing a pot, making a bone china flower or decorating pottery. Please allow two to three hours for your visit. The shop and cafe, which serves a selction of drinks and light lunches, are open to non-museum visitors.

Art and Ceramics Gallery and shop selling original art and collectable ceramics by local producers many which celebrate the unique Potteries heritage. Barewall represents many Staffordshire and Potteries artists and independent ceramic designer makers making it an ideal one stop shop to find special Stoke-on-Trent souvenirs and gifts.

Street Artist Professor Pigment has spent the last few years attempting to make the people of Staffordshire feel more pride in where they are from and now is the time to really dazzle the city and its occupants with his arts trail entitled Trail and Error.

A ceramics centre, located at Valentine Clays headquarters, focusing on a new visitor experience that promotes the importance of clay to the ceramics industry and Stoke-on-Trent. The new facility based in the heart of The Potteries comprises of a contemporary gallery, exhibition space, workshops and events.

The World of Wedgwood, a unique, interactive visitor experience celebrating the very best of British craftsmanship. Experience Wedgwood for the day through shopping, food, factory tour and art and craft workshops.

Travel back in time and discover the history of the Potteries, including the world’s greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics and The Staffordshire Hoard, a trove of Anglo-Saxon treasure! The museum has more than one hundred and fifty thousand objects on display across a range of subjects including; Ceramics, archaeology (including the Staffordshire Hoard), fine and decorative arts, natural sciences and social history. We have a lively and engaging exhibitions and events programme with many free events for the whole family to enjoy. Enjoy a light lunch or afternoon snack in our relaxing Café Museum with regular musical accompaniment by Frank Leigh. Browse in The Foyer Shop for unique quality gifts, cards, books and souvenirs of the Potteries.

The Etruria Industrial Museum is the home of Jesse Shirley's Bone and Flint Mill which operated from 1857 to 1972. It ground bone, flint and Cornish stone for the production of English Bone China. The mill is driven by an 1820s beam engine installed in 1857 with steam raised by a 1903 Cornish boiler built locally. The museum is operated by volunteers and has limited opening days. It is operated (in steam) on 6 weekends a year. Please check the website for dates and times.

The Spode Museum Trust Heritage Centre tells the story of Spode and its importance to Stoke over the 230 years of its operation with displays of its history, working conditions and people and of its products from the 1770s until the factory closed in 2008. Activities at the Centre include demonstrations of China Painting and transfer printing on antique machinery from the original copperplates. Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 10.30am to 4.00pm. Parties and Groups by appointment. Admission is free with guided tours of the Blue Room and the factory site at a small charge. The Heritage Centre has a large retail shop selling vintage and antique Spode and Copeland ceramics.

Paintings and works on paper by a wide range of Modern British Artists. We aim to offer Art Lovers high quality works at excellent prices coupled to world-class friendly service. Opening hours: Sunday - Monday CLOSED Tuesday - 10am - 4pm Wednesday - 10am - 4pm Thursday - 10am - 5pm Friday - 10am - 5pm Saturday - 10am -5pm FREE PARKING Located opposite Jubilee 2 (swimming and fitness)