What to do and see in Stoke-on-Trent, England: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do

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.

We're BottleCraft, a craft beer shop and bar in Stoke-on-Trent. If great beer is your thing, pay us a visit. We've got hundreds to choose from, from over 80 breweries around the world. Real ales, craft beers, porters, stouts, continental beers and lagers, ciders and perries; there's something for every taste. There's also a selection of wines, spirits and soft drinks.

Middleport Pottery Home of Burleigh is a unique visitor attraction. We are open to the public and have a whole host of things to see and do. -Burleigh Factory Shop Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm/Sun 10am-4pm -Middleport Visitor Centre Open Tues-Sun 10am-4pm -Cafe Open Mon-Sun 9am-4pm (Service ends at 3.30pm) -Factory Tours Tues-Thurs at 11am and 2pm, and Fri at 10.30am (all guided tours must be pre-booked) On arriving at the visitor centre reception situated in the old lodge you can collect a map designed to guide you through areas of the factory that bring to life the history of the building and the people behind the pottery itself. Enjoy tea and cake on the canal side in the cafe. Understand the whole production process on one of the pre-booked guided tours. Then finish the day off with a visit to the Burleigh factory shop, where we have a wide range of handcrafted pottery. The Prince's Regeneration Trust raised £8.5 million to purchase the Middleport Pottery site and to carry out restoration work which prevented existing jobs and skills from being lost from the area and will ensure the future of this unique site. The funding came from a range of sources including the Regional Growth Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and European Regional Development Fund as well as from private donors, Stoke-On-Trent City Council has been a key partner in the project. Middleport Pottery continues to be the 'Home of Burleigh'; the pottery business which occupies approximately half the site. Burleigh is now owned by Denby Holdings and they continue to produce beautiful ware in the building which has been their home since it was built in 1888. Opened in 2014 Middleport Pottery features a visitor's centre, Tearoom, Middleport Studios, Burleigh Factory Shop, Exhibitions and fully restored Steam Engine.

The Emma Bridgewater factory lies in the heart of the historic Stoke Potteries region, in a sunny Victorian factory on the banks of the Caldon Canal. Join us on a factory tour, try your hand at decorating a piece of your very own unique pottery, relax for lunch in our beautiful cafe, or enjoy an afternoon in the garden behind the factory. We’ve got a gorgeous factory shop, full of your favourite pieces and a lovely gift shop selling our newest designs. The factory opens its doors for guided tours every Monday to Friday. Visit our website to make on-line bookings and for the latest event information (booking required for tours, decroating studio sessions and afternoon teas).

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.