Stoke on Trent

We have made the trip to Stoke several times--but it was a few years ago. The driving was hectic--lots of roundabouts and the various potteries are mostly in different places. People at the potteries told us that many years ago a bus would connect to each town. The main Wedgwood facility was easy enough to get to and the factory tour was great--china/gift shop/cafe all right there. I think this is located in Burslem. There was a really great outlet for Wedgwood close into the town (Stoke?) but not easy to find. Within walking distance was Ansley which was a must for me but it is an outlet store. Royal Doulton was in yet another area. The Spode place was great but the most difficult to find. It was my favorite and the cafe/tea room there is the "Blue Italian." We did not do the factory tour there but shopped and enjoyed the cafe. Not sure of how many other potteries in the area but I don't think Royal Worcester is there since we toured the factory store near Shropshire. Would like to revisit but my husband refuses to drive there again--and he is good at driving on the left and dealing with roundabouts. We did not stay in the potteries area but selected a B&B in a cute village about ten miles away.

When are you taking the trip to Stoke on Trent? Watch out for the Spring Holiday, usually in April, when some of the factories are closed. Most of the outlet stores are open. We went to the Wedgwood factory which was open with an interesting museum and fun factory demonstrations. We stayed in a business class hotel downtown which was just fine...not necessary charming but with modern comfort and a pleasant café. Moorcroft has some discount seconds for sale that make great souvenirs.

Here is a link to a local guide. The Potteries are not what they were since the famous brands shipped their manufacturing to the Far East. It is slowly changing with the realisation that the bean counters were wrong and "made in England" with English clays/centuries of skills etc was the USP justifying premium pricing.

http://www.visitstoke.co.uk/potteries/

Declare an interest in that one of my maternal great grandmothers and her family came from Newcastle under Lyme and worked in the industry.

Hi Linda,

Thank you so much for the link!! It is so informative and helpful!! Very glad to hear that the manufacturers are starting to realize that there IS value in maintaining (or bringing back ) production to where talent and proper natural resources are, that is back home to England.

I inherited a large amount of bone china from my Mother, and have always loved bone china of all types.

We are very excited about visiting a place where bone china is still made!

Thanks again,
Virginia

Hi Kathleen,

Thanks so much for letting me know when the potteries will most likely be closed.

We will be visiting on a Wednesday towards the end of May. Hopefully we will find most of them open on that day. Unfortunately, we will only have a few hours to visit only one of the potteries, as we will be on our way up to Keswick in the Lake District.

We are thinking that we would like to visit the Wedgwood factory and visitor center. It sounds like they are in the middle of a big remodel which is supposed to open the beginning of April. My husband and I both love bone china. I also love Wedgewood items!! We are hoping that the Wedgewood factory and visitor center will have opened by then.

Thanks for your information!

Regards,
Virginia

Hi Susan,

I appreciate your telling me about the traffic situation. We have looked at it on Google Maps, street view, and it does look VERY congested and rather intimidating. We will only have time to visit one pottery so we were thinking about the Wedgewood one. It is so good to hear that you really liked it, and that it didn't seem to be too difficult to get to. Thanks for mentioning that it is in Burslem. I have read that they are in the middle of a big remodel, and that it is due to reopen the beginning of April.

We are going to be there on a Wednesday towards the end of May....we hope that it will have reopened by then.

We are so looking forward to visiting there!!!

Sometime we will have to return to England and plan to spend more time in the potteries area. Both my husband and I love bone china, and particularly enjoy factory tours where you can really see a product being produced.

Thanks again,
Virginia

I think you have made a good decision to visit the Wedgwood pottery center. The factory tour is good and this pottery should be easy for you to find--it is situated in a somewhat countryside setting if I remember correctly. To visit several potteries really takes a couple days. Hope you enjoy your visit and have a great trip to England!