As a lump of damp clay spins frantically on the potter’s wheel, I tentatively ease my fingers around it, hoping it will soon resemble a pot. Thankfully, two instructors are guiding our group of six, offering tips and, in my case, rescuing a collapsing pile of clay. Glancing at the others’ creations elegant vases and bowls I look at mine, which more closely resembles a volcano. Still, I’m impressed with myself for creating something that resembles pottery, and it’s been a fun, hands-on experience.
I’ve wanted to try throwing a pot since moving to Stoke-on-Trent 14 years ago, and at World of Wedgwood, I finally had the chance. Channel Four’s The Great Pottery Throw Down is filmed at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton, one of the six towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent. World-famous for its ceramics, Stoke was awarded World Craft City status in July 2024, and 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the city’s elevation to city status. As an honorary Stokie, it seemed like the perfect time to explore more of my adopted hometown.
World of Wedgwood is one of the city’s leading attractions, still producing Wedgwood ceramics. I join a guided tour of their V&A Wedgwood Collection, where our guide, Julia, talks through some of the key items in the 3,000-piece collection. Josiah Wedgwood, who founded the Etruria Works in the city, revolutionized mass production of ceramics. Among the treasures on display are Wedgwood’s neoclassical designs, such as the iconic blue jasperware, and the First Day Vase, which Wedgwood made himself.
There’s a local joke that you can tell someone’s from Stoke if they lift up crockery to check the stamp on the base to see where it was made. After lunch at the Lunar restaurant, my husband checks his plate and says, “Yep, it’s a Wedgwood.” The restaurant’s décor reflects Wedgwood’s legacy, with a large moon hanging in the center of the room, a nod to the Lunar Society of the Enlightenment, which Wedgwood was part of.
Emma Bridgewater, a contemporary Stoke ceramics brand, has been making pottery since the 1980s. I visit their busy public decorating studio, where I paint a floral design on a half-pint mug. After 90 minutes of careful work, I’m mostly pleased with my creation. An afternoon tea at their cozy café, complete with light sandwiches and scones slathered in cream, is the perfect way to unwind.
Factory tours are a staple attraction in Stoke. Middleport Pottery, home to Burleigh Pottery, offers guided tours of the factory that has been in continuous use since 1889. It’s fascinating to watch potters using techniques that have been passed down for over 100 years. One of the most captivating moments is watching underglaze tissue printing, a technique where ink designs on tissue paper are transferred directly onto pottery by hand. This is the only place still using this method, and it’s mesmerizing to see a room of skilled workers at their craft.
The ceramics gallery at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley is another highlight. It brilliantly explores the history of pottery, alongside collections of fine art and local history. The museum is located in my favorite part of the city center, with the pedestrianized Piccadilly lined with charming places to eat and drink, such as Bottlecraft, and independent shops like Drop City Books, which bring a sense of community to the area.
2025 will be a year of celebrations for Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary. Local chef Cris Cohen will launch a centenary menu at Feasted Chef’s Table, offering dishes inspired by the heritage of the city’s six towns. The popular Trentham Gardens will host a special music festival in May, and a Celebration Weekend will take place in June. In September, the British Ceramics Biennial will celebrate contemporary ceramics with a festival. It’s an exciting time to witness how Stoke-on-Trent marks this milestone and to look forward to what the next 100 years will bring for the place I now call home.
