One city, six towns
Stoke-on-Trent brings together Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Stoke, Fenton and Longton. Each town has its own centre and local identity. Hanley is the city-centre shopping and entertainment destination, while the original town of Stoke sits close to the railway station. Check which place a business means before planning a visit.
The city’s pottery heritage is part of its everyday landscape. Our home illustration shows Burslem Old Town Hall, with its clock turret and golden figure. This guide’s illustration turns to the brick buildings and surviving bottle oven at Middleport Pottery. These are separate locations, rather than parts of one visitor complex.
See a working part of the Potteries
Middleport Pottery combines working ceramic production with heritage visits and independent makers. A factory tour and the heritage trail offer different ways to understand the place. Check the current visit information and book a tour rather than assuming factory access comes with a café stop.
The surrounding Middleport streets are also home to community activity. Middleport Matters works from Harper Street, helping residents take part in local projects and events. A visit can connect pottery history with the organisations and small businesses making use of the area today.
Look beyond a single town-centre search
Trentham, Penkhull, Hartshill, Shelton, Bucknall, Blurton and Meir give the directory different kinds of local coverage. You might want a shop close to home, a garage along a regular journey or a specialist tradesperson who travels across the city. Search by service as well as place.
Some providers are based outside the city boundary, including in Werrington, Brown Edge, Stockton Brook, Kidsgrove and Mow Cop. Their listings retain the actual base and identify wider service coverage. Newcastle-under-Lyme is a neighbouring borough, with its own town centre and council, rather than a seventh Stoke-on-Trent town.
Use the right local starting point
The city council is the starting point for Stoke-on-Trent municipal services. Community groups, arts venues and independent businesses have their own contact and booking arrangements. Our community guide brings together useful starting points, while What’s On focuses on dated activities.
For an outing, distinguish a site’s ordinary admission from a separately ticketed event. Trentham Gardens, its Shopping Village and a seasonal performance can have different arrangements. The relevant organiser’s page is the best place to check the visit you intend to make.
Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
More local guides
- Things to do in Stoke-on-Trent: pottery, parks and local outings
- Stoke-on-Trent community contacts: local help and places to get involved
- Shopping in Stoke-on-Trent: ceramics, markets and independent shops
- List your business in the Stoke-on-Trent Directory
- What’s on in Stoke-on-Trent: November and December 2026