With the Easter holiday not far away, households eager to get away for the long weekend might be wondering where to go this year. Heading overseas might seem a top option, but with pricey flights and accommodation, as well as airport queues, you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, which may make you reconsider.
That’s why the team at Time Out have put together a list of the best, but most underrated, city breaks in the UK. One surprising addition is Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. This overlooked city is said to be one of the largest in the Midlands and is home to the world’s largest-ever find of Anglo-Saxon treasure, the Staffordshire Hoard, according to Visit Staffordshire.
Stoke’s love affair with ceramics saw it awarded the World Craft City status in 2024, which is why it is affectionately known as The Potteries. Visitors can explore the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, which is home to works from celebrated local artists like Arthur Berry and Clarice Cliff.
You can also visit many of the sites that cemented Stoke as a must-visit site for ceramic lovers, such as the World of Wedgewood and the Middleport Pottery working factory. If you’re a little lost for ideas, book a tour at the Moorcroft Pottery or visit the Gladstone Pottery Museum, where the Great Pottery Throwdown television show is filmed.
Indulge in some crafty capers in the Decorating Studio at the Emma Bridgewater Factory and learn to throw a pot at World of Wedgwood or the Love Clay Ceramics Centre, where you can take to the Potter’s Wheel and create a unique memento of your visit. You can also visit the magnificent timber-frame farmhouse and garden at Ford Green Hall.
If pottery isn’t your thing, try Stoke’s plush open green spaces, such as Central Forest Park and Park Hall Country Park. These Victorian-era parks are quite the juxtaposition to Stoke’s brick-and-mortar centre.
Walk around the city’s historic canals and or cycle around its stunning lakes and rivers like the picture-perfect Trentham lakes. Close by are the Staffordshire Moorlands and the Peak District.
You can also visit the city’s sculpture trail, which pays homage to Stoke’s famous names, artists and local history. When night falls, watch a West End show at the Regent Theatre or a live band at Victoria Hall.
There is also plenty for the family to do. The Trentham Estate boasts breathtaking gardens and a mile-long lake teeming with wildlife and a family of beavers, according to Visit Staffordshire. Stroll through the beautiful Italian Gardens or take the family to visit the more than 140 free-roaming Barbary macaques at Trentham Monkey Forst.
Enjoy shopping at Stoke’s 20 potteries, where you’re bound to find a bargain while filling up on the region’s famous Staffordshire Oatcake – a savoury pancake made with oatmeal. The city also offers a range of accommodations, from luxurious four-star hotels to budget hotels.