Between Manchester And Birmingham Is A City With A Vibrant Food Scene, Beautiful Pottery, And Family Fun

If William Shakespeare, heavy metal, and Britain's Industrial Revolution seem to have nothing in common, pay a visit to the West Midlands in England, the birthplace of these creative, pioneering tour de forces. This historic region is anchored by bustling Birmingham, the UK's second largest city, known for its excellent culinary scene, cultural offerings, and labyrinthine canals. Along with Birmingham, the West Midlands has many hubs of creativity worth exploring, particularly "The Potteries," a collection of cities at the center of Britain's ceramics industry. The unmissable heart of "The Potteries" is Stoke-on-Trent, a city steeped in beautiful ceramics, family fun, and a vibrant food scene.

Nestled between Birmingham and Manchester on the banks of the River Trent, Stoke-on-Trent is recognized by the World Crafts Council as a "World Craft City" for its ceramics production. Widely considered the world capital of ceramics, Stoke-on-Trent's pottery tradition stretches back 300 years and is rooted in the area's abundance of coarse clay and access to industrial coalfields. Visitors looking to connect with its pottery heritage can take a factory tour of Middleport Pottery, one of the city's last working Victorian potteries still using original techniques. The city is also heaving with shops and factories like the World of Wedgwood flagship shop, Emma Bridgewater Factory, and Burleigh Factory Shop, all awash in fine pottery for purchase from prestigious brands. 

For family fun, pop into a pottery studio and get creative spinning clay confections. The sprawling woodland escape Trentham Estate boasts shopping, playgrounds, and gardens that make an amazing day out. Families can monkey around at Trentham Monkey Forest, home to dozens of Barbary macaques. After working up an appetite, fuel up on regional "potters" specialties or grab a table at one of the city's top, contemporary spots.

Pottery "throwing," as turning clay on the wheel is called, is a way of life in Stoke-on-Trent. Guests ages 11 and up can pop into the Clay Studio at World of Wedgwood for a one or three-hour experience throwing their own Jasperware pot. For younger tykes between four and 10, the Clay Club Potter's Wheel Class spends a half hour teaching little hands how to work on the potter's wheel. The only caveat is it can take up to six weeks to fire your masterpiece. However, you can prepay postage and have your pot shipped when it's ready. 

A packed day of outdoor, family fun is on the agenda at the spectacular Trentham Estate, a 725-acre domain dating back to the 16th century. This lakeside idyll is filled with wildlife, including cattle, sheep, deer, beavers, and more than 40 bird species, and blanketed in several magnificent gardens. The showstopper is the Italian Gardens, adorned with sculptures, fountains, and romantic architectural features like a 19th-century trellis walk and a pretty, time-weathered loggia. Kids can get their wiggles out at Adventure Playground, which boasts ziplines, a toddler playground, driving and karting tracks, a "hide and speak" maze, and more. Parents can opt for retail therapy at Trentham Shopping Village, lined with an array of "high street" and independent shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Trentham Monkey Forest offers a unique opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with endangered Barbary macaques, monkeys native to Algeria and Morocco. The 60-acre park is a research center and conservation site housing 140 of these fascinating creatures, who visitors can observe going about their business in the UK's largest primate habitat. The Monkey Forest is located on the Trentham Estate, but note that it has its own separate entrance.

You can't leave Stoke-on-Trent without trying Staffordshire oatcakes and lobby, traditional foods that fed the area's potters. Oatcakes are a savory pancake made of oats, flour, and yeast, which are stuffed with items like cheese, bacon, mushrooms, and eggs, while lobby is a traditional hearty beef and vegetable stew. Try both during your visit to Middleport Pottery at their onsite The Packing House Cafe. This casual spot serves homemade lobby and oatcakes with both savory and sweet fillings. There are also several grab-and-go shops to pick up oatcakes around town like Staffordshire Oatcakes and Six Towns Oatcakes.

Stoke-on-Trent's contemporary dining scene is on the menu at Orange Tree Bar & Grill. It's a top spot for savoring cocktails and elevated British classics like ale-battered fish and chips and beef steak cottage pie. All-day dining on Mediterranean delights like kebabs, mezzes, and Greek flatbreads is available at Willow, which is nestled among the serene, beautiful Trentham Gardens. For casual eats, The Slamwich Club in the center of town serves an array of bold sandwiches and sides, while Little Dumpling King serves small Asian plates — think bao, dumplings, and rice bowls — that change daily. There's also a natural wine list that showcases English vintners.

Stoke-on-Trent is located just under an hour north of Birmingham, an underrated and vibrant foodie gem, and roughly an hour south of Manchester, a city bursting with art, shopping, and youthful vibes. For more to do in the West Midlands, visit beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace and a medieval market town.