The World of Wedgwood comprises a realm of shops, tea rooms and a museum devoted to British craftsmanship. Named for 18th-century potter Josiah Wedgwood, it has a ceramics factory and enjoyable workshops for would-be potters. Take the acclaimed Factory Tour to learn about processes and designs dating back more than 250 years.
Watch the craftsmen working on ceramics, from the casting and decorating stages to final gilding. Enter the Wedgwood Museum for its collection of historic pottery. Displays and archives reveal societal trends, fashion and industrial development over the centuries. Attend educational events and temporary exhibitions.
Get your kids involved in the fun workshops, where they can create and paint their own pottery. The Master Craft Studio has clay for pot throwing, while design takes place in the Decorating Studio. Check off all the activities on the list for the Pottery Spotters Museum Trail to receive a prize. Hide inside the giant coffee pots and saucers outside.
Sip tea from the factory’s china in the Wedgwood Tea Room or the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory. Purchase your own china and pottery from the Flagship Store, the Factory Outlet or the Museum Shop to take home as souvenirs.
The nature trails of the adjoining Hem Heath woods present a change of scenery. Meander between the oak, ash and beech trees and spot a nuthatch, among other birds.
Note that the various sections of the complex have their own opening times. In general, the site opens daily from morning until late afternoon. The fee for the Discovery Experience includes the Factory Tour and entrance to Wedgwood Museum.
The World of Wedgwood is just outside the village of Barlaston in the southern peripheries of Stoke-on-Trent. It’s a 5-mile (8-kilometer) drive south from the heart of the city. While in the vicinity, stroll through the Trentham Gardens or play a round at the Trentham Golf Club.
