Feb 21, 2026
Nestled in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, Gladstone Pottery Museum offers a rare glimpse into Britain's industrial past. This Grade II* The listed building stands as the only complete Victorian pottery factory still in existence, making your trip to Gladstone Museum Longton a journey back to the days when coal-fired bottle ovens shaped the world's finest ceramics.
If you're considering a visit, you're in for more than just a museum tour. You'll walk through working pottery shops, climb inside towering bottle ovens, and get your hands dirty creating your own ceramic pieces. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of your day out.
The museum preserves a typical medium-sized pottery factory from the Industrial Revolution era. Workers here produced practical ceramic items for the mass market, not ornate pieces for the wealthy. The cobbled courtyard, surrounded by distinctive bottle ovens, looks much as it would have in the 19th century. Fewer than 50 bottle ovens now survive in the entire UK, making Gladstone's collection precious.
The museum earned VisitEngland's Small Visitor Attraction of the Year award in 2020 and features on The Great Pottery Throw Down.
Start your visit by appreciating the four massive bottle ovens. These coal-fired kilns were last used in March 1960. You can walk inside them to understand their scale and imagine the intense heat that once filled these spaces.
Follow the pottery-making process through authentic Victorian workspaces: the slip house, throwing shop, moulding area, decorating rooms, and glost house. Each workshop contains original equipment. Interpretive panels tell the stories of workers, including children as young as seven.
One of Britain's finest decorative tile collections resides here, celebrating how ceramic tiles brought colour to Victorian homes and public buildings.
This exhibit traces sanitation history from chamber pots to modern flushing toilets, connecting pottery production to public health reforms. The museum holds ceramics from the shipwreck of the Josephine Willis (1850s) and the impressive Gladstone Vase by Frederick Alfred Rhead.
Planning your trip to Gladstone Museum Longton becomes even more exciting when you know about the practical workshops available.
For £3, you can try throwing a pot on an electric potter's wheel. Young children can use hand-powered wheels for £1. Watching demonstrators reveals the skill required for centering clay and pulling up walls evenly.
Create delicate bone china flowers for £2 under expert guidance. Pottery painting starts at £1, where you decorate pre-made ceramics with your own designs. The staff will fire and glaze your creation as a souvenir.
Check the daily schedule for demonstrations of throwing, jollying and jiggering, hand-painting, and transfer printing. Skilled craftspeople answer questions as they work. The museum also offers monthly Toddler Thursday sessions for under-fives.
Gladstone Museum reopened in January 2026 after a closure for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary celebrations. Current opening hours are:
From April onwards, summer hours extend to 5pm on Sundays.
Admission prices are:
If you're planning multiple visits, the annual pass offers excellent value. Adult passes cost £15.50, children and concessions £13.00, giving you free entry for 12 months.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours on site. If you're participating in hands-on activities or lingering over the exhibits, you could easily fill half a day.
The museum sits on Uttoxeter Road in Longton (postcode ST3 1PQ).
From the M6, take Junction 15, then follow the A500 and A50 towards Longton. Follow brown tourist signs to the museum. Free parking for 60 cars, plus four Blue Badge spaces.
Longton station is 0.3 miles away (5-10 minute walk). Trains run hourly from Stoke-on-Trent station (4 miles away), which connects to London Euston (1 hour 33 minutes) and Birmingham New Street (46 minutes).
For visitors from South Ribble or Preston, South Ribble Taxis offers reliable station transfers with 24/7 service, fixed pricing, and comfortable vehicles.
Bus services 6 and 6A stop outside the museum every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday. Taxis are available from Stoke-on-Trent station. South Ribble Taxis operates minibuses (6, 8, and 16-seater options) for groups and families.
Weekdays during term time are quieter, while weekends and school holidays bring more families and activities. Check ahead for special events like Halloween ghost walks and Christmas carol concerts.
Wear comfortable shoes for uneven surfaces and cobbled yards. Bring a camera for the atmospheric bottle ovens. Many visitors with babies prefer using baby carriers instead of pushchairs.
The Gladstone Café serves hot and cold food overlooking the courtyard. Try Staffordshire oatcakes. The museum shop stocks ceramics made on-site, local art, and unique gifts. The site includes children's trails for young visitors and drop-in activities during school holidays.
Traveling from Preston, Leyland, Bamber Bridge, or Penwortham takes roughly an hour by car via the M6 and A50. South Ribble Taxis provides a convenient alternative with direct transfers, fixed pricing, clean vehicles, and professional drivers. Book online at South Ribble Taxis or call their 24/7 service.
Arrive when the museum opens to watch morning demonstrations. Walk the courtyard first, then follow the workshops in pottery-making order. Read the interpretive panels for context and personal stories. Watch demonstrations to see techniques that photographs can't capture. Save time for hands-on activities, which often become visit highlights.
Longton Park offers green space and play areas nearby. The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley (free entry) houses the world's greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics.
Planning your trip to Gladstone Museum Longton opens a window into Britain's industrial heritage. This working pottery frozen in time lets you walk through Victorian workspaces, try traditional techniques, and understand both the artistry and hardship of pottery workers' lives.
The museum balances education with experience. You learn about the pottery industry's importance while throwing clay on a wheel and realizing how difficult making even a simple bowl actually is. The bottle ovens stand as dramatic monuments to an industrial age.
Before visiting, check the museum website or call 01782 237777 to confirm opening times and demonstrations. If traveling from South Ribble or Preston, consider booking transport through South Ribble Taxis for a stress-free journey. The museum's authenticity and connection to real working conditions makes Gladstone Museum Longton worth the trip.
How long should I plan to spend at Gladstone Pottery Museum?
Most visitors spend 2-3 hours exploring the museum. If you're participating in pottery throwing, decorating, or flower-making activities, allow an extra 30-60 minutes. Families with children who want to complete the trails and try multiple activities might easily spend half a day on site. The museum recommends budgeting at least 2 hours minimum to see everything properly without rushing.
Are there guided tours available at the museum?
The museum operates primarily as a self-guided experience, with excellent interpretive panels throughout. Guided tours are available but should be booked in advance by calling 01782 237777. Daily demonstrations by skilled craftspeople serve a similar educational purpose, showing traditional techniques while answering visitor questions. School groups and organized parties can arrange tailored guided experiences that suit their specific interests and educational needs.
Can I bring young children to Gladstone Museum?
Yes, the museum welcomes families with children of all ages. Monthly Toddler Thursday sessions cater specifically to under-fives. Children's trails help engage school-age kids, while hands-on activities like pottery painting work well for various ages. Very young children can use hand-powered throwing wheels when the electric versions have height restrictions. The museum includes a café for breaks and has baby-changing facilities. Some areas involve stairs and uneven surfaces, so baby carriers often work better than pushchairs.
Is parking available at Gladstone Pottery Museum?
Free parking is available in the main car park, which accommodates 60 vehicles on a tarmac surface with a paved path leading to the entrance. Four clearly marked Blue Badge parking spaces sit directly at the museum entrance for disabled visitors. The car park is lit by lamp posts for evening events. During busy periods like school holidays or special events, arriving early ensures you'll find a space easily.
What transport options are best for reaching the museum from Preston or South Ribble?
From Preston and South Ribble areas, driving via the M6 and A50 takes approximately one hour. Public transport requires traveling to Stoke-on-Trent station first, then either a local bus or short taxi ride to Longton. For convenience, services like South Ribble Taxis offer direct transfers with fixed pricing, comfortable vehicles, and professional drivers. Their minibuses accommodate groups well, making them practical for families or friends visiting together without the stress of navigation or parking.
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