Things to Do in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke is home to just one university, but the city itself boasts a range of different activities, cultural sites and a small but rich history.

In this guide, we will show you the various things to do in Stoke.

Location

One of the biggest cities in the Staffordshire area of the UK. The city itself is one of the most densely populated as well, boasting a population of roughly 469,000 according to the very most recent figures.

Things to do in Stoke on Trent

Stoke on Trent boasts one of the richest and vibrant nightlife that you can find in the United Kingdom. We’ve compiled a list of three places that we think might just be perfect for you to have a look at when you’re enjoying your night out in Stoke on Trent, have a look, something is bound to suit your needs!

First up we have, Reflex, one of the nicest pubs in Stoke on Trent; one of the most popular too! Everything from friendly staff all the way through to ice cold alcohol served here will have you coming back again and again, plenty of happy customers will tell you that they are always back, we promise! Secondly, we have something for the metal fans. If you love live metal music and a cool atmosphere then you’re going to love Bunker 13. Apart from playing lots of live rock and metal music, they also delve into the world of games too, they feature throwback games, make sure you check it out! And finally, we have The Sugarmill Club, which is one of the most popular clubs in the whole of Stoke. You'll love the cocktails, the live music and/or DJ sets, the friendly staff and the facility of a professional photographer. The club has been huge for a while, and it’s the perfect example of Stoke on Trent’s ever-growing nightlife.

The city of Stoke on Trent was established as a county borough in 1910; the city has some museums that all commemorate the history and the culture of the city. The city is known for it’s pottering communities and it is immortalised in the museums such as; Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Etruria Industrial Museum, Gladstone Pottery Museum and the Spode Museum.

There are plenty of cinemas in the city too. The cinemas show the latest and greatest from Hollywood right now, with some different cinemas such as the Odeon or the Cineworld (which offers tiered seating), more independent films can be found in one of the local film societies.

One of the great things about Stoke on Trent is the city’s amazing ability to bring the community together so wonderfully. One of the great ways that they do this is with a number of festivals, such as Stone Food & Drink Festival, which will have you experiencing some of the best food and drink that the city has to offer.

Transport

The city has an excellent transportation system, with everything from bus routes and train stations running well and a few cycle routes too!

The main bus services in the city are provided by First Potteries and D&G Bus. National Express operates in the city as one of the main transportation providers for people looking to travel to other major cities. There are no local bus authority services operating in the city.

The main train station in the city is the Stoke on Trent Railway Station, which is on the Stafford-Manchester line. There are also other local stations such as Congleton, Kidsgrove, Longport, Wedgwood and Barlaston.

There is no airport in the city, the closest airport is located in Manchester at Manchester Airport.

Universities in the City

There is only one university in the city Staffordshire University. It was established in 1906 as the School of Mining. Eventually, the school received university status in 1992 and re-branded as Staffordshire University.

The student body of the university is represented by the Staffordshire University Students’ Union (SUSU). The union represents a number of the university sports clubs as well in conjunction with the university’s Athletics Union.

The university competes against Keele University in an annual varsity match and have also started engaging in an annual varsity match against Wolverhampton University, which started in 2013.

History

It is thought that the settlement of Stoke was discovered in Roman times. Despite this, the history of the city is far more recent than other cities in the country, as the city’s main industries and innovations did not occur until much later.

Since the 17th century, Stoke has become synonymous with pottery in all forms, mainly its wide-scale industrial-scale pottery manufacture. Stoke has also been well-known for its coal mining industry as well.

The city is also known for its vast steel manufacture and distribution as well. The steel was particularly vital in World War II, when the city provided steel for the construction of the Supermarine Spitfire.

Stoke received city status on the 5th June 1925.

Sport

Stoke on Trent is actually the smallest city in the country to be represented by two professional football clubs. The main football club is Stoke City FC, who play at the bet365 Stadium at Stanley Matthews Way. Stoke City actually reached the 2011 FA Cup Final, though they lost to Manchester City. Stoke did actually play in the Premier League as recently as 2018, before being relegated. The other professional team in the city is Port Vale, who play at Vale Park. Port Vale have played in an FA Cup semi-final, where they lost to West Bromwich Albion in 1954. Stoke City and Port Vale regularly face-off in the Potteries Derby. There are also two amateur clubs in the city, Eastwood Hanley and Hanley Town.

There are a number of amateur sports teams in the area in other sports as well, such as Cricket, with many of the teams competing in the North Staffs and South Cheshire Cricket League. Staffordshire County Cricket Club have been known to play in the city as well, at the Longton ground.

The city also boasts an American Football Team as well, the Staffordshire Surge. The Surge replaced the Stoke Spitfires, who folded in 1992. The Staffordshire Surge play at the aforementioned Longton Rugby Club in Division One North of the British American Football League (BAFL).

Who’s from Stoke on Trent?

There are many famous people from Stoke on Trent, including; Robbie Williams, Lemmy, Jade Thompson, Murdoc Niccals (from the animated group Gorillaz) and John Bramall. Slash from the group Guns n’ Roses also lived in the city too!