Gladstone Pottery Museum named one of the UK’s best museums

Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton has been named one of the best museums to visit in the UK, placing Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics story proudly on the national stage.

Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics heritage has been placed proudly on the national stage, after Gladstone Pottery Museum was named one of the best museums to visit in the UK.

The Longton attraction, found on Uttoxeter Road, has taken third place in Time Out’s list of the UK’s 20 greatest museums in 2026.

Gladstone Pottery Museum, the UK’s last surviving complete Victorian coal fired pottery factory, was recognised for the way it brings Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery history to life for visitors.

It is also well known as a filming location for The Great Pottery Throw Down, giving the city’s ceramic story an extra place in the national spotlight.

Time Out described Gladstone as “the greatest physical document of Stoke’s ceramic-making heyday”.

“The Gladstone guides visitors through the roles within a Victorian coal-fired pottery factory, from throwing to firing and decorating, vividly bringing the process to life by allowing you to walk through each factory building (you can even go inside the bottle ovens and peer up towards the chimney).”

“Not only do you get a sense of the scale of Stoke’s pottery history, but you come face-to-face with the experiences of the people who were part of it: the unbearable heat, agonising pain and child labour, but also the immense skill and local pride.”

For Stoke-on-Trent, this recognition is about more than a good day out. Gladstone Pottery Museum tells the story of the people, places and skills that helped shape the city and its identity as the ceramics capital of the world.

The museum celebrated its 50th anniversary as a museum last year and continues to offer visitors the chance to step inside bottle ovens, walk through factory buildings and understand the craft, labour and pride behind The Potteries.

Its third place ranking puts Gladstone ahead of nationally recognised attractions including The British Museum in London, the National Railway Museum, Manchester Museum and Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

The Crab Museum in Margate took first place in the Time Out list, while Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum came second.

Gladstone Pottery Museum is managed and operated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Councillor Sarah Hill, the city council’s cabinet member for finance, anti-poverty, governance and corporate services, said:

“This is a huge achievement by Gladstone Pottery Museum to be recognised alongside so many other great museums nationally.

“Gladstone epitomises the proud history and cultural heritage we have in Stoke-on-Trent as the ceramics capital of the world. It is also a great day out for all the family and I encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced it yet to pop in and enjoy what our city has to offer.”

The city council also shared its pride in the news, saying:

“🥳 IT'S OFFICIAL! Gladstone Pottery Museum has been nationally recognised as one of the best museums to visit in the UK.
Ranking in the top 3 on Time Out's list, Gladstone was recognised for showing the city's pottery history and showing visitors first hand the process of ceramics making.
We are so proud of Gladstone as it continues to showcase our rich history and why Stoke-on-Trent is the ceramics capital of the world.”

For local people, it is another reminder of the world class heritage sitting right here in Staffordshire.

Gladstone Pottery Museum is not just a museum about pots. It is a place that preserves the sights, stories and working conditions of the industry that made Stoke-on-Trent famous across the world.

And now, it has been recognised as one of the very best museums in the UK.