The largest festival of history and culture in England, ‘Heritage Open Days’, happens every September. With thousands of volunteers and venues organising events across the country, it gives members of the public the opportunity to explore hidden places and try new experiences… all for free. Very exciting if you’re naturally curious (aka nosy) like us.
Running from 11th to 20th September 2026, we’re sharing some of the places we’d personally recommend visiting in Stoke and Staffordshire, along with a couple of events that are new to us, listed on the Heritage Open Days website.
Amy's Heritage Open Day Choices
Top Pick
Gladstone Pottery Museum
18 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking not required | Longton
If you’re a fan of Great Pottery Throw Down, you just have to visit Gladstone Pottery Museum! The ‘only complete Victorian pottery factory from the days when coal burning ovens made the world’s finest bone China’, it’s where they currently film this popular TV show. See bottle ovens up-close, experience what it would've been like to work in the pottery industry and explore the tile and toilet gallery.
Want To Go
Dudson Museum
19 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking not required | Hanley
Dudson Pottery is one the companies I don’t know as much about, so it’d be great to learn more with a ‘day of displays, discussion, presentations and screenings featuring Bennett's writings on Stoke, its folk and its industry’. Housed within a large bottle oven in the courtyard of the factory, I’m keen to explore the site and see the different activities at this ARNOLD BENNETT - Dudson Museum "Just Across the Road" event.
From Weave to Wardrobe @ Butter Market
19 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking not required | Leek
Always fascinated with fashion and textiles, this looks like a really interesting day. Celebrating the rich textile heritage of the Staffordshire Moorlands, I’m keen to learn more about the skills, craftsmanship and stories behind the old mills of Leek, Cheadle and Tean, with the option to have a go at traditional weaving techniques too.
An event which is part of celebrating the Nicholson Institute reopening its doors this October (a building I’ve admired from afar but never had the chance to go and explore inside), I’m excited to find out about that too.
Wildcard
Stoke Minster
18 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking not required | Stoke
I’m not a religious person myself but I can recommend a visit to Stoke Minster. Stained glass windows, the most beautiful tiles (made locally of course) and the final resting place for world famous potters Spode, Wedgwood whose tombs you can see, along with family members. On the subject of heritage and beautiful tiles, make sure to pop in to The Glebe Pub just across the road too!
Chatterley Whitfield
Multiple dates available | Pre-booking required | Stoke-on-Trent
I visited Chatterley Whitfield for a tour a couple of years ago and wasn’t sure what I was going to make of it but it was such a pleasant surprise. ‘A Victorian Time Capsule’ you may have seen on TV and not usually open to the public – if you’re a lover of anything old, it’s definitely worth getting Chatterley Whitfield and Colliery Tours tickets, if they've not sold out by the time you read this.
‘A scheduled monument and 15 of the buildings on site are listed separately at grade II, it is considered to be the most comprehensive survival of a deep mine site in England from the height of the industrial revolution and therefore of huge importance to the UK's history’ – it was added to the SAVE Britain’s Heritage Buildings at Risk Register in July 2026.
Steve's Heritage Open Day Choices
Top Pick
Ceramic Workshop @ Belong Village
13 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking preferred | Newcastle-under-Lyme
Being a ‘Borough Boy’ myself, Newcastle-under-Lyme is a lesser known contributor to the ceramics industry. So this ceramics workshop at Belong in Newcastle, run by Dawn from DM Ceramics really caught my eye.
The workshop itself will consist of decorating a ceramic tile which will become part of a collective mosaic exhibition in the town’s Heritage Gallery. Each tile will contribute to a larger artwork celebrating the creativity and individuality of everyone who takes part, creating a lasting piece of the workshop for the town to enjoy. Something for our whole family to be involved in, especially my boys, who can look back in years to come and say “I was part of that.”
Want To Go
Dragon Designs: Clay Workshop @ Ankerside Shopping Centre
19 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking not required | Tamworth
It just sounds so cool. Designing dragons in clay…who wouldn’t want to do that?
The clay dragons are inspired by a Victorian dragon vase made by Tamworth's historic ceramics manufacturer, Gibbs & Canning. I think clay is such a wonderful, malleable material that it’s amazing to see what can be created with it. For us, although we’re in The Potteries, known for Spode, Wedgwood and the like, they’re thought of for dinnerware and Jasper. What we want to show is also about art. The material almost lends itself to your creativity and imagination. I’m sure some ceramic artists will rightly correct us for material limitations but the skillset should be revered and we hope, on our own journey, to showcase clay's capabilities.
Tom Carnes Demonstration @ Belong Village
12 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking not required | Newcastle-under-Lyme
I follow Tom on social media and his adventures around Stoke have been lovely to watch. I believe he’s visited all of the remaining pot banks and has thrown miniature versions in front of them, capturing everything on video on his socials. He’s a great advocate for Stoke and someone we at Home of Ceramics support and wish all the success in getting his message, his products and skills as widely known as possible. I'm looking forward to the Tom Carnes Demonstration. Keep up the good work Tom!
Wildcard
In the Footsteps of Palaeontologist John Ward
14 Sep 2026 | Pre-booking required | Longton
After a recent trip to the Jurassic Coast, Bridport in Dorset to be precise, we stayed at an idyllic little bay called Seatown. It could literally have been a children’s adventure book. Palm trees, pebbly beach, crashing waves, a pub overlooking the sea (ok, maybe not for kids, but for the parents), the Golden Cap (the highest point on the South Coast of Great Britain) and FOSSILS! Scrambling up and down grey slate like mud that contains remnants of fauna and flora from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, finding belemnites and ammonites that have been buried for millions of years was fun and addictive (in a good way). To think that revealing ancient beasts from the mud meant it was the first time sunlight had touched these inanimate objects for maybe 200 million years blew my mind.
So, that’s why this one is my wildcard. I never thought we’d have actual fossils in Stoke-on-Trent so I’m interested in finding out more.
w2R Staffordshire Energy Recovery Facility
Multiple dates available | Pre-booking required | Cannock
I know, it’s a strange one. I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to see this in a list of heritage days out but I actually think it would be fascinating to understand how our waste is handled. We recycle our food waste locally in those little green bins…but what happens after that? How is it utilised for compost and where does it all go? I’m a big believer in sustainability and being green where we can in a very capitalistic world where you’re encouraged to buy more and more. So how are we handling waste locally? Let’s find out.