Stoke-on-Trent

About Stoke-on-Trent

Sometimes referred to simply as Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent is a city in central England. It is located between Birmingham and Manchester and is found on the upper valley of the River  Trent to the south-west of the Pennines.

The city is well known for its links to the pottery industry, which has earned it the name The Potteries. it is considered to be the world capital of ceramics and is home to several different museums that are dedicated to decorative arts and ceramics across the ages. It is also the birthplace of celebrated physicist Oliver Lodge, who invented the spark plug.

Stoke-on-Trent is an excellent central destination within England that is accessible from all directions. It has plenty of good transport links, making it a popular choice for those who are looking to attend a project management course from anywhere in the country.

Whilst there is no airport within the city itself, it is just a short drive of 45 minutes from Manchester Airport and a 60-minute drive from Birmingham Airport, both of which have regular flights from other cities within the UK and also other cities in Europe. There are also good rail links between both airports and the railway station in Stoke-on-Trent.

On the West Coast Mainline, the railway station in Stoke-on-Trent is easily accessible with regular direct high-speed trains arriving from London Euston (1 hour and 20 minutes), Manchester (35 minutes) and Birmingham (47 minutes). It is also linked to other destinations across the country, with five train operators serving the station.

For those who prefer to visit Stoke-on-Trent by road, the city is conveniently placed at junctions 15 and 16 of the M6 motorway, which connects it to the North and South of the country and the A50, which offers a direct link to the M1, connecting it to the East of the country. There is also a frequent National Express bus service that travels to Stoke-on-Trent.

Many project management courses take place over several days, and this makes it necessary to secure accommodation nearby for the duration of the course. There are some fantastic hotels in Stoke-on-Trent offering all of the facilities you might require.

Double Tree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent (ST1 5BQ)

Just a 5-minute drive from the city centre, and with private onsite payable parking, this hotel is a great choice for those who prefer not to be in the city centre itself. It is close to two local railway stations and easily accessible by public transport as well. The hotel is well equipped for those guests who may need to contact the office during their stay, with a business centre and meeting rooms available. There is an onsite restaurant for those guests who want the convenience of food nearby, and the city centre is just a few minutes’ drive away, where there are plenty of options available.

Hilton Garden Inn Stoke-on-Trent (ST1 4QA)

This is a city centre hotel that has made significant commitments towards sustainability and has gained a level 3+ sustainability certification. The hotel is close to the railway station and also has private parking available to guests with some accessible parking spaces. The hotel itself is very accessible, with a number of wheelchair-friendly rooms available. The rooms are a good size and have all the facilities you would expect from a hotel of this calibre. There are also meeting rooms on site which can be hired for training courses.

The Upper House (ST12 9AE)

Located in Barlaston on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent, The Upper House is a smaller hotel steeped in history. With just 24 individually decorated rooms, it is a smaller hotel, but it is not lacking in any of the features that you might require from a 4-star option. The onsite restaurant offers high-quality meals, and the hotel also benefits from its own free parking. There is a taxi service available for guests looking to visit the city centre in the evening who prefer not to drive. This is a beautiful hotel in stunning surroundings.

If you are staying in Stoke-on-Trent for project management training, you may want to make the most of the local area and explore.

Restaurants

There are some fantastic restaurants in Stoke-on-Trent offering a fantastic range of different cuisines. Whilst there are no Michelin Star restaurants in the city, there is one restaurant in particular that is worthy of a mention as a result of its chef, who has held 2 Michelin stars in the past.

Lunar by Niall Keating (ST12 9ER) is housed in the former staff canteen of the factory “World of Wedgewood”. It is named for The Lunar Society, which was founded by Josiah Wedgewood. The head chef, Niall Keating, has worked in a number of 2 and 3-star restaurants all over the world and received his first Michelin star in 2017 with a second star at the age of 30 (both at The Dining Room at Whatley Manor Hotel). He also holds one of the first green stars from Michelin for his sustainability methods and is also a holder of a number of other industry awards, including the 2020 BBC Great British Menu “Champion of Champions”.

The menu is based around prime British ingredients, with some Asian influences evident in a number of the dishes.

If you are looking for something a little simpler, then you will find a range of restaurants in Stoke-on-Trent with everything from traditional British dishes to Asian-inspired cuisine.

Entertainment

Aside from the more traditional pubs that you will find in Stoke-on-Trent, there are plenty of exciting places to visit in the evening.

There are a number of theatres in the city, with The Regent Theatre (at Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1AP) offering a range of top-quality shows throughout the year. The Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre offers some very good quality amateur performances, and other alternatives in the city include Victoria Hall for comedy and the Mitchell Arts Centre (at Broad St, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4HG) with a range of shows and art exhibitions.

For something completely different, the Stoke-on-Trent Ski Centre is open until 9 p.m. every evening and offers both snowboarding and skiing.