StokeonTrent

Stoke-on-Trent, commonly known as Stoke, is a city and unitary authority in Staffordshire, England, in the West Midlands region. It sits in the north of the county and comprises six historic towns—Hanley, Stoke-upon-Trent, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton and Fenton—collectively known as The Potteries.

The area developed around the pottery industry from the 18th century, with leading potteries such as Wedgwood, Spode and Royal Doulton producing wares that were exported worldwide. The towns were connected by the Trent and Mersey Canal and railway lines that linked the Potteries to other industrial regions.

In 1910, the six towns were federated to form the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent, and the area was granted city status in 1925. Since then it has diversified from ceramics into sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and education while retaining its distinctive ceramic heritage.

Culturally, the city retains institutions and attractions related to its potteries tradition, including the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and nearby heritage sites such as the Gladstone Pottery Museum. It is also home to Staffordshire University’s campus in Stoke.

Governance is by a unitary authority, the City of Stoke-on-Trent. It is the largest city in Staffordshire by population, with around 255,000 residents. The city sits within the ceremonial county of Staffordshire and is represented in Parliament by several MPs.