The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery — Attraction in Stoke-on-Trent

Our visit to Hanley Museum was a memorable experience, with both highs and a few minor frustrations. The animal section was particularly enjoyable, offering a wide selection of fascinating displays. However, some of the smaller animals in the education section weren’t labeled, which proved challenging when my 6-year-old daughter had plenty of questions. Clearer signage here would have made a big difference.

The horde section, which houses the treasure of Mercia, was unfortunately closed for refurbishment during our visit. That said, a helpful staff member was on hand to explain that the display will be back soon, which gives us something to look forward to on a future visit.

One of the undeniable highlights was the Spitfire display. It was absolutely stunning and showcased in such an impressive way that it left a lasting impression on both of us. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting the museum.

This was my daughter’s very first trip to a museum, and she had a fantastic time. She’s already asking when we can return, which speaks volumes about the museum’s appeal for children. The inclusion of QR codes in some sections to provide additional information was also a nice touch, making the experience more interactive and informative.

Overall, Hanley Museum offers a great day out for families, and we’re excited to see how the horde section looks after its refurbishment. With a few tweaks to labeling and signage, it could be even better. Highly recommended, especially for young,...

Brilliant It was really nice to walk around it was very clean and the staff were very friendly and helpful the funny thing is that when I was younger and at school some of the exhibits on show now we're on show then not in this Museum but the old one ( we are talking the 60s) one thing I couldn't see was the huge wooden wheel driven by steam I would think, can't remember what it was used for but going by the size of it it was for more than one thing probably a shaft, I remember other things such as the large pot in the entrance close to the Museum shop then there was the coffin plus it's lid made from stone along with some other things, there are few things from the Coal Miners strike back in the 80s at the time I was a coal miner working underground at Hem Heath Colliery in Trentham. And a special mention to the Spitfire standing in its own room Designed by R G. Mitchell never actually saw it fly in the second World War as he passed away just before it started so he never knew how well his Spitfire performed during the war. Can I suggest during this summer holiday you go and have a look around YOUR museum and see it all...

Lovely visit. The art collection, which was the main attraction from the website, isn't enormous, and I felt it would have been good to see even more of the artists named as being in the collection but who weren't on display when I went, especially given the empty spaces on the walls in a couple of places. However, those who are there included several Lowrys, Scottish colourists, as well as local artists who were new to me and whose work deserves the much wider public that the museum is bringing to them, and the quiet, modern setting meant there was time and space to really enjoy the work in a way that would be impossible at the larger national galleries, for example. A wonderful find. I loved the ceramic exhibits, the history of pottery making - especially the odd reference to the company my late father and grandmother worked for , and the story of the development of the industry. The cafe is very reasonably priced, and the oatcakes with cheese were so good, I ended up buying a kit in the shop! Emphatically recommended for art lovers, ceramic lovers, natives and...