Stoke on \Trent

[JockSporran]

I have to go down to Stoke on Trent in the middle of January for a couple of days. I can't find a decent website that shows me what it looks like. What's it like? Is it a big place? Is there much to do? Is there a shopping centre? Does it even have a branch of Boot's or Game or Borders? What's it like at night? What are the peolple like?

[cazzzz1975]

http://www.visitstoke.co.uk/

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

Stoke-on-Trent is major city. It's population is around a quarter of a million people (which is roughly the same size as Sheffield or about half the size of Edinburgh), so I think that there's a reasonable chance that you might find a branch of Boots ;-)
(Actually, there are at least 5 branches)

However, if you try to find 'Stoke-on-Trent city centre', you'll find that it doesn't really exist (even though the link provided by Cazzzz1975 refers to it!). That's because Stoke-on-Trent is actually made up of 5 (or 6) separate towns. It was originally formed by joining Hanley, Stoke, Burslem, Tunstall and Longton together to form a single city. (Stoke is often called 'the city of 5 towns'). At the time the city was formed, Fenton was just a village within its boundaries but it now forms a 6th town.

[Buenchico]

To find the major shopping area (and where most of the life is), you need to seek out 'Hanley town centre' which is effectively the city centre of Stoke-on-Trent. It doesn't have a 'city centre' feel to it; it's more like being in a medium-sized (and rather nondescript) town.

You'll find enough to interest you for a couple of days but don't expect Stoke-on-Trent to be 'buzzing' like many other cities of a similar size. My limited experience of the local people is that they're generally friendly and helpful.

For lively nightlife, try Liquid:
http://www.liquidclubs.com/hanley/
and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/music/venues/g_m/li quid.shtml

For a quieter drink, try 'The Reginald Mitchell':
http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubs/pub-detail s.php?PubNumber=199

For indoor shopping, head for The Potteries Shopping Centre:
http://www.potteries-shopping-centre.co.uk/

Chris

[CheekyChops]

The people in Stoke are lovely, well I am anyway!

[stewey]

CheekyChops, I was born in Clayton, Newcastle-Under-Lyme many, many years ago. I remember the woods, fields, country lanes, hardly any traffic: what's it like now?

[CheekyChops]

Still a few fields and woods but no country lanes and lots of traffic!! I work in Newcastle :-)

[Pippa68]

I love Stoke.

A few years back I lived on the outskirts, near Newcastle. It is true, the people are lovely!

[stewey]

Thanks Cheeky and Pippa. I vaguely remember my parents taking us for a walk from Stafford Crescent in Clayton to Trentham Gardens where there was a small gauge railroad to ride on, and row boats in a lake. There were some woods up Clayton Road where we always picked bluebells for mum, and blackberries were to be picked along some of the lanes...............Jeez, I sound like an old guy floating in the mists of time:)