Stoke-on-Trent

City and administrative centre of Stoke-on-Trent unitary authority in central England, on the River Trent, 48 km/30 mi north of Wolverhampton; population (2001) 159,250. The city is situated in the heart of the Potteries, a major ceramic centre, and is the largest clayware producer in the world. Other industries include the manufacture of chemicals, engineering machinery, and tyres.

The presence of coal and clay led to the area becoming a major centre for pottery production in the 18th century, leading to the expansion of the six settlements of Burslem, Hanley, Longton, Stoke-upon-Trent, Fenton, and Tunstall. These towns amalgamated in 1910 as a federation, and became known as Stoke-on-Trent city in 1925. Stoke-on-Trent therefore has six town centres. It also has 13.8 sq km/5.3 sq mi of open spaces, including 15 formal parks. The Gladstone Pottery Museum is a working pottery museum.