Stoke-on-Trent (15mi/24km northwest of Derby), a conurbation created in 1910 by the amalgamation of six towns, lies at the heart of the Potteries, the area where Britain's ceramics industry is based. Many internationally famous porcelain manufacturers, including Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Spode, have their roots here. Several companies offer
factory tours; visitors can watch British porcelain being made using traditional as well as modern methods.
Stoke-on-Trent has many museums and galleries including the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, the Etruria Industrial Museum and Trentham Gardens.