Wedgwood Museum
Travel The tour commences and concludes at the Best Western Plus Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent. Etruria Hall Festival Way Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST1 5BQ Tel: 0844 387 6245
Please note that transport to the hotel is not included in the price of the tour.
Transport
If you are travelling by car: The hotel is conveniently situated 10 minutes off J15 of the M6. .Take the A500 D-Road past Stoke city centre until you reach the A53, head NE on the A53 towards Leek and take the first major turning on the left at the Festival Reatail Park. The hotel is just after the second roundabout.
If you are travelling by train: The nearest train station is Stoke on Trent (approx. 2 miles) and about £8-105 taxi fare.
Accommodation
Best Western Plus, Hanley Moat House Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent The four-star Best Western Plus Stoke-on-Trent is located in extensive grounds on the outskirts of Stoke, just 5 miles from the M6 motorway and ideally located for this tour. The hotel's facilities include a bar and lounge, spa, gym, indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms. Rooms all have private bathroom facilities, TV, telephone, hairdryer and free wi-fi. Complimentary car parking is available at the hotel.
More information can be found via the hotel’s website: www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/best-western-plus-stoke-on-trent-moat-house
Check-in and departure from the hotel On the day of arrival you will be able to check-in at the hotel from 15.00, and the tour manager will meet you in the evening at the welcome reception.
Please note that your rooms may not be ready at 15.00, reception will arrange to store your luggage and put it in your room when it is ready.
On the last day, the tour will not finish until approximately 17.30 so you should check with your tour manager, or the hotel reception, where luggage should be stored until your departure.
Extra nights If you have booked to stay an extra night at the hotel, this is on a bed and breakfast basis and check out from the hotel is at 11:00.
Dining On both nights, dinner with wine is provided at the hotel and included in the price of the tour. Breakfast on all days of your stay is included in the price but meals other than these stated are not included.
Special requests If you haven’t already done so, please notify Travel Editions of any special requests as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements.
Places Visited
Potteries Museum & Gladstone Works, Stoke The Potteries Museum in Stoke houses the world’s best collection of Staffordshire ceramics. Then, it’s on to the Gladstone Works to see how pottery was made in Victorian times. http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/visit/pmag/ http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/visit/gpm/
Wedgwood Museum and factory Undoubtedly the highlight of the tour, an afternoon and evening at the Wedgwood Museum. The visit starts with a tour of the factory, still producing high class ceramics for export around the world. Then curator Gaye Blake-Roberts will give a talk about the museum, factory and collection before free time to explore the museum at your leisure after closing time so our group will have the museum at their disposal exclusively. Welcome prosecco and three-course dinner with wine in the museum. http://www.wedgwoodmuseum.org.uk
Ironbridge A full day exploring the stunning collection of museums and sites at Ironbridge, birthplace of the industrial revolution. Sights include Blists Hill Victorian town, the Coalport China, Jackfield Tile, Coalbrookdale Iron and Gorge Museums, the famed Iron Bridge, Darby houses and more. http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/
Your Lecturer
Prof Anne Anderson is an author, broadcaster, international NADFAS lecturer and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Anne was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism; she currently teaches at Kingston University. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's Flog It! Anne has received a rapturous response from our customers at the many Travel Editions UK lectures and tours she has hosted and is excited at the prospect of sharing her knowledge with our clients further afield.
Anne will give the following talk on the first night: "Ceramics and Iron in the Industrial Revolution".
Practical Information
Tour manager - Your tour manager will be on hand throughout the tour to ensure that everything operates according to plan. If you have any problems or questions please see him or her immediately – it is often possible to resolve complaints or problems very quickly on the spot, and do everything to help you enjoy your holiday.
Tipping – To keep our tours affordable, we do not increase the tour price by adding in tips. However, in the tourism industry, there is a certain level of expectation that when receiving a good service, one does award with a tip. Tour Managers, Representatives, Guides and Drivers appreciate a tip at the end of their involvement with the tour, but this is entirely at your discretion. We believe in allowing you to tip according to your level of satisfaction with their services, but for your guidance about £2-3 per person per day for the tour manager is the norm. We would like to reiterate that tipping is an entirely optional payment and this information is given purely to answer any questions you may have about it.
Walking Content – This tour has been graded 3 out of 5 for walking difficulty.
Please see the key below for an explanation of the footprint symbols
Insurance Although this is a UK holiday please note that, should you cancel your holiday, the amount paid is non- refundable. For this reason you may wish to take out insurance just in case an unforeseen event caused you to have to cancel the tour. As well as covering cancellations, your travel insurance will also cover your baggage and personal belongings in case they are lost or stolen.
Emergencies Should an emergency arise, please call our offices on: 020 7251 0045 Outside office hours (Mon-Fri 0900-1700), telephone our emergency staff on: 07841 023807 or 020 7987 5910 or 07831 133079 or PLEASE USE THESE NUMBERS ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A GENUINE EMERGENCY.
Travel Editions 3 Young’s Buildings, London EC1V 9DB Tel: 020 7251 0045 Email: [email protected] www.traveleditions.co.uk
PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING. IT IS MEANT AS A GUIDE ONLY AND WE CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR SUBSEQUENT CHANGES