Potteries
 

Can anyone tell me if the prices at the potteries at Stoke-on-Trent are worth a trip from London? This is my first trip to England and I would like to visit potteries if the prices are indeed good. Also, is shipping available? <BR>Thanks

Abby <BR>I can give you a bit of information on this. If you go be sure to go on a day other than Sunday as many of the potteries are closed then. I know Wedgwood is open on Sunday at the factory but the "second" store is not. If you plan to buy first quality then you will find that the prices are the same at the potteries as in the High Street stores..this is to done to protect the retailers. You can save money at the outlet stores but these will mostly be seconds or discontinued patterns. The drive up to Stoke from London takes about 2-3 hours as I recall, motorway all the way. The trip is worth it if you have interest in seeing the potteries and how the china and other products are made. Wedgwood is especially nice. However, I would not count on saving any money on the products. Shipping is available. I caution you that you can probably buy the same items in the States for the same price or even less. By the time you add shipping you will not save any money.

GO STOKE GO POTTERS yes the football club for the ages.

My friend and I visited last November and I was disappointed. The traffic was horrible and prices not all that great.

I have a friend that works for Wedgewood in Selfridges. We were at Gatwick a couple of months ago and she noticed that the Wedgewood items in one of the large duty free shops were significantly cheaper than in London, and not just because of the tax discount. If you are interested, it might be worth your time checking duty free at Gatwick (possibly Heathrow too) on your way home. <BR>Karen