Planning your visit

World of Wedgwood is free to enter, and you don't need to book to visit.

Our Factory Tour and Creative Studio experiences are paid experiences and can be booked in advance or on the day, subject to availability. We recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment. We also recommend booking the Wedgwood Tea Room in advance, particularly at busy times.

When booking, we encourage you to disclose any accessibility requirements you or anyone in your party may have. This allows us to prepare where adjustments or additional support would be helpful.

You are also welcome to contact us after booking or speak to our team when you arrive. You don't need to have contacted us in advance to ask for support. 
Requesting adjustments

Depending on your requirements, we can often make adjustments such as:

providing additional time;

explaining an experience or activity in advance;

providing a quieter space where possible;

reducing unnecessary interaction;

allowing a guest to leave and re-enter an experience where appropriate;

providing additional assistance during an activity; and

making alternative arrangements where a particular part of an experience presents a barrier.

Some adjustments are easier to arrange if we know about them in advance, but please do not hesitate to speak to us on the day. We will always do what we reasonably can to help.

Getting here and parking

Please see our Getting Here page for full details of public transport and directions.

World of Wedgwood has a free open-air car park with 156 standard parking spaces and 8 Blue Badge spaces.

The Blue Badge spaces are located close to the main building entrance. They are approximately 230cm × 460cm, with hatched areas on both sides but not to the rear.

A step-free route to the main entrance is available from the accessible parking spaces and the main car park. The route includes a dropped kerb.

There is no designated drop-off point, although there is a lay-by where visitors can drop off passengers.

An alternative route from the car park includes steps.

Wheelchairs and mobility

We have six wheelchairs available free of charge for guests to borrow.

Manual and self-propelled wheelchairs are available. We do not currently provide powered mobility scooters.

Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can reserve one in advance by adding a request to your booking or contacting us before your visit.

You are welcome to use a World of Wedgwood wheelchair throughout your visit and take it with you to your vehicle when you leave. A member of our team can accompany you to your vehicle and return the wheelchair to the building once you are safely in your car.

Our wheelchairs are provided for use around the attraction. If you require assistance beyond the provision of a wheelchair, please speak to a member of our team, and we will do our best to help.

Carer and companion tickets

We want guests who require support from another person to be able to enjoy our paid experiences.

A complimentary essential companion/carer ticket is available for the Factory Tour and Creative Studio experiences.

We do not routinely require evidence of disability to access a complimentary essential companion ticket. If you require a companion or carer to support you during your visit, please let us know when booking.

The guest requiring support and any additional members of their party pay the applicable admission price.

A companion or carer accompanying a guest on the Factory Tour is welcome to participate in the full tour.

For Creative Studio experiences, a companion or carer is there to support and does not receive their own pottery wheel or activity. If a companion would like to take part in the activity themselves, they should book and pay for their own Creative Studio session.

Assistance dogs and dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout World of Wedgwood, including areas where other dogs are not permitted.

Other dogs are permitted in: the World of Wedgwood Atrium, Josiah & Co, and the Wedgwood Outlet.

Other dogs are not permitted in the V&A Wedgwood Collection, Factory Tour, Wedgwood Store, Wedgwood Tea Room or Creative Studios.

Water bowls and dog beds are normally available in Josiah & Co. Water bowls can also be provided elsewhere on request.

Getting around World of Wedgwood

The main World of Wedgwood building has three floors.

The ground floor includes the World of Wedgwood Atrium, V&A Wedgwood Collection, Wedgwood Tea Room, Wedgwood Store, toilets and cloakroom.

The first floor is home to the Wedgwood Factory Tour.

The second floor contains the Creative Studios.

The ground floor is step-free. The first and second floors can be reached by either stairs or lift.

The World of Wedgwood Courtyard provides access to the Wedgwood Outlet, Josiah & Co and other visitor facilities.

Entering World of Wedgwood

The main entrance is at the front of the World of Wedgwood building and has step-free level access and automatic sliding double doors.

Once inside, the World of Wedgwood Atrium provides step-free access to the ground-floor facilities and to the lift serving the upper floors.

Our Guest Information Desk is located in the Atrium. Our Wedgwood Interactors are available here to provide assistance, information and guidance throughout your visit.

Lift access

A large lift provides step-free access between the ground, first and second floors. It is suitable for wheelchair users and can accommodate multiple wheelchair users and their companions.

The maximum lift capacity is 33 people or 3,750kg.

The lift has tactile controls, a visual floor indicator and audible floor announcements. You do not need to request or book the lift in advance.

Stairs

Stairs provide an alternative route between the three floors. There are handrails on both sides and the steps are clearly marked.

The lighting around the stairs is lower than in some other areas of the building. The lighting is automatic and activates when movement is detected.

Seating and rest areas

Seating is available throughout World of Wedgwood for guests who need to take a break.

Perching stools are also available beside the stairs and lift and can be taken into areas where they are permitted. These can be useful for guests who would benefit from occasional seating or support while walking.

There is limited seating during the first section of the Factory Tour in the V&A Wedgwood Collection. There is no conventional seating throughout the factory itself, although perching stools are available.

Sensory, hearing and visual access

We recognise that busy environments, noise, lighting, smells and other sensory factors can affect guests in different ways.

Across World of Wedgwood, you may encounter background noise, reflective surfaces, patterned rugs, different lighting levels and busy areas.

Sensory information

The Factory Tour takes place in a working manufacturing environment and can involve loud machinery, sudden noises, heat and strong smells.

The V&A Wedgwood Collection is generally quieter than some other areas of World of Wedgwood, with lower lighting, limited background noise and no strong smells. Guided tours take place throughout the day, Monday to Sunday, and the area can become busier and noisier when tours are taking place.

The V&A Wedgwood Collection Atrium is not a designated sensory room, but visitors are welcome to use it as a quieter place to take a break from busier areas of the attraction.

We also have a Play Space within the V&A Wedgwood Collection. It is open to everyone and designed with children of all ages in mind, with beanbags, books and activities. The space is fully wheelchair accessible.

If you have particular sensory requirements, please contact us before your visit. Where possible, our team can discuss quieter spaces, reduced interaction, additional time and other adjustments that may be helpful.

Hearing and visual access

Our team are available to provide assistance and information throughout your visit.

Much of our onsite directional and wayfinding signage is available in English, Chinese and Japanese.

The V&A Wedgwood Collection contains a variety of interactive and tactile displays, including textured exhibits that can be touched and explored, interactive screens with visual and sound elements, and a viewfinder display with viewing options at different heights.

Some areas of the V&A Wedgwood Collection have lower lighting and some display cases have reflective surfaces, which may present challenges for some visitors with visual impairments.

There is video content within the Collection, with subtitles available on some content. Not all videos are subtitled.

Interpretation within the V&A Wedgwood Collection is currently available in English.

Factory Tour hearing support

All Factory Tour guests are offered use of our Vox Tour Guide system, at no additional charge.

The tour guide wears a microphone and guests use a receiver and earpiece to hear the commentary more clearly. Alternative earpieces are available for guests who wear hearing aids and would prefer to keep their hearing aid in place.

The live tour commentary is currently delivered in English.

The video shown at the end of the Factory Tour is subtitled.

We are working towards providing additional hearing-assistance options.

We do not currently provide British Sign Language interpretation.

Experiences

Guided Tours

Our guided tours are led by our Wedgwood Interactors, who will take you around the site and bring the stories of Wedgwood to life. Both tours last approximately one hour and are fully guided, with guests travelling together as a group while the Interactor provides live commentary.

The two tours take place in different environments, so you may wish to consider the information below when deciding which experience is right for you.

Wedgwood Factory Tour

The Factory Tour takes you behind the scenes to see Wedgwood's manufacturing process and discover how our iconic ceramics are made today.

The full tour route is wheelchair accessible, with lift access between the ground floor and first floor. Wheelchair users and guests using mobility scooters can participate without needing to take an alternative route. Most walkways are smooth and even, with the majority of the route approximately 120–180cm wide.

There is some seating available in the first section of the tour within the V&A Wedgwood Collection. There is no conventional seating within the factory itself, although perching stools are available and can be used where appropriate.

The factory is a working manufacturing environment, so please be aware that the tour can include loud machinery, sudden noises, heat and strong smells. It can also become busy and crowded, particularly when travelling with a larger tour group. Some displays on the route can be touched and explored by guests if they wish.

All guests are offered a Vox Tour Guide system at no additional cost. Your Interactor speaks into a microphone and you listen through a receiver and earpiece. Alternative earpieces are available for guests who use hearing aids, allowing you to keep your hearing aid in place.

The tour includes live commentary in English. The video shown towards the end of the tour has subtitles.

If you have sensory, hearing, mobility or other accessibility requirements, please let us know when booking or contact us before your visit. We will be happy to discuss your requirements and any adjustments that may help you get the most from your experience.

V&A Wedgwood Collection Tour

This tour takes you through the V&A Wedgwood Collection, exploring the life and legacy of Josiah Wedgwood I.

Over approximately one hour, your Wedgwood Interactor will guide you through the galleries, sharing the story of Josiah Wedgwood I, from his achievements and innovations to his family life, as well as the stunning ceramic wares, designs and patterns produced from the 18th century to the present day. The tour also explores what happened to the Wedgwood family and business following Josiah Wedgwood I's death.

The tour takes place entirely within the V&A Wedgwood Collection on the ground floor and is step-free throughout. Wheelchair users and guests using mobility scooters can participate without needing to take an alternative route. Walkways are generally wide and smooth, with seating available at some points along the route. Perching stools can also be used if you need to sit during the tour. Otherwise, guests will be standing for most of the experience.

The V&A Wedgwood Collection is generally quieter than the factory environment, although it can become busier and noisier when other guided tours are taking place. Some areas have lower lighting, and reflective display cases and surfaces may be noticeable for visitors with visual sensitivities or impairments.

The tour does not use sound effects or require guests to watch or listen to additional audio or video content. The commentary is delivered live by your Interactor, who will guide you between displays and explain the objects and stories as you go. Some displays on the route can be touched and explored by guests if they wish.

Vox Tour Guide systems are used for larger tour groups. The tour commentary is delivered in English, and there is currently no written interpretation in other languages within the V&A Wedgwood Collection.

If you have sensory, hearing, mobility or other accessibility requirements, please let us know when booking or contact us before your visit. We will be happy to discuss your requirements and any adjustments that may help you get the most from your experience.

Pottery Experiences

Our pottery experiences take place in the Creative Studios, which are located on the second floor and are accessible by lift.

Our Pottery Experiences include:

Pottery painting in the Decorating Studio;

Pot throwing sessions in the Clay Studio; and

Our five-week courses and seasonal workshops in The Studio.

The studios generally provide good lighting, natural daylight and quiet background music. Activities can become messy, and aprons are available.

Pot throwing

Pot throwing sessions take place seated at a potter's wheel.

An accessible, height-adjustable potter's wheel is available for wheelchair users and can be used independently.

There are no specific physical requirements for taking part. Guests with an upper-limb difference may benefit from additional support with activities such as centring and shaping clay. If you let us know in advance, we can consider additional staffing or support where appropriate.

Pottery painting

Pottery painting takes place seated at tables and the Decorating Studio is wheelchair accessible.

Courses and workshops

The Studio is used for our five-week courses and occasional workshops. The setup and activities may vary depending on the course or workshop.

If you are booking one of these activities and have accessibility requirements, please contact us in advance so that we can discuss the activity and any adjustments that may be helpful.

Facilities

Toilets and changing facilities

There are two main toilet areas at World of Wedgwood: the World of Wedgwood Atrium and the V&A Wedgwood Collection.

The World of Wedgwood Atrium toilet facilities include:

standard male and female toilets;

an accessible toilet;

a separate gender-neutral toilet with accessibility features and baby-changing facilities; and

a dedicated baby-changing and feeding room.

The dedicated baby-changing and feeding room is separate from the toilet facilities and provides a changing table, wash basin and seating.

The V&A Wedgwood Collection toilet facilities include standard male and female toilets and accessible toilet facilities. Baby-changing facilities are available within both the male and female toilets.

Changing Places

We do not currently have a Changing Places toilet at World of Wedgwood.

The nearest Changing Places facility is at Trentham Shopping Village

Please check the current details of the facility, including opening arrangements and access requirements, before your visit. You can do this here: Changing Places Toilets

Eating and drinking

Wedgwood Tea Room

The Wedgwood Tea Room has step-free access and full table service.

We can accommodate a range of dietary requirements, intolerances and allergies. You can tell us about your requirements when booking, contact us by telephone or email before your visit, or let us know when your order is taken.

Our team have completed recognised allergen training and allergen information is available to support guests with dietary requirements.

A range of accessibility aids is available on request, including:

a teapot tipper, designed to assist guests who may have difficulty lifting or pouring from a teapot;

a two-handled cup for guests who would benefit from additional stability;

paper drinking straws; and

wireless card machines.

The teapot tipper has been designed to complement the Tea Room experience and is finished to match our afternoon tea presentation.

Josiah & Co

Josiah & Co has step-free access and a range of seating, including sofas, armchairs and chairs.

Table service can be provided on request where required.

Food and cakes are available from the products displayed rather than from a traditional menu. Allergen information is provided on individual food packaging and on the information displayed with cakes.

If you have an allergy or dietary requirement and would like to discuss the available options, please speak to a member of the team.

Wireless card machines are available.

Retail access

The Wedgwood Store and Wedgwood Outlet have step-free access.

Some aisles within our retail spaces are narrower than 150cm.

Our team are available to provide assistance if you need help navigating any of our retail spaces.

Emergency evacuation

The lift should not be used during an emergency evacuation.

Evacuation chairs are available for guests who would normally use the lift to access the upper floors.

Key members of our team receive annual training in the use of evacuation chairs.

If you have concerns about emergency evacuation or would like to discuss your requirements before visiting, please contact us.

Support During Your Visit

Our team and accessibility support

Our Guest Information Desk is located in the World of Wedgwood Atrium, where our Wedgwood Interactors are available to provide assistance, information and guidance.

Our team will do their best to support guests with accessibility requirements throughout their visit.

If you need assistance, have a question about accessibility, or find that something is presenting a barrier during your visit, please speak to a member of our team.

Feedback and accessibility improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing part of how we develop our guest experience.

We use feedback from our guests, our own accessibility reviews and information from our AccessAble partnership to help us identify barriers and opportunities for improvement.

Our AccessAble guide provides detailed, factual information about individual areas of World of Wedgwood, including measurements and photographs. We update our accessibility information when changes are made to our facilities or experiences.

If you notice something that is inaccurate, encounter a barrier during your visit, or have an idea that could improve accessibility, we would welcome your feedback.

Contact us

If you have an accessibility requirement that is not covered in this statement, please contact us before your visit. We aim to respond to accessibility enquiries within 24 hours.

You can also speak to our team when you arrive. You do not need to have contacted us in advance to ask for support.

If you need to escalate an enquiry, you can ask for your email to be forwarded to the Guest Experience & Accessibility Manager, who will contact you on their next working day.

Alternative formats

We can provide accessibility information in alternative formats where reasonably possible.

If you require information in a different format, please contact us and let us know what would be most useful for you.

We are also working towards providing additional accessible information formats in the future.

Last updated: September 2026