Hertz car rental in Stoke-on-Trent

Hire a car from Stoke-on-Trent to discover the home of the British pottery industry. This proud city Modern manufacturers like Emma Bridgewater still open their factories to visitors in this charming city.

Alton Towers theme park is just half an hour away in a hire car – and the Peak District National Park can also be reached within an hour.

Collect your hire car from Stoke-on-Trent and you’ll also emerge an hour from some of the UK’s largest cities including Manchester and Liverpool.

Our car hire pick-up point can be found at the Meir Park B&Q, 11 minutes from the centre and 25 minutes from the theme park – perfect if you want to head straight to the rides.

There’s a wide range of cars to choose from with Hertz, including comfortable and spacious hatchbacks and SUVs with enough room for the whole family. Book online for practical travel in this family-first part of Staffordshire.

Driving in and around Stoke-on-Trent

Parking in Stoke-on-Trent

• Festival Retail Park Car Park (ST1 5SD) is available for customers visiting the shops. It has more than 900 spaces and is also close to Waterworld, Stoke Ski Centre and Inflato.
• Longton Exchange Car Park (ST3 2JA) is a short-stay car park, with over 200 spaces. It’s nearby Gladstone Pottery Museum and the many shops along The Strand.
• John Street Car Park (ST1 3E) is open all day and contains more than 500 spaces. It’s located close to Emma Bridgewater Factory, Hanley Park and Regent Theatre.

Key roads in Stoke-on-Trent

• The M6 runs along the west of Stoke-on-Trent and continues south towards Birmingham and north towards the outskirts of Liverpool.
• The A52 and A50 both head east out of the city towards Alton Towers and continue towards Derby and Nottingham.
• The A53 travels through the north of the city, to the Peak District in the north-east and Shrewsbury in the south-west.

How to get from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester

The bright lights of Manchester are only an hour’s drive north of Stoke-on-Trent in your rental car.

1. Leave the city via Queensway/A500, staying on this road for nine miles.
2. At Barthomley Interchange, take the 5^th exit onto the M6 slip road.
3. Merge onto the M6 and remain on here for 17 miles.
4. At junction 19, take the A556 exit, towards Manchester.
5. After five miles, merge onto the M56.
6. In Wythenshawe, continue onto Princess Parkway/A5103.
7. Follow this road into Manchester city centre to arrive.

How to get from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham

Birmingham is less than an hour’s drive from Stoke-on-Trent. Just head south out of the city on Queensway, then join the M6. Leave at junction 6 and follow the A38(M), which will take you all the way into the city centre.

A quick guide to Stoke-on-Trent

Best places to stay in Stoke-on-Trent

Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat

Country Spa Retreat, Moddershall, Stone ST15 8TG

Unwind at this luxury five-star spa hotel, situated just 10 minutes from the city centre. Its boutique suites and wellness centre are matched only by the spa facilities on site. You can relax on a heated lounger, float in the hydrotherapy pool and book a pampering treatment.

Quarry Walk Park

Coppice Lane, Freehay, Alton ST10 1RQ

These log cabins are surrounded by a tranquil woodland setting, a little more than 10 minutes from Alton Towers. The view can be enjoyed as you soak in your private hot tub. What’s more, you’ll have direct access to several hiking and cycling trails, for endless outdoor adventures.

The Old Hall Country House

Poolside, Madeley, Crewe, CW3 9DX

This hotel, which has featured on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed, is just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Stoke-on-Trent. You’ll be staying in a traditional 16^th-century timber-framed building and sinking into a four-poster bed, immersed in over two acres of landscaped gardens.

Best places to eat in Stoke-on-Trent

Slamwich Club

No.63 Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1HR

Stacked sandwiches and mouth-watering sides come with unusual names, such as Spice Up Ya Life – buttermilk chicken with stilton and chilli sauce – at this gourmet restaurant. It regularly tops ‘best in the city’ lists, was awarded TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Award 2020.

The Orange Tree Bar and Grill

371 Newcastle Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6PG
Situated in a Georgian building, with a glass-walled extension, the Orange Tree offers a stylish setting for laid-back dining. Bottomless brunches and Sunday lunches are favourites, while the menu also includes sesame breaded chicken breast, slow roasted belly pork and tempura battered sea bass fillets.

The Stafford Arms

The Green,Bagnall,Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire,ST9 9JR

This award-winning pub can be found on top of Staffordshire Moorland. During the warm summer months, you can dine out on the village green. In winter, find a space by the log burner, where you can tuck into traditional and contemporary dishes.

Best things to do in and around Stoke-on-Trent

Alton Towers

Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB

Just half an hour from the centre of Stoke-on-Trent, you can experience while knuckle rollercoaster thrills at the country’s largest theme park. There are more than 40 rides and attractions, including Rita, which reaches breathtaking speeds of 60mph in just 2.5 seconds.

Trentham Monkey Forest

Trentham Estate, Stone Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 8AY

More than 140 Barbary macaques roam freely at Monkey Forest. Follow the pathway and you’ll walk alongside these cheeky creatures. There are guides to answer any questions you may have about these endangered monkeys and hourly feeding talks, where you can learn even more.

Trentham Treetop Adventure

The Trentham Estate, South Entrance, Stone Rd, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent ST12 9HR

Once you’ve met the monkeys, you can swing through the trees yourself at this treetop adventure park. There are more than 20 obstacles and challenges on the high ropes here, which includes a zip line to finish off an action-filled journey through the course.