Denby Visitor Centre

The Denby Visitor Centre sits just outside Alfreton and gives you a proper look at how English pottery has been made for nearly two centuries. This is where Denby Ware comes from - that chunky, handmade-looking tableware you've probably seen in country kitchens across the Midlands. The factory tour walks you through the whole process, from clay to finished piece, and it's genuinely fascinating to watch potters at work on the wheel. You can see the kilns, browse the seconds shop where prices are reasonable, and grab a cup of tea in the cafe. It's free to wander round the visitor area, though the factory tours cost a few quid and need booking ahead.

This works best if you're already keen on pottery or craftsmanship - standing around watching clay spin probably won't captivate under-tens for long. The whole experience takes about two hours if you do the tour, or an hour just browsing the shop and cafe. The seconds shop is the real draw: proper discounts on slight imperfections that honestly you'd never notice.

Stay at Golden Valley Caravan and Camping Park or The Firs, both just three miles away, and you're well placed for the pottery works plus the wider Derbyshire attractions. It's a solid half-day outing if you're touring the East Midlands, worth the detour if you like seeing things actually made.