Eskimo Blue Pottery Studio

Walk into Eskimo Blue and you're immediately confronted with colour - proper vibrant ceramics that catch the light in ways you don't expect from a pottery studio. This is a working gallery where you can actually watch potters at the wheel, which beats standing behind velvet ropes any day. The pieces on display range from functional domestic ware to sculptural work, and there's that lovely moment when you realise some of it was made mere hours before you arrived.

It's worth an hour or so if you're in Leicester and serious about craft - ceramicists and anyone who appreciates handmade objects will get genuine value from seeing work at source. Less so if you're after a quick Instagram moment; this place requires actual engagement. You can usually buy direct from the artists, which means your money goes somewhere meaningful rather than disappearing into a chain store.

The studio sits within reasonable striking distance of several good caravan parks if you're basing yourself nearby. Green Acres is just three and a half miles away, making it simple to pop into the city proper without hauling the whole lot with you. Bradgate Park is six miles out if you want a proper walk afterwards - a decent combination would be an hour here, then head to Bradgate for the afternoon when you need air and space.

Check ahead on opening hours and admission costs before you go - independent studios can be variable with their schedules.