Background Information - Local Area

Keele University is situated in North Staffordshire close to Newcastle-under-Lyme and on the boundary of the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

Newcastle is the nearest town to the University campus, approximately a ten-minute bus ride away. It is a traditional market town, which is now a blend of smaller shops, supermarkets, leisure centre/swimming pool, the Victoria Theatre, a multi screen cinema, eating places, pubs and clubs. The local area also offers a range of sport & leisure facilities (often with a discount to NHS staff) including: 'Total Fitness', 'Esporta' & 'Greens Fitness'.

All the major High street names can be found at the Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley. Hanley also has a great range of restaurants and bars and is just a couple of miles from Newcastle.

Within the surrounding area of Stoke-on-Trent you will also find the Regent Theatre, Repertory Theatre and Victoria Hall. Our local football teams are Stoke City and Port Vale.

Festival Park is the major retail entertainment centre and includes Waterworld swimming centre, a dry ski slope, multiplex cinema, bowling, Laser Quest and a snooker hall.

Other major local attractions include Alton Towers, The Derbyshire Peak District, Cannock Chase, several National Trust and English Heritage sites and of course several potteries associated to the traditional industries of Stoke-on-Trent. Other attractions include Uttoxeter Race Course, Burton on Trent Breweries, Tamworth Snow Dome, an historic walk around the potteries, and Rudyard Lake.