Alton Towers is the major day out from Stoke-on-Trent for families and roller-coaster fans. The park occupies the grounds of a former country estate east of the city, mixing big-ticket rides, themed areas, gardens, and the romantic ruins of the old Towers themselves.
It is not in Stoke, but Stoke is one of the practical urban bases for reaching it by car, taxi, or seasonal bus connections. Go on a weekday outside school holidays if you can; on peak summer and Halloween dates, queues can dominate the day unless you plan carefully.