The Paint-It-Yourself Pottery Co.

is a working ceramic studio right in Cheltenham town centre where you can design and paint your own pieces to take home. Walk in and browse their selection of unpainted items – mugs, plates, bowls, animal figures, and other objects – then settle in with paints and tools to decorate whatever catches your eye. The staff handle all the glazing and firing, so your piece comes back in a few days with a professional finish, ready to use properly.

It works equally well whether you're after a solo activity, something to do with the family, or a way to spend an afternoon with friends. The location is genuinely useful because it's right in the town centre, so you can easily fit it around other things – exploring Cheltenham's Georgian and Regency buildings, having a browse in the shops, or grabbing a coffee. If you're spending time in the Cotswolds and the weather turns, or you just want to do something different from walking around countryside, this gives you a solid indoor option.

The main appeal is that you leave with something you've actually made rather than just bought, which does tend to feel more meaningful as a souvenir or gift.