Now open sundays and bank holidays
What made St. Helens great? From its humble beginnings to its rise as a world leader in Glass making, you can find it all here at The World Of Glass.
Ever wondered what life was like in a Victorian town? Step into St Helens past and relive life in the town in the last century.
Find out about properties of glass, look through periscopes and microscopes, and play with lenses to change the colours in light.
Admire contemporary glass and the unique and beautiful designs from some of the Worlds greatest makers.
Get ready for a fun-filled Easter at our venue! This year, families can enjoy a mix of hands-on creativity, springtime crafting, and an exciting Easter trail with a very special competition.
Follow the trail, solve the clues, and enjoy a seasonal adventure!
As part of the trail, children will also have the chance to design their very own glass Easter egg. All entries will be judged — and the winning design will be brought to life by our resident glassblower, creating a truly unique keepsake!
Throughout the holidays, children can get creative with a range of spring and Easter-themed craft activities, perfect for all ages and great for taking home handmade treasures and if you really want to have fun you can book onto our Easter experience!
Ahead of the International Festival of Glass 2026, The World of Glass is launching Glass Muse at the Godfrey Pilkington Gallery. Local, national, and international artists are invited to submit new work inspired by rarely seen objects from the Pilkington Glass Collection.
These collection pieces will be on display in the World of Glass Museum for artists to view. Find out how you can apply and if you can’t visit us in person you can view photographs of the artifacts by clicking the link below.
Every third weekend of the month we will have a new craft activity for the kids! Saturday 18th April Pay £2.50 at reception to access our crafting goodies.
We are thanking our local and wider community for your support during our Crowdfunder which has meant we have been able to keep our doors open and gain our museum accreditation.
We are celebrating receiving our museum Accreditation administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the UK Accreditation Partnership, Accreditation is the benchmark for well-run Museums and Galleries.
It means that The World of Glass is properly managed and governed to the nationally agreed industry standard and shows the museum takes proper care of its collections, sharing them with visitors and keeping them safe for future generations.
Accreditation opens up exciting funding opportunities, allows museums to host touring exhibitions and gives access to professional advice and support. It also gives confidence to donors and sponsors who may wish to support the museum in preserving heritage and inspiring future generations.
Hannah Billinge, Curator The World of Glass said: “We are so pleased to share our news of our renewed Museum Accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to preserving our collections for future generations. To achieve accreditation we met museum standards on how we are governed and managed, how we care for and manage the collections and the information and services we offer to museum services.”
We offer experiences for Individuals and couples alongside group sessions for corporate clients or those of you who want a team experience.
Born from the visionary spirit of studio glass pioneer Peter Layton, the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) has been at the forefront of the glass movement for over 25 years. Passionate champions of glass artists, designers, and makers, CGS is a leading voice for contemporary glass in the UK and beyond. Through exhibitions, awards, publications, and advocacy, they continue to inspire, support, and elevate the glass community. We are thrilled to welcome the Contemporary Glass Society to exhibit with us at The World of Glass on 14th March 2026- 11th April 2026, celebrating innovation, creativity, and the extraordinary possibilities of glass.
The 2026 International Festival of Glass is coming to St Helens, UK, from 28–31 August 2026, led by the Glass Art Society. Taking place over the August bank holiday, the festival will celebrate the art, history, and future of glass in a town famous for its glassmaking heritage and home to The World of Glass, which will serve as the main hub for events.
Visitors can explore major exhibitions including the British Glass Biennale — which will continue on display until 1st November — the International Bead and Jewellery Exhibition, and the International GAS Member Exhibition, showcasing outstanding glass art from the UK and around the world. Alongside exhibitions, there will be talks, family-friendly activities, special events, and opportunities to purchase unique glass artworks.
Artists can also take part through juried submissions (deadline 1 March 2026) and specialist masterclasses delivered in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.
With over 500 artists and glass enthusiasts involved, the festival promises an inspiring celebration of glass for all ages.
