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.
We’ve got a fun-filled half term planned!
Join us for a Time Travellers Trail through the museum, enjoy an Old-Fashioned Games Day, get creative with Valentine’s craft-making, and explore history up close with object handling sessions.
There’s plenty to keep everyone busy throughout the holidays!
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.
The St. Helens Open Art Exhibition is now open at The World of Glass, marking 30 years of celebrating local artistic talent. First established by Sir Godfrey Pilkington and the Rainford Trust in partnership with the Arts Service and St Helens College, the competition has become a much-loved fixture in the region’s cultural calendar.
This special anniversary exhibition runs from 29 November 2025 to 28 February 2026 in the Godfrey Pilkington Art Gallery and showcases outstanding work from artists across St Helens and the wider Liverpool City Region.
Judged by artists Peter Humphries and Arthur Roberts, alongside Paul Cousins and Tash Lofthouse, the exhibition features a range of awards, including the St Helens Artist Prizes, Liverpool City Region Artist Prize, People’s Choice Prize, and the newly introduced Jill Dagnall Prize.
Everyone is welcome to visit and celebrate three decades of creativity, community, and artistic excellence.
Every third weekend of the month we will have a new craft activity for the kids! Saturday 21st February Pay £2.50 at reception to access our crafting goodies.
Meet Craig — Our New Commercial Operations Manager!
We’re so excited to welcome Craig to the team — and he’s officially back home where it all began!
Glass really is in his blood- His dad did his apprenticeship at Pilkingtons
After school, Craig studied at Carmel College in the noughties, before hitting the nightlife scene as a DJ at Zoo Bar and adding to his eclectic music tastes working in Game in St Helens.
But wait — there’s more! Craig has also taken his talents up to Lapland (true story), worked at The Beatles Story museum (a fab multimedia attraction at The Albert Dock in Liverpool) and even belted out tunes as a singer in bands
Now he’s bringing all that energy, creativity and experience back home to us as our Commercial Operations Manager — overseeing our café and shop with style, passion and probably more playlists than you’d expect.
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 October — 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.
